Folks, the fifth edition of World T20 is upon us. In little over a week’ time cricketing world’s who’s who will gather amid glitz and glamour to determine who the best team is in the shortest format of the game. In our new series, we, at Sporzwiki, will daily come up with all the stats that will quench the thirst of our readers about this tournament’s history.
In our effort to keep our readers up to dated, so that they can take on any dressing room debates about this tournament like an expert, here is the list of players with most runs scored in the tournament.
10) Yuvraj Singh (India): Veteran of four World T20 tournaments this southpaw is currently down in form and as a result has been out of favour with national team. But, rule Yuvraj out at your peril, as his track record shows how explosive he can be on his day T20 format!
With an impressive tally of 441 runs in 21 innings Yuvraj Singh is at no. 10. Some of his best innings have come in this tournament. A 13-ball 50, yes the one in which he smashed six sixes against Stuart Broad and a 35-ball 70 against Australia in to name a few. Indian team will hope he comes off again in Bangladesh.
9) Kamran Akmal (Pakistan): This volatile wicket-keeper slots in at no. 9 in the list with 476 runs in 26 matches with highest score of 73. Known for playing some flashy innings at the top of order, Akmal, in the past, has got Pakistan off the quick start and is one of the driving forces behind Pakistan’s stupendous record in this tournament. Out of favour with the national team Akmal Sr. has been out of international cricket for quite sometime but has been picked in the Pakistan squad for this tournament.
8) AB de Villiers (South Africa): Arguably one of the best batsmen in contemporary cricket AB de Villiers is at no. 8 in this list. AB de Villiers is one of the few batsmen who are consistent across all formats. Now relieved of captaincy duties, one can expect an explosive de Villiers in this tournament which will be a sight to behold!
7) Gautam Gambhir (Ind): Gautam Gambhir, having played 21 matches for India in this tournament, tops the list for most runs by any Indian in this tournament. But his poor form meant he is not included in the squad, as selectors instead kept faith in opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. With such a record has selectors done the mistake by picking him as the third opener? Only time will tell.
6) Brendon McCullum (New Zealand): Brendon McCullum, who is in form of his life, is in sixth position with 552 runs in 21 matches. His highest innings against Bangladesh is arguably the finest hundreds in this tournament. Watch out if McCllum gets going the Kiwi fans are in for some fun!
5) Kevin Pietersen (England): The best England batsman of last ten years Kevin Pietersen has amassed 580 runs in just three tournaments. He was controversially left out of the last edition in Sri Lanka and once again this time around also he has booted out of England team due to the alleged divisive influence he creates in and around the team. But, this modern maverick was man of the tournament in 2009 edition in West Indies when England won its first major ICC trophy. Kevin Pietersen will surely be missed.
4) Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): The stylish left-hand batsman from Kandy – Kumar Sangakkara – is one of the three batsmen in top four in this last. Sangkkara was a key player in the second and last edition of the tournament when Sri Lanka reached the final. This time they will hope to go one step further and clinch the title.
3) Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL): Dilshan is on the third spot in this list with 632 runs and a highest score of 96*. The second edition of this tournament was all about Dilshan until Pakistan and Shahid Afridi sneaked past Sri Lanka in the final. Dilshan, though, played one of the finest innings in that tournament with a 96 not out in semi-final against West Indies. Of late, however, Dilshan has been out of form so it will be interesting to watch how he scores in this tournament.
2) Chris Gayle (West Indies): No surprise for guessing Chris Gayle’s name at no.2 in this list. Arguably the greatest batsman one has ever seen in T20 format Gayle has the ability to change the game single-handedly. He is also the first ever player in to score a century in this tournament. Gayle, who was injured for most part of last 12 months, is expected to make his return with three match T20 series against England as a precursor to World T20. Expect fire works if Gayle is on song!
1) Mahela Jayawardene (SL): Many would be surprised that an artist like Mahela Jayawardene finds himself at the top of the tree. Jayawardene is not known for his big-hitting but it proves that making transition from Test cricket is easier than doing it the other way around. It also shows the importance that one needs a good technique to succeed irrespective of the format. The masterstroke came when in third edition Jayawardene was made to open and it paid handsome dividend as Jayawardene also scored hundred in that tournament.
|
Player |
Matches |
Runs |
HS |
|
Mahela Jayawardene (SL) |
25 |
858 |
100 |
|
Chris Gayle (WI) |
17 |
664 |
117 |
|
Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL) |
25 |
632 |
96* |
|
Kumar Sangakkara (SL) |
25 |
590 |
68 |
|
Kevin Pietersen (Eng) |
25 |
580 |
79 |
|
Brendon McCullum (NZ) |
21 |
552 |
123 |
|
Gautam Gambhir (Ind) |
21 |
524 |
75 |
|
AB de Villiers (SA) |
21 |
478 |
79* |
|
Kamran Akmal (Pak) |
26 |
476 |
73 |
|
Yuvraj Singh (Ind) |
21 |
441 |
70 |
