Top 5: Most Runs in a Single T20 World Cup Edition

Indian opener Virat Kohli holds the record for scoring the most runs in a single T20 World Cup edition. He features on this list twice.

In this article, we will talk about the top 5 instances of batters scoring the most runs in a single T20 World Cup edition.

5. Virat Kohli: 296 Runs | 2022 T20 WC

In the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, Indian top-order batter Virat Kohli scored 296 runs in 6 innings at an average of 98.66 and a strike rate of 136. Virat Kohli smashed 4 fifties in the global event, smashing 82* against Pakistan, 62* against the Netherlands, 64* against Bangladesh, and 50 against England in the semi-final.

Virat Kohli’s best knock of the tournament came against Pakistan at the MCG, where Pakistan, batting first, put up a total of 159/8 runs on the board with Shan Masood scoring 52* off 42 balls, and for India, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya took 3 wickets each.

India in the run chase lost 4 wickets for 31 runs, with Rauf picking 2 wickets, but then Virat Kohli stitched a partnership of 113 runs with Hardik Pandya. He scored 82* from 53 balls in the run chase, pulling off a win for India out of nowhere.

4. Mahela Jayawardene: 302 Runs | 2010 T20 WC

Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene scored 302 runs in 6 innings at an average of 60.4 and a strike rate of 160 in the 2010 edition of the T20 World Cup.

Jayawardene’s best knock in the tournament came against the West Indies in match 16 of the tournament. Sri Lanka, batting first, scored 195/3 in their 20 overs, with Mahela smashing 98 runs from 65 balls and Sangakkara scoring 68 runs from 49 balls.

The West Indies lost the match by 57 runs as they were restricted to 138/8 runs in 20 overs, with Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis picking 3 wickets each.

3. Babar Azam: 303 Runs | 2021 T20 WC

Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam scored 303 runs in the 2021 T20 World Cup in 6 innings at an average of 60.6 and a strike rate of 126. Babar, with his captaincy and great batting performances, took his team to the semi-finals of the tournament, where they lost to Australia by 5 wickets.

Babar’s most important knock in the tournament came against India, a team against whom they had never won a match in World Cup history. Babar smashed 68* runs off 52 balls against India in a run chase of 152 runs, helping his team win the match by 10 wickets.

2. Tilakratne Dilshan: 317 Runs | 2009 T20 WC

The former Sri Lankan opener played a huge role in Sri Lanka reaching the finals of the 2009 T20 World Cup. In the whole tournament, Dilshan scored 317 runs in 7 innings at an average of 52.8 and a strike rate of 144.7. He was rewarded with the Player of the Tournament award for his great run in the tournament.

Dilshan failed in the final with the bat, but his innings in the semi-final ensured a spot for Sri Lanka in the final. Dilshan scored 96* runs from 57 balls in the semi-final against the West Indies and helped Sri Lanka reach a total of 158/5 runs in 20 overs.

1. Virat Kohli: 319 Runs | 2014 T20 WC

Virat Kohli holds the record for scoring the most runs in a single T20 World Cup edition, He achieved this feat in the 2014 edition by scoring 319 runs in 6 innings at an average of 106 and a strike rate of 129.

The right-hander went past fifty runs four times in the tournament. He smashed 77 runs in the final against Sri Lanka, a match-winning 72* against South Africa in the semi-final, 54 against the West Indies, and 57* against Bangladesh.

Virat Kohli won the Player of the Tournament award for his heroics. In the 2016 edition too, he was the Player of the Tournament for scoring 273 runs from 5 innings and he became the only player in the history of T20 World Cups to win POTT twice.

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