T20I cricket is relatively young, beginning just over ten years ago. Despite this short history, it has seen many outstanding players emerge. While these players may not be as widely recognized as Don Bradman or Viv Richards, they are considered legends in their own right. Modern batsmen in T20s are incredibly talented. Among them, AB de Villiers stands out as one of the best, showcasing exceptional skills. However, only a handful of players have truly dominated international T20 cricket, leaving a lasting mark on the sport.
Here are the top five greatest T20I batsmen of all time.
5. Yuvraj Singh
Some people say Yuvraj Singh didn’t play well in the 2014 World T20 final, which prevented India from winning their second T20 title. But he was crucial in helping India win their first World T20 in 2007. Many remember his great performance in the 2011 World Cup, but his record in T20 international matches is also very good.
He became famous for hitting six sixes in one over against Stuart Broad during the 2007 World T20. This made him score the fastest fifty in just 12 balls, a record that still stands today.
Yuvraj has a great overall record in T20 internationals. He has scored nearly 1,000 runs in 40 matches, with an average of 31 and a strike rate over 140. He has also taken 23 wickets, with an average of just 16 and an economy rate of 7.
ALSO READ: Let’s look at DK’s top 5 innings in his T20 career.
4. Kevin Pietersen
England might not select Kevin Pietersen for the upcoming World T20 in India, but everyone agrees he was one of their top players. Before Eoin Morgan surpassed him last year, Pietersen scored more runs than anyone else for England in T20 cricket. His impressive performance in T20 internationals puts him at No. 4 on the rankings. Even though he played fewer matches than AB de Villiers, he managed to score more runs than the South African captain.
Pietersen scored 1,176 runs in just 37 matches, averaging nearly 38 with a strike rate over 140, despite his highest score being only 79. If England had kept him in the team, he could have ranked even higher on this list.
3. Virat Kohli
It might surprise you, because Virat Kohli isn’t usually seen as someone who wins T20 championships or destroys opponents. But his stats show why he belongs on this list.
In the T20 series against South Africa last year, Kohli became the first Indian to score more than 1000 runs in this format. He achieved this faster than anyone else, in just 28 innings. Even though he hasn’t scored a century yet, he’s the only player with an average above 40 in T20 cricket, which is really hard to do consistently well in. For comparison, AB de Villiers, known for his powerful hitting, averages 22, while Kohli’s average is an impressive 44 with a strike rate over 130.
Considering his age, there’s no reason why Kohli couldn’t become the greatest T20I player ever if he keeps playing as he is now.
2. Chris Gayle
If we were only talking about the best T20 batsmen, Chris Gayle would easily be at the top of the list. He has scored more runs and hit more centuries and sixes than anyone else. But because he hasn’t played many T20 International matches, he’s ranked second on this list.
Despite playing fewer matches, Gayle’s statistics are still impressive. He has scored 1,406 runs in just 45 matches, with an average of 35 and a strike rate over 140. These are remarkable numbers for a batsman who opens the innings, facing the toughest part of a T20 game.
Gayle has been very successful in India, especially in the IPL, and now he aims to help the West Indies win another World T20 title. His team has struggled in longer cricket formats, but he hopes to bring home another world championship in T20 cricket.
1. Brendon McCullum
If Sachin Tendulkar holds all the records in ODIs, then Brendon McCullum has similar dominance in T20Is.
Only one player has played more T20I matches than McCullum. He has scored the most runs, faced the most balls, and hit the most hundreds, fifties, fours, and sixes than any other batsman. In 2008/09, he became the first batsman to score four consecutive fifties, a record that has been matched only once since. McCullum is also the only batsman with two T20I hundreds.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that New Zealand’s chances of winning their first international trophy were significantly affected when McCullum announced he wouldn’t be playing in the World T20 in March.
When a legend of the game, undoubtedly the greatest T20I batsman in history, decides to retire, it surely makes a big impact.
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