Babar Azam roared back to form with a sensational century, ending a 783-day wait and scripting multiple records during Peshawar Zalmi’s emphatic win over Quetta Gladiators in PSL 2026.
The former Pakistan captain smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 52 balls, powering Peshawar to a massive 255/3 — before their bowlers sealed a crushing 118-run victory.
Fastest to 12,000 T20 runs
With this innings, Babar achieved a historic milestone by becoming the fastest batter in the world to reach 12,000 runs in T20 cricket.
He reached the landmark in just 338 innings, surpassing Chris Gayle (344 innings) and Virat Kohli (360 innings), further cementing his place among modern greats.
Record-breaking knock
Babar’s innings was remarkable not just for the milestone but also for its precision and control.
He hit six fours and four sixes, and incredibly, faced only one dot ball in his 52-ball stay — the first instance in T20 history where a batter has faced 50+ deliveries with just a single dot ball.
This knock also marked his 12th T20 century, placing him second on the all-time list behind Chris Gayle, who leads with 22 hundreds.
Crucial partnership with Mendis
Babar found strong support in Kusal Mendis, who hammered 83 off 44 balls.
The duo stitched together a dominant 135-run partnership, laying the foundation for one of the highest totals in PSL history — the third-highest overall.
Zalmi dominate with ball
Defending a mammoth target, Peshawar Zalmi’s bowlers ensured there was no comeback from Quetta.
Bevon Jacobs top-scored with 34, but the rest of the batting line-up struggled.
Mohammad Basit and Ali Raza picked up three wickets each, while Aaron Hardie chipped in with two to bowl Quetta out for 137.
Return to form
Babar’s century comes at a crucial time after a prolonged lean patch. His previous T20 hundred came back in February 2024, making this comeback even more significant.
The knock not only ended his drought but also sent a strong message ahead of the remainder of the tournament.
Conclusion
Babar Azam’s record-breaking century was a blend of class, control, and dominance. By overtaking legends like Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle in a major milestone, he reaffirmed his stature as one of the finest T20 batters of his generation.