Zimbabwe’s talismanic all-rounder Sikandar Raza has scripted a golden chapter in cricket history by surpassing Indian great Virat Kohli’s record for the most Player of the Match (POTM) awards in T20 internationals among full-member nations. The 39-year-old achieved the feat on Saturday, September 6, during Zimbabwe’s emphatic five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second T20I in Harare.

Raza delivered a sensational bowling spell, returning 3 wickets for just 11 runs in his four overs, dismantling Sri Lanka’s batting order and guiding Zimbabwe to restrict the visitors to a mere 80 runs in 17.4 overs. His match-winning effort earned him his 17th POTM award in T20Is, taking him past Kohli’s tally of 16. Current Indian T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav is also level with Kohli at 16.

In the overall standings, Raza now sits second only to Malaysia’s Virandeep Singh, who leads the global list with 22 POTM awards in 102 T20Is.

Most Player of the Match awards in T20Is (overall):

  1. Virandeep Singh (Malaysia) – 22
  2. Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) – 17
  3. Virat Kohli (India) – 16
  4. Suryakumar Yadav (India) – 16
  5. Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan) – 14
  6. Rohit Sharma (India) – 14

While Raza stole the spotlight, Zimbabwe’s bowlers as a unit were relentless. Brad Evans picked up 3/15 in 2.4 overs, while towering quick Blessing Muzarabani struck twice. Their combined effort condemned Sri Lanka to their second-lowest ever total in T20Is.

Lowest T20I totals for Sri Lanka:

  • 77 vs South Africa, New York, June 2024
  • 80 vs Zimbabwe, Harare, September 2025 
  • 82 vs India, Visakhapatnam, 2016
  • 87 vs Australia, Bridgetown, 2010
  • 87 vs India, Cuttack, 2017

For the visitors, only three batters—Kamil Mishara (20 off 20), skipper Charith Asalanka (18 off 23), and ex-captain Dasun Shanaka (15 off 21)—managed to cross double digits. With the ball, pacer Dushmantha Chameera fought hard with figures of 3/19, but Zimbabwe comfortably chased the modest target to level the series.

Raza’s achievement not only reflects his longevity and consistency in international cricket but also underscores his stature as one of the finest match-winners to emerge from Zimbabwe. With form and fitness still on his side, the veteran all-rounder could well push further towards Virandeep Singh’s world record of 22 POTM awards in the shortest format.