Babar Azam surpasses Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle to become fastest player to score 12,000 T20 runs

On Thursday, April 9, Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi defeated Karachi Kings by 159 runs in match number 17 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 at the National Stadium in Karachi. Coming into the game after a win over Hyderabad Kingsmen a day prior, the Zalmi posted 146 runs, courtesy of a 52-ball 109 from Kusal Mendis and an unbeaten 87 from Babar Azam. In reply, they restricted the Kings at 87/10 in 16.1 overs, thus coming out victorious by a massive margin.

During the Peshawar Zalmi’s comprehensive win in PSL 2026, former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam achieved a massive milestone. The 31-year-old etched his name in record books, courtesy of his knock of an unbeaten 87 off 51 deliveries, which was laced with 10 fours and 2 maximums. The Lahore-born became the fastest to reach 12,000 runs in T20 cricket, surpassing the likes of Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle.

Babar Azam’s 87* helps him surpass Chris Gayle to become fastest to 12,000 T20 runs

Babar Azam reached the landmark in just 338 innings, breaking the record previously held by Chris Gayle, who achieved the feat in 343 innings. Batting legend Virat Kohli now sits third in the list, having taken 360 innings to achieve this feat. Prior to the game, Babar Azam needed 13 runs and reached the benchmark in the fourth over. Moreover, with this, he also became only the second Pakistani batter after Shoaib Malik.

Fastest to 12,000 T20 runs by innings