A player can perform well in particular matches, however, performing consistently throughout the whole tournament is always a plus. This thin line separates the goods from the greats. Consistently delivering in a series is what makes a player a threat to the other teams. Let us look at those players who bagged the Player of the series awards in each T20 World Cup edition.

Read Also: Winners list of last 10 ICC Tournaments

Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 2007

Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi won the Player of the Series award back in the 2007 T20 World Cup edition. The leggie scalps 12 wickets in the edition and also contributed 91 runs with the bat when needed. He was also the joint-highest wicket-taker (12 wickets) in that edition of the tournament.

Tillakaratne Dilshan | Sri Lanka | 2009

Sri Lankan legendary batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan won the Player of the Series award in the T20 World Cup 2009 edition. Dilshan was the top scorer for that edition with 317 runs to his name with an average of 52.83. Although, Sri Lanka loses in the final against Pakistan. But Dilshan was adjudged with the Player of the Series award for his extraordinary batting in that edition.

Also Read: Most Runs in T20 World Cup history

Kevin Pietersen | England | 2010

England lifted the T20 World Cup in 2010 as Kevin Pietersen was named the player of the tournament for the edition. Kevin Pietersen scored 47 runs in 31 balls in the final game against the Aussies to help his team chase down 148. However, KP adjusted to the award as England lifted their first major ICC trophy.

Shane Watson | Australia | 2012

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson won the Player of the Series award in the 2012 edition of the T20 WC. Shane Watson has batted six innings in the tournament. In which he smashed 249 runs at an average of 49.80. Moreover, Watson also took 11 wickets at an average of 16.00 in that edition. For his brilliant performance with both the bat and bowl, he was declared the player of the tournament for the 2012 edition.

Read Also: Most Wickets in T20 World Cup history

Virat Kohli | India | 2014

Indian skipper Virat Kohli was in top form in the ICC T20 World Cup 2014 edition. Virat has scored 319 runs as he helps his team to reach the finals of the 2014 World Cup edition. Virat had scored 77 runs in 58 balls in the final game against Sri Lanka before he got run out.

However, his innings went in vain as Sri Lanka chased down the below-average target Inside 18 overs. However, Kohli adjusted with the Player of the Series award for his good performance throughout the tournament.

Also Read: Virat Kohli vs Joe Root vs Steve Smith Test Captaincy Records

Virat Kohli | India | 2016

Indian captain Virat Kohli again received the Player of the Series award in the 2016 edition. Virat scored 273 runs in that edition with a half-century in the Semi-Final game. Kohli scored 82 runs against the Aussies in that edition of the T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, that innings has been named the greatest moment of the ICC T20 World Cup history.

Although, India completed their journey in the semi-finals Virat again emerged with his top batting skills and grabbed the award.

Also Read: Virat Kohli Records as T20I Captain

David Warner | Australia | 2021

Australian opener David Warner was out of form just before the T20 World Cup 2021. However, Warner again emerged again in the World Cup stage as he smashed 289 runs in the tournament at an average of 48.16. Meanwhile, it's also included with the tournament-winning knock of 53 off 38 balls against New Zealand. He ended up as the 2nd highest run-scorer of the tournament behind Pakistan's Babar Azam.

Read Also: Fastest to 3000 runs in T20I

Sam Curran | England | 2022

English pacer Sam Curran continued his red-hot form in the tournament with three more wickets in the final. Curran took three wickets while conceding only 12 runs from his four-over spell and won the Player of the Match award as well. He also ended the tournament as England's leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets from just six innings at an impressive economy rate of 6.52 to grab a Player of the Tournament award.

Also Read: ICC Team of the Tournament for T20 World Cup 2022

Jasprit Bumrah | India | 2024

Jasprit Bumrah won the player of the tournament award for his 15 wickets in the T20 World Cup 2024. Bumrah was impeccable with his disciplined bowling and gave India breakthroughs whenever Rohit Sharma asked him to bowl. Not only that, his economy rate of 4.17 was the best in tournament history for a bowler who has played all the games in a single edition. 

Bumrah was great with his variation and proved to be India's match-winner in nearly every match. He became the only Indian player except for Virat Kohli to win the Player of the Tournament award in the T20 World Cups. 

N.B: Last Updated on 13/11/2022.

Pink Ball Test, a five-day match contested under lights like a One Day International, was first held in November 2015 after a lot of trials in First-Class cricket across the globe. Day-Night Test was introduced to add more to the longer format as white-ball especially the T20s has taken over the game with crowds preferring the shorter format.

Also Read: Most Runs for India in Pink Ball Test

India are set to play their second Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide. After winning the Perth Test match by a massive margin of 295 runs, India will face Australia against the pink ball, under lights. So before the start of the series, let's take a look at the Indian bowlers who took the most wickets in the Pink Ball Test. 

1# Ravichandran Ashwin | 18 Wickets

Ravichandran Ashwin is the highest wicket taker for India in the pink ball test. He appeared in all 4 of India's matches, taking 18 wickets at an average of 13.83. In his Test career, he played 105 matches, in which he took 536 wickets at an average of 23.95. Meanwhile, he has taken 5 wickets in 37 innings. Ashwin did not play in the first Test of the current series.

2# Axar Patel | 14 Wickets

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel has played only 2 matches with the pink ball, taking 14 wickets with a strong average of 9.14. In 2021, he took a total of 11 wickets in the day-night test played against England in Ahmedabad. He took 5 wickets in both the innings. In his Test career so far, Axar has taken 55 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 19.34.

3# Umesh Yadav | 11 Wickets

Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav has also had a strong performance in the day-night test. The Indian fast bowler has taken 11 wickets in 2 matches with an excellent average of 15.54. In his Test career, Umesh has played 57 matches, in which he has taken 170 wickets at an average of 30.95. He is currently out of the Indian team. Umesh played his last Test in 2023.

4# Jasprit Bumrah | 10 Wickets

Jasprit Bumrah, who led the Indian team on the first test, has taken 10 wickets in the pink ball test. Bumrah has taken 10 wickets in 3 day-night tests. He took 5 wicket haul against Sri Lanka. Bumrah is currently on Australia tour. He took a total of 8 wickets in the first Perth Test of the series.

5# Ishant Sharma | 10 Wickets

Ishant Sharma has also taken 10 wickets each in the Pink Ball Test. Ishant took 10 wickets in 2 tests. He took a total of 9 wickets in the match against Bangladesh. He is currently out of the Indian team. Ishant played his last Test in 2021.

Pink Ball Test, a five-day match contested under lights like a One Day International, was first held in November 2015 after a lot of trials in First-Class cricket across the globe. Day-Night Test was introduced to add more to the longer format as white-ball especially the T20s has taken over the game with crowds preferring the shorter format.

Also Read: Border–Gavaskar Trophy: India's record in Pink Ball Test

India are set to play their second Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide. After winning the Perth Test match by a massive margin of 295 runs, India will face Australia against the pink ball, under lights. So before the start of the series, let's take a look at the Indian batters who scored the most runs in the Pink Ball Test. 

1# Virat Kohli | 277 Runs

Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli has a fine record against the pink-ball, having played all of India's four pink-ball matches so far. He leads the scoring chart in pink ball Test cricket for India. In six innings so far, he has scored 277 runs at an average of 46.16, with a century and fifty. His knock of 136* against Bangladesh in 2019 at Kolkata is the only century by an Indian in a pink-ball Test.

After having overcome a lean patch of form with a century at Perth, Virat would be raring to continue his golden run in Australia and at the Adelaide Oval.

2# Rohit Sharma | 173 Runs

Indian team captain Rohit Sharma comes second on the list scoring just one half-century in Pink Ball Tests, accumulating 173 runs in five matches at an average of 39. This will be Rohit Sharma’s first Day-Night Test match on foreign soil, as all three of his previous Pink Ball Tests were played in India. 

As an opener, Rohit will need to weather the new ball, especially during twilight and night sessions when the pink ball is at its most ferocious. It will be quite interesting to see how Rohit goes about his business in the upcoming game.

3# Shreyas Iyer | 159 Runs

Shreyas Iyer has played just one day-night Test match and has scored 159 runs in it. He put up knocks of 92 and 67 in the second test between India and Sri Lanka in 2022. India were 86/4 after electing to bat. Iyer shone with a blistering 92 off 98 deliveries, whipping 10 fours and four maximums. He played with the tail-enders and was the last man to be dismissed (252/10). India eventually won by 238 runs.

4# Ajinkya Rahane | 100 Runs

Ajinkya Rahane comes in 4th place with 100 runs in 3 matches. Rahane also scored a half-century against Bangladesh in 2019.

5# Cheteshwar Pujara | 98 Runs

Cheteshwar Pujara is 5th on this list. He has amassed just 98 runs in 3 day-night Test matches. Pujara put up knocks of 55 and 43 against Bangladesh and Australia respectively. 

The second match of the five-match Border–Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia will be played in Adelaide from December 6. This will be a day-night test played with the pink ball. 

The good thing for India is that regular captain Rohit Sharma has returned. Apart from this, Shubman Gill is also on the verge of becoming fit. With the return of these two, Indian batting will become stronger. However, the team management will be worried about the playing 11. Fitting Rohit and Gill into a winning combination is a matter of concern.

Also Read: Indian captains to win POTM awards in Australia in Tests

It is considered certain that Devdutt Padikkal will sit on the bench. Apart from this, Dhruv Jurel can also be seen sitting on the bench. The biggest problem will be whether KL Rahul will be sent to open or he will be sent back to number five. Before that let us look at India's statistics in Day-Night Test or Pink Ball Test.

India has played four pink ball tests so far

India has played four day-night tests so far. Out of these, they have won in three, while they have faced defeat in one. Team India has won 75 percent of the matches in the day-night test. The only Test in which the Indian team lost was played in Adelaide four years ago. This was the first Test of India's tour of Australia in the 2020/21 Border–Gavaskar Trophy. Team India, captained by Virat Kohli, had to face a crushing defeat by eight wickets.

What happened in the India-Australia match in Adelaide in 2020?

Batting first in Adelaide, India had scored 244 runs. Cheteshwar Pujara scored 43 runs and Ajinkya Rahane 42 runs. In reply, Australia's first innings was limited to 191 runs. Marnus Labuschagne scored 47 runs and captain Tim Paine scored 73 runs.

The Indian team was devastated in the second innings and was reduced to just 36 runs. This is also India's lowest score in Tests. Cummins and Hazlewood took four and five wickets respectively. India had set a target of 90 runs by taking the lead against Australia. Australia won the match by scoring 93 runs for two wickets. Matthew Wade scored 33 runs, while Joe Burns remained unbeaten on 51 runs.

India played first pink ball test in 2019

India played its first pink ball test against Bangladesh in 2019 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata and won by 46 runs. After this, after playing against Australia in 2020, Team India defeated England by 10 wickets in the day-night test in Ahmedabad in February 2021 and then Sri Lanka by 238 runs in Bengaluru in March 2022. India's highest score in the day-night test is 347/9.

Indian batter who scored most runs in pink ball test

Virat Kohli has scored the most runs for India in the day-night test. He has scored 277 runs in four such matches at an average of 46.16. At the same time, Rohit Sharma is at second place with 173 runs in three matches at an average of 43.25. Shreyas Iyer is at third place in the list. He has scored 155 runs at an average of 79.50. 

Whereas, if we talk about bowlers, Ravichandran Ashwin has taken the most wickets for India in the day-night test. He has taken 18 wickets in four such matches. At the same time, Akshar Patel has taken 14 wickets in two pink ball tests. Umesh Yadav has taken 11 wickets in two such matches.

Also Read: Highest catches dropped percentages since 2011 (Min 100 chances) | Virat tops the list among batters

Highest runs for India in day-night test

Most wickets for India in day-night test

Australia's figures in day night test

Australia has an exceptional record in day night tests. They have played 12 day-night tests so far, out of which they have won 11 while losing only one. What makes their record even more impressive is that their wins have come against different opponents. These include India, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies. Australia defeated New Zealand by three wickets in the first international day-night Test in Adelaide in 2015. 

The matter of concern for Australia is that Josh Hazlewood, who wreaked havoc in 2020, will not play in the second Test of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy due to injury.

India created history in the first Test of the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy by achieving their largest-ever win in Australia. At Perth's Optus Stadium, a venue where the Australian team had never lost before, India registered a stunning victory. Led by Jasprit Bumrah’s Player of the Match (POTM) worthy 8/72 across the two innings, India defeated Australia by 295 runs, their biggest every victory by runs in the country (if innings wins not considered). 

Also Read: Highest catches dropped percentages since 2011 (Min 100 chances) | Virat tops the list among batters

After achieving the POTM Award in Perth, Jasprit Bumrah became the fifth Indian captain who won POTM awards in Australia in Tests. Here's the other captain who achieved this feat on Australian soil.

1. Kapil Dev | Adelaide, 1985

The Haryana Hurricane Kapil Dev earned the POTM award following his spell of 8 for 106 in the first innings of the 1985 Adelaide Test, which set the stage for India to secure a draw against the home team. He was the first Indian captain who won POTM awards in Australia in Tests.

2. Sachin Tendulkar | Melbourne, 1999

In Melbourne in December 1999, when the weather was damp and batting a struggle, Australia rallied to 405 and India crumbled around Tendulkar. He scored his third ton on Australian soil since his twin shows in the 1991-92 series. His 116 off 191 balls (nine fours, one six) saw a follow-on-saving 43-run partnership with Anil Kumble (28 not out) and India ended on 238. The 167-run lead proved to be decisive as India lost the game by 180 runs, with Tendulkar’s POTM award coming as the visiting side’s consolation.

3. Sourav Ganguly | Brisbane, 2003

At the Gabba, India slipped from 61 for 0 to 62 for 3, in response to Australia's 323. In conditions that offered the pace and bounce that are the hallmark of Australian venues, Ganguly displayed remarkable judgement in his handling of the short delivery, and scored his first Test hundred in Australia.

Ganguly's 146-run stand with VVS Laxman (75) for the 5th wicket was notched up in 206 balls and his 144-run knock was studded with 18 hits to the fence. Such was the class of Ganguly's knock that it drew applause even from some of the Aussie players. This was India's first drawn series in Australia since 1981.

4. Ajinkya Rahane | Melbourne, 2021

After India were hammered in the first match in Adelaide Test series in 2021, skipper Kohli returned home for personal reasons and the responsibility fell on Rahane. Under Rahane's captaincy, India won the game by eight wickets and level the series 1-1. During this Rahane slammed his 12th Test hundred (112 off 223 balls). Rahane later led India to win the fourth and final Test in Brisbane to give his side a 2-1 series victory.

Also Read: Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Jasprit Bumrah breaks record with five-wicket haul in first test

5. Jasprit Bumrah | Perth, 2024

India played superb cricket over the span of the three and a half days in Perth, and defeated Australia by 295 runs, their biggest every victory by runs in the country (if innings wins not considered). 

Led by Jasprit Bumrah’s Player of the Match worthy 8/72 across the two innings at the Optus Stadium in Perth, India were rampant in the Test match right after their disappointing first innings on Day 1 when they folded for 150. They blew away Australia for just 104 in their first innings, and took a 46 runs lead. India scored 487/6d in the second innings and gave Australia a target of 534. The Australian top order collapsed once again in the second innings and the hosts could have repeated the first innings performance.

The second day of the Perth Test match of Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia has ended. India now has a lead of 218 runs due to the record partnership of 172 runs by the Indian team's openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Australia all out on 104

Team India's first innings was limited to a score of only 150 in this match, after which, due to the excellent performance of the bowlers, Australia managed to score only 104 runs in its first innings, giving the Indian team a lead of 46 runs. At the start of the day's play on Saturday, Australia had 7 wickets for 67 runs. The team had lost the last 3 wickets in scoring 37 runs. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey could only add 2 runs to his score on the first day and made a total of 21 runs, while Nathan Lyon contributed 5 runs. Mitchell Starc scored the highest score of 26 runs.

By the end of the second day's play, Team India had scored 172 runs without any loss in their second innings, in which they had also achieved a lead of 218 runs. 

Strong performance by Indian bowlers

Indian bowlers have performed brilliantly and brought the team into the competition. Jasprit Bumrah has taken 5 wickets while playing captaincy innings. Harshit Rana has got 3 wickets and Mohammad Siraj has got 2 wickets.

Jaiswal and Rahul put India in driver's seat

After a frenetic first day that saw 17 wickets tumble, Day 2 showcased a different rhythm as Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul produced a gritty, old-school batting display to grind down Australia. Jaiswal showcased his class with an unbeaten 90 and KL Rahul displayed great composure with his 62* as India built a solid 218-run lead over Australia to take control of the game at stumps on Day 2.  Jaiswal faced 193 balls while Rahul fended off 153. Australia tried hard to break the stand but failed miserably.

 Border-Gavaskar Trophy | Day 2 Report

• Australia: 104 all out in 51.2 overs (Mitchell Starc 26, Alex Carey 21; Jasprit Bumrah 5/30)
• India: 172/0 in 57 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 90 not out, KL Rahul 62 not out)

Australia 104; India 172/0 at stumps