Top Run-Scorers in T20 World Cup History: Most Runs in T20WC

As the dust sets on the recently concluded batters’ fest in the Indian Premier League 2024, all eyes are now on the highly anticipated ICC T20 World Cup 2024 which is set to commence in the next couple of hours. The tournament will feature a total of 20 teams participating for the first time in the history of the tournament since 2007.

Meanwhile, the fans will also be having a keen eye on some batting veterans in the tournament, who are expected to have some new records with their amazing batting performances throughout the tournament. The same had been done by some great T20I batters in the past editions of the tournament.

Having said that, here we’ll have a look at the 5 highest run-scorers in the 17-year-long history of the ICC T20 World Cup 2007.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Rating best wicketkeepers from top 10 teams

Here’s a look top 5 highest run-scorers in the T20 World Cup history:

Virat Kohli – India

Former India skipper and the modern-day batting great made his T20 World Cup debut in the fourth edition of the tournament in 2012 World T20. Even after missing the first three seasons of the tournament, Kohli managed to establish himself as an all-time great in the T20 WC history in just 5 seasons.

The 35-year-old has scored 1,141 runs in 25 innings he batted in his T20 WC career, with a sensational average of 81.50 and a strike rate of 81.50. He has also scored 14 half-centuries. He ranks first in the list of the leading run-scorers in the history of the tournament.

Mahela Jayawardene – Sri Lanka

The former Sri Lanka skipper played in 5 editions of the T20 World Cup from 2007 to 2014. He also played 5 matches as skipper for Sri Lanka in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007. He batted in 31 innings and scored 1016 runs with an average of 39.07, with a century and 6 half-centuries.

Even after 10 years of his last appearances and 3 editions being played after his last match in T20 WC career, Jayawardene ranks second in the list of the leading run-scorers in the tournament history. was also part of Sri Lanka’s World Cup winning side in the ICC T20 World Cup 2014.

Chris Gayle – West Indies

The Caribbean legend Chris Gayle was the first batter in the history of the tournament to score a boundary, that he smashed on the first ball of the tournament opener in the inaugural edition of the tournament. Gayle has batted in 31 innings across the 7 editions of the tournament and scored 965 runs in 31 innings with an average of 34.46, hitting 2 centuries and 7 half-centuries.

The ‘universe boss’ ranks third in the list of the leading run-scorers in the history of the T20 World Cup. He has also been a 2-time World T20 champion as a key part of the Caribbean squads that won the T20 WC 2012 and T20 WC 2016.

Rohit Sharma – India

The current India skipper and the batting stalwart, Rohit Sharma is one of the only two players, who played the inaugural edition of World T20 in 2007 and are also set to feature in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Rohit also holds the record of playing the highest number of matches in the tournament history.

The ‘Hitman’ has played 39 matches so far in his World T20 career and has scored 963 runs in 36 innings with an average of 34.39, hitting 9 half-centuries. He is just 53 runs away from surpassing the former legendary Sri Lanka batter Mahela Jayawardene to become the second-highest run-scorer in the history of the tournament.

Tillakaratne Dilshan – Sri Lanka

The former stylish Sri Lanka batter Tillakaratne Dilshan played in the World T20 from 2007 to 2016 across 6 seasons. He appeared to bat in 34 innings of the 35 matches in his career in the World T20, scoring 897 runs with an average of 30.93, hitting 6 half-centuries.

After his last appearance in the T20 World Cup 8 years back, Dilshan still ranks fifth in the list of the highest run-scorers in the history of the tournament.

Also Read: Top Wicket-Takers in T20 World Cup History: Most Wickets in T20WC