All the highest run-scorers in Men's T20 World Cup history

Since its inception, the marquee event has witnessed a new star rise in each ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to take the mantle of the highest-run scorer.

The brilliance with the bat clubbed with consistency has often proven to be a key factor in a team's success in the tournament. Taking a look back at the history books of the T20WC, the list promises to be an elite company of players.

Here we take a look at the highest run-getter from every edition of the T20 World Cup.

Lighting up the big stage: A look at Player of the Tournament winners in ICC Men's T20 World Cup history

Matthew Hayden (2007 T20 World Cup)

A powerful and intimidating stature in the Australia line-up, Matthew Hayden wreaked havoc in the inaugural edition of the tournament in South Africa, tonking the most boundaries (32 fours and 10 sixes) while amassing 265 runs in six matches.

The ‘classic Hayden’ stepping down the track and going over the inner circle irrespective of pace or spin was on display as he smashed an unbeaten 67* (43) against rivals England in the second match.

Hayden had made a habit of remaining unbeaten in run-chases in the tournament, this time dominating Bangladesh with a 73* off 48 balls followed by a 58* off 38 balls against Sri Lanka that steered Australia to a semi-final match against India.

Hayden was again in the thick of things while chasing for a position in the finals as he scored 62 off 47 deliveries but was ultimately castled by S Sreesanth which concluded with India winning.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (2009 T20 World Cup)

Miles ahead of his competitors, Dilshan was the pick of the batters in the tournament as he also clinched the Player of the Tournament award.

T20 cricket, often made exciting with big shots and massive sixes, was overpowered by Dilshan’s prowess of finding gaps and ‘Dil-scooping' the ball in an audacious manner as he found the boundary 50 times, 18 more than the second-most (Jacques Kallis).

From the get-go, Dilshan was in the mix of things with back-to-back half-centuries, although, his first Player of the Match-winning performance in the tournament came against Pakistan when he made 46 off 39 balls.

Undefeated through the group stage, Sri Lanka were riding high on momentum as they arrived in the semi-final when Dilshan’s 96 not out off 57 balls helped them book a berth in the final against Pakistan.

Mahela Jayawardena (2010 T20 World Cup)

An experienced campaigner in Sri Lanka’s ranks, Jayawardena announced his arrival with a bang in their opening match, smashing 81 off 51 balls against New Zealand. However, his effort went in vain with New Zealand winning by two wickets.

After that, the opening batter went on to score Sri Lanka’s first and only century of the T20 World Cup, a 100 off 64 deliveries against Zimbabwe. Then, he completed a hat-trick of fifty-plus scores when he came ever so close to scoring another hundred, falling short by two runs against West Indies.

Unfortunately, a string of low scores in the second half of the tournament slimmed Sri Lanka’s chances to reach the final.

Shane Watson (2012 T20 World Cup)

The 2012 edition saw Watson at his destructive best as he was crowned the Player of the Tournament.

Despite a heavy workload with the ball, his performance with the bat remained unhindered. The all-rounder, while opening the batting, registered 249 runs at 49.80 and a strike rate of 150, including three fifties.

In Australia’s first encounter, Watson scored a brilliant 51 off 30 balls. The fiery form continued with a quick-fire 41* off 24 balls followed by a dominating 72 off 42 deliveries against India. His prime continued in the subsequent match against South Africa, where he made yet another half-century.

However, his efforts could only assist Australia in getting to the semifinals, where they lost to eventual champions West Indies.

Virat Kohli (2014 T20 World Cup)

During the tournament's 2014 edition, India’s batting great Virat Kohli was at his magnificent best. Kohli proved a formidable force against which the opposition had no answers.

In just six games, Kohli racked up 319 runs that included four half-centuries. His runs were completed at an astounding average of 106.33 and a steady strike rate of 129.14.

However, Kohli’s contribution to India’s efforts of securing a second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy fell short in the final against Sri Lanka where he made 77 runs off 58 balls that stood a cut above the rest.

Tamim Iqbal (2016 T20 World Cup)

The Bangladesh southpaw had a tournament to remember that established him as a dangerous white-ball batter. Fireworks from his blade ensured Bangladesh's qualification to the Super 10 stage of the tournament.

He opened the innings with flamboyance and hard-hitting intent. In the first match against the Netherlands, Iqbal played a match-winning hand of 83*.

However, the highlight of his campaign was the century against Oman. Iqbal played a commanding role in posting a tall target with a score of 103 off 63 balls.

Unfortunately, Bangladesh struggled to get going in the group stage, losing all of their matches.

Babar Azam (2021 T20 World Cup)

Class, consistency and candescence. Whenever Azam walked out to bat, the audience was captivated by his elegant drives and ability to switch between gears.

Azam scored a crucial half-century in Pakistan’s first win over India in the T20 World Cup with an unbeaten partnership of 152 with Mohammad Rizwan.

The opener went on to score three more fifties before Pakistan were knocked out by Australia in the semi-final in a thrilling contest.

Babar shares the record of scoring the most half-centuries (four) in a single edition of the tournament with Virat Kohli (2014) and Hayden (2007).