Pakistan’s rising star Saim Ayub etched his name in the history books as he broke Indian national cricket team captain Rohit Sharma's batting record during the third ODI against South Africa at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. Ayub’s match-winning century not only powered Pakistan to a formidable total but also propelled him past Rohit Sharma in the list of top run-scorers for 2024.

After South Africa opted to bowl first, Kagiso Rabada struck early, dismissing Abdullah Shafique for a duck. However, Saim Ayub’s scintillating 101 off 94 deliveries, laced with 13 boundaries and 2 sixes, turned the tide in Pakistan’s favor. His aggressive strokeplay anchored Pakistan’s innings, with crucial support from former captain Babar Azam. Despite the rain interruptions, Pakistan posted a competitive 308/9 in their allotted 47 overs.

With his magnificent century, Saim Ayub surpassed Rohit Sharma’s 2024 run tally of 1142 across formats. Saim's total for the year now stands at 1221 runs, just 20 runs shy of overtaking India’s Shubman Gill on the list of top international run-scorers in 2024. Ayub's spectacular rise as a young southpaw has drawn attention, as he joins the elite list of high performers this calendar year.

Here is the table displaying the most runs in international cricket in 2024:

By surpassing Rohit Sharma’s run total for 2024, Saim Ayub has placed himself among the top international run-getters of the year. While Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis leads with 1804 runs, followed by India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal with 1605, Saim is steadily climbing the ranks. He now finds himself just 20 runs behind Shubman Gill and could soon overtake him if his impressive form continues.

While Rohit Sharma will have the chance to reclaim his position during India’s upcoming Melbourne Test against Australia, scheduled to begin on December 26, the spotlight currently shines on the promising young Saim Ayub.