T20 World Cup – top scorers through the years
The ICC T20 World Cup, a spectacle of power hitting, audacious strokeplay, and nerve-wracking finishes, has seen some of the greatest batsmen etch their names in cricketing history. Since its inception in 2007, the tournament has provided a platform for batsmen to showcase their prowess in the shortest format.
Included the 2024 T20 World Cup in USA and the Caribbean, there have been a total of nine T20 World Cup editions till date, and you can see the competition’s top scorers till date. And here on this page, we’ll take a nostalgic journey and revisit the top run-scorers from each edition of the T20 World Cup, last updated 1st June 2024:
Who scored most runs in T20 World Cup every edition?
| Season | Batsman | Runs (Matches) | Average | Highest score |
| 2007 | Matthew Hayden | 265 (6) | 88.33 | 73* |
| 2009 | Tillakaratne Dilshan | 317 (7) | 52.83 | 96* |
| 2010 | Mahela Jayawardene | 302 (6) | 60.40 | 100 |
| 2012 | Shane Watson | 249 (6) | 49.80 | 72 |
| 2014 | Virat Kohli | 319 (6) | 106.33 | 77 |
| 2016 | Tamim Iqbal | 295 (6) | 73.75 | 103* |
| 2021 | Babar Azam | 303 (6) | 60.60 | 70 |
| 2022 | Virat Kohli (2) | 296 (6) | 98.66 | 82* |
| 2024 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
2007 – Matthew Hayden (Australia)
The inaugural edition, held in South Africa, saw a swashbuckling display of opening batsmanship. Australia’s Matthew Hayden, known for his brutal power hitting, dominated the tournament with 265 runs in six matches. His strike rate of 144 perfectly encapsulated the aggressive approach of the early T20 era. He scored 4 fifties in this competition and was followed by India’s Gautam Gambhir in this edition.
2009 – Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)
The 2009 tournament in Pakistan witnessed the rise of Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan. The right-hander, known for his innovative scoop shot (Dil-scoop), amassed 317 runs in seven matches at a blistering strike rate of 144 too. He had three fifties in this tournament and reached the top of the charts even though he bagged two ducks in the tournament; he was followed by South Africa’s Jacques Kallis in the 2009 T20 World Cup.
2010 – Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)
The 2010 edition held in the West Indies belonged to Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene. The elegant right-hander displayed a masterclass in controlled aggression, scoring 302 runs in six matches at an average of 60+. His experience and temperament proved crucial in Sri Lanka’s journey to the finals, scoring at a strike rate of nearly 160, and followed by England’s Kevin Pietersen.
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2012 – Shane Watson (Australia)
The 2012 T20 World Cup edition in Sri Lanka saw the dominance of an all-rounder. Australia’s Shane Watson, known for his explosive batting and handy bowling, topped the run-scoring charts with 249 runs in six matches at a strike rate of exactly 150. His power-hitting at the top of the order provided a strong platform for Australia’s campaign, and Jayawardene missed making another entry on this list, finishing second in 2012 too.
2014 – Virat Kohli (India)
The 2014 tournament in Bangladesh belonged to India’s batting prodigy, Virat Kohli. The young maestro displayed remarkable consistency, amassing a record-breaking 319 runs in six matches at a staggering average of 106.33, which is the highest average in any edition of the T20 World Cup. His hunger for runs and ability to chase down targets announced his arrival as a global T20 superstar, with Netherlands’ Tom Cooper finishing second on the list.
2016 – Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh)
The 2016 edition held in India saw an Asian hero rise to the occasion, who wouldn’t have been expected to do so at the start of the event. Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal, the left-handed opener, displayed his talent on home soil, scoring 295 runs in six matches at an average of 73.75. His crucial knocks at the top of the order included his only World Cup century across formats, while Virat Kohli finished second here too.
2021 – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
The 2021 edition in the UAE saw the rise of a new batting star – Pakistan’s Babar Azam. The technically gifted batsman displayed his class and composure, scoring 303 runs in six matches at an average of 60.60, including four fifties during the tournament. His elegant strokeplay and ability to anchor the innings were a hallmark of Pakistan’s run to the semi-finals, where they lost to Australia. Aussie opener David Warner finished second on this list in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
2022 – Virat Kohli (India)
The 2022 edition in Australia saw the return of a familiar name to the top of the run-scoring charts. Virat Kohli, in a magnificent comeback, displayed his prowess once again. He amassed a staggering 296 runs in six matches at a sensational average of 98.66. His four fifties, including a match-winning 82* against arch-rivals Pakistan, were instrumental in India’s journey to the finals. Max O’Dowd from Netherlands finished second in this edition with 242 runs in the tournament.
Most runs in a single edition of T20 WC:
319 : Virat Kohli, 2014
317 : Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2009
302 : Mahela Jayawardene, 2010
295 : Tamim Iqbal, 2016
273 : Virat Kohli, 2016#KingKohli
– King of T20 World cup pic.twitter.com/QDEVrkZBqk— DK (@ViratCrazyDK) May 27, 2021
2024 – To be decided…
The 2024 T20 World Cup top scorer is yet to be decided but we think the likes of Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Heinrich Klaasen, Jos Buttler, Travis Head, and others are all top contenders to join this list of top scorers of every edition of the ICC T20 World Cup. For more updates on cricket news from around the world, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com.
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