Babar Azam has indeed made history by surpassing Virat Kohli to become the second-highest run-scorer in T20I cricket. This T20I Run-Scoring Record further cemented Babar Azam’s status as a modern-day batting great and a consistent performer in the shortest format of the game.
In a significant achievement, Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has overtaken India’s Virat Kohli to become the second-highest run-scorer in men’s T20 Internationals. Babar reached this T20I run-scoring record during the third and final T20I against Australia at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on November 18, 2024.
The 29-year-old scored 41 runs in the match, pushing his total T20I tally to 4,192 runs, surpassing Kohli’s 4,188. India’s former captain Rohit Sharma still holds the top spot with 4,231 runs. Babar is now just 40 runs away from becoming the all-time leading scorer in T20Is.
The milestone came during a challenging series for Babar and Pakistan. Australia secured a convincing 3-0 series win, including a seven-wicket victory in the final match. Despite Pakistan’s struggles, Babar’s knock stood out, particularly as he battled through a dip in form.
In the final T20I, Babar started cautiously but showed his trademark style with some fluent boundaries. He surpassed Kohli’s record in the 12th over, taking two runs off Nathan Ellis. However, his innings ended when Adam Zampa bowled him out while attempting an aggressive shot. Pakistan could only post 117 runs, which Australia comfortably chased in 11.2 overs, thanks to a blistering 61 from Marcus Stoinis.
Babar’s recent performances have been under scrutiny. After stepping down as Pakistan’s white-ball captain before the Australian tour, he managed just 80 runs in the preceding ODI series. His scores of 3 in the first two T20Is added to the pressure before his record-breaking 41 in the final game.
Among Pakistan’s players, only Mohammad Rizwan, the current white-ball captain, joins Babar in the Top 10 T20I run-scorers.
As Babar eyes the top spot on the T20I leaderboard, fans will hope his form stabilizes in upcoming matches, cementing his place as one of the game’s modern greats.
Top T20I Run-Scorers:
- Paul Stirling (Ireland): 3,655
- Rohit Sharma (India): 4,231
- Babar Azam (Pakistan): 4,192
- Virat Kohli (India): 4,188
