With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 approaching, attention has once again turned to the landmark batting records that have defined the tournament since its inception. Over the years, the shortest format of the game has produced explosive performances, iconic innings, and statistical milestones that continue to shape T20 cricket’s global appeal.
At the top of the list is the highest individual score in men’s T20 World Cup history, held by former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum. He smashed a blistering 123 off 58 balls against Sri Lanka during the 2012 edition in Pallekele, an innings that remains unmatched for its combination of power and tempo. On the team front, Sri Lanka’s massive 260/6 against Kenya in the 2007 tournament in Johannesburg still stands as the highest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup match.
India’s Virat Kohli dominates the consistency charts. The former captain is the leading run-scorer in T20 World Cup history with 1,292 runs from 35 matches. Kohli also holds the record for the most runs in a single edition, having scored 319 runs during the 2013–14 World Cup in Bangladesh, and has registered the most fifty-plus scores, with 15 half-centuries to his name.
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When it comes to sheer power-hitting, West Indies legend Chris Gayle remains peerless. Gayle has hit the most sixes in T20 World Cup history, clearing the ropes 63 times in 33 matches. He is also the only batter to score two T20 World Cup centuries, including his iconic 117 in the inaugural 2007 match and a 100 not out against England in Mumbai during the 2016 edition, an innings that featured a record 11 sixes.
Other notable records underline the evolving nature of T20 cricket. England’s Alex Hales and Jos Buttler share the highest partnership, an unbeaten 170-run stand against India in the 2022 semifinal, while England also owns the highest successful run chase, hunting down 230 against South Africa in the 2016 tournament.
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