T20 format is known as batsmen format. And Indian team is known for their reliability over batsman in any format. India has good record in T20I in batting aspect. India has recorded 175+ scores in T20IS 10 times out of which ended on victory note on 7 instances. India’s Win Loss ratio in scores above 175 is 2.33 which is the 2nd least along with West Indies among the Top 8 Test Teams. This shows their bowling couldn’t defend the totals that are classified as match winning. We shall look back India’s top 10 highest scoring instances in T20 Internationals.
10. 177/8 (vs England, 2012):
With 1-0 lead in the series India faced England in 2nd of the two T20s at Mumbai. India were put in to bat and kept losing wickets at crucial intervals. With contributions from Dhoni and Kohli who scored 38 India ended with 177/8 on the board. Raina contributed with 35 who put on 60 with Dhoni in 27 balls for 6th wicket. Though, Indian bowlers failed to defend a good total due to the contributions of their openers Lumb and Hales 50 and 42 respectively. But Yuvraj Singh picked 3 wickets and brought down to 3 needed of one ball. But England captain smoked a Huge Six off Dinda of last ball ending up with 49* to seal the match and draw the series.
9. 180/5 (vs Bangladesh, 2009):
In their 1st match of 2009 World T20 defending champions India faced Bangladesh. India choosen to bat after winning the toss, which proved a good decision as Rohit Sharma started aggressively scoring a 23-ball 36. Another opener Gambhir played an anchor role scoring 50. Later some lights from Yuvraj who scored 41 off 20 helped India to end up 180/5. Bangladesh couldn’t do much before a huge total as they tried for going for everything but ended loosing wickets. Siddique top scored for them with 41 off 22 balls which helped them to 155/8. Pragyan Ojha picked up 4 crucial wickets.
8. 180/9 (vs New Zealand, 2007):
1st game of Super-8s in inaugural T20 World Cup India faced New Zealand whom they invited to bat. Once again Indian bowler’s poor performance was shown off. India bowled out them in 20 overs off which 4 were run-outs and conceded a huge total of 190. Chasing 191, India got off to a dream start with Sehwag and Gambhir put up 76 off just 35 balls. Sehwag scored a 17 ball 40 and Gambhir scored a 33-ball 51. India were favourites with 104/2 in 10.4 overs with set batsmen Gambhir and Dhoni at the crease and some talented hitters like Yuvraj yet to come in. But a collapse ensured India fell to 163/9 in 18.4 with 28 needed of 8 balls. Couple of boundaries from Tail Enders took India to 180, 10 run short of the total.
7. 186/5 (vs South Africa, 2010):
This match will be remembered for an amazing achievement from an Indian batman in International T20 format. Suresh Raina scored the 1st and only T20I century till date for India. He came at No.3 and put on crucial partnerships with Yuvraj and Yusuf Pathan. He completed his century in 59 balls and 101 off 60 balls. With his crucial contribution India ended with 186/5 on the board. But South Africa never looked like chasing it down as they got off to slow start. They reached 100 in 15th over with more than 80 to win in around 30 balls. Some good hits from AB De Viliers and Mokel took them to 172, 14 run short of India’s total.
6. 186/9 (vs Sri Lanka, 2009):
This match was another instance which proved India’s bowling fault as Sri Lanka cruised to 215 batting first. Sangakkara was the chief destroyer with 78 off 37 supported by Kapugedara with 47 of just 20 balls. Chasing huge total Sehwag produced sparkling start that put on 32 in 17 balls with Gambhir out of which he scored 26 off 14. Dhoni came up at no.3 but didn’t do much as he was spectator off Gambhir’s tremendous batting display. They both put on 61 off which Dhoni made just 9. Gambhir scored a 22-ball 50 in this process. He scored 11 boundaries in his 26 ball innings for 55. With 93/1 in 8.1 India were looking good, but a collapse ensured India brought themselves down to 129/7 in 13.4. Some contributions from Tail ensured India ended at 186, 30 short of the target.
5. 188/5 (vs Australia, 2007):
In the Semi-Finals of the 2007 World T20 India faced Australia at Durban. Choosing to bat after winning the toss India got off to a slow start putting up just 41 in 8 overs for loss of openers. But the scene changed with the entry of Yuvraj Singh. He was fresh from his fastest fifty vs England as smashed Australia too. He put on 84 in 7.2 overs with Uthappa and was dismissed after scoring 70 off just 30. Dhoni brought the power needed at the end scoring 36 off just 18, as India ended on 188/5. Later Indian bowlers tried their best to stop Australia from winning in which they had been successful as Australia ended up with 173. Hayden top scored with 62 of 47.
4. 192/5 (vs Pakistan, 2012):
After been 0-1 down India were put in to bat by Pakistan in 2nd and final T20I. India’s top three made it in to 20’s as India were 88/3 in 12 overs all set for a good total about 170. But Yuvraj Singh’s on-slaughter and mostly on Ajmal took India to a total at least 20 more runs expected. Yuvraj and Dhoni put on 97 in 7.2 overs for 4th wicket of which Dhoni’s contribution was only 33. Yuvraj was top scorer with 72 off 36 balls. Pakistan openers got to a good start but spinners hold down them at crucial stage. But Akmal and Hafeez kept the hopes alive but wickets picked up towards the end ensured India clinch the match by 11 runs.
3. 202/4 (vs Australia, 2013):
In the only T20I against Australia India elected to field. But Aussies openers went off to a flyer. Especially Aaron Finch played big innings. He got support from Maddison and Maxwell. Finch was dismissed in 17th over at 174 but the lower order could only manage them to 201, which is still a huge score in this format. Chasing 202, India got a decent start but kept losing wickets. India was 100/4 in 11.1 overs. Then started Yuvraj’s take over. He took on the Aussies bowling attack brutally along with the contribution of Dhoni. Yuvraj smashed 77 off 35 which included 5 sixers and 8 fours ending the match with 2 balls to spare.
2. 211/4 (vs Sri Lanka, 2009):
After losing the 1st T20I India needed to win the final match to drew the series. Choosing to bat Sri Lanka with the help of the team effort they ended 206/7 just 9 runs short of the 1st T20 total. Chasing huge total again India got off to a good start. Sehwag and Dhoni led the chase putting 60 in 5 overs for 2nd wicket. Sehwag was dismissed as 2nd wicket at 108 with 9 overs to go. That brought Yuvraj Singh the local boy, Birthday boy and the hero with the ball picking 3 wickets. Yuvraj played one of his best innings. He took on the charge hitting all over the park. He smashed a 25-ball 60 which included 5 sixers.
1. 218/4 (vs England, 2007):
This match will be known for many records happened for India. Its starts with the best opening partnership for India in this format produced by Sehwag and Gambhir who put on 135 in 14.4 overs. Sehwag scored 68 and Gambhir scored 58. But the real part of history started when Yuvraj entered. He smashed 6 sixers in the penultimate over of the innings bowled by Stuart Broad. In the final over he completed his fifty of just 12 balls which is still a record. His hitting helped India to post 218/4 which is their highest score in T20Is. Later chasing a mammoth total England got good start but with increasing rate they couldn’t do special like Yuvraj as they ended on 200, felling 19 runs short of the target.
A Point to be noted in all the top 5 highest scores matches of India, everytime India have won along with Yuvraj carrying away with the man of the match award.
