Self-proclaimed ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle’s T20 career ended four and a half years ago. The first batter to reach 14,000 runs in the shortest format, Gayle finished his career with 14,562 runs. Kieron Pollard later overtook him.
After retiring from international cricket and taking up a mentoring role in the IPL, Pollard is now playing in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He had been on the verge of becoming the first player to reach 15,000 runs in T20 cricket.
Pollard could have made history a week ago. On September 11, the Trinbago Knight Riders batter needed 11 runs against Guyana Amazon Warriors to reach the landmark. However, he was dismissed for 10, falling just one run short.
That opened the door for Jos Buttler to overtake Pollard and become the first player to score 15,000 runs in T20 cricket.
Buttler began England’s T20I series against Sri Lanka 110 runs short of the milestone. He moved within touching distance with an 80-run knock in the opening match in Southampton on September 15. He needed just 30 runs in the second game in Cardiff to reach the landmark.
In the fifth over, Buttler pushed Eshan Malinga towards point and took a single to become the first batter to 15,000 T20 runs. He reached the milestone in his 497th innings of his 528th match, averaging 35.46. It took him 6,180 days — almost 16 years and 11 months — to reach the landmark in his T20 career.
Now 39-year-old Pollard and 37-year-old Alex Hales are chasing the 15,000-run mark. Pollard needs just one more run, but his wait has been extended after Trinbago Knight Riders failed to reach the CPL playoffs. Hales, also a Knight Riders batter, faces a longer wait and needs 419 more runs to reach 15,000 in T20 cricket.
