Stirling becomes most capped T20I player surpassing Rohit

Ireland captain Paul Stirling etched his name into the record books on Thursday by becoming the most capped player in men’s T20 International history, surpassing former India skipper Rohit Sharma during the Irish’s opening T20I win against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai. 

Stirling took the field for his 160th T20I, going past Rohit’s long-standing record of 159 appearances. Rohit, who retired from T20Is after leading India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title, had held the mark since his debut in 2007.

George Dockrell is third on the all-time T20I appearances list with 153 matches, followed by Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi (148) and England captain Jos Buttler (144).

The milestone underlined Stirling’s remarkable longevity and consistency in the shortest format. Since making his T20I debut against Pakistan in 2009, the 35-year-old currently sits fourth on the all-time T20I run-scorers’ list with 3,874 runs, including one century and 24 half-centuries, behind Babar Azam, Rohit and Virat Kohli. He has also delivered defining performances on big occasions, notably in the World T20 Qualifier finals against Afghanistan in 2012 and 2013.

Although his bowling duties have been limited in recent years due to a back injury, Stirling has previously contributed with the ball, including during Ireland’s famous World Cup victory over England in 2011.

His consistent performances have earned him regular stints on the franchise circuit, featuring in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), ILT20, SA20, and The Hundred.