Scoring a huge score in the T20I format is itself a huge achievement, given batters have to start hitting from the word go. Moreover, when a batter hammers a big knock in a T20I match, that puts the batting team as the favourites to win the match.
However, such heroics have fallen on the wrong side on some occasions, with teams suffering defeats. Here are the top 10 highest individual scores that came in losing causes in T20Is.
Highest Individual Scores in Losing Cause in T20I
| Player | Score ( Balls) | Innings | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Watson (AUS) | 124* (71) | 1 | India | Sydney | 31 Jan 2016 |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad (IND) | 123* (57) | 1 | Australia | Guwahati | 28 Nov 2023 |
| Babar Hayat (HKG) | 122 (60) | 2 | Oman | Fatullah | 19 Feb 2016 |
| Faf du Plessis (SA) | 119 (56) | 1 | West Indies | Johannesburg | 11 Jan 2015 |
| Johnson Charles (IND) | 118 (46) | 1 | South Africa | Centurion | 26 Mar 2023 |
| Chris Gayle (WI) | 117 (57) | 1 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 11 Sep 2007 |
| Leslie Dunbar (SRB) | 117 (50) | 1 | Bulgaria | Sofia | 26 Jun 2022 |
| Suryakumar Yadav (IND) | 117 (55) | 2 | England | Nottingham | 10 Jul 2022 |
| Faheem Nazir (SUI) | 113 (67) | 1 | Czech Republic | Kerava | 30 Jul 2022 |
| Sabawoon Davizi (CZK-R) | 111* (71) | 1 | Austria | Vinor | 9 Jul 2022 |
Key Insights
124: Shane Warne holds the undesirable record for smashing the highest individual score in a losing cause in T20Is. The former Australian all-rounder scored an unbeaten 124 against India, but that didn’t prove to be enough as India snatched a victory on the last ball.
1: Universe Boss Chris Gayle became the first-ever batter to smack a century in the T20I format. His knock of 117 came against South Africa in the first-ever T20 World Cup match in 2007. Unfortunately, the Gayle Storm couldn’t ensure a victory for the Windies as South Africa beat them by 8 wickets.
122: Hong Kong’s Babar Hayat became the first batter to score a hundred in the T20 Asia Cup. However, his 122, which came while chasing 181 against Oman, couldn’t take his team over the ropes as they fell short by 5 runs. And this is the highest score that came in defeat while chasing a target.
39: Johnson Charles brought up his century off 39 balls against South Africa — one of the fastest centuries in the T20I format. Charles’ 118 runs propelled the Windies to post 258 runs, however, the score later turned out to be the highest team total in a defeat.
259: Despite Charles’ blistering knock, the Windies ended up on the losing side as the Proteas Quinton de Kock ran riot with the bat. De Kock’s 100 helped South Africa chase down 259, which is the highest successful run chase in T20Is.
20: There are over 20 instances of batters who have scored T20I centuries in losing causes. Serbia’s Leslie Dunbar is the lone batter whose 2 tons have come in losses, both of them against Bulgaria.
