The No.3 batting position is one of the most important slots in any format of the game, and T20 is no different. The role of the batters batting in this position is to stabilize the start provided by the openers and should have the ability to play the field in the middle overs. While they still have to role of anchors like the other traditional formats, play till the end and would need to accelerate at the right time.
Those who found the right balance on when to anchor and attack have flourished at the No. 3 batting position. This article will delve into batters who have the most T20I runs while batting at No.3.
Most T20I Runs at No. 3
| Player | Innings | Runs | High Score | Strike Rate | 100s/50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 80 | 3076 | 94* | 135.26 | 0/32 |
| David Malan (ENG) | 49 | 1603 | 103* | 133.36 | 1/13 |
| Kane Williamson (NZ) | 47 | 1375 | 95 | 124.43 | 0/13 |
| Faf du Plessis (SA) | 41 | 1304 | 119 | 135.41 | 1/8 |
| Mitchell Marsh (AUS) | 40 | 1276 | 92* | 142.56 | 0/9 |
| Nicholas Pooran (WI) | 45 | 1241 | 98 | 141.18 | 0/8 |
| Babar Azam (PAK) | 32 | 1166 | 86 | 127.85 | 0/11 |
| Andrew Balbirnie (IRE) | 43 | 1125 | 83 | 128.27 | 0/4 |
| Babar Hayat (HKG) | 40 | 1108 | 122 | 134.46 | 1/6 |
| Marlon Samuels (WI) | 40 | 1097 | 89* | 116.20 | 0/8 |
Key Stats:
Virat Kohli leads the way with the most runs at number 3 in T20Is, having accumulated a whopping 3076 runs at a strike rate of 135.26 in 80 innings. The right-hander has the most 50+ plus (32) and the best average (53.96) as a number 3 batter in T20Is.
14: The number of batters to have scored 1000 or more T20I runs while batting at the No.3 position. The others are Shakib Al Hasan (1085), Mohammad Hafeez (1078), Aaqib Ilyas (1050), and Lorcan Tucker (1019). If we relax the minimum criteria to 500 runs, 48 batters have done that.
2: Leslie Dunbar and Rilee Rossouw have scored two centuries each from this batting position, and this is the most for any batter. None of the top-10 run-getters have scored more than 1 century batting no.3 and in fact, only 3 of them scored a century at one drop.
142.56: Mitchell Marsh’s strike rate is the best among batters with 1000 or more runs in this position, while Rossouw’s 175.08 is the highest strike rate for a batter with more than 500 T20I runs.
Read Now: Which batter has scored the most ODI runs for team England?
