In one of the most celebrated moments in Pakistan cricket history, opening batter Sahibzada Farhan has shattered one of cricket’s most iconic records, surpassing India legend Virat Kohli to become the highest run-scorer in a single edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The historic moment arrived on February 28, 2026, during Pakistan’s must-win Super 8 clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Farhan smashed the first ball of the sixth over from Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka to the fence, breaking Kohli’s tally for most runs in a T20 World Cup edition.
The Record That Stood for 12 Years
Kohli had set the previous benchmark during the 2014 T20 World Cup, amassing 319 runs in six innings at a jaw-dropping average of 106.33. For over a decade, the record remained unbroken, with only a select few players, including Pakistan’s Babar Azam in 2021, managing to cross the 300-run threshold.
Farhan’s Stunning Stats in T20 World Cup 2026
Farhan stretched his total to an astonishing 325 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026, cementing his position as the highest run scorer of the tournament. Here’s a breakdown of his remarkable campaign:
- Total Runs: 325+ (and counting)
- Innings Played: 7
- Century: 1 (100* vs Namibia in group stage)
- Fifties: 3 (including vs England in Super 8)
- Average: 70.75 | Strike Rate: 158.10
- 50+ scores: 4 equalling Virat Kohli, Babar Azam and Matthew Hayden for most fifty-plus scores in a single T20 World Cup edition
Double Record in One Innings
Earlier in the same innings, Farhan also broke the record for most runs in a single T20 World Cup edition by a Pakistan player, crossing Babar Azam’s 304-run record set in the 2021 edition. This made the Pallekele knock a double record-breaking masterpiece.
All-Time Highest Run Scorers in Single T20 WC Edition:
The leaderboard reads like a hall of fame, Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan holds third place with 317 runs, while Pakistan’s Babar Azam sits fourth with 303 runs from the 2021 edition.
Farhan’s sublime consistency allowed the aggressive Fakhar Zaman to go berserk at the other end, as Pakistan posted a massive total against Sri Lanka. The 26-year-old right-hander from Pakistan has announced himself as a global superstar, and the cricketing world is taking notice.
