.jpg?type=hq)
Rohit Sharma (L), Virat Kohli (C), and Babar Azam (R) (Source: AFP)
The arrival of the T20 format in February 2005 marked a revolution in cricket, amid the dominance of two traditional formats, Tests and ODIs. Furthermore, the wings of the shortest format of the game grew over time, and it finally became the third established format, sharing the same importance as the Tests and ODIs.
The first significant change in the T20I cricket was the inaugural T20 World Cup 2007, played in South Africa, where India became the inaugural champions. Since then, the T20Is have seen many talents grace the modern-day format with their amazing skill sets. It also includes the batters, who redefined the mindset of âscoringâ the runs in the modern-day T20I cricket.
Given that, here, weâll have a look at the top 10 batters with most T20I runs till January 2026.
Top 10 batters with most T20I runs till January 20, 2026
Babar Azam (Pakistan) - 4,429 T20I runs - (2016-Present)
The former Pakistan skipper and the star batter, Babar Azam, has been one of the most successful batters in T20Is for Pakistan. Besides that, he is the leading run-scorer in the list of the top batters with most T20I runs. The Lahore-born batting star has played 136 T20Is for Pakistan since his debut in 2016.
In these matches, Babar has scored 4,429 runs in 129 innings, with an average of 39.54, hitting three centuries and 38-half-centuries. As captain, he also led the Men in Green to the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
Rohit Sharma (India) - 4,231 T20I runs - (2007-2024)
Former World T20 champion skipper Rohit Sharma led the Indian team to win the historic title in the T20 World Cup 2024. He bid adieu to the T20Is immediately after Indiaâs win against South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024âs summit clash.
Rohit ended his T20I career as the then-leading run-scorer of all time in T20Is for India. Currently, he ranks second in the list, after being surpassed by Babar Azam. The former blistering opener had scored 4,231 runs in 151 innings of his 159 Tests, at an average of 32.05, hitting five centuries and 32 half-centuries.
Virat Kohli (India) - 4,188 T20I runs (2010-2014)
Indiaâs former T20I skipper and the modern-day batting great, Virat Kohli, played for India in the shortest format of the game for 14 years from 2010 to 2014. He also featured in five T20 World Cup editions from his first appearance in the T20 World Cup 2012 to the last in the T20 World Cup 2024, with India lifting the title.
Kohli is also the leading run-scorer in the T20 World Cup history, with 1,292 runs in 33 innings of his 35 games, at a brilliant average of 58.72, hitting 15 half-centuries. In his 125-game T20I career, Kohli aggregated 4,188 runs in 117 innings, with an average of 48.69, hitting a century and 38 half-centuries. He ranks third in the list of top 10 batters with the most T20I runs.
Virat Kohli captained India in 50 T20Is, scoring 1,570 runs in 46 innings, with an average of 47.57, including 13 half-centuries. Under Kohliâs captaincy, the Men in Blue won 32 games and lost 16 games, alongside two games ending without a result.
Jos Buttler (England) - 3,869 T20I runs (2011-2025)
Englandâs former World T20 champion skipper, Jos Buttler, served the national side for 14 years in the shortest format of the game. He played 144 T20Is in his career, scoring 3,869 runs in 132 innings, with a decent average of 35.49, hitting a century and 28 half-centuries. He is fourth in the list of top 10 batters with the most T20I runs.
Buttler also led the Three Lions to their second T20 World Cup title, defeating Pakistan in the 2022 final. Speaking of his captaincy, the Taunton-born led England in 85 T20Is, winning 48 and losing 30 games, while seven ended without a result. He is the most successful T20I skipper for England in the almost 22-year history of the format.
Paul Stirling (Ireland) - 3,798 T20I runs (2009-Present)
The Ireland skipper and the veteran batter, Paul Stirling, have been one of the most successful batters for his side in the T20Is. He has been serving the Irish side for the last 17 years since his debut in 2009. Stirling has scored 3,798 runs in 153 innings of his 156 T20Is, with an average of 26.74, hitting a century and 24 half-centuries.
The Irish veteran is in the fifth spot in the list of top 10 batters with the most T20I runs. Besides that, he is the leading run-scorer for Ireland in the shortest format of the game.
Martin Guptill (New Zealand) - 3,531 T20I runs (2009-2022)
The former New Zealand opener Martin Guptill had a reputation as an explosive batter. He represented the Blackcaps in the T20Is for 13 years from 2009 to 2022, playing 122 T20Is. In these 122 T20I appearances, Guptill scored 3,531 runs in 118 innings, with an average of 31.81, including two centuries and 20 half-centuries.
The former Kiwi batting maestro ranks sixth among the top 10 batters with the highest T20I runs since the 21-year-long journey of the format. Apart from this record, Guptill is the most successful T20I batter for New Zealand since they started playing in the format.
Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan) - 3,414 T20I runs (2015-2024)
The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter, Mohammad Rizwan, is the second leading run-scorer of all-time in T20Is for Pakistan. He has scored 3,414 runs in 93 innings of his 106 T20Is, with an average of 47.41, with a century and 30 half-centuries. He is seventh in the list of top 10 batters with the most T20I runs.
Rizwan also played a crucial role in Pakistan's first-ever win against the arch-rivals in a World Cup match. He stitched an unbeaten 152-run partnership with Babar Azam to beat India by a massive margin of 10 wickets.
David Warner (Australia) - 3,277 T20I runs (2009-2024)
The former Aussie batting great, David Warner, was one of the very few swashbuckling batters who had a knack for changing the course of the game on their own. The Paddington-born southpaw represented his national side in 110 T20Is and scored 3,277 runs in 110 innings, with an average of 33.43, including one century and 28 half-centuries.
Warner is the leading run-scorer for Australia in T20Is, alongside being eighth in the overall list of the leading run-scorers of all time in T20 internationals. Apart from that, he is also the leading run-scorer for Australia in the T20 World Cup history, with 984 runs in 41 innings of the 41 T20Is, with an average of 25.89, hitting eight half-centuries.
Muhammad Waseem (UAE) - 3,184 T20I runs (2021-2025)
Though the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are a lower-ranked team with less recognition, their opener Muhammad Waseem has still managed to place himself among the top 10 leading run-scorers of all time in the T20Is.
Waseem has scored 3,184 runs in 91 innings of his 91 T20I appearances, with three centuries and 25 half-centuries. He is also the leading run-scorer for the UAE in the T20 internationals.
Virandeep Singh (Malaysia) - 3,180 T20I runs (2019-2025)
The star Malaysia all-rounder Virandeep Singh has attracted the eyeballs for his brilliant performances in the T20 internationals. He has impressed everyone both with his batting and bowling. Apart from picking 109 wickets in 89 innings of his 111 T20Is, Virandeep has also shone with his batting performances in the T20Is.
The 26-year-old has scored 3,180 runs in 104 innings of his 111 T20Is, averaging 37.85, with a century and 23 half-centuries. He ranks 10th in the list of top 10 batters with the most runs in the T20 internationals.
