Babar Azam’s return — nine runs from T20I record as Pakistan take on South Africa

After 319 days out of the T20I setup, Pakistan’s top batter Babar Azam has been recalled and will take the field tonight. He arrives with one clear target: making history.

Currently, Indian great Rohit Sharma holds the record for most runs in Twenty20 Internationals with 4,231 runs in 151 innings. Babar Azam, who has amassed 4,223 runs in just 121 innings, is now only nine runs away from overtaking Rohit — setting the stage for a new Babar Azam T20I record.

Another major milestone within reach is in the “50+ scores” category. While Rohit Sharma has compiled 32 fifties and Virat Kohli leads the charts with 38 fifty-plus scores, Babar has already tallied 36. Though he may not surpass Kohli tonight, the ongoing series provides a real opportunity.

As Babar Azam walks out to bat under the leadership of Salman Ali Agha, who now captains the T20I side, the match carries both historical significance and emotional weight for Pakistan cricket fans.

If Babar scores even modestly tonight:

• Scoring 9 or more runs will crown him as T20I cricket's highest run-scorer.

• A fifty-plus will edge him closer to or beyond Kohli’s mark in the “most 50+ scores” list.

Known for his elegant stroke play and calm temperament, Babar’s return symbolizes both opportunity and expectation. As he aims for this Babar Azam T20I record, all eyes will be on Rawalpindi, where history could be made under the lights.