Decoding batters with most runs in T20s as Virat Kohli enters exclusive list

Virat Kohli became the first Indian batter to smash 12000 runs in T20 cricket. He attained the milestone in match number one of the Indian Premier League 2024 season against the Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk. Kohli scored a 20-ball 21 before being dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman. Kohli also went past 1000 runs against Chennai Super Kings, becoming the second player to do so after Shikhar Dhawan. Kohli has been a legend across formats, scoring over 11000 runs in First-Class cricket and 15000 in List-A cricket. He has now added another massive feather in his illustrious cap.

Here, we decode players with the most runs in the 20-over format.

Chris Gayle (14562)

Universe King Chris Gayle holds the record for most runs in T20s. The former West Indian ace dominated leagues across the world. In 463 matches, Gayle smashed a total of 14562 runs at 36.22. He carried a strike rate of 144.75. He went on to smash 22 centuries and 88 half-centuries. Gayle ended his career with 1132 fours and 1056 sixes. His sixes count remains the highest in the format. Notably, 1899 of his runs came in T20Is for West Indies. Gayle was an IPL legend as well. He went on to register a total of 4965 runs from 142 matches.

Shoaib Malik (13360)

Shoaib Malik is still going strong at 42 years of age. He was recently seen in the Pakistan Super League, scoring 254 runs from 10 matches. Before that, he played in the Bangladesh Premier League, scoring 113 runs from seven games. Malik has smashed 13360 runs from 542 matches at 36.40. He has 83 fifties under his belt. Malik has smashed 1041 fours and 420 sixes. Malik is the fourth-highest scorer in PSL history. He owns 2336 runs at 33.37. Meanwhile, 2423 runs of Malik have come for Pakistan. He remains their 4th-highest scorer.

Kieron Pollard (12900)

Veteran West Indian legend Kieron Pollard is third on the list regarding most runs in the 20-over format. In 660 matches, Pollard has smashed 12900 runs and is 100 shy of 13000. He averages 31.46 and carries a strike rate of 150.98. He has one century and 59 fifties. Pollard has clobbered 810 fours and 860 sixes. Pollard was recently seen in the 2024 edition of the PSL. Pollard finished his IPL stint as a player in the 2022 season. In 189 IPL matches for the Mumbai Indians, he clobbered 3412 runs at 28.67, striking at 147.32. Notably, 1569 Pollard’s 12900 runs in the 20-over format came for West Indies. Pollard averaged 25.30 for WI and carried a strike rate of 135.14.

Alex Hales (12319)

England’s Alex Hales has played 449 matches in the 20-over format, scoring 12319 runs at 29.68. He carries a strike rate of 146.39. He owns six centuries and 78 fifties in the 20-over format. Hales has clobbered 1361 fours and 494 sixes. Two thousand seventy-four of Hales’ runs in T20s have come for England. He averages 30,95 and owns a strike rate of 138.35. Hales was recently seen playing in the PSL 2024 season, scoring 148 runs from 10 matches for winners Islamabad United. Hales, who has played in several global leagues worldwide, appeared in a handful of six games in the IPL. He smashed 148 runs in the 2018 season.

David Warner (12065)

David Warner will want to have a dream Indian Premier League 2024 season with the Delhi Capitals. Warner has played 370 matches in the 20-over format and owns 12065 runs at 37.12. His strike rate reads 140.17. Warner is the only player with 100-plus fifties in T20s (101) and eight centuries. Warner owns 1215 fours and 434 sixes. Three thousand ninety-nine of Warner’s runs have come for Australia from 103 matches. He is one of the two batters with 3000-plus runs for the Aussies alongside Aaron Finch (3120). Warner is the top scorer among foreign players in the IPL. He has 6397 runs at 41.53. Warner’s strike rate reads 139.91. He is the player with the most 50-plus scores in the IPL (65). He is the only player with 60-plus fifties (61). Overall, Warner is the 3rd-highest scorer in IPL history.

Virat Kohli (12015)

Virat Kohli is the latest entrant to this illustrious club. With his 21-run score versus CSK, Kohli has raced to 12015 runs at 41.14. His strike rate reads 133.36. Kohli played his 377th match in the format. He owns 1074 fours and 372 sixes. Notably, 4037 of his runs have come for India in T20Is. He is the only player with 4000-plus runs in the format. Kohli averages a solid 51.75 with a strike rate of 138.15. He has 37 fifties and a ton. In the 20-over format overall, Kohli has 99 fifty-plus scores. He has 91 fifties and eight tons.

Meanwhile, the 35-year-old is the top scorer in IPL history. He has destroyed 7284 runs at 37.16. His strike rate is 129.93. He is one of the two Indian batters with 50 fifties. He also owns the most number of centuries in the cash-rich league with 7. Kohli has 643 fours and 235 sixes.

Meanwhile, the likes of Aaron Finch (11458), Rohit Sharma (11156), Jos Buttler (11146) and Colin Munro (10961) are the batters to complete the top 10 in terms of runs in the 20-over format.