Cricket fans around the globe are eagerly anticipating the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup, which kicks off on June 1, 2024. This year’s tournament garners additional excitement as it is being co-hosted by the United States and Canada, marking a historic first for North America. With the cricketing elite primed to showcase their talents, a slew of records and milestones are poised to be shattered during this exhilarating event.
Central to the narrative are India’s star batsmen, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. As these illustrious players approach what might be their final T20 World Cup, all eyes will be on them to deliver stellar performances. Together, Kohli and Sharma have accumulated a remarkable total of 2,104 runs in the tournament’s history, solidifying their place as T20 legends.
Virat Kohli, in particular, has been a formidable force in the T20 World Cup. During the previous edition in 2022, he broke the record for the most runs in tournament history and currently leads the chart with a staggering 1,141 runs in just 25 innings. Kohli is 125 runs ahead of Sri Lanka’s retired cricketing icon, Mahela Jayawardene. Among the active players, Rohit Sharma sits at the second spot with 963 runs in 36 innings, followed closely by Australia’s David Warner, who has amassed 806 runs in 34 innings.
Interestingly, despite his unmatched prowess, Kohli is yet to score a century in the T20 World Cup. However, he holds the record for the most fifty-plus scores in the tournament, amassing 14 such innings in just 25 matches. This feat places him six scores ahead of both Sharma and Chris Gayle. Kohli also holds the record for the most runs in a single edition, having scored 319 runs in merely six innings during the 2014 World Cup, where India finished as runners-up.
On the other hand, New Zealand’s former captain Brendon McCullum holds the record for the highest individual score in the tournament. McCullum’s blistering knock of 123 runs off 58 balls against Bangladesh in the 2012 World Cup remains unbeaten to this day. England’s current captain, Jos Buttler, flaunts the best strike rate in the tournament, scoring 799 runs at an impressive rate of 144.
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In terms of power-hitting, Caribbean legend Chris Gayle leads the charge for the most sixes, having smashed an astounding 63 sixes in 31 innings. He is followed by India’s Rohit Sharma with 35 sixes and England’s Jos Buttler with 33 sixes. Meanwhile, Kohli is on the verge of toppling Mahela Jayawardene’s record for the most fours in the tournament, needing just nine more boundaries to surpass the Sri Lankan great.
Among bowlers, Bangladesh’s veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan stands out, comfortably topping the charts with 47 wickets in 35 innings. He is eight wickets ahead of second-placed Shahid Afridi and a considerable 15 wickets ahead of India’s Ravichandran Ashwin. However, Ashwin will not be part of the 2024 edition, making Shakib a strong contender to retain his leading status.
Sri Lanka’s former spinner Ajantha Mendis holds the record for the best bowling figures in an innings, with an extraordinary performance of six wickets for just eight runs against Zimbabwe in the 2012 World Cup. The tournament also highlights West Indies’ Sunil Narine, who boasts the best economy rate (among bowlers with a minimum of 30 overs bowled), conceding runs at an impressive rate of just 5.17 per over over two editions.
Shakib Al Hasan and Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal share the record for the most four-wicket hauls in the tournament, having achieved this feat three times each but never securing a five-wicket haul. Sri Lanka’s current T20I captain, Wanindu Hasaranga, has also made his mark by dominating the past two editions. He holds the record for the most wickets in a single edition, taking 16 wickets in eight innings during the 2021 World Cup in the UAE and 15 wickets in eight innings in the 2022 edition.
As the T20 World Cup 2024 approaches, fans can expect not just competitive matches but also potential landmark moments that will redefine cricketing records. The anticipation is palpable, and the stage is set for an unforgettable display of talent, skill, and sportsmanship. The global cricketing community will be watching closely as new legends are forged and historic feats are achieved on the grand stage.
