Pakistan’s former captain Babar Azam has shattered two major Indian batting records within just two days, further cementing his status as one of the modern era’s most prolific T20 international batters.
Making his comeback in the T20I series against South Africa, Babar was dismissed for a duck in the opening match. However, he bounced back in the second game to surpass former Indian captain Rohit Sharma and become the highest run-scoring batter in T20 internationals. Babar scored only 11 runs in that match, but it was enough to overtake Rohit’s tally of 4,231 runs in 159 matches. Babar crossed the milestone in just 130 T20Is, achieving the feat in significantly fewer innings.
Babar continued his record-breaking streak in the third T20I, where he scored a half-century to help Pakistan secure the series. The innings marked his first T20I fifty since May 2024 against Ireland. With this knock, Babar registered his 37th T20I half-century and surpassed India’s Virat Kohli in total 50-plus scores. Babar now leads the chart with 40 scores of 50 or more (37 fifties and 3 centuries). Kohli follows with 39 (38 fifties and one century), while Rohit Sharma stands third with 37.
Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is fourth on the list with 31 scores of 50-plus in T20 internationals.
Babar scored a match-winning 68 off 47 balls in the third T20I, guiding Pakistan to victory over South Africa and sealing the series. He was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.
Following the win, Babar posted an emotional message on X (formerly Twitter), saying he was grateful to be “doing what I love again” and thanked fans for believing in him “during the quiet times.”
