Sahibzada Farhan Shatters Virat Kohli's T20 Century Record in PSL Thriller
In a breathtaking display of power-hitting, Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan rewrote the record books by breaking Virat Kohli's long-standing T20 milestone during a high-octane Pakistan Super League (PSL) encounter in Lahore on Wednesday. Farhan's sensational unbeaten century propelled Multan Sultans to a thrilling six-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in a match that saw a staggering 451 runs scored.
Historic Chase and Record-Breaking Knock
Chasing a daunting target of 226, Multan Sultans executed the fifth-highest successful chase in PSL history, reaching the total with eight balls to spare. The architect of this remarkable victory was Farhan, who anchored the innings with an unbeaten 106 off just 57 balls, featuring a blend of precision and power that left the opposition reeling.
Farhan's innings was not just about personal glory; it was a masterclass in chasing under pressure. He brought up his half-century in a mere 25 balls and maintained a relentless tempo throughout, ensuring the required run rate never spiraled out of control.
Powerplay Blitz and Supporting Acts
The foundation for this historic chase was laid during a blistering Powerplay, where Farhan combined with Australian veteran Steven Smith to put on a dominant 104-run opening stand. Smith smashed a quickfire 46 off 20 balls, helping the Sultans race to 83 runs in the first six overs.
Even as wickets fell at the other end, Farhan held firm. Contributions from Shan Masood (29 off 16) and Arafat Minhas (unbeaten 26 off 11) kept the chase on track. Farhan fittingly sealed the victory in the 19th over, reaching his century and then hitting the winning six to cap off a memorable night.
Farhan Joins Elite T20 Century Club
This knock marked Farhan's ninth T20 century, placing him joint-fourth on the all-time list. More significantly, he surpassed Virat Kohli and Rilee Rossouw to become the second-fastest player to reach nine T20 hundreds in terms of innings played, achieving the feat in just 160 innings. Only the legendary Chris Gayle, with 22 centuries from 127 innings, stands ahead of him in this regard.
Farhan now trails only:
- Chris Gayle (22 centuries)
- Babar Azam (11 centuries)
- David Warner (10 centuries)
on the prestigious list of most T20 hundreds.
Continuing a Record-Shattering Year
This achievement adds to Farhan's growing reputation as a record-breaker. Earlier this year, during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, he made history by:
- Becoming the first player to score two centuries in a single tournament edition.
- Surpassing Virat Kohli's record for most runs in one T20 World Cup edition, amassing 383 runs at an average of 76.60 and a strike rate of 160.25.
Kohli had held that record for over 12 years since scoring 319 runs in the 2014 edition.
Match Context and Team Fortunes
Earlier in the match, Hyderabad Kingsmen posted a formidable 225 for 5, thanks to explosive knocks from Maaz Sadaqat (62 off 26) and Sharjeel Khan (unbeaten 51 off 26). Despite this strong batting performance, the Kingsmen, led by Marnus Labuschagne, slumped to their third consecutive defeat.
In contrast, Multan Sultans registered back-to-back wins to begin their PSL campaign in impressive fashion, with Farhan's historic innings serving as the centerpiece of their early success.
