Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has added another milestone to his already glittering T20 résumé, becoming the quickest player to reach 12,000 runs in the format. The 31-year-old achieved the landmark during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 clash between Peshawar Zalmi and the Karachi Kings on Thursday.
Babar’s rapid climb to 12,000 in T20 cricket
Babar, batting right-handed, produced a match-defining innings of 87 not out for Peshawar. He also stitched together a massive 191-run partnership with No. 3 batter Kusal Mendis, and that duo’s dominance played a major role in setting the platform for the innings.
- Babar finished unbeaten on 87 as Peshawar chased the right tempo in the PSL contest.
- He combined with Kusal Mendis for a 191-run stand, one of the biggest partnership statements of the match.
- Driven by their efforts, Peshawar posted 246/3 in their 20 overs.
Reaching 12,000 T20 runs, Babar did so in 338 innings (351 matches), surpassing Chris Gayle’s previous benchmark of 343 innings. Virat Kohli sits third on the all-time list, having reached the milestone in 360 innings. David Warner and Jos Buttler are next in the order, taking 368 and 405 innings respectively to arrive at the same figure.
The feat also places Babar as only the second Pakistani batter to cross 12,000 T20 runs, with Shoaib Malik being the first. Malik, besides that distinction, holds the record for the highest total of runs by a Pakistani player in the shortest format.
Babar’s 87-run knock came a day after a tense exchange with a Pakistani journalist, triggered by a question about his finishing ability. The reporter suggested that Kohli had a similar range of shots but finished matches more consistently, and asked Babar for his reaction to the comparisons. Babar, however, clearly took offence, stopping the discussion mid-way.
- The journalist questioned Babar’s finishing by referencing Virat Kohli’s match-closure consistency.
- Babar interrupted the reporter and pushed back on the line of questioning.
- He told the journalist to stop comparing him to Kohli and insisted it was a misconception that he could not finish games.
Earlier comparisons involving Babar and Kohli had first surfaced during the 2021-22 season, when Babar was finding form across formats. Those discussions picked up as Kohli’s own performance dipped, and Babar responded with a message that “this too shall pass.” In 2021, Babar also ended Kohli’s 1,258-day reign as the top-ranked ODI batter in the ICC standings. Later, in 2023, he went on to become the fastest to 5,000 ODI runs, reaching the mark in just 97 innings.
Despite the talk around comparisons, there is also a clear thread of mutual respect between the two. Kohli was even seen patting Babar on the back during the 2025 Champions Trophy match between India and Pakistan.
On the field in the PSL on Thursday, Babar’s influence remained unmistakable as Peshawar delivered an emphatic win over the Karachi Kings. With the victory, Peshawar moved into second place in the PSL 2026 standings.
