Kieron Pollard becomes the highest run-scorer in Men's T20 cricket history — Surpasses Chris Gayle with a century in MLC 2026
Kieron Pollard becomes men's T20 cricket's all-time leading run-scorer, surpassing Chris Gayle with a stunning unbeaten century in MLC 2026.
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Kieron Pollard etched his name into the record books by becoming the highest run-scorer in men's T20 cricket during the 2026 edition of Major League Cricket (MLC). The former West Indies captain achieved the historic feat while representing MI New York against Washington Freedom in Dallas, Texas, surpassing the long-standing record held by Chris Gayle.
Pollard reached the milestone in emphatic fashion, launching a six during his unbeaten century off just 56 deliveries. The knock took his career T20 run tally to 14,582 runs from 736 matches, moving him ahead of Gayle's previous record of 14,562 runs and placing him at the summit of the all-time T20 run-scoring charts.
The achievement is another testament to Pollard's remarkable longevity and consistency in the shortest format. Having played in domestic T20 leagues across the world for nearly two decades, he remains the only cricketer in history to feature in more than 700 T20 matches, further cementing his legacy as one of the format's greatest-ever players.
Pollard smashes 100* off 56 balls for MI New York — reaches 14,582 T20 runs to dethrone the Universe Boss
Kieron Pollard created history in Major League Cricket 2026 by becoming the highest run-scorer in men's T20 cricket. The current MI (Mumbai Indians) batting coach achieved the milestone while playing for the franchise against Washington Freedom in Dallas.
The veteran all-rounder scored an unbeaten 100 off 56 balls, bringing up only the second T20 century of his career. During the knock, Pollard surpassed Chris Gayle's record of 14,562 runs and moved to the top of the all-time T20 run-scoring charts with 14,582 runs.
See also -Watch: Glenn Maxwell's hilarious run-out of Quinton de Kock stuns fans — MLC 2026
Despite Pollard's historic innings, MI New York ended up on the losing side. Washington Freedom posted a massive 245 for 5 and went on to register a comfortable 30-run victory. Pollard now leads the T20 run charts, followed by Chris Gayle, Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, David Warner, and Virat Kohli, with all six players having crossed the 14,000-run mark in the format.
From 736 matches to the summit: How Pollard's 20-year T20 journey made him the greatest run-scorer in the format's history
Kieron Pollard's journey to becoming the highest run-scorer in men's T20 cricket is a testament to his longevity and consistency. When the Mumbai Indians signed him for ₹6.2 crore at the 2010 IPL auction, Pollard was still an unproven international player. However, his explosive performances in domestic T20 cricket had already established him as one of the most feared power-hitters in the game.
Over the next 20 years, Pollard became a global T20 icon, representing franchises across almost every major league in the world. While he also enjoyed a successful international career for the West Indies, his biggest impact came in franchise cricket, where he built an unmatched legacy as a finisher and match-winner.
Kieron Pollard's T20 Record Across Major Competitions
| Tournament | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20 Internationals | 101 | 1,569 | 75* | 25.30 | 135.14 |
| IPL | 189 | 3,412 | 87* | 28.67 | 147.32 |
| CPL | 138 | 3,192 | 104 | 34.69 | 151.63 |
| PSL | 53 | 1,149 | 73 | 38.30 | 162.28 |
| ILT20 | 35 | 885 | 86 | 44.25 | 157.75 |
| Major League Cricket | 25 | 588 | 100* | 34.58 | 160.65 |
| Vitality Blast | 34 | 687 | 89* | 36.15 | 165.14 |
| BPL | 36 | 707 | 62 | 27.19 | 143.11 |
| BBL | 22 | 378 | 65* | 22.23 | 147.65 |
| The Hundred | 15 | 270 | 45 | 38.57 | 157.89 |
| CLT20 | 28 | 649 | 72* | 30.90 | 154.15 |
Pollard's remarkable consistency across leagues and conditions helped him accumulate 14,582 T20 runs from 736 matches. By surpassing Chris Gayle's tally of 14,562 runs, the former West Indies captain climbed to the top of the all-time T20 run-scoring charts, adding yet another milestone to one of the greatest careers the format has ever seen.
Washington Freedom win by 30 runs despite Pollard's historic knock — Mitchell Owen's 155(68) steals the show
Washington Freedom secured a 30-run victory over MI New York despite Kieron Pollard’s historic century. The match was dominated by Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen, who played a stunning innings of 155 off just 68 balls — the highest individual score in Major League Cricket history. He reached his century in just 41 balls and produced one of the most destructive knocks in the competition.
Owen was well supported by Steve Smith and Mark Chapman, helping Washington Freedom post a huge total of 245 for 5. Their contributions ensured MI New York was always under pressure in the chase.
The reply got off to a poor start for MI New York. Quinton de Kock and Monank Patel fell in the opening over, while Nicholas Pooran was dismissed soon after by Glenn Maxwell. At 64 for 5, MI New York looked out of the contest before Pollard led a strong fightback.
Pollard built key partnerships with Romario Shepherd and Corbin Bosch to revive the innings. He brought up only the second T20 century of his career, finishing unbeaten on 100 off 56 balls with 11 fours and four sixes.
However, Washington Freedom held on for a comfortable win, while Pollard still finished the match as the biggest talking point after climbing to the top of the all-time T20 run-scorers list with 14,582 runs, ahead of Chris Gayle (14,562), Alex Hales (14,449), Jos Buttler (14,371), David Warner (14,284), and Virat Kohli (14,218).
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