Pakistan captain Babar Azam made history in the opening T20I against Ireland, equaling Virat Kohli’s record of most fifty-plus scores in men’s T20Is. Despite Pakistan’s defeat in the match, Babar’s impressive 57 off 43 balls, including eight fours and a six, helped the team post a competitive total of 182/6. In pursuit of 183, Andrew Balbirnie’s brilliant 77 off 55 balls proved decisive as Ireland chased down the target with 19.5 overs to spare. The win gave Ireland a 1-0 lead in the ongoing three-match series. After the match, Babar reflected on the team’s performance, acknowledging their slow start in the first six overs and praising Ireland’s strong batting display. He highlighted the need for better execution in bowling and fielding, which he believes contributed to Pakistan’s loss. Babar’s return to the Pakistan captaincy has been met with controversy, with the manner of his appointment over Shaheen Shah Afridi drawing criticism. Afridi expressed frustration over a statement released by the PCB website that attributed quotes to him which he did not make. However, Babar has emphasized his strong relationship with Afridi and their shared goal of prioritizing Pakistan’s success. Babar’s achievement of equaling Kohli’s record is a testament to his exceptional batting prowess in T20 cricket. His 38 fifty-plus scores include three centuries, while Kohli has one century and 37 fifties. Both batters share a top score of 122 in T20Is, with Kohli’s knock coming while remaining unbeaten. Babar is still chasing the 4000-run mark in T20Is, with Kohli having already crossed that milestone with 4037 runs. Rohit Sharma (34), Mohammad Rizwan (27), and David Warner (27) round out the top five batters with the most fifty-plus scores in T20Is.
Babar Azam Equals Virat Kohli’s Record of Most Fifty-Plus Scores in Men’s T20Is
