Top Ten Batsmen of Twenty20 World Cup

Twenty20 world cup 2010 is now knocking at the door and cricket fans around the world are now excited to experience another highly entertaining tournament. Twenty20 is the shortest version of cricket and it has been the latest craze in world cricket with the fans and players are attracted towards it. The most important thing is that twenty20 cricket is time consuming, but full of entertainment. ICC world twenty20 is the premier tournament on this format. So far, two twenty20 world cup tournaments took place with India winning the first tournament in 2007, followed by Pakistan in 2009. So, this year’s tournament is going to be third in its history.

There were many who starred in the first two tournaments. Now, ahead of ICC world twenty20 2010, we have decided to present you a list of top ten batsmen of twenty20 world cup. Well, before going through the list, I would like to tell you that I chose the batsmen on the basis of their total runs, averages, strike rates and contribution to the success of their teams. Having said that, this is my personal opinions and you do not necessarily need to agree with me.

Tillakaratne Dilshan

The hard-hitting Sri Lankan opener is currently the highest run scorer of twenty20 world cup with 382 runs at an average of 42.44 from 12 games. Most importantly, Dilshan scored these runs at a strike rate of 140.44. In fact, his high-flying form was instrumental behind Sri Lanka’s appearance in the world cup final in 2009 and he was awarded the player of the tournament award for scoring tournament highest 317 runs. Actually, Dilshan’s rise as a big-hitting opener started from the 2009 t20 world cup which proved to be a turning point of his career. His aggressive nature in batting along with excellent timing has made him one of the fearsome batsmen in the world.

Chris Gayle

The stylish West Indies opener is proved to be the most destructive and dangerous batsman in twenty20 world cup. With 310 runs, Gayle may be ranked 7^th among the highest scorers of world twenty20, but you can not overlook the fact that the left-hander played only 7 games and maintained an average of over 50 and strike rate of over 150, a feat that no other batsman has ever achieved in twenty20 world cup. Moreover, Chris Gayle is the first and only centurion so far in twenty20 world cup as he played a blistering innings of 117 off just 57 against South Africa in the inaugural world cup in 2007.

Kevin Pietersen

Pietersen has always known as a big hitter since his rise in international cricket and his performance in the previous two world twenty20 tournaments proves that. The dashing middle order batsman is ranked fourth in the list of highest run scorers of world twenty20 with 332 runs from 9 games. What surprised me is that he scored so many runs maintaining an average over 35 and a strike rate over 150. Only Gayle and Symonds have such records among the highest scorers of twenty20 world cup. Playing 9 games, Pietersen hit 36 fours and 10 sixes.

Yuvraj Singh

One of the top limited over batsmen, Yuvraj Singh, played a big role in India’s triumph in twenty20 world cup 2007. The left-hander has 301 runs to his credit playing 11 games in two world cup tournaments. Most importantly, he scored these runs with a strike rate of 172, highest in twenty20 world cup history, and he hit highest 21 sixes in the 2 tournaments. An average of 33.44 also gives evidence to his consistency. The Indian star became the part of history when he hit 6 sixes in an over against England in 2007 and that was the first time someone achieved that mark in the shortest version of cricket. Yuvraj Singh has 3 half centuries in twenty20 world cup.

Gautam Gambhir

The diminutive Indian opener was another player who helped India win the twenty20 world cup 2007. Gambhir is the second highest run scorer in t20 world cup with 375 runs from 12 games with 4 half centuries. He has an average of 34, but his strike rate of 120 may not seem great compared to other highest scorers. Gambhir’s 54-ball 75 helped India put on a decent total on the board in the final of 2007 twenty20 world cup. In fact, his performance in the 2007 tournament helped him get back his place in test squad. He loves to play strokes around the wicket and controlled aggressiveness denotes his style of batting.

Misbah-ul-Haq

The Pakistani middle order batsman appeared as a surprise package in 2007 twenty20 world cup and guided his team to the tournament final. No doubt, that was the turning point of his career as his performance in that particular tournament helped him retain his place in one day and test squads. Now, he is the ninth highest run scorer of twenty20 world cup with 300 runs from 14 matches at a strike rate of over 130. However, the most important thing is that his batting average of 42.85 is one of the best in world twenty20. Misbah has 2 half centuries to his credit and hit 22 fours and 11 sixes. As a player his biggest strength is that he remains calm and poised while batting under pressure and can finish the game with great responsibility. Out of 11 innings he batting in, Misbah-ul-Haq remained not out in 4, which proves that he is a very good finisher.

Mathew Hayden

Mathew Hayden played only 6 matches in twenty20 world cup as he retired from international cricket before 2009 world t20. However, 6 matches were enough for the big-hitting opener to prove his destructive quality as a batsman. The former Australian star scored 4 half centuries playing in 6 matches, and in total, he has 265 runs at a remarkable average of 88.33 and a strike rate of 144.80. He hit 32 fours and 10 sixes meaning 3 fours and a six per match.

Mahela Jayawardene

The former Sri Lanka captain may not seem to be a great twenty20 batsman, but his performance in twenty20 world cup is really very impressive and deserves to be placed in the list of top ten batsmen of twenty20 world cup. The middle order batsman has 313 runs to his name with an average of 31 and a strike rate of 136. He hit 2 half centuries in 12 games and helped his team to reach the final of 2009 tournament. In terms of his total runs, he is ranked 6^th among the highest run scorers of world t20.

Sanath Jayasuria

When it comes to hard hitting batting, Jayasuria does not need any introduction. He revolutionized the modern day batting in limited over cricket. Even at the age of near 40, his batting is as effervescent as before. His performance in 2 twenty20 world cup tournaments gives evidence to this fact. The left hander scored 331 runs from 12 matches with 3 half centuries to his credit. On the way, he also maintained a strike rate of 132. In total, Jayasuria hit 39 fours and 12 sixes. His highest score is 88 against Kenya, which is fourth highest individual score in an innings in the history of twenty20 world cup.

Shoaib Malik

The Pakistani middle order batsman may not fall in the group of hard hitters like Gayle, Sehwag or Hayden, but he has proven that hard hitting is not always the final word in twenty20 cricket. Malik is now the third highest run scorer in twenty20 world cup with 339 runs at an average of 33.90 with 2 half centuries. His strike rate of 115 may raise some question about his quality as a twenty20 batsman. However, you can not deny the fact that he remained not out in 4 innings out of 14 in twenty20 world cup and it proves him as a good finisher who can carry no his innings and on the way guide his team to the target.