Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam etched his name in cricket history on Friday as he surpassed India’s Rohit Sharma to become the highest run-scorer in T20 cricket during the second T20I against South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Pakistan produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat South Africa by nine wickets and level the three-match series 1-1. Chasing a modest target of 111, Pakistan reached 112 for the loss of just one wicket on the first ball of the 14th over.
Opener Saim Ayub, returning to form after a lean patch, led the chase with a sparkling unbeaten 71 off 38 balls, featuring six fours and five sixes. In the bowling department, Fahim Ashraf starred with four wickets, while Salman Mirza delivered a sensational spell, picking up three wickets for just 14 runs in his four overs. Salman was named Player of the Match for his impactful performance.
Babar Azam scored 11 off 18 balls, including a boundary, but his brief knock was enough to see him break Rohit Sharma’s long-standing T20 record. Babar now tops the all-time T20 run charts with 4,234 runs, scored at an average of 39.57 in 123 innings of 130 matches. His T20 career includes 3 centuries and 36 half-centuries, with a strike rate of 128.77.
Rohit Sharma previously held the record with 4,231 runs at an average of 32.05 in 151 innings of 159 matches. He also jointly holds the record for the most T20 centuries with five.
India’s Virat Kohli is third on the list with 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69 from 117 innings, followed by England’s Jos Buttler with 3,869 runs at an average of 35.49 and a strike rate of 148.97 across 132 innings. Ireland’s Paul Stirling (3,710 runs) and New Zealand’s Martin Guptill (3,531 runs) occupy the next two spots.
Pakistan’s wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan is also in the top bracket with 3,414 runs at an average of 47.41 and a strike rate of 125.37 from 93 innings in 106 matches.
