Babar Azam becomes second fastest batter to breach 4000-run mark in ODI cricket

Pakistan batting sensation Babar Azam went past a significant milestone during the first ODI against Australia on Tuesday (March 29). The Pakistan skipper breached the 4000-run mark in ODI cricket and became the 15th batter from his country to go past the landmark.

Babar was in good form in the series opener against the Aussies and scored a fluent 57 off 72 deliveries, in an innings laced with six boundaries. Azam currently has scored 4042 runs in his ODI career at a stellar average of 56.92 and a strike rate of close to 90.

Apart from that, the 27-year-old has also plundered 14 centuries and 18 half-centuries with the willow for the Pakistan side in ODI cricket. Another important feat accomplished by Azam is that he is the fastest Pakistan batter and the second-fastest in ODI cricket ever to breach the 4000-run mark.

Babar Azam accomplishes a stellar feat in ODI cricket

Babar Azam breached the 4000-run mark in just 82 innings and is quicker to the landmark than legends like Virat Kohli, Vivian Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, and Brian Lara. Only South African batting great Hashim Amla (81 innings) has gone past 4000 ODI runs faster than Azam.

The third place in the list is occupied by West Indian batting icon, Sir Vivian Richards, who went past 4000 ODI runs in 88 innings. England batter Joe Root occupies the fourth spot, having breached the 4000-run barrier in 91 innings. Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli is at the 5th spot in the list, having scored his 4000th ODI run in his 93rd innings.

Australia beat Pakistan in the first ODI by 88 runs. Australia set the Pakistan side a stiff target of 314 for a victory. Even though Imam-ul-Haq scored a century and Azam chipped in with a fifty, the other Pakistan batters failed to step up to the occasion, as the kangaroos thrashed their opponents.

Here is the list of the five batters who are the fastest to 4000 ODI runs