Pakistan captain Babar Azam starred with the bat on Day 1 of the first Test against New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on Monday, December 26.Coming into bat at No.4 when Pakistan were 19/2, Babar slammed an impressive century, his ninth in Test cricket. The right-handed batter has been in scintillating form this year. He is currently the leading run-getter in Test cricket in 2022.The Pakistani side did not have an ideal start after deciding to bat first. However, Babar once again steadied the ship for his side with yet another gutsy knock. He crossed the 100-run mark with a glorious six off Michael Bracewell in the 53rd over of the first innings.It is worth mentioning that Babar would have had to walk back for 12, but got a big reprieve as Darryl Mitchell dropped a regulation catch at slip. The hosts' skipper made the most of the chance, hitting a remarkable ton.A number of fans and cricketers took to social media, praising the player for his wonderful batting exploits. Here are some of the reactions on Twitter:Shaheen Shah Afridi@iShaheenAfridiClass apart, Kaptaan @babarazam258!Enjoyed every bit of it.#PAKvNZ9795676Class apart, Kaptaan @babarazam258!Enjoyed every bit of it.#PAKvNZShadab Khan@76ShadabkhanBabar King Azam. Loved watching your century. Keep shining, keep showing your class skipper. @babarazam258139551173Babar King Azam. Loved watching your century. Keep shining, keep showing your class skipper. @babarazam258Mahrush Baloch🦋⁦@Mahru_PTIOnly name on my Timeline isssssss,Babar Azam🥰Babar Azam🥰Babar Azam🥰Babar Azam!!! We are Proud of you#PakvsNZ3Only name on my Timeline isssssss,Babar Azam🥰Babar Azam🥰Babar Azam🥰Babar Azam!!! We are Proud of you❤️😍#PakvsNZFatima Mazhar 🇵🇰@fattyy23Chairman changed , selector changed , team changed , weather changed , what hasn’t changed is @babarazam258 being mr consistent, the only one scoring for and being the absolute best , Mashallah ! May you always keep shinning , my captain #PakvsNZ #soochnabhimanahai #BabarAzam2Chairman changed , selector changed , team changed , weather changed , what hasn’t changed is @babarazam258 being mr consistent, the only one scoring for 🇵🇰 and being the absolute best , Mashallah ! May you always keep shinning , my captain #PakvsNZ #soochnabhimanahai #BabarAzam https://t.co/XwCeUZw40UWaleed@weedu276The sukoon on his face!! @babarazam2581The sukoon on his face!! 😍😍😍😍@babarazam258Zia Ul Haq@zuh_leftarmfastBabar Azam as batter is a blessing for Pakistan #cricket #PAKvNZ #NZvPAK6Babar Azam as batter is a blessing for Pakistan ❤️#cricket #PAKvNZ #NZvPAK https://t.co/3WoAPBUiY2Abdullah Murtaza@AbdullahMurtaxaNow that's a classic century .#PakvsNz #BabarAzam𓃵1Now that's a classic century .#PakvsNz #BabarAzam𓃵SaDia🌺@precious_mentalBabar azam that's it that's the tweet 5Babar azam that's it that's the tweet 🔥❤️Haroon Khan@HaroonK25324535Jahan matter baray hotay hain wahan King akele kharay hotay hain! King Babar #PAKvNZ#BabarAzam𓃵1Jahan matter baray hotay hain wahan King akele kharay hotay hain! King Babar 👑 #PAKvNZ#BabarAzam𓃵 https://t.co/Vl7G7RhinKCricket 07🇵🇰@HafsaMir16If you still have words to criticize Babar Azam ,you need to see a good doctorIf you still have words to criticize Babar Azam ,you need to see a good doctormahanoortweets@mahanoortweets1Feeling sorry for haters 🤭🫡 #BabarAzam𓃵2Feeling sorry for haters 🤭🫡 #BabarAzam𓃵 https://t.co/ZmXt387tKwAabshar Kamboh 💚🇵🇰💚@AabsharKamboh@BLACKCAPS @skysportnz @SENZ_Radio Babar Azam once again proved himself the best player in the world by completing a century in a difficult time, Weldon Babar#BabarAzam𓃵 #PAKvNZ@BLACKCAPS @skysportnz @SENZ_Radio Babar Azam once again proved himself the best player in the world by completing a century in a difficult time, Weldon Babar❤#BabarAzam𓃵 #PAKvNZSameer Sajid@Sameer_Sajid_Ch@TheRealPCB @babarazam258 Babar shows his teammates how to bat. Superb innings skipper@TheRealPCB @babarazam258 Babar shows his teammates how to bat. Superb innings skipperBeigh Yasir Sam 𓃵🍁@BeighYasirSam2People say’s Hope sustains lifeI heard @babarazam258 sustains Pakistan’s cricket…!What classy hundred from #BabarAzam𓃵#NZvPAK #SAVER51People say’s Hope sustains lifeI heard @babarazam258 sustains Pakistan’s cricket…!What classy hundred 💯from 👑#BabarAzam𓃵#NZvPAK #SAVER https://t.co/YkNWCGtoOTShafqat Jatt🗨️@CHShafqatMahmo1@saleemkhaliq What a timely by Babar Azam. Technically, Aesthetically, Mentally, best batsman in the world.#PAKvNZ@saleemkhaliq What a timely 💯 by Babar Azam. Technically, Aesthetically, Mentally, best batsman in the world.#PAKvNZNotably, Babar Azam has been the top performer with the bat for Pakistan in Test cricket this year. While his side were whitewashed by England in their three-match Test series earlier this month, he was able to make a significant impact with the bat.With 348 runs in three Tests at an average of 58.00, Babar was the leading run-getter for Pakistan in the series. The star batter finished with a century and three fifties against Ben Stokes and Co.Babar Azam eclipses Ricky Ponting to become the first captain to have 25 fifty-plus scores in a calendar yearWith his knock against New Zealand, Babar Azam broke former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting's record of scoring the most fifty-plus scores in a calendar year in international cricket.Ponting crossed the 50-run mark on 24 occasions in 2005. Babar has surpassed the Aussie batter by doing it 25 times in 2022. The Men in Green skipper has also scored the most runs in international cricket this year.He became the first Pakistani player to score over 2500 runs in a calendar year, breaking Mohammad Yousuf's record. While he has come under the scanner for his captaincy, Babar has stamped his class as a batter across formats with his consistent performances.Farid Khan@_FaridKhanRECORD: Babar Azam becomes leading run-scorer in Test cricket in 2022, he surpasses Joe Root to also become the first player to 1100 runs. He's already the highest run-scorer in international cricket this year. This is Babar Azam's world and we're just living in it #PAKvNZ1356178RECORD: Babar Azam becomes leading run-scorer in Test cricket in 2022, he surpasses Joe Root to also become the first player to 1100 runs. He's already the highest run-scorer in international cricket this year. This is Babar Azam's world and we're just living in it 🐐 #PAKvNZHe will be aiming to silence his critics by leading his team to a series win at home against the Tim Southee-led New Zealand side.