Nigar Sultana Joty becomes first from Bangladesh to complete 2000 T20I Runs

Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana Joty has achieved another remarkable milestone by surpassing 2,000 runs in Women’s T20I cricket, becoming the first Bangladeshi cricketer to reach this landmark.

During Bangladesh’s clash against the West Indies, Sultana entered the game just 23 runs shy of 2,000 T20I runs. She reached the milestone, adding another significant achievement to her already illustrious career.

Nigar Sultana made her T20I debut against Pakistan in 2015 and quickly established herself as a vital figure in Bangladesh’s batting lineup. Her breakout performance came during the 2016 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where she emerged as the team’s leading run-scorer, solidifying her presence on the global stage.

A defining moment in Sultana’s career came during the South Asian Games Women’s Cricket event when she scored an unbeaten 113 against the Maldives, registering the highest individual score for Bangladesh in T20Is—male or female. In that same match, she set the record for the highest third-wicket partnership in T20Is, alongside Fargana Hoque, a record that still stands. Her historic century earned her the Player of the Match award.

Sultana has proven herself as a skilled wicketkeeper-batter. She was Bangladesh’s top run-scorer in the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup, amassing 114 runs across four innings. Her ability to perform consistently in high-pressure tournaments has been a hallmark of her career.

🚨 Milestone Alert 🚨

Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana Joty completes 2000 T20I runs.

She becomes first and only batter from Bangladesh to complete this feat 👏#CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup2024 pic.twitter.com/rGFPzn0dtI

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 10, 2024

In January 2022, Sultana was appointed captain of the Bangladesh women’s cricket team for the Commonwealth Games Cricket Qualifier in Malaysia. Under her leadership, Bangladesh continued to shine, with Sultana playing a pivotal role in their qualification for the 2022 Women’s T20 World Cup. She finished as the team’s leading run-scorer in the World Cup Qualifier, accumulating 180 runs in five innings, including two half-centuries. During the same tournament, she reached another milestone by surpassing 1,000 T20I runs.

Now, with over 2,000 T20I runs to her name, the 27-year-old continues to be the backbone of Bangladesh’s batting unit. With eight half-centuries and one century, Sultana boasts a notable average of 26.71 in WT20Is.