T20 World Cup: Top 5 performances by Indian players

The inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup took place in 2007. It has been 15 years since then and there have been a total of seven marquee tournaments that have taken place in the shortest format of the game. India went on to the first-ever T20 World Cup and has played some superb cricket in other editions as well.

The global tournament has seen many players rising to the occasion and putting match-winning performances for the Men in Blue. However, certain acts were simply exceptional and hold a special place in the heart of the fans.

Also Read: Player of the tournament winners in T20 World Cup History

However, let us look at the top five performances by Indian players in the history of the T20 World Cup.

#5. RP Singh | 4-13 vs South Africa | 2007

India had to defeat South Africa to book a spot in the Semi-Final. MS Dhoni & Co batted first and put up a fighting total of 153 runs on the board. The Proteas were still unbeaten in the tournament and it was a task for the Men in Blue to stop them. 

However, RP Singh had other plans, as the left-arm pacer gave India an ideal with the ball as he got rid of the dangerous Herschelle Gibbs and South African skipper Graeme Smith in the second over. Then he uprooted the stumps of Shaun Pollock in the sixth over to leave South Africa reeling at 31 for 5.

To cap things off in style, RP Singh clean-bowled Albie Morkel in the last over of his spell and ended with stellar figures of 4-0-13-4. South Africa could only manage 116 runs in the 20 overs and India entered into the Semi-Final of the World Cup.

Read Also: Most Wickets in T20 World Cup history

#4. Suresh Raina | 101 runs vs South Africa | 2010

India were battling it out with South Africa in a group-stage game at the T20 World Cup 2010. After putting being put to bat, Men in Blue lost Murli Vijay in the first over and his opening partner Dinesh Karthik in the sixth over. MS Dhoni & Co. were just 32 at the stroke of the second wicket and needed a partnership to be in the game.

But what followed was something remarkable as Suresh Raina put up a show with the bat. He registered a phenomenal century against a potent Proteas bowling attack. The southpaw smashed 101 runs off just 60 deliveries consisting of nine fours and five sixes. 

With the majestic century, the southpaw became the first Indian player to score a century at the T20 World Cup and is still the only Indian to achieve the feat. The Men in Blue rode on his century and reached an above-par total of 186. The Proteas were not able to chase the steep target and MS Dhoni & Co. won the game by 14 runs.

Also Read: Most Runs in T20 World Cup history

#3. Yuvraj Singh | 70 runs vs Australia | 2007

Yuvraj Singh set the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup on fire with his majestic knocks. One of his breathtaking innings came in the Semi-Final against mighty Australia. After electing to bat first, the Indian openers struggled to get going and as a result, India found themselves in a spot of bother at 41 for 2 in eight overs.

In came Yuvraj Singh and knocked the winds out of the fiery Australian bowling attack. He played a blistering counter-attacking innings of 70 runs in just 30 deliveries. The ace all-rounder hit five fours and five sixes in the process. When he was dismissed, India were in a strong position with 155 runs on the board in the 18th over.

Courtesy of Yuvraj's innings, the Men in Blue were able to give Australia a daunting target of 189. This proved to be too much even for the star-studded Australian lineup and they could only manage 173 runs in 20 overs. Thus, India won the match by 15 runs booking a spot in the Final of the mega event.

Read Also: T20 World Cup 2022: Australia Team Preview

#2. Gautam Gambhir | 75 runs vs Pakistan | 2007

India were locking horns with Pakistan in the all-important Final of the 2007 T20 World Cup. However, Men in Blue did not have an ideal start as they lost Yusuf Pathan in the third over followed by Robin Uthappa in the sixth. MS Dhoni & Co. were at 40 for 2 and badly needed a partnership.

Gautam Gambhir rose to the occasion and played a sensational knock in a high-pressure situation. He kept the scoreboard ticking and stitched a 63 runs partnership with Yuvraj Singh. Though the veteran all-rounder was struggling at the other end, Gambhir made up for him by scoring timely boundaries.

Gambhir up the ante at the fag end of the innings, and when he was dismissed India were 130 in 18 overs on course for a competitive total. The Men in Blue ended their innings at 157 for 5 and later went on to win the match by five runs. Gambhir's magnificent knock of 75 runs off 54 balls was one of the prime reasons for India's triumph at the Final of the global event.

Also Read: Happy Birthday Dhoni: Everything the Jersey no. 7 has achieved in his cricketing career

#1. Virat Kohli | 82* runs vs Australia | 2016

India faced Australia at the 2016 T20 World Cup in what was a virtual knock-out game with the winner advancing to the semis. Steve Smith & Co. batted first and posted a total of 160 runs in 20 overs. India in response were in a precarious position after losing their third wicket in the eighth over with just 49 runs on the board.

The Men in Blue needed someone to hold forte and take the game deep, and Virat Kohli did just that. He stitched partnerships with Yuvraj and then with skipper MS Dhoni to take his team home. There was a point when India needed 39 runs off three overs. It was anybody's game but the chase master just unleashed himsefl and won his team the match with five balls to spare.

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

Kohli's breathtaking knock of 82* runs off 51 deliveries consisted of nine fours and two glorious sixes. The veteran batter's superb innings under pressure helped the Men in Blue book a spot in the Semi-Final of the T20 extravaganza held in India.

Among these five amazing performances by the Indian's in the T20 World Cup which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments and follow Sportz Point for more like these.