The T20 World Cup’s top scores from 2007 to 2024

Since the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, cricket has been viewed in a completely new light due to its shortened format. Batters have emerged with a vengeance, having to choose daring strokes straight out of the cricket literature. Still, a few players adopted a clear-cut perspective and stuck to their tried-and-true formula, which worked.

The first T20 World Cup was held in South Africa, and Chris Gayle’s 117 runs in just 57 deliveries, adorned with 10 maximums and seven boundaries at a strike rate of 205.26, gave fans a sneak peek at what was to come. In the traditional form of cricket, an innings as uncommon as a translucent Jadeite. The game shifted from wrist work to muscle training as Yuvraj Singh scored six maximums against Stuart Broad in an over.

The top scorers in each edition of the T20 World Cup are listed below:

1. Matthew Hayden (2007 Edition)

Already well-known for his powerful hitting, muscle man Matthew Hayden entered an era of unparalleled success in T20 Internationals. With a strike rate of 144.80 and an average of 88.33, the Australian opener amassed 265 runs in six innings. The greatest total he ever made against Bangladesh was an undefeated 73 runs.

2. Tillakaratne Dilshan (2009 Edition)

The T20 World Cup’s second edition saw the “Dil-Scoop” inventor at the peak of his abilities. With a strike rate of 144.74 and an average of 52.83, the prolific Tillakratne Dilshan scored 317 runs in seven innings. His best total, an undefeated 96 runs, came in the second Semi-Final, which Sri Lanka ultimately won, against the West Indies.

3. Mahela Jayawardene (2010 Edition)

Mahela Jayawardene was another batsman from Sri Lanka who dominated the T20 World Cup, leading the Lankan team’s batting attack all by herself. With a strike rate of 159.78 and an average of 60.40, the right-handed batter scored 302 runs in six innings. He played against Zimbabwe and scored the highest of 100 runs. His innings helped Sri Lanka advance to the tournament’s Super 8 round.

4. Shane Watson (Australia- 2012 Edition)

Shane Watson and Jayawardene fought it out for the most runs in the 2012 edition, going neck in neck. In six innings, Watson scored 249 runs, one fewer than Sri Lankan, while the latter failed to score six runs. With 150 strikes per game, Watson’s average score was 49.80. He hit his highest score of 72 runs on a sluggish Colombo track against India.

5. Virat Kohli (India- 2014 Edition)

Virat Kohli began to emerge from his slumber in 2014 following a nightmare tour of England. With an unbelievable strike rate of 129.14 and an average of 106.33, the right-handed batter used the international arena to demonstrate his superiority by amassing 319 runs in seven innings. In the Final, he scored his highest score of 77 against Sri Lanka as other batsmen were struggling and India managed to reach 130, but they lost by six wickets.

6. Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh- 2016 Edition)

In the 2016 tournament, Bangladesh’s batsmen scored 295 runs in six innings at a 73.75 average and a 142.51 strike rate thanks to a masterful performance by Tamim Iqbal. He had an outstanding inning against Oman, scoring 103 runs without losing to send Bangladesh home. During Bangladesh’s pivotal matches against India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, the southpaw was unable to reproduce his touch.

7. Babar Azam (Pakistan- 2018 Edition)

In the 2021 edition, Pakistani batsman Babar Azam scored the most with 303 runs in six innings with a strike rate of 126.25 and an average of 60.60. Experts stated that his greatest performance was a 68-run knock against India, where the Men-In-Green won the game by 10 wickets. His highest score of 70 runs came against Namibia.

8. Virat Kohli (India- 2022 Edition)

The Indian batting legend had to overcome a disastrous two-year run, which included giving up his leadership, acknowledging mental health issues, and choosing Australia as his venting place. Interestingly, Virat Kohli amassed 292 runs at a strike rate of 136.40 and an impressive average of 98.66 in just six innings. Every father will instill in his children the hand-picked masterclass of his undefeated 82-run knock against Pakistan, where India had dug themselves into a defeatist blackhole.