The veteran cricketer Mahela Jayawardene is joining the Sri Lankan Cricket squad as the consultant for the upcoming 2021 ICC men's T20 World Cup. UAE and Oman are hosting this year's T20 world cup and he will join his team immediately after IPL 2021 comes to an end. Currently, he is the head coach of Mumbai Indians in IPL.

Read also: Most international runs in cricket history

Mahela Jayawardene has tons of responsibilities on his shoulders in the coming months. The former Sri Lanka captain will mentor and act as a consultant for the U-19 side after consulting the senior squad. He will work with the U-19 team in the build-up for the U-19 World Cup in West Indies next year. Starting from 16th October, he will walk alongside the senior squad till 23rd October for a straight seven days. Whereas he will be working for the U-19 team for five months.

Ashley De Silva on his appointment, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket said, "We are very happy to welcome Mahela into his new roles, as his presence with the Sri Lanka Team and the U19 Team is going to help the players immensely. From his playing days, Mahela was respected for the vast cricketing knowledge he brought into the game, first as a player, then as a Captain, now as a Coach for different teams."

Read also: Cricket News: BCCI is all set to ask Anil Kumble to be India's next coach after T20 World Cup

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in the hybrid model from 19 February to 9 March in Pakistan and UAE. 

During this time, the top 8 teams of the points table of the ODI World Cup will take the field with the intention of winning the title.

Also Read: ICC Men's Champions trophy winners list

When it comes to runs in any tournament, batters never disappoint and make the game blaze.

So, before the start of tournament, let's take a look at the batters with most runs in Champions Trophy history.

Most Runs in Champions Trophy | Top 5 List

1# Chris Gayle | 791 Runs

West Indies' legendary batsman Chris Gayle has the most runs in Champions Trophy history. He was one of the most blistering batters in all forms of the game.

Gayle has scored a total of 791 runs in 17 matches at an excellent average of 52.73, in which his highest score has been 133 not out. 

In this ICC tournament, he has scored 3 centuries and 1 half-century.

2# Mahela Jayawardene | 742 Runs

Sri Lankan cricket icon Mahela Jayawardene was known for his excellent batting technique and classic style. 

Jayawardene was one of the prominent players in the Sri Lankan cricket history. He has the second highest number of runs in the Champions Trophy.

In 22 matches, he has scored 742 runs at an average of 41.22 and with the help of 5 half-centuries, in which his highest score was 84 not out.

3# Shikhar Dhawan | 701 Runs

Former Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan, known as 'Gabbar' across the world, is famous for his extraordinary batting technique and aggressive batting style. 

He was also known as “Mr. ICC”, thanks to his astonishing stats in ICC tournaments.

Dhawan is the top Indian and third batsman in the world to score the most runs in Champions Trophy.

During the Champion Trophy, he scored a total of 701 runs in 10 matches at an excellent average of 77.88. His highest score in the tournament was 125 runs with three centuries and half-centuries. 

Dhawan was also chosen Player of the Tournament in India's title win in 2013.

4# Kumar Sangakkara | 683 Runs

Another Sri Lankan legend, Kumar Sangakkara, is famous for his extraordinary batting skills. He is the fourth highest run scorer in the Champions Trophy. 

In this tournament, Sangakkara scored a total of 683 runs while playing 22 matches, during which his highest score was 134 not out. 

He also has 4 half-centuries and a century in his name in the tournament.

5# Sourav Ganguly | 665 Runs

India's legendary former captain Sourav Ganguly is the second Indian in the list of world's top-5 batsmen who have scored most runs in Champions Trophy. 

Fondly known as “Dada”, Ganguly was one of the elite players of off-side, that’s why he was known as “God Of Off-side”.

Ganguly played a crucial part in India’s resurgence in the limited-overs format.

During the Champions Trophy, he scored 665 runs in 13 matches, with his highest individual score in the tournament being 141 not out.

He also smashed three centuries and half-centuries in this tournament.

World’s best batters fight for glory in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup every two years. They show their hitting skills, leaving fans amazed with their six-hitting abilities. The T20 World Cup 2024 is the 9th edition and will be played in the West Indies and USA from June 1 to 29, 2024. But who among the modern-day batting greats tops the list of total runs scored in the T20 World Cup? Let's take a look at the most ICC Men's T20 World Cup runs list below. 

Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Squads of Every Team

Most ICC Men's T20 World Cup Runs

1. Virat Kohli | 1141 Runs

Virat Kohli has the most ICC Men's T20 World Cup runs. Kohli has scored 1141 runs in 27 matches at an average of 81.50, which also includes 14 fifties at a strike-rate of 131.30. His highest score in the tournament is 89 not out, which he scored in the 2016 edition of the T20 World Cup against West Indies. In addition to his overall record, Kohli also holds the record for the most runs in a single T20 World Cup tournament, having scored 319 runs in six matches during the 2014 edition.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Highest run scorers in every T20WC edition

2. Mahela Jayawardene | 1016 Runs 

Following Kohli is former Sri Lanka cricket team batsman Mahela Jayawardene, who ranks second in the list of most ICC Men's T20 World Cup runs. Jayawardene participated in five editions of the tournament between 2007 and 2014, amassing 1,016 runs in 31 matches at an average of 39.07 and a strike rate of 134.74. He also became the first Sri Lankan player to score a century in T20 World Cups during that tournament. 

3. Chris Gayle | 965 Runs

Caribbean batter Chris Gayle occupies the third position in this list. Gayle has smashed 965 runs in 33 matches, at an average of 34.46 and a strike rate of 142.75 with the help of 2 centuries and 7 half-centuries. He scored the first hundred in the T20 World Cup and won two world cups.

4. Rohit Sharma | 963 Runs

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma made 963 runs in 36 spells, which includes nine half-centuries. Hitman comes fourth on the list of most ICC Men's T20 World Cup runs. 79 is the top score for Rohit. He hasn't scored any 100s till now. Rohit has played in all the eight T20 World Cups so far.

5. Tillakaratne Dilshan | 897 Runs

Tillakaratne Dilshan played his last World Cup in the shortest format in 2016 but is still at the fifth place in the list of most runs in T20 World Cup. He mustered 897 runs in 34 innings with six fifties for Sri Lanka at the mega event with the highest score being 96*. More often than not, Dilshan opened the innings and was also instrumental in Sri Lanka lifting the trophy in 2014. 

Also Read: Youngest Men's player to score a T20I century

6. David Warner | 806 Runs

David Warner is set to play his last T20 World Cup in 2024 and will open the innings yet again for Australia. Having played since 2009 at the event, the southpaw has amassed 806 runs so far in 34 innings at a strike rate of 133.22 and has surprisingly, not scored a single ton yet. Warner has a chance to bow out on a high and also climb up in this list with a sensational T20 World Cup this year.

7. Jos Buttler | 799 Runs

Jos Buttler led England to T20 World Cup title in 2022 and is again the captain for the 2024 edition. He is playing the event since 2012 and has scored 799 runs so far sitting at the seventh place in the list of most runs in T20 World Cup. He has smashed the runs at an average of 42.05 and a strike rate of 144.48 with a century and four fifties to his name. Apart from leading from the front with the bat, Buttler will be aiming to defend England’s title this time around. 

8. Shakib Al Hasan | 742 Runs

Shakib Al Hasan is the only other player apart from Rohit Sharma to feature in all editions of T20 World Cup (including the upcoming one). He has played 36 matches for Bangladesh at the event scoring 742 runs at an average of almost 24 and a strike rate of 122.44 with three fifties. He has won a lot of matches for Bangladesh with his all-rounder skills and will be aiming to do so in what could be his last ICC event in the format.

9. AB de Villiers | 717 Runs

AB de Villiers last played the mega event in 2016 itself but it still among top 10 in the list of players with most runs in T20 World Cup . Playing for South Africa, he amassed 717 runs in 29 innings at an average of almost 30 and a strike rate of 143.4 that is impeccable for a middle-order batter. He also hit five fifties and played some memorable knocks for Proteas during his playing time.

Also Read: 5 players who played more than 50 matches in every format

10. Kane Williamson | 699 Runs

New Zealand have again reposed faith in Kane Williamson to lead New Zealand in the upcoming T20 World Cup edition. The man is playing in the tournament since 2012 and has scored 699 runs in 24 innings at an average of 33.28 and a strike rate of 113.84 with three fifties to his name. Despite the fact that his stocks are going down in the shortest format, Williamson remains a key member for the Kiwis having led them to final of T20 World Cup 2021. 

10 | AB de Villiers

Mr.360 scored nine centuries against India in all format.

09 | Michael Clarke

The Australian batter scored nine centuries against India in all formats.

08 | Shivnarine Chanderpaul

The West Indies batter scored nine centuries against India in all formats

07 | Mahela Jayawardene

The Sri Lankan batter scored 10 centuries against India in all formats.

06 | Sanath Jayasuriya

He scored 10 centuries against India in all formats

05 | Kumar Sangakkara

The Sri Lanka batter scored 11 centuries against India in all formats

04 | Sir Viv Richards

The Great Vivan Richards scored 11 centuries against India.

03 | Joe Root

The English batter scored 13 centuries against India in all formats.

02 | Steve Smith

The Australian batter scored 14 centuries against India in all formats.

Ponting jointly made the highest number of centuries against India (14).

Hardik Pandya has been announced as Mumbai Indians' captain for IPL 2024, replacing the franchise's long-serving and successful captain Rohit Sharma. Pandya returned to Mumbai Indians after an all-cash deal trade-off with Gujarat Titans was formally completed following 72 hours of intense drama. Pandya was leading Gujarat Titans in the last two seasons and he led the side to back-to-back finals, winning the championship in his maiden year and losing a thriller to CSK in 2023.

Also Read: Most ODI Wickets in 2023

Commenting on this announcement Mahela Jayawardene said, "It is part of legacy building and staying true to the MI philosophy of being future-ready. Mumbai Indians have always been blessed with exceptional leadership right from Sachin to Harbhajan and Ricky to Rohit, who while contributing to the immediate success have always had an eye on strengthening the team for the future. It is in keeping with this philosophy that Hardik Pandya will assume captaincy of Mumbai Indians for the IPL 2024 season."

"We express our gratitude to Rohit Sharma for his exceptional leadership; his tenure as the captain of the Mumbai Indians since 2013 has been nothing short of extraordinary. His leadership has not only brought unparalleled success to the team but has also solidified his place as one of the finest captains in the history of the IPL."

"Under his guidance, MI became one of the most successful and loved teams ever. We will look forward to his guidance and experience on and off the field to further strengthen MI. We welcome Hardik Pandya as the new captain of MI and wish him all the very best," he added.

Rohit's captaincy in IPL

Rohit took charge as the skipper midway through IPL 2013 and led the team to its maiden title when they defeated Chennai Super Kings in the final. Rohit is the fourth-highest run scorer in IPL history with 6211, out of 3986 runs have come as captain - across 157 innings at 129.37 SR with 25 fifties. Rohit then led his side to four more IPL titles. He is surely the best IPL captain alongside CSK leader MS Dhoni.

Hardik, began his IPL career with the Mumbai Indians in 2015 and has scored 1476 runs for the franchise and taken 42 wickets. Pandya became an integral part of the team and was part of MI's title-winning sides in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.

07 | Travis Head | Australia

Travis Head's century in the World Cup final, broke the hearts the Indians, as Australia clinched their 6th ODI World Cup trophy. He remains unbeaten at 137 off 120 balls hitting 15 boundaries and four sixes.

06 | Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka

Former Sri Lankan skipper Mahale Jayawardene scored 103 runs from 88 balls against India in the final of the 2011 ODI World Cup.

05 | Adam Gilchrist | Australia

Gilchrist slammed 149 runs from 104 balls against Sri Lanka in the final of the 2007 World Cup

04 | Ricky Ponting | Australia

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting scored 140 runs from 121 balls against India in the final of 2003 ODI World Cup.

03 | Aravinda Da Silva | Sri Lanka

Aravinda remained not out on 107 runs from 124 balls in the final of the 1996 World Cup, which was played between Sri Lanka and Australia in Lahore on March 17,1996

02 | Sir Viv Richards | West Indies

Sir Viv Richards scored 138 runs from 157 balls against England in the final of the 1979 World Cup played at Lord's on June 23

Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd scored 102 runs from 85 balls in the final of the 1975 World Cup against Australia at Lord's on June 21, 1975