Pakistan Captain Babar Azam surpassed Virat Kohli’s record for most T20i fifties as he guided his team to a 2-1 series lead South Africa Lahore at Gaddafi Stadium. A commanding 68 off 27 balls from the star fruit, the innings remained steady as they secured Pakistan’s chase to a six-wicket win in the series.
Babar Azam surpasses Virat Kohli’s T20i Milestone
In a moment that will be remembered by cricket fans around the world, he surpassed his previous record of 39 with 40 fifty or more fifty or more.
Pakistan chased nervously as Saim Ayub fell for a duck but Babar quickly took control. Salman put on a crucial 76-run partnership with Ali Agha, steadying the innings and setting it up perfectly. The captain’s balance between aggression and composure highlighted why he remains one of the best T20 batsmen in modern cricket.
Babar’s stage comes a few days after awakening Rohit Sharma Being the highest run-getter in men’s T20 – another testament to his consistency across formats.
Most 50+ scores in men’s t20
| Player | Country | 50-plus points |
|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 37 fifties, 3 centuries |
| Virat Kohli | India | 38 fifty, 1 hundred |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 32 fifties, 5 centuries |
Pakistan’s bowlers set the stage for victory
Earlier, Pakistan’s bowlers put up a disciplined performance Restrict South Africa to 139 for 9 allotted 20 overs. The PACE attack, led by Shaheen Afridi and Faheem Ashraf, struck early to dismantle the proteas’ top order. Meanwhile, the Needles maintained control through the middle overs, not allowing South Africa to build any momentum.
The collective efforts of the bowlers laid a perfect foundation for the chase and Pakistan’s batsmen capitalized effectively. The home fields were also sharp, with key catches preventing South Africa from recovering late in the innings.
Despite showing flashes of brilliance before South Africa’s series, Pakistan’s consistency and depth in both departments proved crucial to the final.
Read: Babar Azam breaks Rohn Sharma’s T20I record as Pakistan beat South Africa
Babar Azam’s reaction: “It’s about absorbing the pressure”
After being named the player of the match, Babar was reflected in the record-breaking knock and the team’s victory.
“Those shots were long” he admitted. “I backed myself and the team believed in me. It’s about how you absorb the pressure. I just wanted to play for the situation.”
His calm leadership and ability to perform under pressure emerged as defining traits of his captaincy for several years.
With this win, Pakistan not only claimed the series but also sent a strong message ahead of their upcoming international commitments. The win will boost the team’s confidence as they prepare for a busy cricket calendar leading up to the 2026 T20 World Cup.
For Babar, the night was more than just about the records – it was a reminder of his enduring dominance in T20 cricket and his ability to lead from the front when it mattered most.
Read: Fans go gaga as Gaga leads Pakistan’s thrilling T20I series win over South Africa
