Pakistan star Babar Azam has etched his name in cricket history by becoming the highest run-scorer in T20 international cricket, surpassing Indian greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The right-handed batter reached the milestone during the second T20I against South Africa at Lahore on Friday night.
Though Babar scored just 11 runs off 18 balls, those few runs were enough to take him past both Rohit and Kohli in the all-time list of T20I run-getters.
With this feat, Babar now tops the list with 4,234 runs in 123 matches, maintaining an impressive average of 39.57. However, compared to others on the list, his strike rate (128.77) and six-hitting record (73 sixes) remain modest.
In contrast, Rohit Sharma has a strike rate of 140.89 with 205 sixes, while Kohli’s strike rate stands at 137.04 with 124 sixes. Despite the lower boundary count, Babar’s consistency and ability to anchor Pakistan’s innings have made him one of the most dependable batters in world cricket.
How Rohit and Kohli Compare
Before Babar’s achievement, Rohit Sharma held the top spot with 4,231 runs from 159 matches at an average of 32.05, while Virat Kohli followed closely with 4,188 runs in 125 matches at an excellent average of 48.69.
Both Rohit and Kohli have retired from T20 internationals, giving Babar a chance to take a clear lead. Interestingly, while Rohit has scored five centuries in T20Is — the most by any player — Babar has three centuries and 36 fifties, highlighting his consistency in the shorter format.
Top 10 Highest Run-Scorers in T20I Cricket
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Babar Azam | Pakistan | 123 | 4234 | 39.57 | 128.77 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | India | 159 | 4231 | 32.05 | 140.89 |
| 3 | Virat Kohli | India | 125 | 4188 | 48.69 | 137.04 |
| 4 | Jos Buttler | England | 117 | 3869 | 36.8 | 148.97 |
| 5 | Paul Stirling | Ireland | 134 | 3710 | 29.8 | 134.86 |
| 6 | Martin Guptill | New Zealand | 122 | 3531 | 31.8 | 135.9 |
| 7 | Mohammad Rizwan | Pakistan | 96 | 3414 | 46.8 | 127.0 |
| 8 | David Warner | Australia | 100 | 3277 | 33.2 | 142.2 |
| 9 | Muhammad Waseem | UAE | 82 | 3184 | 41.0 | 138.6 |
| 10 | Aaron Finch | Australia | 103 | 3120 | 34.1 | 142.5 |
Apart from the record milestone, Pakistan also celebrated a dominant nine-wicket win over South Africa in the second T20I at Lahore. The visitors were bowled out for 110 runs in 19.2 overs, before Pakistan chased the target comfortably in 13.1 overs.
While Babar scored only 11 runs, Saim Ayub stole the show with a blistering 71 off 38 balls*, supported by Sahibzada Farhan’s 28 runs. The series is now level at 1-1, with the decider set to be played again in Lahore.
Even with a small contribution of just 11 runs, Babar Azam has achieved one of the greatest milestones in T20I history — surpassing modern-day icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Known for his elegance and composure, Babar continues to redefine consistency in world cricket and remains the cornerstone of Pakistan’s batting lineup.
