Buttler overtakes Chris Gayle in T20 run charts

Jos Buttler of England has surpassed West Indies legend Chris Gayle to become the T20 format’s second-highest run scorer. On Thursday, July 23, the Manchester Super Giants’ opening game in The Hundred 2026 versus the London Spirit saw the wicketkeeper-batter achieve this feat.

Buttler made 16 runs off 11 balls before being removed by Adam Zampa.

The former England captain, on the other hand, required only six runs to pass Gayle in the T20 run-scoring charts. The right-handed hitter is currently only 231 runs behind the overall leader, Kieron Pollard, who, unlike his former international partner, is still an active player.

The 39-year-old recently made 11 appearances for MI New York, amassing 321 runs, including an undefeated century.

Buttler struggled in the game’s shortest format at the start of the year, but he gradually regained his genuine form as the year progressed. He scored 526 runs for the Gujarat Titans in the 2026 Indian Premier League, helping the franchise reach the final.

The 35-year-old went on to score his first T20 century in more than two years, hitting 131 from 64 deliveries against India in the fifth T20I at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. The opening batter scored 204.68 runs and hit 12 fours and eight sixes to help England win the series 4-0 over the defending T20 champions.

As things stand, Buttler has a fantastic chance to catch Pollard and take the T20 run-scoring lead outright. The former West Indies captain is nearing the conclusion of his career and may not have many opportunity to expand his advantage at the top.

The Englishman, on the other hand, remains a significant participant on the international arena, competing in franchise cricket around the world, including the IPL, The Hundred, and the SA20 in South Africa. He also recently signed a new three-year contract with Lancashire, putting him eligible for selection in the T20 Blast.

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