Babar Azam Becomes Fastest Batter In History To Cross 12,000 T20 Runs

History was made in Karachi on Thursday night as Babar Azam officially became the fastest player to reach 12,000 runs in T20 cricket. Achieving the feat in his 338th innings, the right-hander surpassed the legendary Chris Gayle, who reached the milestone in 343 innings. The record-breaking moment occurred during a high-stakes PSL 11 fixture against Karachi Kings, further cementing Babar’s status as a modern-day great of the shortest format.

Here is how the historic night unfolded for the Zalmi captain.

The Record-Breaking Moment

Entering the match just 13 runs shy of the milestone, Babar wasted no time. He reached the 12,000-run mark in style, smashing a six off Khushdil Shah in the fourth over. By doing so, he became only the 12th player in history to enter the elite 12,000-run club, joining global icons like Virat Kohli, David Warner, and fellow countryman Shoaib Malik.

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Surpassing the “Universe Boss”

The speed of Babar’s achievement is what truly stands out. While Chris Gayle had long held the record for being the fastest to 12,000 runs, Babar managed to beat that timing by five innings. Following closely behind are India’s Virat Kohli (360 innings) and Australia’s David Warner (368 innings), making Babar the undisputed leader in this category.

A Clinical Performance at the Crease

Babar didn’t just settle for the record; he anchored the entire Zalmi innings. Finishing with an unbeaten 87 off 51 deliveries, he struck 10 fours and two sixes. Alongside Kusal Mendis, who scored a century, Babar was part of a massive 191-run partnership that propelled Peshawar Zalmi to a monumental 246/3—the highest total ever recorded at the National Bank Stadium.

Silencing the Critics

The milestone comes at a perfect time for the skipper, following recent public debate regarding his strike rate and ability to finish games. By remaining not out and leading his team to a dominant 159-run victory, Babar’s bat did the talking.Peshawar Zalmi’s clinical performance not only secured two vital points but also moved them up to second place in the PSL 11 standings.

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