A tense moment between Steve Smith and Babar Azam during a Big Bash League match on January 16, 2026, has taken social media by storm. What looked like a simple single turned into a talking point that shaped the game.
The incident happened during a Sydney derby between the Sydney Sixers and the Sydney Thunder. The Sixers were chasing a stiff target of 190 and needed momentum in the middle overs.
In the 11th over of the chase, Babar was on strike and pushed the ball into a gap on the last delivery. A single was easily on, but Smith sent him back, choosing not to run and keeping the strike.
Babar looked surprised and clearly unhappy. He shook his head and exchanged a few words, unsure why the run was turned down at such a key stage of the chase.
Smith had a clear plan. By staying on strike, he could take charge for the Power Surge, a two-over window where only two fielders are allowed outside the circle. He wanted to attack a short boundary straight away.
What followed was a masterclass. Smith tore into the bowling in the very next over, smashing 32 runs. The over included four sixes in a row and a four, setting a new BBL record for most runs in a single over.
The drama did not end there. When Babar finally faced his next ball after the surge, he was clean-bowled for 47 off 39 balls. His frustration was obvious as he walked off, hitting the boundary cushion with his bat.
Smith, meanwhile, stayed in full control. He went on to score an unbeaten century off just 41 balls, guiding the Sixers to a seven-wicket win with ease despite the big target.
After the match, Smith explained his thinking. He said he had planned to target the shorter side during the Power Surge and admitted he was not sure Babar was happy with the call at the time.
The clip of Smith denying the single and Babar’s reaction spread quickly online. Fans debated the move, shared memes, and praised Smith’s game awareness, turning a split-second decision into one of the most viral BBL moments this season.