Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan joins elite list which features Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle after scoring yet another 100 in PSL

Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan, with his recent PSL century, reached Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle's record of four T20 hundreds in a year.

Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan joins elite list which features Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle after scoring yet another 100 in PSL

Sahibzada Farhan scored a brilliant century in the PSL, to become the fifth player after Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and Jos Buttler to score four T20 100s in a year. (via NDTV Sports)

An old name has made a comeback among the Pakistani cricket circles, as Islamabad United opener Sahibzada Farhan most recently, broke a new T20 record. The 29-year-old, in his comeback season for the reigning PSL champions, scored a brilliant hundred in a win over Peshawar Zalmi.

The much-awaited 10th season of the Pakistan Super League is underway. Holders Islamabad United, who boast an impressive squad featuring the likes of captain Shadab Khan, Salman Agha, Jason Holder, Naseem Shah and others, have made a brilliant start to the 2025 campaign. Islamabad defeated Lahore Qalandars in the opening game of the season by eight wickets, followed by a win over Peshawar Zalmi.

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Batting first against Peshawar at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Islamabad got off to a rocky start, losing opener Andries Gous in the second over. However, they recovered from the early setback, thanks to a brilliant 144-run stand off just 72 balls between opener Sahibzada Farhan and New Zealand’s Colin Munro. It helped the visitors post a massive first innings total of 243 runs for the loss of five wickets. 

Sahibzada Farhan stole the show with his 49-ball century, as he ended with an individual score of 106 runs off just 52 balls. He hit an astonishing 13 fours and five sixes, batting at a strike rate of 203.85. The 29-year-old had earlier made his return to Islamabad United, his first PSL franchise, after six long years. His last stint was with Lahore Qalandars last season, where he scored with 266 runs in eight outings. 

Moreover, the 29-year-old opener, who has made nine international T20 appearances for the Pakistan national side, also etched his name in history books with his innings. Farhan cemented his place among cricketing greats like Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler and Chris Gayle, by scoring four T20 centuries in a year. He is the fifth player to have made his name into this elite list.

Farhan scored his first century of the calendar year while playing for Peshawar Region on March 15, in a domestic T20 match. It was followed by a blistering knock of 162 runs off just 72 balls, against Quetta. His third century came in the semi-final of the Pakistan National T20 Cup, against Abbottabad, where he scored 148 off just 72 balls for his side.

Meanwhile, among the other players on the list, ‘Universe boss’ Chris Gayle was the first to achieve this feat in 2011. It was followed by Virat Kohli in 2016, and Jos Buttler in 2022. Young Indian opener Shubman Gill was the most recent addition, when he scored four centuries in 2023.  

Virat Kohli reaches a step closer to becoming the greatest T20 batsman, after scoring 100th T20 fifty

Indian national team star and IPL veteran Virat Kohli most recently, created a new record by becoming the first player to score more 100 half-centuries in T20 cricket. The 36-year-old created the record by scoring a match-winning half-century for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, against Rajasthan Royals. 

Virat Kohli record
Virat Kohli scored his 100th fifty in T20 cricket, a historic milestone for the 36-year-old. (via Indian Express)

Kohli smashed a brilliant fifty off 39 balls, while chasing a 174-run target set by RR, to help RCB win by nine wickets. It marked the 36-year-old’s 100th T20 half-century, an he only remains behind David Warner who has 108 fifties in the shortest format. Moreover, he equaled Warner in one aspect, for the most 50+ scores in the IPL, with both him and the former SRH opener having 66 50+ scores to their name. 

With his recent exploits, Kohli continues to redefine excellence in T20 cricket. By far, he remains fourth in the list of player with the most runs in T20 cricket, having scored 13134 across 405 matches throughout his career.