Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam has made history in international Twenty20 cricket, breaking a longstanding world record previously held by India’s Virat Kohli. On Sunday, during the third T20I against Australia, Babar became the cricketer with the most half-centuries in T20 internationals, firmly establishing himself among the sport’s elite.
The match, held in Lahore, saw Pakistan bat first, with Babar leading from the front. He scored an unbeaten 50 runs off just 36 balls, anchoring Pakistan’s innings to a formidable 207 for 6. The team’s disciplined bowling then restricted Australia to 111, handing Pakistan a convincing 96-run victory and a 3–0 series whitewash.
This half-century marked Babar’s 39th in T20 internationals, surpassing Kohli’s tally of 38. Babar achieved this milestone in 139 innings, while Kohli had reached 38 half-centuries in 125 innings, highlighting both players’ exceptional consistency at the highest level.
Babar’s ascent on this list is aided by the fact that several of his contemporaries—Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and David Warner—have retired from T20 internationals, while Mohammad Rizwan is currently out of the team. This opens the door for Babar to extend his record further in the coming years.
The table below outlines the leading players in T20I half-centuries:
| Player | Half-Centuries | Innings Played | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam (PAK) | 39 | 139 | Active |
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 38 | 125 | Retired |
| Rohit Sharma (IND) | 37 | — | Retired |
| Mohammad Rizwan (PAK) | 31 | — | Currently out of team |
| David Warner (AUS) | 29 | — | Retired |
Babar’s record-breaking achievement not only reflects his technical prowess and temperament under pressure but also reinforces his status as Pakistan’s premier T20 batsman. Analysts suggest that, with more matches on the horizon, he could extend his lead significantly, further cementing his legacy in international cricket.
Pakistan’s whitewash over Australia, powered by Babar’s innings, also sends a strong message ahead of upcoming international fixtures, indicating a team capable of dominant performances across formats.
With such consistency, Babar Azam is now widely regarded not just as a prolific scorer, but as one of the greatest T20 batsmen of his generation, surpassing even global icons in terms of milestone achievements.