Cricket fans eagerly look forward to the T20 World Cup, which provides a platform to see cricketers demonstrate incredible performances. Revved-up batting performances and fast bowling make the tournament even more exciting.
Some batters have showcased what can only be described as marvellous performances over the years in the T20 World Cup, ranging from audacious slogs to elegant drives.
With the 2024 edition of the T20 World Cup approaching, it is only fair to go down memory lane and identify the top ten batters with the highest strike rate!
Top 10 Batters with the Highest Strike Rate in T20 World Cup History
1. Suryakumar Yadav (India)
Suryakumar Yadav’s strike rate is 181. His unique batting style has helped him achieve this. He is always aggressive in the field when batting, which has been integral to India’s success.
2. Darren Sammy (West Indies)
The next one on the list is former West Indian cricketer Darren Sammy. He holds a strike rate of 164 in the tournament. In his T20 WC career, Sammy displayed stellar shots, making hitting boundaries look like a cakewalk. He was one of the key players who led WI to championship victories in 2012 and 2016.
3. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)
Former Pakistani cricketer Afridi was famous for his bravado on the cricket ground. His aggressive method and tendency to find the fence have him ranked third with a strike rate of 154.20. Afridi was very attacking and quite a wristy batter, which may unsettle the bowlers due to his aggressive standing style.
4. Marcus Stoinis (Australia)
Another key player in the Australian team’s lower order, Marcus Stoinis, has emerged as a dangerous hitter in the recent World Cup tournaments. Although he has played in only two editions (2021 & 2022), his performance was exceptional. Stoinis walks in with a batting strike rate of 151. 47, making him valuable in the last powerplay overs with the ability to rotate the strike and score big.
5. Imran Nazir (Pakistan)
Imran Nazir is in the fifth position. He is a stylish and aggressive right-handed batsman with a strike rate of 150. During his playing career, he was a big problem for bowlers and equally effective in getting boundaries anywhere on the ground. If one considers the T20 World Cup to be a format that comes closer to being powerplay, then his strike rate would suggest that he was indeed successful in the format.
6. Kevin Pietersen (England)
In this regard, one can mention the former English batsman Kevin Pietersen, who shifted the T20 batting style to a new level. His T20 World Cup strike rate was 148.30. Pietersen was also one of those entertaining batters who was capable of shifting gears and playing big shots when needed.
7. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
“Big Show”, as fans lovingly call him, Glenn Maxwell is a T20 specialist. Rightfully regarded as one of the most dangerous cricketers in the format, his strike rate is 147. One of his famous USPs is his ability to accelerate the scoring and single-handedly lift his team to victory.
8. Joe Root (England)
Root is not only a conventional long-format cricketer, but his batting skills in the 20-over format have also been commendable. He has only played in one T20 WC, which was back in 2016. He holds a strike rate of 146.50. Therefore, Root’s ability to find fours and sixes consistently makes him a valuable player in the middle order.
9. Matthew Hayden (Australia)
The only shortcoming is that Matthew Hayden, the famous Australian opener, spent only a short time in the World Cup. He has played with a stunning strike rate of 144.8. Hayden’s powerful hitting and tendency to seize the match right from the start was always a big plus for the Australian team. He was instrumental in the excellent performance of his side during the T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007, making it to the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champions India.
10. Jason Roy (England)
English opener Jason Roy completes the Top 10 list. He has a strike rate of 144.3 in the tournament. His muscle power can destroy any bowling line-up with his sheer power and shot-making.
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