Babar Azam didn’t just bat after fresh talk about him falling short like Kohli once did; he flipped the script entirely. While critics drew parallels post that tight loss to Hyderabad Kingsmen, he answered them quietly on the field. Instead of reacting, he focused hard and made history instead. His innings wasn't flashy, but it carved its name into records where words fail. Numbers spoke louder than any reply could have. A calm knock turned noise into silence. What seemed like pressure became fuel under his touch.

Babar marked a quiet record under Karachi's evening sky Thursday, playing for Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League. Reaching 12,000 T20 runs faster than anyone before him, his journey took only 338 innings across 351 matches. Ahead of Chris Gayle by five innings, he slips past the Jamaican hitter who once held the pace. Close behind, Kohli finds himself third, needing 360 innings to arrive at the same point.

Fastest to 12,000 T20 Runs (by innings) by Babar Azam

Babar Azam: 338
Chris Gayle: 343
Virat Kohli: 360
David Warner: 368
Jos Buttler: 405

Babar reached the milestone needing only thirteen runs in the PSL match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings, arriving at it early in the fourth over. That moment placed him as the second Pakistani batsman ever to surpass twelve thousand T20 runs; Shoaib Malik remains ahead, owning the highest tally among countrymen.

Also Read: Babar Azam stuns with bold response when asked about Virat Kohli comparison during PSL conference

Babar Azam’s knock silences the critics

Babar stepped up first, finishing on 87 from just 51 balls: ten boundaries and two big hits lighting the scoreboard. With him, Kusal Mendis built something fierce: their stand ran 191 runs, unbroken ground gained. Together, they pushed Peshawar Zalmi toward an intense total, ending at 246 for three after twenty full overs.

When they came out to bat, Karachi Kings fell apart fast, ending their innings at only 87. Each of Iftikhar Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Sufiyan Muqeem claimed three wickets, pushing the team toward a heavy win.
Earlier, Babar had expressed frustration over constant comparisons with Kohli after the Hyderabad Kingsmen game, saying, “Finish these things. Keep these things to yourself. End the comparison and move on. It’s your misconception that I have not finished matches.”

That next game, his bat spoke loudly, smashing records, silencing doubts without a word.