Pakistan's cricket captain Babar Azam has etched his name in the annals of cricket history by achieving a remarkable milestone of 15000 runs in international cricket. The prolific batsman reached this landmark during the ongoing World Test Championship match against Bangladesh in Karachi.
Historic Achievement During WTC Match
The moment of glory arrived on November 8, 2024 when Babar Azam, playing his 262nd international match, crossed the 15000-run threshold. What makes this achievement even more special is that he became the fifth Pakistani batsman to reach this elite milestone, joining the legendary company of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, and Javed Miandad.
Babar's journey to this landmark has been nothing short of spectacular. At just 29 years of age, he has demonstrated consistent excellence across all three formats of the game. His batting average of 48.84 in international cricket speaks volumes about his reliability and class as a modern-day batting great.
Breaking Down the Numbers
When we analyze Babar Azam's 15000 international runs, the distribution across formats reveals his versatility as a complete batsman. In Test cricket, he has amassed 3897 runs with an impressive average of 47.52. His ODI performance is even more remarkable, scoring 5729 runs at an outstanding average of 56.73. The T20I format has seen him accumulate 4023 runs, maintaining a solid average of 41.05.
The statistics become even more impressive when we consider his century count. Babar has smashed 31 international hundreds throughout his career, with 10 coming in Test matches, 19 in ODIs, and 3 in T20 Internationals. His ability to convert starts into big scores has been a hallmark of his batting prowess.
Rapid Ascent to Cricket Greatness
Babar Azam's journey to 15000 international runs has been characterized by rapid progress and consistent performance. He reached the 10000-run milestone in 2021 and has since added another 5000 runs in just three years, demonstrating his accelerating growth as a batsman.
What sets Babar apart is his ability to maintain high standards across different conditions and against all opponents. His technique, temperament, and hunger for runs have made him one of the most feared batsmen in contemporary cricket. The recent achievement places him in an exclusive group of Pakistani batsmen who have dominated international cricket over the years.
The timing of this milestone is particularly significant as it comes during an important World Test Championship match. Pakistan's campaign in the WTC 2023-25 cycle has been gaining momentum, and Babar's consistent contributions with the bat have been instrumental in the team's performances.
As Babar Azam continues to scale new heights, cricket enthusiasts and experts alike are watching with great interest. His achievement of 15000 international runs at such a relatively young age suggests that many more records await this talented batsman in the coming years.
