babar azam is back at the center of the PSL 11 conversation after Peshawar Zalmi’s latest batting surge put him in a direct race with Kusal Mendis for the season’s top run-getter spot. Mendis has already made history as the first overseas player to reach 500 runs in a single PSL season, while Babar remains close behind with 485 runs. The battle now moves into the playoffs, where Peshawar Zalmi will meet Islamabad United on April 27 at the National Stadium in Karachi.
Mendis sets the pace, babar azam stays within striking distance
Kusal Mendis has reached 500 runs in 9 matches and 9 innings in PSL 11, with an average of 62. 50 and a strike rate of 170. 64. He has also produced four half-centuries and one century, giving Zalmi a fast, reliable opening presence throughout the tournament.
babar azam has matched that momentum with a standout campaign of his own. In 9 matches, he has scored 485 runs, including three fifties and one century, while averaging 80. 83 with a strike rate of 141. 39. The numbers leave him just short of Mendis, but still firmly in contention as the knockout stage begins.
With Peshawar Zalmi already through to the playoffs, the run-scoring race has become one of the strongest storylines heading into the decisive phase of PSL 11. Mendis leads the tournament in runs, yet babar azam remains close enough that every innings could reshape the order before the season ends.
Playoff stage raises the pressure
That tension now carries into Zalmi’s first playoff against Islamabad United on April 27 in Karachi. The winner will advance directly to the final, while the losing side will get another opportunity through the Eliminator against the winner of the second playoff between Multan Sultans and Hyderabad Kingsmen.
For Zalmi, the timing matters. A deep playoff run would give both batters more chances to add to their totals, and the PSL 11 batting title remains open as long as babar azam keeps posting runs at his current rate.
Immediate reaction around the contest
The clearest official marker in this race is the statistical gap itself, with Mendis on 500 and babar azam on 485. Peshawar Zalmi’s captain has stayed productive across the season, and the team’s progression into the playoffs has ensured the contest stays alive.
Within the tournament picture, Mendis is the current leading run-scorer and babar azam is the nearest challenger. That makes their performance in the coming matches especially important, because the top batting honor is still undecided.
What comes next
All eyes now turn to April 27 in Karachi, where Zalmi’s playoff date could shape the final leaderboard in PSL 11. If the matches extend further, babar azam will have a chance to close the gap again, while Mendis will try to protect the historic lead he has already built. The race is tight, the stakes are high, and babar azam remains at the center of it.
