Sri Lanka has always been an underdog team in any format of the game. It is because, after the retirement of some of the big names, the form of the Sri Lankan team has declined a bit. Though they are regaining themselves and improving with every series. But when it comes to big tournaments, Sri Lanka always performs well.
Just like the T20 World Cup. Notably, Sri Lanka is only one of two teams apart from England to play three finals of the T20 World Cup. They won the 2014 edition, beating India in the final, under the leadership of Lasith Malinga. It can only be possible if a team has good batting strength. Here, we will talk about some Sri Lankan batters with the most T20I runs in a calendar year.
Most Runs in T20 in a Calendar Year for Sri Lanka
| Batter | Year | Mts | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100 | 50 |
| Pathum Nissanka | 2022 | 24 | 713 | 75 | 31.00 | 112.99 | 0 | 6 |
| Kusal Mendis | 2022 | 20 | 521 | 79 | 28.94 | 132.23 | 0 | 5 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 2022 | 25 | 497 | 74* | 27.61 | 135.79 | 0 | 2 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | 2009 | 12 | 471 | 96* | 42.81 | 141.44 | 0 | 5 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 2009 | 12 | 434 | 78 | 43.40 | 135.20 | 0 | 5 |
| Dinesh Chandimal | 2016 | 16 | 373 | 58 | 23.31 | 121.44 | 0 | 3 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 2010 | 9 | 343 | 100 | 42..88 | 126.44 | 1 | 2 |
5. Kumar Sangakkara (434 runs) in 2009
Former star wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara was one of the most prolific scorers for his country in all three formats. He scored tons of runs in this game. Sangakkara had his best T20I performance in 2009. He scored 534 runs in 12 innings at an average of 43.40 and a strike rate of 135.20. He also hit five half-centuries, including a best of 78.
4. Tillakaratne Dilshan (471 runs) in 2009
Former all-rounder Tillakaratne Dilshan was one of the few players to score a century in all three formats. For Sri Lanka, he is the only captain to do so. Dilshan was at his best in 2009. In that year, he played 12 T20I innings and scored 471 runs at a good average of 42.81 and a strike rate of 141.44, with a best of 96 not out. Dilshan also scored five half-centuries that year.
3. Dasun Shanaka (497 runs) in 2022
Sri Lanka had a pretty decent campaign in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Skipper Dasun Shanaka was one of the reasons for that. He is a pretty good all-rounder who has won a number of matches for the team. In 2022, he scored 497 runs in 24 innings at 27.61 and a decent strike rate of 135.79, with two half-centuries and 74 not out as his best.
2. Kusal Mendis (521 runs) in 2022
Kusal Mendis has risen in rank in the last couple of years. He has now become the vital cog for Sri Lanka’s top order. Mendis is an elegant batter to watch when he gets going. He hit a purple patch in 2022. Mendis played 20 innings and scored 521 runs at a decent average of 28.94 and a strike rate of 132.23. He also scored five half-centuries, with a best of 79.
1. Pathum Nissanka (713 runs) in 2022
Pathum Nissanka was among the top scorers in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia and had a brilliant year with the bat. In the same year, he became the first Sri Lankan batter to cross the 700-run mark in a calendar year in the shorter format. He scored 713 runs in 24 innings, at 31 and a best of 75. Nissanka scored six half-centuries that year as well.