T20 World Cup ICC Men has witnessed some of the best batting efforts in cricketing history. Starting from the first ever tournament in 2007, famous batters have ruled this biggest platform with their runs scoring ability and match-winning efforts. If you want to know about the most runs scored in the history of the T20 World Cup, then here is a guide which has all time records of runs scored, players, and other interesting facts.
Most Runs in T20 World Cup History 2007 to 2026
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average |
| 1 | Virat Kohli | India | 35 | 1,292 | 89* | 58.72 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | India | 47 | 1,220 | 92 | 34+ |
| 3 | Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 31 | 1,016 | 100 | 39.07 |
| 4 | Jos Buttler | England | 31 | 1,013 | 101* | 42+ |
| 5 | David Warner | Australia | 41 | 984 | 89* | 25+ |
| 6 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 33 | 965 | 117 | 34.46 |
| 7 | Tillakaratne Dilshan | Sri Lanka | 35 | 897 | 96* | 30.93 |
| 8 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 43 | $853 | 84 | 23+ |
| 9 | Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 30 | $727 | 85 | 33+ |
| 10 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 30 | $717 | 79* | 29.87 |
Virat Kohli – The King of T20 World Cups
Virat Kohli is considered the best batsman in the history of the T20 World Cup. Over various editions of the tournament, he has always performed under pressure and become the most reliable player for India in ICC competitions.
Virat Kohli T20 World Cup Statistics
- Runs: 1,292
- Games Played: 35
- Average: 58.72
- Fifties: 15
- Hundreds: 0
- Best Performance: 89*
- Player of the Tournament: 2014 and 2016
An unbeaten 82 scored by Virat Kohli against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup is considered one of the best innings ever played in the tournament.
Top 10 Highest Run-Scorers in T20 World Cup History
1. Virat Kohli (India)
Kohli leads the run scoring charts due to his exceptional consistency. Kohli’s average is much better than that of any other player with more than 1,000 runs in the tournament.
2. Rohit Sharma (India)
Sharma is the second batter who has scored 1,200 T20 World Cup runs. He has taken part in all editions since 2007 and helped India win the titles.
3. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)
The record of most runs belonged to Jayawardene until Kohli broke it. Jayawardene’s century against Zimbabwe is considered one of the best performances in the World Cup.
4. Jos Buttler (England)
Buttler is the explosive wicketkeeper-batter for England. He has managed to score more than 1,000 runs in the World Cup despite his impressive strike rate.
5. David Warner (Australia)
The Player of the Tournament in Australia’s 2021 victory was Warner. The attacking batting skills have earned him a reputation as one of the best T20 players of Australia.
6. Chris Gayle (West Indies)
Dubbed the “Universe Boss,” Gayle ruled the early years. His incredible score of 117 against South Africa is still one of the best T20 World Cup innings of all time.
7. Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)
With consistency and innovation, Dilshan introduced the iconic “Dilscoop” while also scoring the most runs for Sri Lanka in a World Cup.
8. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
Not only is Shakib one of the best run scorers, but he is also one of the best wicket takers in T20 World Cup cricket, earning him one of the best all-rounders.
9. Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
Kane Williamson has been the batting anchor for New Zealand in several World Cup tournaments.
10. AB de Villiers (South Africa)
Even though he has not won a trophy, AB de Villiers has entertained the crowd with his innovative shots and great strike rate.
Also Read: Most Runs in ODI World Cup || T20 Women’s World Cup Winners List
Most Runs in a Single T20 World Cup Edition
| Player | Runs | Edition |
| Sahibzada Farhan | 383 | 2026 |
| Virat Kohli | 319 | 2014 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | 317 | 2009 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 302 | 2010 |
| Matthew Hayden | 265 | 2007 |
India’s Best Run Scorers in T20 World Cup
| Player | Runs |
| Virat Kohli | 1,292 |
| Rohit Sharma | 1,220 |
| Yuvraj Singh | 593 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 524 |
Final Thoughts
The race for most runs in T20 World Cup history is proof that the T20 World Cup has the best batters of all time. The record of Virat Kohli of scoring 1,292 runs is unbeaten, with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Mahela Jayawardene, and Jos Buttler following closely in their footsteps. Although other greats keep emerging every day, the consistency, unmatched batting average, and the ability to perform under pressure of Virat Kohli makes him the greatest run scorer in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history.
FAQs
Who has scored the most runs in T20 World Cup history?
Virat Kohli holds the record with 1,292 runs in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history.
Who is second on the all-time T20 World Cup run list?
Rohit Sharma ranks second with 1,220 runs.
Which player has scored the most runs in a single T20 World Cup?
Sahibzada Farhan scored 383 runs during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, setting a new tournament record.
Who has the most fifties in T20 World Cup history?
Virat Kohli holds the record with 15 half-centuries.
Which country has produced the most top run-scorers?
India leads the all-time charts with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma occupying the top two positions.

