Babar Azam Goes Past Virat Kohli, Becomes Fastest to 100 T20 Fifties

Babar Azam has entered a rare club in T20 cricket and done it faster than anyone else, including Virat Kohli. In the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 clash between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators at the National Stadium in Karachi, Babar scored his 100th T20 fifty and became the quickest batter to reach this mark.

The milestone came in the 23rd match of PSL 2026, where Peshawar Zalmi were chasing a target of 155 against Quetta Gladiators. Babar, leading Zalmi, opened the innings and stayed right till the end, finishing unbeaten on 71 from 51 balls. He guided his team to an eight-wicket win with nine balls to spare, turning the night into a double celebration – a personal record and an easy team victory.

Right from the start, Babar looked in full control. He began with a solid opening stand with Mohammad Haris, which set the tone for the chase. Even when Quetta’s bowlers tried to slow things down with a few tight overs, Babar kept the scoreboard moving with singles, doubles and timely boundaries. By the time he reached his half-century, the result was almost decided in Peshawar’s favour.

Fastest to 100 T20 fifties, ahead of Virat Kohli

With this fifty, Babar Azam became the fastest batter to register 100 fifties in T20 cricket, taking only 341 innings to reach the mark. Virat Kohli, who previously held the best mark in this race, needed 401 innings to get to 100 T20 fifties, which means Babar got there 60 innings quicker.

This gap clearly shows how rapidly Babar has piled up runs in the shortest format. Since his T20 career began in 2012, he has gone on to score 12,135 runs in 341 innings. His highest score in T20 cricket is 122, and he averages 42.13 while striking at 128.35. On top of his 100 fifties, he also has 11 centuries in T20s, which highlights how often he plays big knocks rather than just getting to a start and getting out.

Kohli, on the other hand, has been one of the most reliable T20 batters since 2007. Across 401 innings from 2007 to 2026, he has scored 13,722 runs with a highest of 122 not out. He averages 42.09 and has a strike rate of 134.97, along with nine centuries and now 107 fifties. While his overall numbers remain outstanding, Babar has moved ahead of him in terms of speed to 100 fifties.

Milestone: Fastest to 100 T20 fifties

Batter	Innings to 100 T20 fifties
Babar Azam	341
Virat Kohli	401
David Warner	435
Jos Buttler	468

Elite club with Warner, Kohli and Buttler

By reaching 100 T20 fifties, Babar Azam has joined an elite list that includes only three other modern-day stars – David Warner, Virat Kohli and Jos Buttler. These four are currently the only batters with at least 100 half-centuries in T20 cricket.

David Warner was the first man to reach this landmark. The Australian opener, who has been a mainstay in T20 leagues and international cricket since 2007, has 116 fifties in 435 innings. Over that period he has scored 14,121 runs at an average of 36.96 and a strike rate of 140.61, with a highest score of 135 not out and 10 hundreds to his name.

Jos Buttler, England’s white-ball star, was the most recent entrant into the 100-fifty club before Babar. He reached his 100th T20 fifty on April 12, 2026, in an IPL match between Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants. Buttler, who started his T20 career in 2009, has played 468 innings, scoring 14,021 runs at an average of 35.05 and a strike rate of 146.31, with a highest of 124, eight hundreds and 100 fifties.

In between Warner and Buttler stands Virat Kohli, who remains one of the biggest names in T20 cricket. With 107 T20 fifties and nine centuries, his consistency across tournaments and conditions keeps him among the format’s top batters.

Overall T20 career stats

Batter	Span	Innings	Runs	Highest score	Average	Strike rate	100s	50s
David Warner	2007–2026	435	14,121	135*	36.96	140.61	10	116
Virat Kohli	2007–2026	401	13,722	122*	42.09	134.97	9	107
Babar Azam	2012–2026	341	12,135	122	42.13	128.35	11	100
Jos Buttler	2009–2026	468	14,021	124	35.05	146.31	8	100
Alex Hales	2009–2026	523	14,449	119*	29.91	144.51	7	92

Most fifties in T20 cricket: where Babar stands

A look at the leading batters for T20 fifties shows how much batting volume is needed to even reach 90-plus half-centuries. Along with Warner, Kohli, Babar and Buttler, England’s Alex Hales is also among the top names in this space.

From 2009 to 2026, Hales has played 523 innings, scoring 14,449 runs at an average of 29.91 and an impressive strike rate of 144.51. His highest score is 119 not out, and he has seven hundreds and 92 fifties in T20s. These numbers clearly show the workload and performance needed to stay near the top of T20 run charts.

When placed in this group, Babar’s record gains even more weight. He has reached 100 T20 fifties in just 341 innings, significantly fewer than Warner’s 435, Kohli’s 401, Buttler’s 468 and Hales’s 523. This highlights how quickly he has achieved what others have taken longer to build over their T20 careers.

Babar vs other Pakistan batters in T20s

From a Pakistan perspective, Babar Azam has now moved clear at the top when it comes to T20 fifties. The next best Pakistani batter on this list is veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik. Malik ended his long T20 career with 83 fifties in 515 innings, which is a strong return in itself.

However, the contrast in innings between Malik and Babar is striking. While Malik needed 515 innings for his 83 fifties, Babar has already scored 100 in 341 innings. That difference underlines how quickly Babar has climbed to the summit of Pakistan’s T20 batting records. In far fewer matches and innings, he has gone past a benchmark that once looked out of reach for many.

This rapid rise has also made Babar the clear reference point for Pakistan in the shortest format. Whether in international T20s or franchise leagues like PSL, he has become the key name at the top of the order and the main source of stability in most chases and first-innings totals.

The innings that sealed the record: 71* vs Quetta

The knock that took Babar to his 100th T20 fifty was also a perfect example of his style. Chasing 155, he chose control over risk but still maintained a good scoring rate. He reached his half-century in 37 balls and then carried on to finish on 71 not out from 51 deliveries. Peshawar eventually won by eight wickets with nine balls left, never really looking under pressure.

Babar’s contribution was massive when seen in the context of the team total. He scored around 45% of Peshawar’s 155 runs and had the highest strike rate among all Peshawar batters in this match. His ability to pace the chase meant there was no panic even when boundaries dried up for brief periods. Every time the required run rate inched up, he responded with a timely four or a well-placed shot into the gaps.

The innings was built on strong basics – straight bat shots, neat placement and smart rotation of strike. Rather than going for big hits every over, he picked his bowlers and moments carefully. That approach kept the chase smooth and also helped him cross the 50-run mark in a composed manner.

Peshawar Zalmi’s strong PSL 2026 run

Babar’s personal milestone has come in the middle of a very strong season for Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2026. The team has been one of the most consistent sides in the tournament, with a balanced bowling attack and a top order that regularly gives good starts. Their victory over Quetta Gladiators was another example of how settled they look this year.

In this match, Peshawar’s bowlers had earlier restricted Quetta to 154. Sufiyan Muqeem and Mohammad Basit shared six wickets between them, while Iftikhar Ahmed also chipped in with an important wicket and a tight spell. Quetta never really broke free, and their innings ended on the final ball at 154 all out. That total always felt slightly short on this pitch, especially with Peshawar’s form.

Once the chase began, Babar and Mohammad Haris made full use of the platform. They added 75 runs for the first wicket, putting Peshawar in complete control. Even after Haris fell, Babar carried on calmly, later joined by Kusal Mendis and others to finish the job. The smooth nature of the chase showed why Peshawar are being seen as one of the top title contenders in this season’s PSL.

Red-hot form in PSL 2026

Individually, Babar Azam has been in excellent touch throughout PSL 2026. He has already scored two fifties in the tournament and has remained unbeaten on both occasions when he has crossed the fifty mark. His consistency at the top has made a big difference for Peshawar Zalmi in tight games as well as in one-sided contests like this one.

He is also currently the second-highest run-scorer in PSL 2026, sitting just behind his opening partner Kusal Mendis. This shows how strong Peshawar’s opening pair has been this season. With both openers in form, the team has often got quick and stable starts, which take a lot of pressure off the middle order. In this environment, Babar has been able to play his natural game and build big innings whenever needed.

As the tournament moves forward, his current numbers and rhythm make him one of the key batters to watch. His role as captain, opener and now the fastest man to 100 T20 fifties adds extra weight to every innings he plays in PSL 2026.

The post Babar Azam Goes Past Virat Kohli, Becomes Fastest to 100 T20 Fifties appeared first on Sportzcraazy.

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