Jos Buttler Reaches 4,000 T20I Runs with Record-Breaking Efficiency

England’s white-ball leader Jos Buttler added another major chapter to his T20 legacy, reaching 4,000 T20I runs during England’s latest World Cup outing at Eden Gardens. The landmark came early in the chase against Scotland, with Buttler needing only a couple of runs at the start of his innings to cross the mark.

The right-hander nudged into history inside the powerplay, drawing loud applause from the Kolkata crowd and the England dugout. Although his stay ended soon after, the moment carried statistical weight: Buttler reached 4000 T20I runs faster than anyone in terms of balls faced, underlining the tempo that has defined his white-ball career.

Unlike milestone knocks built on marathon innings, this one was about sustained impact over the years. Buttler’s strike rate and boundary frequency separate him from most top-order accumulators in the format. He reached the 4,000-run mark in significantly fewer deliveries than previous pace-setters, overtaking the benchmark previously associated with Rohit Sharma. 

While Virat Kohli still holds the edge for fastest to the milestone by innings, Buttler’s ball-by-ball efficiency sets a new global standard.

What makes the achievement more notable is Buttler’s career arc. He began as a middle-order finisher before reinventing himself as a destructive opener, a shift that lifted both his numbers and England’s scoring patterns. Under his leadership, the England cricket team has built a batting identity centered on early pressure and sustained acceleration.

Fastest T20I 4,000 Runs In Terms of Balls Faced

Player	Total T20I Runs	Balls to Reach 4,000
Jos Buttler (ENG)	4,000	2,670
Rohit Sharma (IND)	4,231	2,861
Virat Kohli (IND)	4,188	2,900
Babar Azam (PAK)	4,223	3,081

Fastest 4000 Runs in Terms of Innings

Player	Innings to 4,000 Runs	Total T20I Runs
Virat Kohli (IND)	107	4,188
Babar Azam (PAK)	112	4,223
Jos Buttler (ENG)	137	4,000
Rohit Sharma (IND)	144	4,231

He also recently moved past James Anderson in overall international appearances for England, adding another durability marker to his résumé, while staying well ahead of former white-ball captain Eoin Morgan in T20I runs.