Veteran Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim has etched his name in the annals of cricket history, setting a unique world record for the most international runs scored without bowling a single delivery. The milestone was achieved during his magnificent century (163 runs off 350 balls) in the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.
Mushfiqur’s marathon innings, his 12th Test century, not only anchored Bangladesh’s first innings total which is well in excess of 600 runs, but also saw him surpass Australian legend Adam Gilchrist. Rahim now boasts 15,502 runs in international cricket across all formats, eclipsing Gilchrist’s career tally of 15,461 runs, all achieved without ever rolling his arm over in an international match.
This rare feat underscores Mushfiqur’s remarkable consistency and longevity as a specialist batter and wicketkeeper (though he has primarily played as a pure batsman in recent years). While many prominent wicketkeeper-batsmen throughout history, including the likes of MS Dhoni, have occasionally bowled in international games, Mushfiqur has remained purely a batting and keeping force.
In addition to this global record, the 38-year-old also became the oldest non-opener to score a Test century in Sri Lanka, surpassing Pakistan’s Younis Khan.
Here’s a look at the top players with the most international runs without bowling a single delivery:
- Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh): 15,502 runs
- Adam Gilchrist (Australia): 15,461 runs
- Quinton de Kock (South Africa): 12,654 runs
- Jos Buttler (England): 11,881 runs
- Jonny Bairstow (England): 11,581 runs
Mushfiqur Rahim’s gritty knock and his new world record firmly place him among the most impactful non-bowling batsmen in the history of the sport, further solidifying his legacy in Bangladeshi and world cricket.
