Martin Guptill leapfrogs Brendon McCullum to become highest run-scorer in T20Is

Big hitter of the cricket ball, Martin Guptill leapfrogged his former captain, Brendon McCullum, to become the highest run-scorer in the history of Twenty20 International cricket.

The New Zealand opener played an innings of 105 in the T20I game against Australia during the tri-series game in Auckland.

Prior to the start of the T20 game, Guptill had scored 2083 runs and was the second on the list of most runs in T20I cricket.

Prior to the start of the T20 game, Guptill had scored 2083 runs and was the second on the list of most runs in T20I cricket.

Now, he has 2,188 runs alongside his name and sits on the top of the list.

McCullum, who retired in 2016, had scored 2,140 runs in 70 innings at an average of 35.36.

The Indian captain, Vira Kohli, sits third on the list with 1956 runs. His average of 52.86 in this format of the game is highest among the top 20 batsmen and more he plays, he could overtake Guptill soon.

Indian team is all set to play three T20I games against South Africa from February 18 to 24 followed by a tri-series in Sri Lanka too.

There is just a difference of two years between the age of Kohli and Martin Guptill, which means that the competition between these two will continue for long.

David Warner, the seventh on this list, has 1,713 runs under his belt and he too has age by his side.

These three top players are expected to be in the race to the top the list in years to come.

Meanwhile, New Zealand posted a staggering total of 243 for 6 on the board.

The home side rode on the century from Guptil to put up a mountainous total on the board.

Colin Munro also did well and played an innings of 76 off 33.

He looked on the course of his fourth hundred in T20I format but was dismissed by Andrew Tye.

For Australia, Ashton Agar was the most successful bowler who gave 24 runs in three overs he bowled.

Tye went for 64 runs in four overs for two wickets.

Though he took a wicket of Guptill in 17th over or else, New Zealand could have crossed the 250 run-mark.

Australian side is on course of the charge and has scored 51 runs in first four overs.

The key for them will be to keep the momentum on so as to win the game.

Also Read: Ricky Ponting sets horizon on Australia T20I coaching role

List of top 10 players with most runs in T20I cricket –

Martin Guptill – 2188 runs

Brendon McCullum – 2140 runs

Virat Kohli – 1956 runs

Tillakaratne Dilshan – 1889 runs

Shoaib Malik – 1821 runs

Mohammad Shahzad – 1816 runs

David Warner – 1713 runs

JP Duminy – 1700 runs

Umar Akmal – 1690 runs

AB de Villiers – 1672 runs

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