T20 International (T20I) is the hottest format in cricket nowadays for its never-fading entertainment and edge-of-the-seat climaxes. It provides a different wavelength to the game, as even the fans with less cricket knowledge can still hook into the game for its short and crispy nature.
To look into the top run-getters of T20Is, we should be aware that it is a relatively newer format, and the record for the most runs in the shortest format will change hands like a baton in a quick relay race. Some players even play more of this format than the longer formats.
So, who has scored the most overall runs in T20Is?
Here you go!
Most Runs in T20I Career
| BATSMEN | RUNS | INNINGS | AVERAGE | 100/50 | HIGH SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam (PAK) | 4302 | 124 | 39.83 | 3/36 | 122 |
| Rohit Sharma (IND) | 4231 | 151 | 32.05 | 5/32 | 121* |
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 4188 | 117 | 48.69 | 1/38 | 122* |
| Jos Buttler (ENG) | 3869 | 132 | 35.49 | 1/28 | 101* |
| Paul Stirling (IRE) | 3710 | 150 | 26.69 | 1/24 | 115* |
| Martin Guptill (NZ) | 3531 | 118 | 31.81 | 2/20 | 105 |
| Mohammad Rizwan (PAK) | 3414 | 93 | 47.41 | 1/30 | 104* |
| David Warner (AUS) | 3277 | 110 | 33.43 | 1/28 | 100* |
| Muhammad Waseem (UAE) | 3184 | 91 | 37.02 | 3/24 | 112 |
| Aaron Finch (AUS) | 3120 | 103 | 34.28 | 2/19 | 172 |
Find the same record for Tests and ODIs here.
Key Insights on Top Batting Records in Men’s T20Is
Milestones and Fastest Run Aggregations in T20Is
In 2022, Virat Kohli became the first batter to score 4000 runs in T20I cricket.
Kohli is also the fastest batter to aggregate 4000 runs in T20Is, crossing the mark in 107 innings.
Best Career Averages and Strike Rates in T20Is
Kohli’s career average of 48.69 while scoring 4188 runs is the highest by any batter in T20I cricket (minimum 40 innings batted).
Faisal Khan (Saudi Arabia), Karanbir Singh (Austria), and Suryakumar Yadav (India) are the three batters with 160-plus strike rates in T20Is (minimum 1000 balls faced).
Rohit Sharma became the first batter to hit 200 sixes in the shortest format, accumulating 205 in 151 outings.
Fifties, Centuries, and Highest Scores in T20Is
Babar Azam has brought up the most fifty-plus scores in T20Is, with over 40 such scores to his name.
Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell, meanwhile, have smashed the joint-most centuries in T20Is, with five 100-plus knocks each.
Australia’s Aaron Finch has scored the most runs in a T20I innings, hammering 172 against Zimbabwe in the 2018 Harare T20I.
Series, Venue, and Yearly Run Dominance in T20Is
England’s Phil Salt has aggregated the most runs in a bilateral T20I series, scoring 331 runs in the 2023 five-match series against the West Indies.
Qatar’s Muhammad Tanveer became the first batter to score 1000 runs at a single venue in T20Is – West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha.
Austria’s Karanbir Singh has accumulated the most runs in a calendar year in T20Is, scoring 1488 runs in 32 innings in 2025.
T20I Run Tallies by Captain and Wicketkeeper
2642 of Babar’s runs came while leading Pakistan, the most by a captain in T20I cricket.
Jos Buttler and Mohammad Rizwan are the two wicketkeeper-batters to aggregate more than 3000 runs in T20Is.
Read Next | Smallest Win Margins by Runs in Test Cricket
