Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam achieved a significant milestone in the second T20I against South Africa, surpassing legendary cricketer Chris Gayle to set a new benchmark in T20 cricket. Despite a modest performance in the game, Babar’s 20-ball 31 was enough to etch his name in the history books as the fastest player to cross 11,000 T20 runs.
Babar Beats Gayle’s Record
Having made his T20 debut in 2012, Babar now boasts 11,020 runs in just 298 innings. This remarkable feat saw him surpass Chris Gayle, who previously held the record, achieving the milestone in 314 innings. Gayle, often referred to as the ‘Universe Boss,’ remains the highest run-scorer in T20 cricket with a staggering 14,562 runs.
Babar joins an elite group of batters with over 11,000 T20 runs, including Gayle, Shoaib Malik, Kieron Pollard, Alex Hales, Virat Kohli, David Warner, Jos Buttler, Rohit Sharma, Aaron Finch, and James Vince. Among active players, Indian legends Kohli and Rohit have accumulated 12,886 and 11,830 runs respectively. Both retired from international T20Is earlier this year following India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan Falls Short in T20I Series
Despite Babar’s record-breaking performance, Pakistan suffered a series loss to South Africa, with the hosts clinching the second match by seven wickets. Chasing a formidable target of 207, South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks delivered a match-winning knock of 117 runs off 63 balls, supported by Rassie van der Dussen’s 66 off 38 deliveries.
Pakistan, batting first, put up 206/5 in their 20 overs, led by a stellar 98-run innings from Saim Ayub. The left-hander’s 57-ball knock included 11 fours and five sixes. However, Babar (31) and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan (11) were unable to make significant contributions, with Babar also dismissed for a duck in the series opener.
What’s Next for Pakistan?
With the series already decided, Pakistan will aim to restore some pride in the final T20I. Following the conclusion of the T20 matches, the teams will engage in a three-match ODI series, followed by two Test matches, marking a continuation of an intense rivalry.
This record-breaking achievement adds another feather to Babar Azam’s illustrious cap, solidifying his status as one of the greatest modern-day T20 batters.
