The month of January 2026 has not been kind to Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam. While he joined the Big Bash League (BBL|15) with high hopes of a "dream partnership" with Steve Smith, a series of on-field mishaps and tactical clashes have turned him into a global meme sensation across both Australia and India.
From "getting in the way" to "getting denied a single," here is why the internet is currently flooded with Babar Azam memes.
🛑 Meme #1: The "Single Denied" Heard 'Round the World
The most viral moment occurred on January 16, 2026, during the Sydney Derby. Babar Azam, batting on 47*, was eager to take a single to rotate the strike. Steve Smith, however, bluntly denied the run, opting to keep the strike for the upcoming Power Surge.
The Punchline: Smith’s decision was validated when he smashed 32 runs in the very next over.
The Meme: Fans in India and Australia began comparing Smith's "Alpha" leadership to Babar’s "Second Fiddle" role. Memes such as "Steve Smith showing Babar his place" and "Smith to Babar: Sit down, I've got this" trended for days.
🎥 Official Video: Steve Smith denies Babar Azam a single
🏃♂️ Meme #2: "Get Out the Way, Babar!"
Perhaps the most hilarious moment was a double fielding blunder. During the Thunder's innings, a ball was hit toward the boundary. Both Smith and Babar sprinted for it, but due to a total lack of communication, neither dived, and the ball went for four.
On the very next ball, as Smith dived to stop the shot, Babar accidentally ran toward him again, prompting Smith (and the on-air commentators) to shout: "GET OUT THE WAY, BABAR!"
The Viral Trend: The phrase "Get out the way, Babar!" became an instant catchphrase on X (Twitter).
Indian Memes: Indian fans linked this to the classic "miscommunication" trope, creating mock-up videos of Babar wandering aimlessly in the field.
🎥 Official Highlight: KFC BBL: "Get out the way, Babar!"
🪑 Meme #3: The "Boundary Cushion" Tantrum
Frustrated by the single denial and his subsequent dismissal for 47, Babar was filmed hitting the boundary cushion with his bat as he walked off.
The Reaction: Australian fans compared the reaction to a "toddler tantrum," while Indian social media users paired the video with Bollywood music to mock his frustration.
Expert Roast: Former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh commented, "Not a good look, that. Whatever you're feeling, don't show it," which itself became a meme template for any situation where someone overreacts.
💍 The AI Deepfake: The "Perry Proposal"
Adding to the chaos, a highly realistic AI-generated image went viral showing Australian legend Ellyse Perry on one knee proposing to Babar Azam on the field.
The Fact-Check: Despite millions of views in India and Pakistan, the image was confirmed as a deepfake. No such proposal happened, and Perry wasn't even in the country at the time.
The Meme: Fans joked that Babar's only "win" in Australia was a fake proposal from a player who wasn't even there.
📊 Summary: The "Meme-Scale" Comparison
| Incident | Viral Quote / Template | Why it’s a Meme |
|---|---|---|
| The Single | "Babar Dot, Smith Done." | Highlighted the strike rate gap. |
| Fielding | "Get out the way, Babar!" | Pure comedy of errors. |
| Dismissal | [Cushion Smashing Video] | Showed the "rift" with Smith. |
| Deepfake | "The King and his Queen." | Bizarre cross-border romance rumor. |
📺 Official Source Links
- Record 32-Run Over: YouTube - Smith’s Blitz
- Babar's Angry Dismissal: Inshorts Recap
- Meme Compilation (India Trends): Navbharat Times - Babar & Rizwan Roasted