Cricket News

Babar Azam Smashes Stunning Century in PSL 2026: Record-Breaking Masterclass

Zayn Kapoor · 29/04/2026 · 4 min read

In This Article

Babar Azam Ignites the Crowd with a Masterclass Century in PSL 2026
A Stylish Century Finished with a Flourish
Rewriting the Record Books: Equalling Fakhar Zaman
Surpassing Mohammad Rizwan’s Milestone
Analysis of a Transformed Approach
Securing His Future in the T20 Setup

Babar Azam Ignites the Crowd with a Masterclass Century in PSL 2026

The atmosphere was electric on Tuesday, April 28, as the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 entered its high-stakes play-off phase. The first play-off match, featuring a clash between Islamabad United and Karachi Kings, held a special significance this year: it marked the first occasion of the season where fans were permitted back into the stands. Thousands of spectators flocked to the stadium, driven by a singular desire to witness the elegance and power of Babar Azam in action.

Babar Azam did not disappoint. Entering the match in stellar form, the right-handed batter delivered a performance for the ages, slamming a breathtaking T20 century that left the crowd in raptures. In an innings characterized by both precision and aggression, Babar reached his hundred off just 57 deliveries, ensuring his team started the play-offs with an authoritative statement.

A Stylish Century Finished with a Flourish

Babar’s innings was a blend of textbook strokes and raw power. He dismantled the bowling attack with 12 boundaries and four towering sixes. However, the highlight of the innings was the manner in which he reached the three-figure mark. While batting on 97, Babar opted for an aggressive approach, smashing a stylish six to bring up his century in a manner that perfectly encapsulated his current confidence levels.

This performance marks Babar Azam’s second century of the PSL 2026 season. On a broader scale, this was his 13th T20 century overall, a feat that brings him closer to the legendary Chris Gayle, who currently holds the record with 22 T20 hundreds. With four centuries now to his name in PSL history, Babar continues to solidify his reputation as one of the most dominant forces in the league’s history.

Rewriting the Record Books: Equalling Fakhar Zaman

Babar Azam finally returned to the pavilion after a commanding 103 runs off 59 balls. Beyond the personal milestone of a century, this innings pushed his total run-tally for PSL 2026 to 588 runs. In doing so, Babar achieved a historic milestone by equalling the record set by Fakhar Zaman for the most runs scored in a single edition of Pakistan’s premier T20 league.

What makes this achievement even more exciting for fans is that the season is not yet over. Irrespective of the final result of the match, Babar still has at least one more game to play this season. Given his current trajectory, it is highly probable that he will not just equal, but comfortably break Fakhar Zaman’s record for the most runs in a single PSL season.

Surpassing Mohammad Rizwan’s Milestone

The brilliance of Babar’s 2026 campaign is further highlighted by his consistency. By crossing the 500-run mark this season, Babar has achieved a feat that few in the history of the league can claim. This marks the fourth time in his PSL career that he has amassed over 500 runs in a single season, having previously reached this milestone in 2021, 2023, and 2024.

With this achievement, Babar Azam has officially surpassed Mohammad Rizwan for the most seasons with 500+ runs in the PSL. Rizwan, a formidable competitor in his own right, sits second on the list with three such seasons.

Analysis of a Transformed Approach

A closer look at Babar’s statistics for PSL 2026 reveals a player who has evolved his game to meet the demands of modern T20 cricket. In 10 innings, the 31-year-old has accumulated 588 runs at a staggering average of 84.00. Perhaps more importantly, he has maintained a strike rate of 146.27.

Total Runs: 588
Average: 84.00
Strike Rate: 146.27
Centuries in 2026: 2

This shift in approach—balancing his natural elegance with a higher scoring rate—has provided a massive boost to Peshawar Zalmi. His century was the cornerstone of a massive total, helping the team post 221 runs on the board after 20 overs, putting them in a commanding position for the match.

Securing His Future in the T20 Setup

Prior to the start of PSL 2026, Babar Azam’s role and place in the national T20 setup had come under significant scrutiny, with critics questioning his strike rate and adaptability in the shortest format. However, after a season of such dominance and record-breaking performances, those doubts have been effectively silenced. His ability to anchor an innings while accelerating rapidly proves that he remains an indispensable asset to Pakistan’s T20 ambitions.

Zayn Kapoor

Zayn Kapoor is a senior cricket correspondent for The Indian Express, acclaimed for his incisive coverage of the sport’s most electric rivalry: India versus Pakistan. An alumnus of Hindu College, University of Delhi, he began his career on the domestic circuit before quickly establishing himself as a sharp analyst and a gifted storyteller. Zayn’s work is defined by his ability to bridge two cricketing cultures; his features often explore the shared histories, mutual admiration, and occasional tensions that make India‑Pakistan contests unrivalled. He has a deep technical grasp of fast bowling and has interviewed some of the greatest pacers from both sides of the border. A recipient of the Sardar Hazara Singh Award and a regular face on television panels, Zayn brings nuance, empathy, and a historian’s eye to every piece he writes. He is also a passionate advocate for preserving cricket’s oral histories and grassroots traditions.