Babar Azam has etched his name in the annals of cricket history, achieving a feat that eluded even the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the World Test Championship (WTC). The former Pakistan captain has become the first Asian batter to surpass 3,000 runs in the prestigious Test competition.
Azam reached this milestone during Pakistan's first Test match against South Africa at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. He needed just two runs to reach the landmark and got there in style with a boundary. In doing so, he has surpassed the WTC run totals of Indian cricketing icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Kohli concluded his WTC career with 2,617 runs, while Sharma retired with 2,716 runs. Babar has overtaken them in fewer innings, solidifying his position as the leading Asian run-scorer in the WTC.
Babar Azam now has 3,021 runs in 37 WTC matches, averaging an impressive 47.95. His score includes eight centuries and 18 half-centuries.
Other Asian batsmen who have scored the most runs in the WTC are Shubman Gill (2826), Rishabh Pant (2731), Rohit Sharma (2716), Dimuth Karunaratne (2642) and Virat Kohli (2617).
Babar's journey in the WTC has been impressive since its inception in 2019. He had a particularly strong run in 2019, averaging 68.44 with 616 runs. While his averages dipped in 2023 and 2024, he has shown recent signs of improvement.
Babar is behind Joe Root (6,080), Steve Smith (4,278), Marnus Labuschagne (4,225), Ben Stokes (3,616), Travis Head (3,300), Usman Khawaja (3,288), and Zak Crawley (3,041) in terms of overall WTC runs. Joe Root of England holds the record for the most runs in the World Test Championship.
In the ongoing Test match against South Africa, Pakistan's middle order experienced a collapse, slipping from 163-1 to 199-5. However, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha orchestrated a recovery with an unbroken 109-run partnership, helping Pakistan to 308 for five.
Babar Azam's achievement is a testament to his consistency and class in Test cricket. He has proven to be a key player for Pakistan in the WTC, contributing significantly to the team's success. His performance in winning causes is particularly noteworthy, with 895 runs at an average of 52.64.
