While the Super 12 stage will begin with a clash between Australia and South Africa, arch-rivals India and Pakistan will face off in Dubai on October 24 to set the tone of the competition.
Today we take a look at the batsmen who have set the biggest stage of T20 cricket on fire in the past. Batsmen smashing bowlers in all corners of the park in T20s is a sight that is loved by everyone and there have been batsmen who have effortlessly taken it up a notch, taking their individual and team performances up a notch in the competition. has done.
A look at the top five most successful batsmen in the T20 World Cup over the years:
Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka – 31 matches | 1016 runs)
One of the finest batsmen of all time, Sri Lanka legend Mahela Jayawardene has it all when it comes to batsmen scoring huge in the T20 World Cup. Mahela – the first and only player to score 1000 runs in the T20 World Cup, sits at the top of the table among the top run-scorers in the competition with a total of 1016 runs. In a total of 31 T20 World Cup matches that Mahela played between 2007 and 2014, the top-order batsman scored an average of over 39, including 6 half-centuries and a century. Mahela’s only T20 World Cup century was against Zimbabwe in the 2010 edition, when he scored 100 runs in just 64 balls. The veteran Lankan batsman scored his runs at a brisk pace in the T20 World Cup as well – at a strike rate of 134.74. Overall he hit 111 fours and 25 sixes in the competition – often giving him solid starts as top-order batsmen.
Chris Gayle (West Indies – 28 matches | 920 runs)
Flamboyant opener Chris Gayle turned 42 last month but remains a T20 icon and one of the most destructive players on the planet in the shortest format. Just 97 runs short of becoming the highest run-scorer of all time in the T20 World Cup, Gayle will represent West Indies for the 7th time this time in the T20 Carnival, having played all other editions of the tournament. With a total of 920 runs in the competition so far, the stylish Jamaican is currently second on the list of highest run-getters in the T20 World Cup. The only batsman to score 2 T20 World Cup centuries, Gayle has been an absolute run-machine for West Indies in marquee competition. With an average of 40 and a strike rate of over 146, Gayle has shown no mercy to the opposition bowlers version after version. 60 sixes in the competition – almost double that of second-ranked Yuvraj Singh (33) in the list of most sixes in the tournament – Gayle has shown what brute force and incredible time in the shortest format brings to the table. Gayle played a total of 28 T20 World Cup matches between 2007 and 2016.
Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka – 35 matches | 897 runs)
One of the most influential top-order batsmen in the modern era, Tillakaratne Dilshan changed the way T20 is played during his runs in the international arena. His famous heart-scoop and other out-of-the-box shots of scoring runs made him one of the most unorthodox yet successful batsmen in the format. Over the years, the Sri Lankan legend played a key role in cementing his country’s legacy in the T20 World Cup. With a total of 897 runs from 35 games, Dilshan finished as the second highest run-scorer for his country (so far) in T20 World Cup overall. Although Dilshan didn’t have a ton to his name in the World Cup between 2007 and 2016, his 6 half-centuries often gave Sri Lanka a solid platform to raise big totals and chase down the target against the opposition. Dilshan’s unbeaten 96 was the best score in the semi-final against West Indies in the 2009 edition. Known for giving brilliant starts, Dilshan batted at a strike rate of over 124 and has 101 fours and 20 sixes to his name in the T20 World Cup.
Virat Kohli (India – 16 matches | 777 runs)
Virat Kohli may be captaining Team India for the last time in the T20 World Cup, but as a batsman, Virat has not been able to do anything on the stage of T20 cricket carnival yet. At 32, Virat may still have at least 2-3 World Cups left and his success so far is unimaginable. An average of over 86 shows how the legend of the modern era has approached the competition. Between the 2012 and 2016 editions, Virat has played a total of 16 matches in the competition and has 777 runs to his name. Although Virat has yet to score a century in this tournament, his 9 half-centuries and a strike rate of over 133 have made him one of the most destructive batsmen to have played in the tournament. His highest score of 89 not out in the semi-final against West Indies in the previous edition was a losing cause, but it was a brilliant innings. Playing his last T20 World Cup as India captain, Virat will surely be eyeing a title and for that to happen the captain will have to contribute with the bat as well. Currently ranked fourth in the list of top run-scorers in the competition, if Virat clicks, he will also have a great chance to move up the list.
AB de Villiers (South Africa – 30 matches | 717 runs)
AB de Villiers may have worked in international cricket, but Mr 360 continues to impress with his stellar performances in T20 leagues around the world. One of the most dangerous T20 batsmen, de Villiers was a different class when it came to performing in the T20 World Cup. Although South Africa do not yet have a title to their name in the competition, de Villiers changed the T20 batting line-up during his reign. The dynamic Proteas legend scored 717 runs in 30 matches between the 2007 and 2016 editions of the T20 World Cup. With a strike rate of over 143, de Villiers completely broke the opposition bowling line-up. De Villiers did not manage to score a century in the World Cup, but his 5 fifties and the highest score of 79 not out gave the audience and fans many moments to cherish. During his run in the T20 World Cup for South Africa, de Villiers hit a total of 51 fours and 30 sixes. De Villiers is currently at number five in the list of batsmen who have scored the most runs in the T20 World Cup.
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