PAK vs NZ: Babar Azam roars back to form to join Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in elite list

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PAK vs NZ: Babar Azam roared back to form with a cracking fifty against New Zealand in the first T20I at the Eden Park in Auckland. The former Pakistan captain, who scored 126 runs only in three-Test series against Australia, joined Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in an elusive top-three list of highest run-scorers in T20I cricket.

Babar Azam went past Martin Guptill to become the third-highest run-scorer in T20I cricket. He went past the New Zealand star who has scored 3531 runs in 122 matches at an average of 31.81, and a strike rate of 135.70.

With his knock which consisted of six fours and two sixes, has scored 3542 runs in 105 matches at an average of 41.67 and a strike rate of 128.84.

Virat Kohli is the leading run-scorer in the format. The 35-year-old has played a total of 105 T20I matches and scored 4008 runs at an average of 52.73 and a strike rate of 137.96. Rohit Sarma is second with 3853 runs in 149 matches at an average of 31.07, and a strike rate of 139.14.

Most runs in T20I cricket

• Virat Kohli: 4008
• Rohit Sharma: 3853
• Babar Azam: 3542
• Martin Guptill: 3531
• Paul Stirling: 3438

However, Babar Azam's innings went in vain as Pakistan lost the first T20I by 46 runs. Tim Southee registered figures of 4/25 in the match and became the first bowler to complete 150 T20I wickets. Pakistan were bundled out for 180 in 18 overs while chasing a 227-run target.

But Babar Azam fans celebrated his comeback to form on social media. Here's how they reacted.