5 fastest batsmen to 1,000 runs in T20Is

In a T20 match, a batsman has to be dynamic, seize his opportunities and cash in on the mistakes made by the opposition. Unlike the Test and ODI formats of the game, a batsman cannot bide his time in T20 cricket. He has to be on his feet from the word go, and be extremely proactive if he wants to give his team an advantage over the opposition.

While there have been 20 batsmen who have crossed the 1000-run mark in T20I cricket, let us look at 5 batsmen who were the fastest to that mark:

#5 Alex Hales - 32 innings

Alex Hales

At No. 5 comes explosive England opener Alex Hales. Hales has featured in 60 matches for England and scored 1644 runs at an average of 31.02, including a hundred and 8 fifties.

Hales’ only T20 hundred came against Sri Lanka in the year 2014. In a knock comprising 11 fours and 6 sixes, he flattened the Sri Lankan attack and helped his side chase down a target of 190 against the Islanders.

Hales took 32 innings to cross the 1000-run mark in T20 cricket.

#4 Kevin Pietersen - 32 innings

Kevin Pietersen

At No. 4 comes mercurial former England batting sensation Kevin Pietersen. Pietersen was a gifted stroke-maker who made the most audacious of shots look ridiculously easy. He featured in 37 matches for England and scored 1176 runs at an average of 37.94, including 7 fifties.

Pietersen took 32 innings to cross 1000 runs in T20 cricket. The right-hander played a pivotal role in England winning the 2010 T20 World Cup by smashing 248 runs in the tournament, inclusive of 3 fifties at an excellent average of 62.

Also see – World Test Championship Schedule

#3 Aaron Finch - 29 innings

Aaron Finch

The No. 3 spot is taken up by Aaron Finch. The bulky and explosive right-hander has played 52 matches for Australia and scored 1671 runs at an average of 37.13, including 9 fifties and 2 hundreds.

Finch also holds the record for scoring the highest individual score in T20I; he smashed an ethereal 172 against a hapless Zimbabwe bowling attack last year.

Finch took 29 innings to cross the 1000-run mark in T20I cricket. Finch is also the second highest run-scorer for Australia in T20I cricket, behind David Warner (1792 runs).

#2 Virat Kohli - 27 innings

Virat Kohli

At No. 2 comes Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli. Kohli is currently the highest run-scorer in T20I cricket with 2450 runs to his name. He averages a stunning 50 in T20 cricket and has scored as many as 22 fifties in the shortest format of the game.

Kohli took just 27 innings to cross the 1000-run mark in T20 cricket.

Kohli’s batsmanship is built on strong fundamentals, and the Indian skipper follows the textbook even in the shortest format of the game.

#1 Babar Azam - 26 innings

Babar Azam

Taking the top spot in the list is Pakistani batting sensation Babar Azam. Azam has featured in 32 matches for Pakistan and scored 1263 runs at a whopping average of 50.52 and a strike rate of 127.96.

Azam’s ability to read the length in a jiffy coupled with his ability to transfer his weight on either foot with ease make him a joy to watch.

The right-hander took just 26 innings to cross the 1000-run mark in T20I cricket. At the age of 24, Azam is already considered by many as the linchpin of the Pakistani batting lineup. The talented batsman will be expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming T20 World Cup for the Men in Green next year.