Rohit surpassed former India skipper Virat Kohli (3,296) and New Zealand’s Martin Guptill (3,299) after Sri Lanka invited the hosts to bat first at the start of the three-match series in Lucknow.
The 34-year-old Rohit, who recently became all-format skipper, put on an opening stand of 111 runs with Ishan Kishan before being bowled by Lahiru Kumara.
He has amassed 3,307 runs, including four centuries, in 123 T20Is since his debut in 2007.
Kohli, who has been rested for the series, is third on the list but amassed his runs in just 97 matches. Second-placed Guptill has played 112 matches.
© Agence France-Presse
