Leading a team in the T20 World Cup is a proud yet challenging task. Captains are expected to deliver both individually and as team leaders.
Here, we highlight the top 10 captains who have scored the most runs in T20 World Cup history.
These players have successfully managed to balance their captaincy duties with outstanding batting performances on the grand stage. Cricket fans can celebrate these remarkable achievements that showcase leadership and batting skills.
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Below is the list of these cricketing legends who have left a significant mark in T20 World Cup history followed by the key insights from the list.
Top 10: Scoring Captains In T20 World Cup
Player | Country | Innings | Runs As Captain | High Score |
MS Dhoni | India | 29 | 529 | 45 |
Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 17 | 517 | 85 |
Babar Azam | Pakistan | 13 | 427 | 70 |
Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 11 | 360 | 65* |
Graeme Smith | South Africa | 16 | 352 | 41 |
Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 14 | 329 | 68 |
Chris Gayle | West Indies | 9 | 325 | 98 |
William Porterfield | Ireland | 14 | 253 | 47 |
Aaron Finch | Australia | 10 | 242 | 63 |
Jos Butler | England | 6 | 225 | 80* |
Key Insights:
529: MS Dhoni set a milestone as the first captain to surpass 500 runs in the T20 World Cup. Leading India in 33 matches, Dhoni amassed 529 runs, showcasing a strike rate of 123.88.
2: Alongside MS Dhoni, Kane Williamson stands out as one of the only two captains to score over 500 runs in the T20 World Cup, demonstrating consistent high-level performance under pressure.
5+: Babar Azam is distinguished as the sole captain to hit five or more fifty-plus scores in World Cup history, with four coming in the 2021 tournament alone. This achievement marks the highest number of fifty-plus scores by a captain in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.
140+: Chris Gayle and Jos Buttler are unique in maintaining an average over 40 and a strike rate exceeding 140 among captains who scored more than 200 runs. Mahela Jayawardene also maintained an average of 40, though his strike rate was slightly lower at 130.90.
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