Kieron Pollard etched his name deeper into cricket folklore by becoming the highest run-scorer in T20 cricket history, surpassing fellow West Indies legend Chris Gayle during a remarkable innings for MI New York in the 2026 Major League Cricket season.The former West Indies captain achieved the milestone while scoring his second career T20 century, taking his tally to 14,582 runs and moving past Gayle’s long-standing record of 14,562 runs. Pollard’s latest feat is another testament to his incredible longevity, consistency and impact in the shortest format of the game.Pollard is also the only cricketer in history to have featured in more than 700 T20 matches, having now played 736 games across domestic leagues around the world.
Most Runs in T20 Cricket History
| Rank | Player | Matches | Runs | Centuries | Fifties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kieron Pollard | 736 | 14,582 | 2 | 67 |
| 2 | Chris Gayle | 463 | 14,562 | 22 | 88 |
| 3 | Alex Hales | 528 | 14,449 | 7 | 92 |
| 4 | Jos Buttler | 510 | 14,371 | 8 | 102 |
| 5 | David Warner | 438 | 14,284 | 10 | 118 |
| 6 | Virat Kohli | 430 | 14,218 | 10 | 110 |
These six batters remain the only players to cross the 14,000-run mark in T20 cricket.
Pollard’s Historic Century Ends in Defeat
Despite Kieron Pollard’s historic century and record-breaking achievement as T20 cricket’s highest run-scorer, MI New York suffered a 30-run defeat to Washington Freedom in MLC 2026.Washington Freedom posted a daunting 245/5, powered by Mitchell Owen’s sensational 155 off 68 balls, while Steve Smith and Mark Chapman provided valuable support. In reply, MI New York’s chase faltered early as Quinton de Kock, Nicholas Pooran and Monank Patel fell cheaply, leaving the side at 34/3.Pollard fought back with a brilliant 100 off 56 balls and surpassed Chris Gayle’s all-time T20 run record during the innings. However, contributions from Corbin Bosch (35) and Romario Shepherd (26) were not enough as MI New York finished on 215/6. Glenn Maxwell’s all-round display, including 2/37 with the ball, helped Washington Freedom secure a memorable victory.
