Top 5 Fastest 10000 Runs in T20 Format

Babar Azam’s record for reaching 10,000 T20 runs faster than anyone in history is no longer his most impressive milestone. In April 2026, he did it again at 12,000 breaking Chris Gayle’s record for that mark too, doing it in 338 innings against Gayle’s 343.
Fastest 10000 Runs in T20 Format
The following five are confirmed by ESPNcricinfo’s official records for fastest to the 10,000-run milestone, measured by innings taken:
| Rank | Batter | Innings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Babar Azam | 271 |
| 2 | Chris Gayle | 285 |
| 3 | Virat Kohli | 299 |
| 4 | David Warner | 303 |
| 5 | Aaron Finch | 327 |
1) Babar Azam — 271 Innings
Babar reached the milestone with a 51-ball 72 against Karachi Kings in PSL 2024, needing just six runs coming into the match to seal the record. He broke Chris Gayle’s previous mark by 14 innings, and has continued adding to his legacy since — in April 2026, he became the fastest to 12,000 T20 runs as well, reaching that mark in 338 innings against Gayle’s 343, doing so during another PSL innings for Peshawar Zalmi, an unbeaten 87 against Karachi Kings.
2) Chris Gayle — 285 Innings
The “Universe Boss” was the first player in history to reach 10,000 T20 runs at all, doing so during the 2017 IPL season, before Babar eventually broke his speed record seven years later. Gayle remains the format’s all-time leading run-scorer among players active during his generation, with 14,562 career T20 runs and a record 22 centuries.
3) Virat Kohli — 299 Innings
Kohli reached the milestone playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Mumbai Indians in 2017, becoming just the fifth player in history to cross 10,000 T20 runs at the time. He remains the IPL’s all-time leading run-scorer.
4) David Warner — 303 Innings
Warner’s aggressive, front-foot-dominant approach at the top of the order made him one of the format’s most destructive openers for over a decade, reaching the milestone across a career split between Australia, the IPL, and multiple other global franchise leagues.
5) Aaron Finch — 327 Innings
The former Australian white-ball captain rounds out the verified top five, his tally built on a long career spanning Australian domestic cricket, the IPL, and franchise leagues worldwide as one of the format’s most consistent top-order accumulators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Babar Azam, in 271 innings — a record he set during PSL 2024, breaking Chris Gayle’s previous mark of 285 innings.
Yes — in April 2026 he became the fastest to 12,000 T20 runs as well, reaching that milestone in 338 innings, again breaking a Chris Gayle record (343 innings).
Jos Buttler, who passed Kieron Pollard to become the format’s all-time leading run-scorer in August 2026, with over 14,800 career T20 runs.
