Faf du Plessis breaks Babar Azam's T20 captaincy century record

South African veteran Faf du Plessis has etched his name into T20 history, surpassing Pakistan star Babar Azam to become the captain with the most centuries in T20 cricket. The 40-year-old smashed an unbeaten 103 off 53 balls, his eighth T20 century as skipper, during Texas Super Kings’ dominant win over MI New York in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025.

Du Plessis whacked his team to 223/4, where he scored 5 fours and 9 sixes, leading to a 39-run victory. His remarkable longevity was also exceptional, as he went on to be the first player to score two T20 centuries beyond the age of 40.

Prior to this innings, Babar Azam, together with Michael Klinger, recorded the most T20 centuries by captains, which stood at seven each. The latest accomplishment of Du Plessis makes him the only one at the top.

• This marks his third century in the MLC 2025 season, making him the leading run-scorer with 783 runs in 22 innings—an average of 37.28.
   
• He is also the leading run scorer in terms of centuries as a captain in the history of MLC, which demonstrates his long-term impact in franchise cricket.

Reflecting on his performance, “The drive inside me is pretty big… I have this fear of not living up to my full potential.” His words added a personal touch to an already historic night.

Quick Stats Snapshot

Player	T20 Centuries as Captain
Faf du Plessis	8
Babar Azam	7
Michael Klinger	7

In a night packed with milestones, Faf du Plessis claimed a new crown as the most prolific T20 captain of all time. Beating legends like Babar Azam and Michael Klinger, his achievement is a testament to his class, resilience, and enduring leadership, even at 40. A truly historic innings.