Fastest to reach 12,000 runs in T20s: T20 cricket, especially with the emergence of franchise-based leagues, is at an all-time high at the moment. Players represent multiple teams across countries throughout the year. A large proportion of players are now preferring playing T20 cricket across the globe by giving up national contracts.
T20 cricket has primarily been a batsmen’s game, as considered by many among the cricket fraternity. Till date, there are 6 batsmen to have scored more than 12,000 runs in T20 cricket, with David Warner being the latest entrant into the 12K club.
Here we look at the players fastest to reach the 12000 run mark in T20s in terms of innings played:
#6 Kieron Pollard (550 innings)
Kieron Pollard is one of the most celebrated T20 cricketers around the globe, known for his power-packed finishing and some miraculous fielding. Pollard has represented as many as 21 teams in T20 cricket.
The former Mumbai Indians star is the sixth fastest in terms of innings to reach the 12,000 run mark in T20s. Pollard currently aggregates 12,900 runs at an average of 31.46. His strike rate of 150.98 is the highest among all players who have scored more than 12,000 runs. The notable thing here is that Pollard is one of the only two players in this list who bats in middle or lower-middle order.
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#5 Shoaib Malik (451 innings)
The former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik stands fifth in this list, reaching 12000 runs in 451 innings. The talismanic all-rounder has represented as many as 28 teams in T20 cricket and is still active in a number of leagues.
Malik at 13,360 runs stands 2nd in the list of players with most runs in T20s and is one of the only two players to have reached the 13000-run mark. He averages 36.40 and has a strike rate of 127.56. Having 83 fifties to his name, Malik is the only player in this list to not have a hundred to his name.
#4 Alex Hales (432 innings)
English opener in the title-winning run in 2022, Alex Hales is a T20 specialist having represented 18 teams in the format. A dashing opener known to attack right from the word go, Hales has 12,319 runs under his belt. The former Englishman has an average of 29.68 and an impressive strike rate of 146.39.
With as many as 6 hundreds to go along with 79 fifties to his name, Hales is the 4th quickest to reach the 12000-run mark, achieving the feat in 432 innings.
#3 David Warner (368 innings)
One of the best openers of this era, David Warner is the third fastest to reach 12000 T20 runs, achieving the feat in 368 innings. Warner has 12,065 runs under his belt at an impressive average of 37.12 and strike rate of 140.12.
The Aussie opener has 6 hundreds to his name, along with 101 fifties. Warner is the lone player with more than 100 fifties. Currently playing in the IPL for Delhi Capitals, Warner is expected to bid adieu from T20 Internationals post the T20 World Cup in June.
#2 Virat Kohli (360 innings)
One of the best batsmen of the generation, Virat Kohli has 12,015 runs under his belt in T20s. The former India skipper achieved the feat during his innings against Chennai Super Kings in the first match of IPL 2024. Kohli became the second fastest to reach the mark, taking just 360 runs to get 12,000 runs.
Kohli has the highest average on the list (41.14) and a strike rate of 133.36. The former RCB skipper has the second most fifties in T20s (91) and has 8 hundreds to his name. What makes Kohli’s feat more unbelievable is that he has not represented any team outside of India, having played for just 3 teams.
#1 Chris Gayle (345 innings)
No topic on T20 cricket is complete without a mention of the Universe Boss, as he fondly refers to himself, Chris Gayle. The Caribbean opener set the stage on fire in every league or tournament he played, creating terror in the bowling line-ups with his monstrous hitting.
The only man on the planet to hit more than a 1000 sixes in T20s, Gayle is the highest run-getter in T20s, with 14,562 runs to his name.
The number of records he holds in T20s is beyond comparison with any other player. Gayle is the fastest to reach 12,000 T20 runs, achieving the feat in 345 innings. With 22 hundreds (and 88 fifties), he is miles ahead of the next one in the list of hundreds.
Gayle has an average of 36.22 and a strike rate of 144.75 in T20s.
Also Read thsi: 6 batters who’ve scored more than 12000 runs in T20s ft. Virat Kohli
