The T20 format, the shortest version of cricket, relies heavily on powerful hitters who can attack bowlers aggressively. Despite these advantages, only a few batsmen can score runs easily and consistently in T20 matches. This is because it takes a different mindset, skillset, and technique, as batsmen don’t have much time to get settled.
Let’s look at the top five batsmen who have played at least 40 innings and have the highest averages in T20Is
1. Virat Kohli – 50.80
This is probably the least surprising name on the list. Virat Kohli is a rare player whose performance is not affected by playing different formats of the game.
Just as he excels in the other two formats, Kohli has also mastered the shortest format of the game. The 31-year-old made his T20 debut against Zimbabwe in 2010, and since then, he has been unstoppable. In 76 innings, the Indian captain has scored 2794 runs with an impressive average of 50.80.
2. JP Duminy – 38.68
JP Duminy has been one of South Africa’s most exciting players in T20 cricket. While he played in all formats for the South African team, he truly shined in T20 matches.
Duminy made his debut in the ICC World T20 in 2007 against Bangladesh. He opened the batting with captain Graeme Smith and was key to South Africa’s success. Duminy played 75 innings in T20 internationals for South Africa and scored 1934 runs, averaging 38.68 runs per game.
Aaron Finch is a strong and aggressive opening batsman for Australia. He and David Warner make one of the most dangerous batting pairs in cricket.
Finch’s great performances in T20 matches helped him get into Australia’s top ODI team. In 61 T20 games, he has scored 1989 runs with an excellent average of 38.25, including two centuries and twelve half-centuries.
4. MS Dhoni – 37.60
From the first time people saw MS Dhoni play, it seemed like T20 cricket was perfect for him. Dhoni played his first T20 match against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in 2006. He got out without scoring any runs in just two balls in that match. But over his career, he played 98 T20 matches for India and scored 1617 runs with an average of 37.60.
Brendon McCullum, a former New Zealand cricket captain, is one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen from the small island country. McCullum’s amazing batting in T20 cricket is well-known to cricket fans. He was the first person to score 1000 runs in T20 cricket. McCullum played 70 T20 matches for New Zealand, scoring over 2000 runs with an impressive average of 35.67, including two centuries.