Even though there was a 50-over World Cup in 2023, an impressive 451 T20 International (T20I) matches were played, including those by smaller cricket nations. With the rise of T20 leagues, new batting techniques, and players hitting boundaries easily, more runs are being scored in this short format of the game.
In 2023, there were 27 T20I centuries, including the fastest ever, scored by Kushal Malla in just 34 balls.
Now, let’s look at the 5 best men’s T20I innings of 2023
1. Glenn Maxwell (104 from 48 balls against India)
Maxwell was at his best against India on November 28, 2023. The Australian all-rounder hit 20 runs in the last four balls to win an unlikely victory for his team.
Australia needed 47 runs in the last two overs and 22 in the last over when Maxwell and the captain, Matthew Wade, went into high gear, helping Australia chase a huge target of 223.
Maxwell remained not out with 104 runs, hitting eight fours and eight sixes in just 48 balls. He was especially tough on Prasidh Krishna, who had a rough day, giving away 68 runs in his four overs.
Maxwell’s performance overshadowed a brilliant century by Ruturaj Gaikwad (123) earlier in the evening. Thanks to Maxwell’s century, Australia won their only match in the five-game T20I series against India after the 2023 World Cup.
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2. Johnson Charles (118 from 46 balls against South Africa)
On a flat batting wicket at SuperSport Park in Centurion, Johnson Charles scored a century off just 43 balls, helping his team reach a total of 258 for five wickets in a T20I game.
Coming in to bat at number three on the fourth ball of the innings, Charles was aggressive from the start. He and Kyle Mayers added 135 runs for the second wicket in just 58 balls.
Even after Mayers was out, Charles continued to attack the South African bowlers. Despite facing experienced bowlers like Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Wayne Parnell, Sisanda Magala, Aiden Markram, and Tabraiz Shamsi, Charles played brilliantly. He was eventually dismissed for 118, having hit 10 boundaries and 11 sixes, with a remarkable strike rate of 256.52.
3. Quinton de Kock (100 from 44 balls against West Indies )
South Africa had to chase a target of 259 runs in 20 overs after Johnson Charles scored a century.
Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks had an explosive start, adding 152 runs for the first wicket in just 65 balls. De Kock was the star of the partnership, scoring a rapid century (100) off 44 balls, hitting eight fours and nine sixes. This set the pace for the rest of the team, and South Africa reached the target with seven balls remaining.
De Kock’s outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
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4. Suryakumar Yadav (112* from 51 balls against Sri Lanka )
Suryakumar Yadav, the top-ranked T20I batsman, hit two centuries in T20 matches in 2023. The first century was against Sri Lanka in Rajkot.
Yadav batted at number four and dominated the game. The Sri Lankan bowlers struggled to stop him. He scored quickly with a strike rate of 219.61, hitting nine sixes and seven fours. He remained not out with 112 runs from just 51 balls, leading India to a total of 228. India won the match easily by 91 runs.
5. Dipendra Singh Airee (52* From 10 balls against Mongolia)
Dipendra Singh’s performance deserves special recognition. During the Asian Games 2023, he made history by scoring the fastest half-century ever in T20Is against Mongolia.
He reached his half-century in just nine balls, hitting eight sixes. His strike rate was an incredible 520. Singh’s record for the fastest half-century in T20Is is likely to remain unmatched, though it might be tied.
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