# Babar Azam Rewrites T20 History: Overtakes Gayle & Kohli to Become Fastest to 12,000 Runs in Just 338 Innings

URL: https://technosports.co.in/babar-azam-rewrites-t20-history-overtakes/  
Published: 2026-04-10  
Updated: 2026-04-10  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

On April 9, 2026, during **Peshawar Zalmi’s dominating 159-run win over Karachi Kings** in PSL 2026, the 31-year-old Pakistani batting maestro etched his name in [T20 cricket](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty20) history — becoming the **fastest batter ever to reach 12,000 T20 runs**, surpassing legends Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli in the process.

## Babar Azam’s Record-Breaking Knock

Babar’s unbeaten 87 off 51 deliveries, laced with 10 fours and 2 sixes, was the engine behind Zalmi’s massive total. He needed just 13 runs heading into the game and crossed the milestone as early as the fourth over — calm, clinical, and completely inevitable.

This wasn’t just another innings. It was a statement.

![Babar Azam](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/bsbsbbr-1024x576.webp)

## Fastest to 12,000 T20 Runs — Where the Legends Stand

Babar reached the landmark in just 338 innings, breaking the record previously held by Chris Gayle, who achieved the feat in 343 innings. Virat Kohli sits third, having taken 360 innings to reach the same milestone. [insidesport](https://www.insidesport.in/cricket/babar-azam-surpasses-virat-kohli-and-chris-gayle-to-become-fastest-to-score-12000-t20-runs/)

| Position | Player | Innings Taken |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 🥇 1 | **Babar Azam** | **338** |
| 🥈 2 | Chris Gayle | 343 |
| 🥉 3 | Virat Kohli | 360 |
| 4 | David Warner | 368 |
| 5 | Jos Buttler | 405 |

## A Historic Double for Pakistan

With this achievement, Babar also became only the second Pakistani batter after Shoaib Malik to reach the 12,000 T20 run mark. For a nation that has produced some of cricket’s greatest entertainers, that’s a lineage worth celebrating.

For more PSL 2026 updates and cricket news, keep following [Technosports](https://www.technosports.co.in/category/cricket/).

## Why This Record Matters

Numbers tell part of the story — but the *speed* of this record tells everything about Babar’s consistency across formats, franchises, and conditions. He didn’t just outlast his rivals; he arrived at this milestone **five innings faster than Gayle** and a full **22 innings ahead of Kohli**. In T20 terms, that’s practically a different era.

## FAQs

### **Q: In how many innings did Babar Azam reach 12,000 T20 runs?**

 Babar reached the milestone in just 338 innings, five fewer than the previous record-holder Chris Gayle’s 343.

### **Q: Is Babar Azam the first Pakistani to score 12,000 T20 runs?**

 No — he is the second Pakistani after Shoaib Malik to achieve this feat, but he did it faster than anyone in history.