Ibrahim Zadran Misses World Cup Century But Goes Past Rahmanullah Gurbaz For 'This' Record

Ibrahim Zadran scored a magnificent 95 vs Canada. [Source - AFP Photos]

The ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 group stage is closing to its business end before the action moves to the Super 8 round. This has been an epic couple of weeks in the tournament where many unseen moments happened and multiple records broken across venues, keeping fans invested throughout.

One such moment arrived during Afghanistan’s final Group D clash against Canada in Chennai, where Ibrahim Zadran quietly etched his name into the record books. In a competition dominated by heavyweights, this milestone stood out as a special highlight for Afghanistan on the global stage.

It was a bittersweet campaign overall, as Afghanistan unfortunately could not go through to the Super 8 round after losing both of their first games, including a heartbreaking double Super Over defeat against South Africa. Yet, with Zadran’s name headlining the record books, they might still return home with satisfaction.

Ibrahim Zadran Registers Highest Individual Score for Afghanistan in T20 World Cup

In a significant achievement, Ibrahim Zadran now holds the record for the highest individual score for Afghanistan in T20 World Cup history after his unbeaten 95 against Canada in Chennai during their last group stage game in T20 World Cup 2026. The milestone innings pushed him to the top of the charts in Afghanistan’s short but impactful tournament journey.

He surpassed teammate Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who had briefly owned the record with a stunning 84 against South Africa in Ahmedabad earlier in this edition of the T20 World Cup. That knock had come just days before, underlining how quickly Afghanistan’s batting records have evolved on cricket’s biggest stage.

Highest Individual Score for Afghanistan in T20 World Cups

Gurbaz also occupies the third spot with his memorable 80 against New Zealand in Providence during the 2024 edition. That innings played a pivotal role in Afghanistan beating New Zealand and later scripting history by qualifying for their first-ever ICC tournament semifinal at senior level, marking a defining moment in the nation’s cricketing rise.

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Ibrahim Zadran Powers Afghanistan to 200 With Unbeaten 95

After being asked to bat first in their final T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Canada, Ibrahim Zadran began cautiously while Rahmanullah Gurbaz provided early fireworks. Gurbaz’s brisk start powered Afghanistan to 49 in the powerplay before his dismissal shifted responsibility firmly onto Zadran’s shoulders.

Zadran then steadied the innings alongside Sediqullah Atal, stitching a crucial 95-run stand for the third wicket. He targeted Canada’s middle-overs bowlers with calculated aggression, finding timely boundaries and bringing up a composed half-century in just 33 deliveries to keep momentum intact.

With the slog overs approaching, Zadran accelerated further in partnership with Azmatullah Omarzai, adding 54 runs in the final four overs to lift Afghanistan to 200. Finishing unbeaten on 95 off 56 balls, including seven fours and five sixes, he rewrote Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup record books emphatically.

Ibrahim Zadran Symbolises Afghanistan’s T20 Rise Despite Super 8 Heartbreak

Afghanistan’s rise in the shortest format has been nothing short of remarkable. They reached the semifinals of the previous T20 World Cup, underlining their rapid growth among the elite. Unfortunately, they narrowly missed out this time, but their consistent competitiveness signals a team firmly established on cricket’s global stage.

Players like Ibrahim Zadran embody that progress. Afghanistan’s leading T20I run-scorer since 2025, he struggled initially, impacting results. However, a resilient 53 against the UAE followed by an unbeaten 95 showcased his value, reaffirming his importance and central role in Afghanistan’s batting future.

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