Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan Creates History by Overtaking Virat Kohli's T20 World Cup Record
In a high-stakes Super 8 encounter at the T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan etched his name into the record books by surpassing Virat Kohli's longstanding mark for the most runs in a single edition of the tournament. The historic moment unfolded on Saturday during Pakistan's must-win clash against Sri Lanka, a match critical for their slim semifinal aspirations.
Breaking a Decade-Old Record Set by Kohli
Virat Kohli's record of 319 runs across six innings during the 2014 T20 World Cup had remained unchallenged for over a decade, standing as a benchmark for batting excellence in the tournament's history. Farhan, however, demonstrated exceptional form and composure under pressure to overtake this milestone. His fluent knock not only highlighted his dream run in this year's competition but also came at a crucial juncture for Pakistan, who needed a substantial victory to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
The High-Pressure Context of the Match
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to bowl first, setting the stage for a tense contest. While Sri Lanka were already eliminated from semifinal contention, Pakistan faced a daunting task: they required not just a win, but a massive 64-run victory to improve their net run rate and overtake New Zealand in the standings. To bolster their chances, Pakistan made three strategic changes to their playing XI, with Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, and Salman Mirza missing out, replaced by Naseem Shah, Khawaja Nafay, and Abrar Ahmed. Sri Lanka also adjusted their lineup, bringing in Kamil Mishara and Janith Liyanage.
Dominant Batting Performance and Record Partnership
Batting first, Pakistan launched an aggressive assault from the outset. Farhan, in record-breaking form, partnered with Fakhar Zaman to construct an unbeaten 150-run partnership in just 14 overs. This explosive start saw Pakistan race to 150 without losing a wicket, maintaining a scoring rate exceeding 10 runs per over. The powerplay alone yielded 64 runs, establishing a formidable foundation for a strong total and keeping Pakistan's semifinal ambitions vividly alive.
Playing XIs for the Historic Clash
Pakistan: Salman Agha (c), Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq.
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (wk), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka.
This match not only showcased Farhan's individual brilliance but also underscored Pakistan's resilience in a must-win scenario, as they delivered a commanding performance to stay in the hunt for the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals.
