The Ten Greatest T20 Batters

Ever since the T20 format has made inroads in the cricketing world, it has intrigued fans with its electrifying nature. High-scoring thrillers, last-ball finishes, and relentless six-hitting prowess are some things that hook people to their screens.

There’s no denying that batters are the reason behind such breathtaking encounters in the shortest format. These efficient willow wielders go after the bowlers right from the first ball, putting out remarkable performances.

However, only a handful of batters have been able to perform consistently, scoring truckloads of runs and sitting among the modern-day greats.

In this article, we look at the 10 greatest T20 batters of all time.

#10 Andre Russell

There are quite a few batters who can muscle the ball as Andre Russell does with sheer power. If Russell is on song, then he won’t spare any bowler as he puts his hard-hitting skills to full use.

The Caribbean all-rounder has gained prominence with his rapid finishing skills coupled with his power-hitting. And no wonder Russell is on the radar of every team in the franchise world.

Russell has scored 8400+ runs at a ridiculous strike rate of 170 in close to 500 T20 matches.

#9 Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum is among the early lot of batters who pioneered fearless T20 batting. His aggressive style of play wasn’t just limited to T20s; it was pretty evident in other formats as well.

Remember, McCullum has the fastest century in Tests, blasting it off 54 balls!

Speaking of his T20 adventure, he played an outrageous knock of 158 not out in the inaugural IPL match in 2008, which is enough to rate him highly as a T20 batter.

In 370 T20 appearances, the Kiwi batter accumulated 9922 runs at a strike rate of 136.49, including 7 centuries and 55 fifties.

#8 Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler has made himself a name for his exploits in limited-overs cricket, coming from a country that adores the traditional Test format a little more. So it wouldn’t be inappropriate to say that Buttler is a T20 superstar from England.

He is pretty capable of understanding the game situation and playing accordingly. The wicketkeeper-batter has a bunch of ridiculous shots in his armoury that can leave fans in awe.

Jos Buttler is going strong and doesn’t look to stop any time soon, with over 11500+ runs in his kitty, along with 8 hundreds and 80+ fifties.

#7 Rohit Sharma

Rohit ‘Hitman’ Sharma. The name is enough to send chills down any bowler’s spine. He is one of the most destructive T20 batters who can hit the ball effortlessly.

The premier opening batter has made the lives of bowlers difficult with his elegant and seamless power hitting. His penchant for hitting sixes and accumulating huge scores is second to none.

Rohit Sharma has played more than 440 T20 matches, scoring 11500+ runs at a strike rate of above 130.

#6 Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav, also known as SKY, has taken the T20 batting template a notch higher with his astonishing performances. Having slogged off in the Indian domestic circuit for a significant time, Surya took some time to rub shoulders with the best.

But since he has arrived on the big stage, there’s no looking back. The destructive batter makes a fool out of bowlers by showcasing his unorthodox, 360-degree shot-making.

A few years down the line, he will undoubtedly end up as the best T20 batter. Thus far, Surya has accumulated over 7300 runs at an impressive strike rate of above 150.

#5 Kieron Pollard

Players from the Caribbean Islands have had a large impact on the way T20s are played. Kieron Pollard is among those players who revolutionised the format and became a modern-day legend.

Pollard has redefined the art of batting while coming down the order and creating a larger impact. He has pulled off many wins for his teams out of thin air just by using his hard-hitting skills.

The Caribbean T20 giant has amassed close to 13000 runs in over 660 appearances at a strike rate of 160.

#4 AB de Villiers

Before the rise of Suryakumar Yadav, there was one beast who fetched runs from all corners of the ground. He’s none other than AB de Villiers, the original Mr. 360° of cricket.

Often called ABD, he made bowlers think twice before bowling to him. He had tons of innovative shots in his repertoire that sent bowlers and fielders scratching their heads.

The Proteas batter bid adieu to professional cricket in 2021, leaving behind a legacy. AB de Villiers scored 9424 runs in 340 T20 matches at a strike rate of 150.13.

#3 David Warner

The southpaw batter from Australia rose to prominence as a T20 specialist, and he announced himself in style by hammering 89 runs off 43 balls on his T20I debut.

Since then, David Warner has been a nightmare for any bowler, punching them down with his ferocious batting. The pocket-size dynamo has been an asset for Australia and other franchise teams, providing them with blazing starts.

Warner has featured in more than 375 T20 games, accumulating over 12200 runs at a strike rate of 140.

#2 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, a once-in-a-generation talent, has established himself as the stalwart of the gentleman’s game. He isn’t just the best T20 batter, but he is unarguably one of the greatest batters across all formats.

With his fine technique and seamless adaptability, he has carved himself a place in the T20 format. Moreover, Kohli has been an excellent batter in whatever situation he bats in, be it setting big totals or chasing near-impossible targets.

The aggressive Delhi batter has been the backbone of India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, scoring more than 12700 runs in close to 400 appearances.

#1 Chris Gayle

The list can’t be rounded off without mentioning Universe Boss Chris Gayle. Without a doubt, Chris Gayle is the greatest T20 batter this generation has witnessed.

The Caribbean maniac could single-handedly destroy bowling attacks with his batting massacre. And all this happened when there was no one like him exploiting the favourable batting conditions.

The absolute six-hitting machine has 1056 maximums to his name, a feat that no one can even touch. In his 17-year T20 career, Gayle hammered 14562 runs in 463 matches, including 22 centuries and 88 fifties.

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