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Pakistan‘s batting maestro Babar Azam added another chapter to his illustrious career during the third T20I against Australia at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Monday (November 18). With a determined knock of 41 runs, Babar surpassed Indian legend Virat Kohli in the shortest format. This milestone came during a pivotal phase of the match, as Babar held the innings together amidst a dismal batting display by his team. Despite the pressure, the Pakistan skipper showcased his ability to rise to the occasion and deliver when his team needed him most.
Leading from the front in Mohammad Rizwan’s absence
The absence of Mohammad Rizwan meant Babar had to take on the additional responsibility of opening alongside Sahibzada Farhan. The Pakistan former captain began with intent, flicking the ball off his pads to send it racing to the fine leg boundary. His approach combined caution and aggression, blending singles, twos, and exquisite boundaries to keep the scoreboard moving. Despite losing partners at regular intervals, Babar’s composure stood out as he took on the role of anchoring the innings. The lack of a solid partnership, however, put immense pressure on him to carry the batting line-up.
The historic moment for Babar Azam: Eclipsing Virat Kohli
Babar’s milestone came in the 12th over of Pakistan’s innings, with Nathan Ellis bowling. On the first delivery, Babar guided the ball to long-on and sprinted back for a quick two with Irfan Khan. These runs propelled him past Virat Kohli’s T20I total of 4,188, a feat that highlighted Babar’s remarkable consistency in the shortest format. With this, he cemented his place among T20I greats, trailing only India’s Rohit Sharma, who leads the charts with 4,231 runs.
While Babar’s innings was a masterclass in calm and controlled batting, his dismissal exposed Pakistan’s frailty. Attempting to accelerate the scoring, Babar stepped down the track against Adam Zampa but misjudged the Australian leg-spinner’s perfectly executed yorker. The ball rattled his stumps, cutting short his knock at a critical juncture. His departure triggered a further collapse, with Pakistan reduced to 116/8 inside 17 overs. Despite his best efforts, Babar could not prevent his team’s struggles against a well-oiled Australian bowling unit.
Also WATCH: Babar Azam fiercely glares at Pakistan fans shouting at him
A new era of T20I greatness
With 4,192 T20I runs to his name, Babar is now just 39 runs away from surpassing Rohit to become the highest run-scorer in T20I history. This milestone appears inevitable, given Babar’s consistency and ability to perform under pressure. His achievement not only underscores his individual brilliance but also inspires a team that looks to him for leadership in challenging times.
Babar’s feat gains even more significance in light of the retirements of T20I stalwarts Rohit and Kohli earlier this year, following India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign. As these legends step away, the baton has been passed to players like Babar, who continue to raise the bar in T20 cricket. With Rizwan, another prolific scorer, also in the top 10 T20I run-getters, Pakistan boasts a formidable batting pair in the format.
