Babar Azam lit up Match 1 of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a sensational display of athleticism that instantly went viral. The moment arrived in the 5th over when Netherlands opener Michael Levitt lofted Mohammad Nawaz straight down the ground. Positioned near the long-off boundary, Babar judged the trajectory perfectly and initially completed the catch inches inside the rope.

However, with momentum carrying him beyond the boundary, Babar showed remarkable presence of mind. Before stepping out, he calmly tossed the ball back into play with enough height and distance to give Shaheen Afridi time to settle under it.

The dismissal ended Levitt’s fluent knock of 24 off 15 deliveries and halted the Netherlands’ early momentum. Social media quickly hailed it as one of the finest team catches of the tournament so far, with Babar’s awareness and execution earning widespread praise.