Lahore, Pakistan – In a thrilling turn of events at the Gaddafi Stadium, Babar Azam etched his name in cricket history by surpassing Rohit Sharma's world record for the most runs in men's T20Is. The record was broken during Pakistan's dominant nine-wicket victory against South Africa in the second T20I, leveling the series 1-1.
Babar Azam, coming in to bat at number three, needed just nine runs to surpass Sharma's previous record of 4,231 runs. He comfortably achieved the feat, reaching a total of 4,234 runs in 130 T20I matches. This includes 36 half-centuries and three centuries, with a strike rate of 128.77. In comparison, Rohit Sharma concluded his T20I career with 4,231 runs from 159 innings, boasting an average of 32.05 and a strike rate of 140.89, including five centuries and 32 fifties.
The match saw South Africa being bowled out for a paltry 110 in 19.2 overs, thanks to a stellar bowling performance by Pakistan's fast bowlers. Salman Mirza, in for Shaheen Afridi, delivered a sensational spell, taking 3 wickets for just 14 runs in his 4 overs. Faheem Ashraf also contributed significantly, claiming 4 wickets.
Pakistan's chase was spearheaded by Saim Ayub, who played a blistering innings, scoring an unbeaten 71 off 38 balls, which included 6 fours and 5 sixes. He was well-supported by Sahibzada Farhan, who scored 28 off 23 balls. Babar Azam remained steady at the other end, guiding the team home with 11 not out. Pakistan reached the target of 111/1 in just 13.1 overs.
The victory was set up by Pakistan's pace bowlers, with Saim Ayub completing the nine-wicket triumph over South Africa. Mirza's exceptional spell saw him remove Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, and Matthew Breetzke, leaving South Africa struggling at 23 for 4. Ashraf then took over in the middle overs, ensuring South Africa never recovered.
With this win, Pakistan leveled the series 1-1, setting the stage for a thrilling decider. The final T20I is scheduled to take place on November 1st at the same venue. Pakistan will aim to maintain their momentum, while South Africa will be determined to bounce back and secure the series victory.
Among active players, England's Jos Buttler is the closest to Babar in terms of T20I runs, with 3,869 runs in 144 matches, including one century and 28 fifties. Virat Kohli is also high on the list, having amassed 4,188 runs from 125 matches. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both retired from T20Is after the T20 World Cup in 2024.
Babar Azam's achievement marks a significant milestone in his T20I career and further solidifies his position as one of the leading batsmen in the world. As of October 2025, Babar Azam is 31 years old. In his T20 career, he has played 129 matches and scored 4,223 runs, averaging 39.
