Babar Azam’s PSL Hundred Puts Him Level With Kohli In T20 Stands

Babar Azam smashed an unbeaten PSL century, lifting Zalmi to 255 and matching Virat Kohli’s record for 47 hundred-plus T20 partnerships.

Key Takeaways

• Babar Azam hit an unbeaten 100 off 52 balls, ending a 783-day wait for a T20 hundred.
• Zalmi piled up 255-3, one of the biggest totals ever seen in PSL history.
• Babar’s latest century stand took him level with Virat Kohli on 47 hundred-plus T20 partnerships.
• The innings also put Babar among the joint top PSL centurions and kept him close to Chris Gayle’s overall T20 century mark.
• For Zalmi, the scoreline is a statement that their top order can set match-winning totals on demand.

A Century That Ended A Two-Year Drought

Babar Azam’s unbeaten hundred in the 2026 Pakistan Super League was more than a milestone; it was a release after a long run without a T20 century. He reached three figures on the final ball of the innings, ending a gap of 67 innings and 783 days since his last hundred, a stretch that had started to overshadow his usual consistency.

The knock was built on control as much as aggression. Babar scored 100 from 52 balls, struck six fours and four sixes, and played just one dot ball, keeping the innings moving without a slow patch. Instead of relying on one explosive over, he kept taking the safest available boundary option, which is why Quetta never found a “hold” phase.

For a batter often judged harshly on strike rate, this was a clear response in the language T20 teams value most: tempo. Zalmi did not need a late scramble because their captain pushed the run rate early and kept it high. In a season where teams are regularly crossing 200, that ability to stay ahead of the game is what separates big totals from merely good ones.

What The Kohli Partnership Tie Says About Consistency

The bigger record note came through the partnership column. The century stand in Karachi took Babar to 47 hundred-plus partnerships in T20 cricket, matching Virat Kohli’s mark at the top of the list. In a format where line-ups change often and matchups are planned ball by ball, reaching that number points to repeatability: a batter who can build, accelerate, and stay relevant across different roles and conditions.

It is also a useful way to understand impact beyond individual scores. A century partnership usually means one thing: the bowling side lost control for an extended period. Whether the partner changes or the venue changes, the player who repeatedly features in those stands is typically the one dictating pace, rotating strike at the right moments, and punishing loose lengths when the field is spread.

The tie with Kohli also places Babar in a global context at a time when T20 batting is moving quickly. Scoring is up, but bowling plans are more detailed than ever, with data-driven matchups and predictable “hard length” patterns. Matching a benchmark set by one of the format’s most prolific run-makers reinforces that Babar’s numbers are not isolated to one league or one type of pitch.

Zalmi’s 255 And Where It Sits In PSL History

Zalmi’s 255-3 is now the third-highest total in PSL history, the highest ever recorded by Peshawar Zalmi, and the highest PSL total at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium. Only two totals sit above it: Quetta Gladiators’ 263-3 against Islamabad United in 2025 and Multan Sultans’ 262-3 against Quetta in 2023.

Kusal Mendis was central to the damage with 83, adding 135 with Babar for the second wicket. That partnership removed the typical “settling” phase and forced Quetta into defensive lines early. Even with wickets from Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed, and Alzarri Joseph, Quetta could not slow the scoring enough to regain control.

What This Innings Changes For Babar’s Season Outlook

Babar’s century also pushed him level with Kamran Akmal, Rilee Rossouw, and Usman Khan for the most PSL hundreds, while moving his overall T20 century count to 12. These are not just vanity numbers; they reflect how often he turns starts into match-shaping scores in high-pressure environments.

For Zalmi, a 250-plus total can shift a campaign’s confidence quickly. It gives bowlers margin, forces opponents to chase at uncomfortable rates from the first over, and changes how teams set fields and allocate matchups. If Babar carries this tempo forward, Zalmi’s batting becomes harder to plan against because there may be no “quiet overs” to target.

The most important part is sustainability. One huge total can be an outlier, but the process behind it—early intent, long partnerships, and clean finishing—can be repeated. If Zalmi can pair this batting approach with even average bowling execution, they become a side that can win matches in multiple ways, not only in low-scoring conditions.

Most Hundred-Plus Partnerships In T20 Cricket