Babar Azam breaks Chris Gayle's colossal T20 record, becomes fastest to this feat with 31-run cameo against South Africa

Pakistan's top-order batter Babar Azam on December 13 scripted history as he became the fastest to 11,000 runs in T20 cricket (T20Is, domestic T20s, franchise cricket). Babar broke former West Indies opener Chris Gayle's long-standing record. Babar achieved the feat in his 299th innings. Gayle reached the milestone from 314 games. Gayle is followed by David Warner (330), Virat Kohli (337) and Aaron Finch (408).

Overall, Babar is the 11th batter to score 11,000 or more in T20 format. He is second Pakistan batter to reach the colossal feat. Shoaib Malik is the second-highest run-scorer in the format with 13,415 runs from 505 innings at an average of 36.35 including 83 half-centuries.

After the 20-ball 31 at SuperSport Park, Centurion against South Africa in the second T20I, Babar now has 11,019 runs averaging over 43 including 11 centuries and 90 half-centuries.

Babar misses out on surpassing Rohit

However, Babar lost out on becoming the leading run-scorer in T20Is. He fell short by nine runs. Babar has 4,223 runs from 121 innings including three centuries and 36 fifties. The top spot is occupied by former Indian T20I captain Rohit Sharma with 4,231 runs. In the third and final T20I of the series, Babar will have another chance to reach the summit.

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Massive feat in international cricket

Babar also completed 14,000 runs in international cricket. He took 338 innings to reach the feat in international cricket. The top spot belongs to Mohammad Yousuf who took 337 innings to reach 14,000 runs in international cricket. 

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Babar bats at no.3

Unlike the first T20I, Babar came out to bat at no.3. After Ottneil Baartman got rid of Rizwan in the fourth of the innings, Babar pushed the scoring rate with two consecutive fours. He hit his first six of the innings in the eighth over. He smashed Nqabayomzi Peter for a massive six over deep mid-wicket. In the 12th over, he was dismissed by left-arm spinner George Linde. He was caught at long-on by Donovan Ferreira. His 20-ball 31 featured three fours and a six.

In the first T20I, he was dismissed by young left-arm pacer Kwena Maphaka for a four-ball duck. In the second T20I, Saim Ayub opened the innings with Rizwan and scored an unbeaten 98.