Babar Azam’s signing was massive for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025/26 for the Sydney Sixers along with some of the other Pakistan stars. But he didn’t get the potential reward he was expecting to get in the first two clashes against the Perth Scorchers and the Adelaide Strikers, as he returned with low scores on both occasions. 

Babar Azam, during the curtain raiser at the Optus Stadium in Perth, collected only two runs in five balls at a strike rate of 40. Against the Strikers, the right-handed batter gathered only nine runs in 10 balls at a strike rate of 90 with one boundary. Heading into the Sydney Derby against the Thunder, he was under massive pressure.

See Also: “Nothing away from Bumrah, but…”- South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad drops bombshell statement on this player

But despite his low form, there was belief from his team-mates and fear from the opposition as Sam Billings, the Sydney Thunder player who played for the Chennai Super Kings in the 2018 season, met Babar with a ‘King, king, king!’ remark ahead of the contest at the Showground Stadium in Sydney.

Sam Billings calls Babar Azam ‘King’ in BBL 2025/26 clash

The Sixers are yet to win a game in this BBL 2025/26 as they lost their opening clash against the Scorchers by five wickets, having put just 113 runs on the board in the first innings, with the hosts completing the chase by five wickets with five balls to spare. Meanwhile, Adelaide chased down 160 in the second clash against the Sixers.

Watch the video here: 

"King, king, king!" 👑

Sam Billings 🤝 Babar Azam. #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/aKVkEsM1hM

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 20, 2025

Sydney Thunder also experienced the same fate in their opening clash against the Hobart Hurricanes, who chased down 181 runs by four wickets in 19.5 overs. Shadab Khan, the Pakistan spin all-rounder playing for the Thunder side, will be up against his national team’s captain, Babar.

In this clash, Thunder won the toss and decided to bowl first against the Sixers. Their captain, David Warner, returned to lead the side while the Sixers made two changes with Todd Murphy and Kane Richardson making their way into the eleven in place of Hayden Kerr and Mitchell Perry.