Mohammad Rizwan becomes the only player in T20 history to achieve this feat

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has had a historical T20I calendar year and the player has signed off 2021 with yet another match-winning half-century against West Indies in the third and final T20I of the series.

With his innings of 87 from 45 deliveries, Rizwan became the first player in the history of T20s to ever score 2,000 runs in a calendar year while playing for Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Multan Sultans.

In the current calendar year, the opening batsman has managed to score 2,036 runs at an average of 56.55 and a strike rate of a little over 132.

Breaking record after record, Rizwan has proven himself to be not only one of the best T20 batters in Pakistan but across the globe as well; one of the reasons why Sussex recently announced Rizwan's signing for the majority of the 2022 season.

The previous record for most runs scored in a calendar year was held by West Indian destructive batter Chris Gayle, who has moved down two spots and been replaced by Rizwan and Babar after their phenomenal year.

Here are the leading runscorers in T20s:

• Mohammad Rizwan - 2,036 runs (2021)
• Babar Azam - 1,779 runs (2021)
• Chris Gayle - 1,665 runs (2015)
• Virat Kohli - 1,614 runs (2016)
• Babar Azam - 1,607 runs (2019)

Similarly, Rizwan also leads the charts when it comes to scoring most T20 international runs. HIs flourishing performances have been extremely impressive and he has his record to show for it.

Rizwan scored a total of 1,326 runs in T20 international cricket at a massive average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89. His performances during this calendar year have remained unmatched and these are also the most runs scored on the international stage in a calendar year as well.

Here are the leading runscorers in a T20I calendar year:

• Mohammad Rizwan - 1,326 runs (2021)
• Babar Azam - 939 runs (2021)
• Paul Stirling  - 748 runs (2019)
• Kevin O'Brien - 729 runs (2019)
• Max O'Dowd - 702 runs (2019)

Although records are meant to be broken. However, there is a great chance that Mohammad Rizwan's records are going to be standing for a long while as this form is extremely difficult to replicate.