Babar Azam and Virat Kohli

Babar Azam Takes T20I Run-Scoring Crown, But Can Kohli Reclaim It?

Pakistan’s Babar Azam has surged to the top of the leaderboard for most runs scored in Men’s T20 Internationals (T20Is), surpassing long-time leader Virat Kohli during the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2024.

Babar’s Ascent and Kohli’s Struggles

Azam has been in top form, amassing 90 runs in his first three World Cup matches. In contrast, Kohli has found runs difficult to come by, managing just 5 runs in his two outings. This shift has resulted in Azam overtaking Kohli’s previous record.

Harbhajan Singh on Kohli’s Focus

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh believes Kohli’s primary focus isn’t regaining the top spot but scoring runs for India. Singh suggests Kohli is more concerned with getting back into form and contributing to the team’s success, particularly as the tournament moves to the Caribbean with potentially more batting-friendly pitches.

Experience and Determination

Despite his current slump, Kohli’s experience and work ethic are undeniable. Singh highlights Kohli’s ability to overcome challenges and suggests he’ll be putting in the hard work to get back to his run-scoring best.

A Statistical Rivalry

While statistics show Kohli still boasts a higher career average (50 vs. 40), the race for the most T20I runs has a new leader. With both players still active, it will be interesting to see if Kohli can bridge the current gap and reclaim the top spot.