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

Every ICC T20 World Cup has enabled cricket fans to watch and enjoy some of the best batters in the shortest format of the game. Since 2007, we have seen some of the biggest strikers of the game go bang-bang and score tons of runs for their country in the biggest event of T20I Cricket. As we get close to the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, SportzPoint gives you the details of each highest run-scorer in every edition of the T20 World Cup.

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Mathew Hayden | Australia | 2007

Australian batting legend Matthew Hayden was the highest run-scorer in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup. The left-hander scored 265 runs in 6 innings in the 2007 edition and scored his runs at a superb average of 88.33 and a strike rate of 144.80.

Hayden also plundered 4 fifties in the tournament as well. Hayden's rollicking exploits played a key role in Australia reaching the semi-final stages of the event.

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Tillakaratne Dilshan | Sri lanka | 2009

Tillakaratne Dilshan bossed over the opposition in the 2009 T20 World Cup and emerged as the highest run-scorer in the tournament. The Sri Lankan right-hander played 7 innings in the competition and scored 317 runs at an average of 52.83 and an excellent strike rate of 144.74.

Dilshan struck 3 half-centuries in the competition as well. Dilshan scored a sensational 96* in the semifinal against the West Indies, helping his side to beat their opposition by 57 runs. Riding on Dilshan's exploits, the Sri Lankan side finished as the runners-up of the event.

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Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 2010

Another Sri Lankan topped the run charts in the 2010 edition of the tournament, and it is the legendary Mahela Jayawardene. The right-handed batting icon played 6 innings in the 2010 edition and amassed 302 runs at an average of 60.40 and a superb strike rate of 159.78.

The master batsman even scored a century and a couple of fifties in the tournament as well. Jayawardene scored his century against the Zimbabwe side. Sri Lanka was knocked out of the tournament in the semifinal stage.

Also Read: Most Runs in T20 World Cup History

Shane Watson | Australia | 2012

Shane Watson was the highest run-scorer in the 2012 T20 World Cup. The right-hander played 6 innings in the tournament and accumulated 249 runs at an average of close to 50 and a strike rate of 150.00.

Watson scored 3 half-centuries for the Kangaroos during the tournament as well. The Australian side reached the semifinal stage of the 2012 World Cup, where they lost to the West Indies.

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Virat Kohli | India | 2014

The 2014 edition of the T20 World Cup belonged to Indian batting icon Virat Kohli. The right-handed batter plundered 319 runs in 6 innings at a whopping average of 106.33 and scored his runs at a strike rate of close to 130.

However, his heroics were not enough for team India to win the T20 World Cup as India lost to Sri Lanka in the final.

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Tamim Iqbal | Bangladesh | 2016

Bangladesh batsman Tamim Iqbal emerged as the leading run-scorer in the 2016 edition of the mega event. Iqbal scored 295 runs in the 6 innings that he played in the competition and scored his runs at a stunning average of 73.75, and a strike rate of 142.51.

Even though Bangladesh did not qualify for the semi-final stages of the competition, Tamim's sensational run with the willow will be remembered for a long time. The 32-year-old struck 1 hundred and 1 fifty in the tournament.

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Babar Azam | Pakistan | 2021

The highest run-scorer of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 edition was Pakistan's skipper Babar Azam. Babar recorded 303 runs in just 6 matches at an impressive average of 60.60. He has also registered four half-centuries during the 2021 edition of the tournament. However, Pakistan eventually failed to qualify for the finals after losing against Australia in the semis.

Virat Kohli | India | 2022

The former Indian captain features this time on this list of most runs in a season. He cleared his intentions with an 82* knock against Pakistan in the opening group-stage clash. 

Virat Kohli added three more half-centuries, including against England in the semi-final clash, to finish the tournament with 296 runs from six innings at an outstanding average of 98.66 and a strike rate of 136.40.

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

Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Afghanistan | 2024

Afghan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 281 runs in a historical T20 World Cup for his country where they defeated big guns like Australia to qualify for the semi-finals. Gurbaz was sensational throughout the tournament scoring three fifties in eight games. Despite two ducks in challenging conditions, Gurbaz was able to step up when it mattered the most for his country. 

He averaged 35.12 and had a strike rate of 124.33 in the T20 World Cup 2024.