In the first T20I against New Zealand, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam showcased his batting prowess by securing his 31st fifty, becoming the third-highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals (T20Is). Despite his stellar performance, Pakistan fell short of chasing the target, leading to New Zealand taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

Babar Azam’s fifty came in style, as he played a leader’s knock, scoring 57 runs off 35 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. This innings propelled him to the third position in the list of highest run-scorers in T20Is, trailing behind Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Kohli leads with 4,008 runs, followed by Sharma with 3,853 runs, and Babar Azam with 3,542 runs.

Also Read: Babar Azam Drops To Eighth In Recent ICC Test Rankings

Known for his consistent performances, Babar Azam has three centuries in T20Is and 19 centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs), closing in on Saeed Anwar’s record of most ODI centuries (20).

Before this innings, Babar had faced a lean patch, failing to score a fifty in the last 12 innings. However, his fifty in the first T20I against New Zealand marks a significant return to form for the Pakistani batting maestro. Despite his efforts, Pakistan faced a batting collapse after his dismissal, resulting in New Zealand securing a 47-run victory in the five-match T20I series.

This innings is expected to boost Babar Azam’s confidence, and fans hope to witness a sustained period of top-notch performances from Pakistan’s premier batsman throughout the challenging New Zealand series.