Highest Strike-Rate Among Active Players In The T20 World Cup

The seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup is all set to take place in UAE and Oman, starting from 17th October 2021. Earlier, the tournament was scheduled to be held in India. However, the uncertainty around the third wave of the Coronavirus led to the change in the venue.

West Indies are the defending champions, having lifted the title in 2016. They are also the only team to have won the title twice in the history of the tournament. They won the first time in the 2012 edition. India won the inaugural tournament in 2007, while Pakistan lifted the title in 2009.

Since the inaugural edition of the tournament, T20 Cricket as a format has made a special place in the hearts of cricket fans. The fast-paced cricket format has appealed to the majority of cricket fans.

The fans have loved watching the T20 World Cups, over the years. The prospect of witnessing a plethora of boundaries in a short period of time has left everyone in a joyous state.

There is no denying that T20 cricket has been harsh to the bowlers. The game has been titled a lot more in the favour of batsmen. Over the years, we have seen some top knocks from batting stalwarts in the shortest formats.

For them to excel in the T20s, strike rate plays a most important role than anything else. With only 120 deliveries to play, batsmen ought to play with a healthy strike rate. On that note, here’s a look at the top 6 active players with the highest strike rates in T20 World Cups:

Highest Strike-Rate Among Active Players In The T20 World Cup

Lendl Simmons: 131.14

Lendl Simmons has been one of the fearsome strikers in the game. He is currently a part of the West Indies T20 side. Lend Simmons has given West Indies a plethora of outstanding starts in the powerplay overs. His strike rate in the shortest format of the game has never been a concern. Simmons played for West Indies in the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups. His 81-run knock of 51 balls in the semi-final of the 2016 World Cup helped West Indies beat India and thereby reach the finals of the tournament.

Lendl Simmons holds a strike rate of 131.14 in T20 World Cups, which is the sixth most by any active player.

Virat Kohli: 133.04

The Indian skipper has been a prolific run-scorer for India, especially in ICC tournaments. He was the highest run-scorer in the 2014 T20 World Cup, scoring 319 runs in 6 matches at an average of 106.33. In the 2016 edition, he finished as the second leading run-scorer with 273 runs in 5 matches at a strike rate of 146.

Virat Kohli has played three T20 World Cups for India between 2012 and 2016. He has managed to score 777 runs in 16 games at an average of 86.33, which is the highest amongst all other players in the history of the tournament. He holds a strike rate of 133.04 in T20 World Cups.

Faf du Plessis: 136.18

Faf du Plessis has been one of the biggest assets for the South African cricket team for almost a decade. His numbers in T20 World Cups four South Africa is impressive, to say the least. He represented South Africa in the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups. In 9 matches, he has scored 271 runs at an average of 30.11.

He holds a strike rate of 136.18 in T20 World Cups. His best knock in the T20 World Cup came against India in the 2014 T20 World Cup semi-final against India. Riding on his 58-run knock of 41 balls, South Africa posted 172 in the first innings. However, India chased it down in just 19.1 overs.

Jos Buttler: 139.26

The English wicket-keeper batsman doesn’t need any introduction when you talk about T20 cricket. A powerful striker of the ball, Buttler is one of the greatest T20 batsmen of all time. He is the second-highest run-scorer for England in T20 internationals.

Jos Buttler has done a decent job with the bat for England in T20 World Cups, over the years. In 15 matches, he has managed to score 305 runs at an average of 27.72. He has a strike rate of 139.26 in T20 World Cups. Jos Buttler, overall, has 1871 runs to his name in the shortest format at an average of 31.71 and a strike rate of close to 140.

Shafiqullah Shafiq: 140.31

A wicket-keeper batsman, Shafiqullah Shafiq played regularly for Afghanistan during a period when Afghanistan strived hard to qualify for T20 Word Cup and gain ODI status. He has represented Afghanistan in two T20 World Cups. He is the third-highest run-getter for Afghanistan in T20 World Cups. In 11 matches, he has managed to score 181 runs at an average of 22.62.

He holds a strike rate of 140.31 in T20 World Cups, which is the third-highest among all active players.

Chris Gayle: 146.73

Chris Gayle- The universe boss sits at second in the elite list. His contribution to the rise of T20 Cricket has been massive. He has been an ambassador for T20 cricket, having scored a plethora of runs all across the globe. Chris Gayle has also been a prolific run-scorer in T20 World Cups over the years.

Chris Gayle is, in fact, the second-highest run-scorer in T20 World Cups with only Mahela Jayawardene ahead of him. He has played 28 games and managed to score 920 runs at an average of 40. He holds a strike rate of 146.73 the second-best among all active players.

Glenn Maxwell: 160

The Australia fearsome striker, Glenn Maxwell sits at the top of the list with an outstanding strike rate of 160. Glenn Maxwell is counted amongst the best players in T20 cricket. His records in the shortest format speak for themselves. Maxwell has played for Australia in three T20 World Cup editions between 2012 and 2016. He has scored 264 runs in 13 matches at an average of close to 30.

Overall, Maxwell has 1780 runs in 72 T20 internationals for Australia at an average and strike rate of 31 and 158 respectively. His best knock in the T20 World Cup came against Pakistan in the 2014 T20 World Cup. After Pakistan had scored a massive 191 in the first innings, Glenn Maxwell wreaked havoc in the second innings.

He smashed 74 runs off just 33 balls. However, his wicket in the eleventh over, saw a collapse and Australia eventually fell short of 16 runs.