5 Shocking Stats: Rizwan's Ultimate 2025 Game Plan
Think you know Mohammad Rizwan? These 5 shocking stats reveal why the Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman is a true modern-day cricket legend. Prepare to be amazed.
Aarav Sharma
A lifelong cricket analyst and statistician with a passion for uncovering hidden gems.
5 Shocking Stats That Redefine Mohammad Rizwan's Greatness
When you picture a T20 batting powerhouse, who comes to mind? The brute force of Chris Gayle? The surgical precision of Virat Kohli? The innovative genius of Jos Buttler? These are all fantastic choices, names etched into the very fabric of modern cricket. But what if I told you that one of the most statistically dominant T20 batsmen of the modern era is a quiet, relentlessly determined wicketkeeper from Pakistan who rewrote the record books in a way few have ever seen?
Mohammad Rizwan wasn't an overnight sensation. For years, he was a respected but not always celebrated figure, a gritty middle-order batsman known more for his fight than his flair. Then, a strategic masterstroke moved him to the top of the order, and everything changed. He transformed into a record-shattering run machine, the anchor around which Pakistan's batting revolves. His story isn't just about talent; it's about an incredible work ethic, unwavering faith, and a refusal to be defined by anyone's expectations but his own. These five stats don't just tell a story; they dismantle our preconceived notions of greatness.
Stat 1: The First Man to Conquer the 2000-Run T20 Mountain
Let's start with a number so monumental it almost seems like a typo. In the calendar year 2021, Mohammad Rizwan became the first and only player in history to score over 2000 runs in T20 cricket.
Let that sink in. In a format designed for explosive, short-lived innings, Rizwan amassed a staggering 2,036 runs across all T20 competitions. To put this into perspective, no other player—not Gayle, Kohli, de Villiers, or any other T20 legend—has ever crossed this threshold in a single year.
"This achievement is a testament to not only his sublime form but also his incredible fitness and consistency, playing match after match and delivering time and time again."
The breakdown is even more impressive. Of those runs, a whopping 1,326 came in T20 Internationals (T20Is) alone, which is also a world record for the most T20I runs in a calendar year. He did this at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89. This wasn't just a purple patch; it was a year-long assault on the record books that firmly established him as a global T20 superstar.
Stat 2: The Opener with a Statistically Impossible Average
In T20 cricket, openers are expected to take risks. They go hard in the powerplay, often sacrificing their wicket for a quick start. A good average for a T20I opener is in the low-to-mid 30s. An excellent one might touch 40. Mohammad Rizwan's is simply in a different stratosphere.
As a T20I opener, Mohammad Rizwan maintains a batting average of over 50. This is not just high; it's an anomaly. It demonstrates an unprecedented ability to both anchor the innings and score consistently, a combination that is exceedingly rare in the game's shortest format. He provides the stability of a Test batsman with the scoring ability of a T20 specialist.
How does this compare to other world-class openers? Let's take a look (minimum 50 innings as opener):
| Player | Country | Approx. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Rizwan | Pakistan | ~53.00 |
| Jos Buttler | England | ~38.00 |
| David Warner | Australia | ~33.00 |
| Rohit Sharma | India | ~32.00 |
| Aaron Finch | Australia | ~34.00 |
Note: Averages are approximate and subject to change with each match.
As the table clearly shows, Rizwan isn't just leading the pack; he's running a completely different race. This level of consistency from an opener is what makes him one of the most valuable players in the world.
Stat 3: Mr. Consistent: A Record-Breaking Haul of 50+ Scores
Big scores are great, but consistency wins tournaments. During his historic 2021 run, Rizwan wasn't just accumulating runs; he was providing a solid platform for his team in almost every single game. This is perfectly captured by another mind-boggling record he set that year.
In 2021, Rizwan registered 13 scores of 50+ in T20Is (1 century and 12 fifties). This is the most by any player in a single calendar year. To put that in context, he played 29 matches and passed the 50-run mark in nearly half of them. This is the kind of reliability that captains dream of. While other players might give you a brilliant 80 one day and a 0 the next, Rizwan became the closest thing to a batting guarantee in T20 cricket.
Think of him not just as the fireworks in the display, but as the rock-solid foundation upon which the entire spectacle is built. His ability to consistently churn out significant scores gave Pakistan's explosive middle order the freedom to play with aggression, knowing the innings was in safe hands.
Stat 4: The 48-Hour Miracle: From ICU to World Cup Hero
Some stats can't be found in a scorebook. Mohammad Rizwan's most shocking 'stat' might just be the measure of his incredible courage and resilience during the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Just two days before Pakistan's crucial semi-final clash against Australia, Rizwan was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with a severe chest infection. He was struggling to breathe and was in significant pain. The team doctor, Najeebullah Soomro, later revealed, "He spent two nights in the ICU recovering. He made an incredible recovery and was deemed fit before the match. The decision to play him was made by the whole team management."
"This is a warrior. He’s been a quiet achiever... but he’s got the courage of a lion." - Matthew Hayden, Pakistan's Batting Consultant at the time.
Less than 48 hours after being in an ICU, Rizwan walked out to open the batting for his country on the biggest stage. He didn't just participate; he top-scored for Pakistan, playing a heroic knock of 67 runs off 52 balls. While Pakistan narrowly lost the match, Rizwan's performance was an awe-inspiring display of grit. This isn't just a cricket story; it's a testament to the human spirit's capacity to overcome adversity.
Stat 5: The Ultimate Dual Threat: A Class Apart
It's easy to get lost in Rizwan's batting numbers, but we often forget his primary role: he is an elite wicketkeeper. The energy and skill he brings behind the stumps are world-class. When you combine his keeping prowess with his batting statistics, you find a player who is truly a rare breed.
This leads to our final shocking stat: Mohammad Rizwan is the only wicketkeeper-batsman in T20I history to have a batting average of over 50 (with a minimum of 50 innings played as a designated keeper-batsman). While there have been incredible keepers (like MS Dhoni) and fantastic batting keepers (like Kumar Sangakkara), none have combined the roles in T20Is to produce such a high batting average over a sustained period.
This dual contribution provides immense value. It's like having two specialists in one position. His safe hands and sharp reflexes behind the stumps save runs and create dismissals, while his batting single-handedly wins matches. This unique skill set allows Pakistan the flexibility to pack their side with extra bowlers or all-rounders, a luxury that Rizwan's rare talent affords them.