Former and current India cricketers hail Babar Azam's multiple record-breaking innings against Nepal in Asia Cup 2023 opener

Captain of the No. 1 ranked ODI team, top-ranked ODI batter - Babar Azam entered the Asia Cup 2023 with huge pressure tags. However, the flamboyant Pakistan cricketer took it as a confidence factor and justified the standings with a dominant performance against Nepal in the tournament opener in Multan on Wednesday. With his scintillating performance, Babar grabbed all the attention and former and current Indian cricketers could not keep calm as they showered the 28-year-old with praise for his record-breaking knock.

The Punjab-born cricketer is often trolled by Indian fans as they claim that most of his runs have come against minnows teams. But those are only a part of the battle of fans between the two nations, in fact, Babar is currently one of the best cricketers in all formats of the game. He has been very consistent in recent years, especially in the ODI format, where he has been hitting half-centuries and centuries for fun.

The inaugural match of the 2023 Asia Cup was historic for both teams as a major multi-national tournament returned to Pakistan after 15 years as Nepal made its debut at the continental event. However, it was a forgettable outing for the visitors as Babar and Co. outmuscled them in both departments. Batting first, Pakistan were scared at the start as they lost both openers - Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq - within 7 overs.

Babar shattered numerous records with his brilliant batting display against Nepal 

However, Babar and his most trusted partner, Mohammad Rizwan, steadied the ship before the latter was dismissed via run out. Agha Salman also failed to find any resistance, but Babar and Iftikhar Ahmed took the scoring responsibility with a record partnership of 214 runs for the fifth wicket. Babar completed his well-disciplined century in 109 balls. With his 19th ODI century, the Pakistan batter became the fastest player to reach the mark (102 innings), breaking Hashim Amla's (104 innings) record.

Babar eventually finished his scintillating knock with 151 runs - the highest score by a captain in Asia Cup history and the second-highest by a player after Virat Kohli's 183 against Pakistan in 2012. Iftikhar, who smashed his maiden ODI century, stitched the highest partnership for any wicket in an ODI in Pakistan and the highest for the Men in Green for the fifth wicket and lower.

Check out how current and former India cricketers reacted to Babar Azam's stunning innings against Nepal in the Asia Cup 2023 opener:

Babar Azam showcasing his brilliance once again with a superb 💯! When it comes to scoring runs, he's in a league of his own. #AsiaCup23

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 30, 2023

19 ODI tons in just 102 innings. Babar Azam’s consistency is unreal.

Note to self: well done on making him your Captain in Fantasy Cricket today🏏😇😇

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 30, 2023

Babar 👏👏💯 #PAKvNEP

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) August 30, 2023

Former India cricketer and commentary panel member Deep Dasgupta said: "Listen, he is poetry in motion. He is so easy on the eyes. Even though on the scorecard, it was Nepal as the opposition, you have to keep in mind how well they bowled. They were in the game until the 40th over. He really had to work hard, the conditions were not easy, it was hot, it was humid."