Indias Best T20I Batsmen Of All Time:India’s success in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 came on the back of their batting might. The six-sixes in the 19th over against England remains a lasting memory. Rohit Sharma was unearthed during the competition while other stars lit up the tournament. India’s batting arsenal has gotten bigger with every passing year in the T20Is. They might not have an ICC Trophy to show for it but one can’t rule out Indian batsmen in this format.
We look at India’s 5 Best T20I batsmen of all time:
[Qualification criteria – minimum 1000 runs]
#5 KL Rahul
He is one of the only two Indian batters to have scored two T20I centuries away from home. KL Rahul’s numbers have taken a beating in the last couple of years. But he has been one of India’s finest in the format.
Rahul averages 37.75 (third on this list) and strikes at 139.12 (third on this list) placing him amongst the very best in the game. He is India’s third-highest run-scorer in T20Is. His form against big nations has been a worry in ICC tournaments but Rahul is surely a once in a generational player.
#4 Yuvraj Singh
He is arguably India’s biggest match-winner in white ball cricket. Yuvraj Singh was instrumental in India winning the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. He played two sensational knocks in two must-win games to ensure India a spot in the finals. Singh smashed the fastest T20I fifty off just 12 balls during his six sixes in over innings.
He went one better against Australia in the semis scoring 30 balls 70. Singh has played many such knocks over the course of his career. He finds a spot in the top 4 because of the impact he had on the game.
#3 Rohit Sharma
He is the only batsman to score 4 T20I centuries. Rohit Sharma jointly holds the record for scoring the fastest T20I century (35 balls). He has played all 7 editions of the T20 World Cup but he left an indelible impact in the very first edition. Sharma’s breezy fifty against South Africa in tough conditions helped India top the group.
It was his cameo in the final that propelled India to a par score ultimately. Sharma is the second-highest run-getter in the world but such is the quality of Indian batters that he finds himself at number 3 on this list.
#2 Suryakumar Yadav
He has earned this two spot within less than 2 years of making his T20I debut. Suryakumar Yadav has been batting on a different plane right since he earned the national cap. He smashed his first ball for six of Jofra Archer. It was a statement hitting six. Surya has gone from strength to strength piercing angles and hitting boundaries out of nowhere.
He smashed a brilliant ton against England in England, he scored a gritty 68 against South Africa on a spicy Perth wicket. Yadav’s 2022 histrionics culminated in him scoring a T20I ton in New Zealand. He is the only batsman in world cricket who strikes at 175.63 and averages 47.17!
#1 Virat Kohli
There is little doubt that Virat Kohli occupies the top spot. The champion batsman who was written off months prior to the 2022 T20 World Cup showed what he is capable of. Kohli hit his maiden T20I century in the Asia Cup. India appeared down and out against arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening game of the T20 World Cup.
Kohli then turned on his beast mode scoring 82 off 53 balls to take India to one of its most iconic victories. This knock was even greater than the one that he played in 2016 in Mohali against Australia. Kohli is the only player to have won two ‘Player of the World Cup’ awards (2014 and 2016). He undoubtedly remains India’s number one!
