Babar Azam has never been one to shy away from a challenge, and after leading Peshawar Zalmi to the PSL 2026 title, he made sure everyone knew exactly where he stands. With a five-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, Zalmi ended an eight-year drought, capturing their first championship since 2017. But it was Babar's defiant response to questions about his future in the shortest format that truly stole the spotlight.

When asked about ongoing debates surrounding his relevance in T20 cricket, the Pakistan captain didn't hesitate. "Teenon me khelunga, befikre rahiye," he said with a confident smirk. "I'll play all three formats, don't worry. I'm available for all of them, so you don't need to stress about it." His message was clear: the speculation ends here.

And Babar's bat did all the talking throughout the tournament. Finishing as the leading run-scorer with 588 runs in 11 matches at an astonishing average of 73.50 and a strike rate of 145.91, he smashed two centuries and three fifties along the way. His performances not only powered Zalmi's title charge but also silenced critics who had questioned his place in the shortest format.

Pressed further on format priorities, Babar doubled down on his philosophy. "Look, it's not really for the player to decide — a player's job is to play. Every cricketer should play all formats. It shouldn't be about focusing only on white-ball or just T20 cricket. Red-ball cricket gives you so much experience. It builds patience, teaches you to play long innings. When you play four-day or domestic cricket, that experience helps you in every format."

While Babar commanded the headlines, Aaron Hardie delivered a match-winning all-round performance in the final, securing the victory for Zalmi with both bat and ball. The title marks a triumphant return to glory for the franchise and a resounding statement from their captain — one that echoes across all three formats of the game.