T20 is the most exciting form of cricket. The format has gained enormous popularity across the cricketing world. They call it the “game of batsmen” because of the batters’ sheer dominance in this format. Although the bowlers also do have the sayings, the batters often have domination over them in this format. So many sensational batsmen have entertained the fans through their mayhem. In this article, we will discuss the best t20 batsmen of all time. In other words, this content is all about the batting GOATs of T20 cricket. Top 20 Cricketers in the World in 2022.
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Best T20 Batsmen of All Time (2022 Updated List)
This list will feature the 15 best T20 batsmen of all time. Let’s see which batters have made their places on this chart. This list is based on overall runs in international and domestic T20 cricket, average, strike rate, as well as match-winning performances.
Chart of Best T20 Batsmen of All Time:
| Rank | Player | Country |
| 1st | Chris Gayle | West Indies |
| 2nd | AB De Villiers | South Africa |
| 3rd | David Warner | Australia |
| 4th | Kieron Pollard | West Indies |
| 5th | Glenn Maxwell | Australia |
| 6th | Rohit Sharma | India |
| 7th | Virat Kohli | India |
| 8th | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand |
| 9th | Aaron Finch | Australia |
| 10th | Andre Russell | West Indies |
| 11th | Jos Buttler | England |
| 12th | Kevin Pietersen | England |
| 13th | Yuvraj Singh | India |
| 14th | MS Dhoni | India |
| 15th | Babar Azam | Pakistan |
Who is the Best T20 Batsman of All Time?
It’s none but the legendary Chris Gayle who is widely considered the greatest player ever in T20 cricket history. He’s not only the best among the batters in this format but also the best among any cricketer to take part in the T20s. He has an unmatchable T20 record. He has no less than 18 overall T20 centuries besides his name including 2 in the international arena. The “Universe Boss” has played in franchise cricket all over the world and has got success everywhere. Apart from his, 2 T20I hundreds, he has made 6 tons in the IPL, 5 in BPL, 4 in CPL, and 1 more in the Big Bash League. While even the best of the batters often struggle to score a T20 hundred, this man has done it as if it’s the easiest thing to do.
The big Jamaican has a total of 1899 T20I runs with an average of 27.93. He has featured in a total of 79 T20I games and batted on 75 occasions. He has a strike rate of over 137 and has scored 158 boundaries while hitting 124 sixes. In IPL, he has scored 4965 runs with a strike rate of just below 150 and an average of a tad below 40. The number of Gayle’s 4s and 6s in the IPL is 405 and 357 respectively. Apart from the Indian Premier League, the big, dark, tall Jamaican has 2519 CPL runs, 1482 BPL runs, 649 Big Bash scores, 370 PSL runs, and 257 runs in the Champions League T20. His t20 batting stats simply look like a myth! Hence he is definitely one of the best t20 batsmen of all time and indeed the very best.
#2. AB De Villiers (South Africa)
Ranked 2nd among the best t20 batsmen of all time, Abraham Benjamin De Villiers is an idol and inspiration even for many of the star cricketers. The former Protea international is considered the most talented batsman of his generation. He was perhaps the toughest batsman to bowl as a bowler but the nicest one to watch as a spectator. Due to his expertness in playing both grammatical and unorthodox shots all over the ground, he got a renowned nickname “Mr 360°”. During his sensational career, he has invented a lot of shots including the magnificent “Reverse Scoop”, which set Dale Steyn baffled let alone the commentators and the fans. Due to his batting geniuses and humble gesture he is also widely loved across the cricket world.
His international T20 batting reads 1672 runs, 26+ average and a strike rate over 135. While his IPL runs tally shows, he has over 5100 runs, with a massive average of 40 (a tad below) while also having a strike rate over 150! That’s unbelievable, isn’t it? Hence, AB is our 2nd pick for the best T20 batsmen of all time. IPL Auction 2022: Full List of Sold and Unsold Players.
#3. David Warner (Australia)
One of the best openers of the current generation of cricketers, David Warner ranks 3rd among the best t20 batsmen of all time. He is one of those very few players, who are equally useful and explosive in all 3 formats of the game. Due to his explosive nature despite being a small-sized man, he has got the nickname “Pocket Dynamite”.
The owner of more than 15k international runs across formats, the Australian left-handed opener has got more than 2500 T20I runs. He has got 1 T20I hundred and 21 fifties so far. In IPL, he has scored as many as 50 half-centuries and 4 tons. His average is over 30 in international T20s and over 40 in the IPL. He also has a strike rate of 140. All these stats show and prove, how good he is. Moreover, he is a match-winner, can build innings, and also has the ability to finish games.
#4. Kieron Pollard (West Indies)
As he bats deeper down the order, his run collection is not as much as the other guys on this list. If somebody is a new watcher, he may look at his stats and wonder how he has made it to the list. But we will explain shortly how he ranks among the 5 best t20 batsmen of all time! Despite having no T20 centuries besides his name, he still ranks higher than many batters. As he bats lower down the order, he often gets around 20-30 deliveries left. But that’s the most crucial stage of a T20 inning. That’s when you need to go hard from the very first delivery. Pollard is quite like an auto-set player. He has gifted his team unbelievable victories on numerous occasions.
So far, the Tacarigua, Trinidad-born all-rounder has got more than 1100 T20I runs while scoring 3200+ in the IPL. His strike rate in T20I is 135+ while the IPL S/R is around 150. However, one may claim him as a successful franchise-based cricketer as his international stats are pretty much underwhelming.
#5. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
One of the true faces of T20 cricket. This guy can score, this guy can go big, can make bowlers baffled, and can entertain the whole ground. If somebody denies him to keep him among the top 10 best t20 batsmen of all time, then he may not have an adequate idea about the game. The Australian sensation is one of the toughest batters to bowl. He has got flexible and powerful wrists, can time the ball properly, and also has very good running between the wickets. Moreover, he can bat anywhere, at the top and also in the middle. Maxi is a very very handy T20 cricketer with his part-time off-spin bowling and magnificent fielding skills.
The Big Show has around 2000 T20I runs with an average of over 30 and a whopping 150+ strike rate. He has 3 T20I centuries as well! At the moment, he is 3 short of 100th sixes in international T20 cricket. In IPL, he is one of the biggest names. He has scored more than 2k runs while having an S/R of more than 150 in the Indian Premier League. He also has 2 Big Bash centuries and is the owner of the highest individual score in the BBL (154*). Moreover, he also holds the record of 2nd fastest hundred in the BBL. Australia T20 World Cup Squad 2022 (Probable XI).
#6. Rohit Sharma (India)
The Hitman is one of the finest openers in cricket history. He used to be a white ball specialist but he has become a prolific opener in test cricket as well. With more than 2300 T20I runs and more than 5600 runs in the IPL, Rohit Sharma sits in 6th place among the best t20 batsmen of all time.
The owner of 3 double centuries in the ODI, also holds the record of most T20I hundreds with 4 tons. The Mumbai Indians skipper also has an IPL hundred beside his name. His strike rate in international T20s is just below 140 while having an S/R of 130 in the IPL. Apart from his batting skill, he is also a very good captain in T20 cricket. He has led the Wankhede Stadium-based side to IPL glory as many as 5 times, the most by any captain. Top 10 Richest Cricketers in the World in 2022 (Based on Net Worth).
#7. Virat Kohli (India)
Perhaps, the greatest cricketer of his generation, Virat Kohli is our 7th pick among the best t20 batsmen of all time. He is definitely one of the most consistent batters in cricket history. While he has won numerous trophies and achieved galore of awards, his T20 trophy cabinet is pretty much empty. The former ICC CWC winner is yet to win a T20 WC trophy while he also hasn’t won a single IPL title. VK has more than 3200 T20I runs with an average of 51+ and an S/R of 137. Meanwhile, his IPL stats read 6283 runs, 37.4 average, and 130 strike rate. Most Thrilling ODI Cricket Matches of the 21st Century.
#8. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)
The former Kiwi wicket-keeper batsman is known as a T2o specialist. In fact, he used to play tests like ODIs, ODIs like T2os, and T20s like even shorter over games. He is deservingly one of the 10 best t20 batsmen of all time. His T20I career ended with 1571 runs, 35.67 average, 136.22 strike rate, and 91 sixes. The Bazz has 2 T2oI centuries while also scoring 2 more tons in the Indian Premier League. His IPL career saw him scoring 2880 runs with an average of 27.69 and a strike rate of 131.75. Fans can’t forget him for his unbelievable 158* off 74 deliveries in the very opening game of the inaugural edition of the IPL. B.Mac is also one of the greatest wk-batsmen in cricket history.
#9. Aaron Finch (Australia)
The Australian T20 WC-winning skipper is a top-level white ball batsman. He is the owner of the highest ever individual score in T20I. His 172 off 76 against Zimbabwe is still the best ever innings in T20I cricket. His 156 off 63 against England also stands among the top 3 innings. Well, the right-handed opener gets his place on the 9th slot among the best t20 batsmen of all time. He has more than 2600 T20I runs with almost 35 average and over 145 strike rate. The current Aussie limited-over-side captain also took his IPL run tally over the 2000 mark. However, he has been a bit out of form lately but still one of the best T20 batsmen in the world.
#10. Andre Russell (West Indies)
The Caribbean all-rounder has just scored 741 T20I runs and 1700 IPL runs. But if you have a look at the number of matches he has finished out of nowhere, you can understand how much precious a batter he is. Although his average is mediocre he has a high T20I strike rate of 156 which is even higher in domestic T20s. His IPL career S/R is 178+. The big Jamaican is a hard-hitting batsman, a very handy bowler, and also a fielder of top-level. In his career, he has taken part in almost every famous franchise-based T20 league. So far, he has featured in the IPL, BPL, PSL, Big Bash, CPL, T10 League, and many more. He is a nightmare for the bowlers and deservingly gets a place among the 10 best t20 batsmen of all time.
#11. Jos Buttler (England)
Nasser Hussain claimed him as England’s greatest ever white ball batsman. Buttler indeed is the most explosive batter, England has ever produced. He has collected more than 2100 runs in the T20Is. He averages almost 35 while having a strike rate of over 140. Before the start of the 2022 campaign, he is just a few short of his 1500 IPL runs. In the Indian Premier League, the Taunton-born cricketer averages over 35. He also has an incredible S/R of 150. Buttler is a versatile cricketer who can open the innings or play the same explosively during the later part. He is a powerful guy and also is a sweet timer of the cricket ball. He is strong in all parts of the field and hence, is a 360-degree batsman. Moreover, Buttler is an acrobatic wicket-keeper who can also serve the role of an outfield player brilliantly.
#12. Kevin Pietersen (England)
Pietersen was the main architect of England’s 2010 ICC T20 WC Glory. Although he just scored 1176 T20I runs and 1001 IPL runs, he still is one of the 15 best T20 batsmen of all time. KP used to be a serious customer of white-ball cricket. He was powerful down the wicket and also square of the wicket. Meanwhile, he was a great executor of the ramp shots. His average in international T20s is above 37 and in IPL it’s over 35. He ended his career with a T20I strike rate of 141 while having more than 130 S/R in the IPL. KP also has shown a glimpse of his brilliance in PSL, Vitality T20 Blast, Big Bash, CPL, MSL, and more tournaments. He was one of the early executors of the famous switch hit.
#13. Yuvraj Singh (India)
The list of the best T20 batsmen of all time can’t be complete without Yuvraj Singh. He is the only man to hit six sixes in an over in T20I. He made this record against England off Stuart Broad in a T20 WC fixture. His 70 off 30 deliveries against Australia in the 2007 T20 WC semifinal is one of his best-ever innings. The left-handed batter has 1177 T20I runs in his collections while also scoring 2750 in his IPL career. His international T20 average is over 28 while in IPL it’s a tad below 25. His S/R in T20I and IPL is 136+ and 129+ respectively. Apart from his batting, he also used to be a very handy left-arm spinner.
#14. MS Dhoni (India)
Captain cool has been one of the best finishers in cricket. Nobody has finished more games than MSD, perhaps. The former Indian skipper who gifted his nation the first-ever T20 WC trophy has 1282 T20I runs and almost 3500 IPL runs in his collection. His batting average in T20 is also pretty higher considering his batting position. With a 37.6 T20I batting average and almost 40 average in the IPL, the Jharkhand-born cricketer is deservingly among the 15 best T20 batsmen of all time. His S/R is also pretty good which is over 126 in T20I and over 135 in the IPL. Dhoni is a very handy cricketer for any side. Apart from his batting skills, he’s a very good wicket-keeper and also perhaps the best ever T20 captain in history.
#15. Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Despite being a classic batsman, Babar Azam is one of the best T20 batsmen of all time. The current Pakistan national team captain is a run machine and he is so consistent. He has a tremendous T20I batting average. It’s over 45 which is simply incredible. His strike rate is also very good which is almost 130. So far he has managed to score 2620 T20I runs and has a hundred in this format as well. Apart from the Pakistan national team, Babar has also featured for Somerset in Vitality Blast and did extremely well. He is also the captain of Karachi Kings in the PSL. Moreover, the top-order batter has played in the CPL and BPL.
Some Special Mentions for the Best T20 Batsmen of All Time:
- Chris Lynn (Australia)
- Jason Roy (England)
- Quinton De Kock (South Africa)
- Colin Munro (New Zealand)
- TM Dilshan (Sri Lanka)
- Suresh Raina (India)
- Mike Hussey (Australia)
- Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)
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