The T20 World Cup is just a few months away now, and all teams are making sure that nothing is left undone in order to prepare for this marquee event. But in the rich history of the World Cup, there are a lot of standout performers that have set the tournament on fire.
In this article we will discuss the list of players with the most runs in one single edition so far. This list includes some of the best batsmen in cricket history who have just changed the whole dynamics of the game. As we all know, the T20 format is a very skillful game for both batters and bowlers. So it takes a lot to perform. Let’s check it out.
3. Babar Azam (303 runs) in the 2021 World Cup
The Pakistani skipper has made his mark in international cricket since his arrival. It will not be a wrong statement to say that he has left many batters behind him and, currently, he is the best white-ball cricketer in the world. That is what he has been doing for the last couple of years. Babar broke many records in the last T20 World Cup in the UAE.
His performance also helped his team make it to the semi-finals of the tournament. He is third on the list. The Pakistani skipper played six games and scored 303 runs at a brilliant average of 60.60. He also became the first captain to beat India in the World Cup. Babar also scored four fifties in six innings in the 2021 World Cup and ended the season as the highest run-scorer.
2. Tillakaratne Dilshan (317 runs) in 2009 World Cup
Sri Lanka made it to the finals of the second edition of the tournament in 2009. The main reason for their success was Tillakaratne Dilshan. The all-rounder made his presence count and is one of the most successful batsmen in T20 World Cup history. Dilshan got out of a duck in the final, and Sri Lanka lost the final to Pakistan.
But the star batter ended the season as the highest run-scorer and also won the “Golden Bat”. He played seven matches and scored 317 runs at an average of 52.83, including three half-centuries. He is just behind two runs of Virat on the top. But the performance of Dilshan is still very difficult for many batters.
1. Virat Kohli (319 runs) in 2014 ICC T20 event
There are very few records that the former Indian skipper doesn’t have in his kitty. Here as well, he is leading the chart with the most runs in one single edition of the World Cup. Virat helped his team all the way throughout the tournament. As a result, the Men in Blue ended the tournament as runners-up after facing a loss against Sri Lanka in the finals.
But the performance of Virat Kohli is still a record in itself. He scored 319 runs in just six innings at an incredible average of 106.33, which includes four half-centuries as well. Virat hit 72 in the semi-finals and 77 runs in the finals. He still holds the record for the maximum number of runs in a single edition of the World Cup.
List of Players with Most runs in One Season of T20 World Cup
| Player | Team | Year | M | Runs | Avg | 50/100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | India | 2014 | 6 | 319 | 106.33 | 4/0 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | Sri Lanka | 2009 | 7 | 317 | 52.83 | 3/0 |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 2021 | 6 | 303 | 60.60 | 4/0 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 2009 | 6 | 302 | 60.40 | 2/1 |
| Tamim Iqbal | Bangladesh | 2015 | 6 | 295 | 73.75 | 1/1 |
| David Warner | Australia | 2021 | 7 | 289 | 48.17 | 3/0 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | Pakistan | 2021 | 6 | 281 | 70.25 | 3/0 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 2015 | 5 | 273 | 136.50 | 3/0 |
| Jos Buttler | England | 2021 | 6 | 269 | 89.67 | 1/1 |
| Mathew Hayden | Australia | 2007 | 6 | 265 | 88.33 | 4/0 |