Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam etched his name in the record books after becoming the all-time leading run-scorer in men’s T20 internationals during the second match of the three-match home T20I series against South Africa in Lahore.
The 31-year-old achieved the milestone, surpassing India’s Rohit Sharma.
Babar, who remained unbeaten on 11*, needed just nine runs before the match to overtake Rohit’s tally and now sits atop the list of all-time T20I run-getters.
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With this achievement, Babar now has 4,234 runs in 130 matches, surpassing Rohit’s 4,231 runs from 159 games.
The former Indian captain, who retired in 2024 after leading his team to the T20 World Cup title, had held the record for several years.
READ: Babar Azam eyes major T20I milestone in South Africa series
Babar’s consistency has been remarkable in the shortest format, with 36 half-centuries and three centuries to his name, averaging an impressive 39.47.
Most runs in men’s T20Is:
Babar Azam – 4,234 (130 matches)
Rohit Sharma – 4,231 (159 matches)
Virat Kohli – 4,188 (125 matches)
Jos Buttler – 3,869 (144 matches)
Paul Stirling – 3,710 (153 matches)
Babar also already holds the record for most fours in T20Is with 448 boundaries, followed by Ireland’s Paul Stirling (430) and India’s Rohit Sharma (383).
This series marks Babar’s return to T20I cricket after being left out of the format since 2024.
The ongoing three-match T20I series began in Rawalpindi, where South Africa won the opening T20I by 55 runs.
In the second T20I, Pakistan bounced back against South Africa, leveling the series 1-1 at Gaddafi Stadium.
Strong early bowling restricted South Africa to 110, with Faheem Ashraf taking four key wickets.
Chasing 111, openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan added 54 runs, and Ayub’s unbeaten 71 guided Pakistan to a nine-wicket win.
The third T20I will also be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on November 1.
