5 batsmen with highest strike-rate in T20 World Cups
The T20 format has changed cricket forever. The games are shorter, fast-paced with something happening on each and every ball. Gone are the days of batsmen taking their time to get set. Players who can launch the ball into the stands from ball one are valued much more in the trimmed format of the sport.
While T20, predominantly in today’s times, is played in club form in T20 leagues across the World, there have been a number of T20 World Cups played since 2007 as well. There have been 6 editions played till now with the latest one in 2016. All the tournaments have seen some enthralling cricket and today we will look at top 5 batsmen with highest strike rates in T20 World Cups (minimum 500 runs)
5. Shane Watson (140.94)
Shane Watson was arguably one of the most impactful all-rounders in the limited-overs cricket in the last two decades. Watson could bat in the top order as well as the middle order and had a golden arm which helped him pick wickets at regular intervals. In the big ICC tournaments, he was always at the top of his game. In T20 World Cups, Watson scored 537 runs in 22 innings, at an average of 28.26 and strike rate of 140.94, with five 50s and the highest score of 81 against Pakistan in 2010.
Watson along with his successful opening partner David Warner had together hit Ravindra Jadeja for 6 consecutive sixes across his 2 overs and Watson’s 72 of just 42 balls against India in the 2012 World Cup was one of the best innings in the tournament played on a difficult track to bat on. He finished his international career with the T20 World Cup in 2016 in India but not before having an illustrious career.
4. AB de Villiers (143.40)
AB de Villiers will go down as perhaps the most fearless and innovative batsman to have played the game. De Villiers possesses an array of shots to be played all over the ground. Despite having a phenomenal record in ODIs and Tests, de Villiers couldn’t create that impact in international T20s, especially the World Cups.
De Villiers has mustered 717 runs in 29 innings at an average of 29.87, a strike rate of 143.40 with the highest score of 79* and 5 half-centuries. These numbers may be very good for any other batsman but are underwhelming for a player like ABD. Nevertheless, he has played a few jaw-dropping innings in T20 World Cups as well, none more scintillating than the one played by him against England in the 2014 World Cup where he smashed the bowlers to bits scoring an unbeaten 69 of just 28 balls displaying his total prowess.
3. Chris Gayle (146.73)
The ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle has to be the greatest T20 player of all time. He redefined batting in the shortest form of the game and when at his best, Gayle was unstoppable. Gayle scored an unbelievable 920 runs in T20 World Cups in 26 innings at a fantastic average of 40 and strike rate of 146.73 with two massive 100s.
Gayle had started off the inaugural World Cup in 2007 with a bang smashing 117 of just 57 balls with 10 mammoth sixes. His second century came almost a decade later, when he tore apart England’s strong bowling line up in 2016 with 100 of 48 balls, this time with 11 sixes, breaking his own record which he had set in 2007. Gayle always stepped up for the West Indies in T20 World Cups. There will never be as destructive a batsman as Chris Gayle.
2. Kevin Pietersen (148.33)
The first man to transform the way cricket was played in England in the 21st century has to be Kevin Pietersen. His unorthodox style drew criticism early on, but he went on to prove all his critics wrong and went on to establish a very successful career in all formats of the game. But his impact in the shortest format for England is unparalleled.
Pietersen played just 15 innings in the 3 World Cups between 2007 and 2010, but had a massive impact scoring 580 runs at an average of 44.61, strike rate of 148.33 along with 4 50s. But his numbers don’t tell the entire story.
Despite being the inventors of the game, England had never won a Cricket World Cup until 2010, when thanks to Pietersen’s phenomenal performance in the tournament where he scored 248 runs in 6 innings, England finally lifted the coveted trophy. KP will always remain the greatest trendsetter of unorthodox batting in the modern era.
1. Shahid Afridi (154.23)
There has never been a greater enigma in World Cricket than Shahid Afridi. A batsman who possessed incredible talent finished his career with innumerable starts thrown away and instead of a great batsman, Afridi will always be remembered as a pinch hitter.
But it is also true, nobody was a greater entertainer than the Pakistani all-rounder, who on his day didn’t need anyone else’s support to win games for his team. Although Afridi’s average is a mere 18.82 in 32 innings with just two 50s, his strike rate of 154.23 displays how explosive a batsman he was. His underwhelming performance across a decade shouldn’t overshadow the fact that he led Pakistan to victory in the 2009 T20 World Cup finals with a sensible 54* off 40 balls showcasing his ability to bat according to the situation. Afridi will rue the fact he couldn’t produce more such innings of substance.
