T20 cricket has seen a progression fairly quicker than the other two formats. A format which was introduced in 2003, has earned fans all over the globe. With growing fans, the demands of the format have also changed with every season, While in the beginning, it was the power-hitter who were highly valued, nowadays there is a huge liking for players who bring along consistency in their performances.
While playing shots continues to be a trend in T20s, batsmen technique and control have also found out ways of surviving in this format of the game. Here, we take a look at the top 10 batsmen with the highest average in T20 cricket:
10. HD Ackerman – 37.72:
Former South African batsman, HD Ackerman didn’t witness a glorious International career for South Africa. However, he attained success in the handful of T20s that he played during his career. In 55 T20 matches, he scored 1811 runs at an average of 37.72. His personal best of 87 was accompanied by 16 other half-centuries in his entire T20 career.
9. David Warner – 37.93:
The pocket-size dynamo, David Warner has been a revelation for Australia in T20s. The attacking opener has even delivered in franchise leagues playing for SRH in the IPL. In 279 innings in his T20 career, Warner has scored 9218 runs at an average of 37.93 including eight centuries and 75 half-centuries.
8. Chris Gayle – 38.20:
Chris Gayle has owned the T20 format of the game. The self-proclaimed ‘Universe Boss’, Gayle has scored most runs in T20 cricket. With 404 appearances in T20 leagues, the Caribbean has plundered 13,296 runs at an astounding strike rate of 146. He scored his highest T20 individual score for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2013 against Pune Warriors India.
7. Shaun Marsh – 38.75:
The experienced T20 campaigner, Shaun Marsh has excelled in T20 format playing for various franchises in IPL, BBL. He was also the Orange Cap winner in the inaugural IPL edition in 2008. In 185 T20s, Marsh has registered 6124 runs at an average of 38.75. The Australian has also managed to score two centuries along with 47 fifties in his entire T20 career.
6. Devon Conway – 39.66:
The young Proteas batsman, Devon Conway has played for teams like Dolphins, Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal. In 68 innings the southpaw has scored 2221 runs at an average of 39.66 with a strike rate of 124.84 including two centuries.
5. MS Dhoni – 39.8:
MS Dhoni, who has aced himself as one of the best finishers of all-time, has done exceedingly well even in the shortest format of the game. Dhoni, who’s played 283 innings for India and in the IPL, has scored 6621 T20 runs at a decent SR of 135.62. The wicket-keeper batsman has averaged quite well as a middle-order batsman including 27 fifties in his career.
4. D’Arcy Short – 39.91:
The young and explosive Australian opener, D’Arcy Short grabs the fourth position in the list of players with the highest T20 average. In 83 games for various T20 teams across the globe, the Southpaw has mustered 2954 runs scored at an average of 39.91 with a strike-rate of 136.12 including two centuries.
3. Virat Kohli – 41.20:
Indian skipper Virat Kohli is unarguably the best batsmen across formats. His consistency is the hallmark that sees him as one of the legends in the making. Even in T20s, the Delhi-born cricketer continues to reign supreme with nearly 9000 runs scored in his career so far. Kohli has exhibited consistency with a batting average of 41.20 in 266 innings.
2. KL Rahul – 42.02:
The Indian opener, KL Rahul is someone whose shots are pleasing to the eye. He’s one of the few batsmen in T20s who can hit the ball that far with minimum effort. He’s elegant and scores run at a brisk pace. In 118 innings, Rahul has scored 4076 runs at an average of 42.02 with a blasting SR of nearly 140.
1. Babar Azam – 42.75:
The No.1 ranked T20I batsman, Babar Azam is a prime example of how one can bring consistency even in the T20 format of the game. The right-handed batsman has developed a habit of scoring consistent runs in the shortest format. In 135 innings of 137 games for various teams including Pakistan, Babr has scored 4741 runs at an average of 42.75 and a strike-rate of 125.45.
