The ICC World T20 2021 will begin on October 23, with India’s campaign starting on October 24 against Pakistan and it will be worth noting India’s leading run-getters in the competition.
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The ICC World T20 is back after a gap of five years. The Indian cricket team is touted as the favorites thanks to their all-round batting and bowling skills. However, they will be keen to end their 14-year wait for the ICC World T20 title. In 2007, when the Twenty20 format was in its infancy, the ICC World T20 was won by India. The victory against Pakistan in Johannesburg changed world cricket forever. It resulted in the rise of the IPL which went on to transform the cricketing landscape in many countries.
Despite the IPL being so prominent for the last 13 years, surprisingly, India does not have many players who have scored many runs in the ICC World T20. If one looks at the minimum cut-off point of 400 runs, there are only six Indian players who have reached that landmark. With the World T20 just 10 days away for India, here is the list of the leading run-getters for India in the tournament.
If there is one performance that transcends consistency and greatness, it is Virat Kohli. His consistency in the format is simply stunning. His best years were in 2014 and 2016. During the 2014 edition of the tournament, he smashed 319 runs with four fifties. This included the 70s in the semifinal and final. Although India did not win, it was an exhibition of batting from Kohli. But, in 2016, his brilliance went up a notch. Kohli smashed 82 in one of the greatest match-winning performances of all time. Boosted by the 82, he hit 89 in the semi-final against West Indies. However, India crashed out in the semifinal. Kohli’s form against Pakistan has been sublime in the World T20, having scored two fifties in the three editions.
When he arrived in the 2007 ICC World T20, Rohit Sharma was an interesting prospect in international cricket. He showed it in his debut game against South Africa. Rohit blasted 50 and his knock ensured India got the better of South Africa and knocked them out of the contest. In subsequent years, he continued to dominate at the top of the batting order. His best knock came against Australia in Barbados in 2010. The 79, which included some big hits, showed that he was ready for the big league.
One of India’s greatest match-winners who cemented his legacy in the ICC World T20. The 2007 edition proved to be the making of Yuvraj as the ultimate match-winner. His best moment came in the match against England. Fired up by a sledge from Andrew Flintoff, Yuvraj blasted six sixes in one over bowled by Stuart Broad. He became the fourth player after Sir Gary Sobers, Ravi Shastri, and Herschelle Gibbs to achieve the feat of six sixes in one over. His fifty came off just 12 balls, which remained the fastest in the format.
After the match against England, Yuvraj showed his best against Australia as he blasted 70 off 30 balls in the semi-final. His exhibition of clean-hitting, combined with his excellent fielding was the key in India securing the title. However, his returns in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2014 were limited. In 2014, he hit a brilliant fifty against Australia but in the final, he struggled. His knock of 11 off 21 balls resulted in plenty of criticism. Yuvraj was never the same again and it was a sad end to India’s greatest match-winner.
The greatest finisher and India’s best captain in history. It was his youthful and innovative captaincy that MS Dhoni gave India a new direction in their cricketing history. Dhoni led from the front in 2007 as his innovative skills helped India win the title. For all the remaining editions from 2009 till 2016, Dhoni’s efforts were primarily focused on his skills behind the wicket. In 2016, his brilliance came to the fore against Bangladesh in Bangalore. Staring at elimination, Dhoni was at his best. His stumping of Shabbir Rahman was freakish. In the final ball, Dhoni ran like Usain Bolt to effect a brilliant run-out to give India a one-run win. The 2021 edition will be the first time India will be without Dhoni.
The individual responsible for two of India’s greatest triumphs in the modern era. If there is one common factor in India’s 2007 World T20 and 2011 World Cup triumph, it is Gautam Gambhir. The left-hander was instrumental in many of India’s triumphs in 2007, especially in the final. During the summit clash against Pakistan, it was Gambhir’s responsible knock of 75 that gave India a good total to defend. It was his 75 that helped India win by five runs and secure the World T20 for the first time. Out of his four T20I centuries, Gambhir hit three in the 2007 edition. But, in subsequent editions, his form fell away and his last edition was in 2012.
The first and so far, only Indian to score a century in the ICC WorldT20. Suresh Raina was an understated legend of the T20 format. In the 2010 edition of the ICC World T20 in the Caribbean, Raina blasted a century against South Africa. In the same tournament, he hit 63 against Sri Lanka in Gros Islet. For some time, Raina was the only Indian to have scored a century in all three formats until KL Rahul matched it in 2016. Raina was one of the best players in the Chennai Super Kings, winning matches on a consistent basis for the franchise. But, apart from his exploits, Raina became the best lower-middle order player for India in that period.
