Virat Kohli T20 World Cup Records And Stats

Virat Kohli during 2022 T20 World Cup (AFP)

When it comes to run-chases, one name that automatically comes to everyone’s mind is Virat Kohli. Widely regarded as the “Chase Master”, Virat Kohli has repeatedly proven his ability to structure run chases through calculated aggression, elite fitness, and exceptional composure under pressure. 

In India’s recent T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 game against South Africa, Virat Kohli’s absence was felt massively as a 76-run loss was a slap in the face of the false sense of security and dominance that Suryakumar Yadav’s men had built up in the tournament so far.

In this article, we look at Virat Kohli’s T20 World Cup records and stats as we pay homage to the ‘King’ of Indian cricket, who called time from the format after India won the 2024 T20 World Cup. 

Virat Kohli at the T20 World Cups 

Team India batting legend Virat Kohli made his T20 World Cup debut in the 2012 tournament in Sri Lanka against South Africa on October 2, 2012. The 37-year-old played 35 games in the ICC event between 2012 and 2024. 

#1 Virat Kohli in 2012 T20 World Cup

In his maiden T20 World Cup, Kohli scored 78 not out off 61 balls, forming a vital third-wicket partnership with Yuvraj Singh to secure India a crucial eight-wicket win in the Super 8s against arch-rivals Pakistan. Kohli also weighed in with the ball, taking 1/21. An all-rounder prowess got Kohli the Player of the Match award. 

#2 Virat Kohli in 2014 T20 World Cup

Virat Kohli dominated the 2014 T20 World Cup, finishing as the tournament's leading run-scorer with a record 319 runs (highest in a single edition) at an average of 106.33, including 4 fifties. He was named Player of the Tournament, crucial for guiding India to the final with key performances like 72* in the semifinal against South Africa.

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On top of that, he was the lone warrior for India in the 2014 T20 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, scoring a gritty 77 off 58 balls to lift the team to 130/4. Despite his stellar performance, which earned him the Player of the Tournament award with a record 319 runs, India lost to Sri Lanka.

#3 Virat Kohli in 2016 T20 World Cup

Virat Kohli’s 2016 T20 World Cup performance was legendary, as he scored 273 runs at an average of 

 and a strike rate of 146.77 in five innings. He was named the Player of the Tournament. His iconic, unbeaten 82 against Australia in the quarterfinals is widely regarded as one of his best T20I innings. However, India lost to the West Indies in the semi-final. 

#4 Virat Kohli in 2021 T20 World Cup

In the 2021 T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli captained India, but they failed miserably. Kohli couldn’t make an impact either with the bat or as the captain, as India suffered a 10-wicket loss to Pakistan in their Super 12 game. Moreover, the Indian batter managed only 68 runs in the edition, the fewest in his T20 World Cup career.   

#5 Virat Kohli in 2022 T20 World Cup

The 2022 T20 World Cup marked a defining moment in Virat Kohli’s career. Kohli was the leading run-scorer in the 2022 edition, amassing 296 runs in 6 innings at a staggering average of 98.66. His campaign was defined by an iconic, unbeaten 82 off 53 balls against Pakistan at the MCG, often hailed as his best T20I knock. He scored four fifties in the tournament. 

Thanks to Kohli’s efforts, India reached the semifinal. However, lost to England by 10 wickets. 

#6 Virat Kohli in 2024 T20 World Cup

Notably, Virat Kohli played a pivotal role in India's 2024 T20 World Cup victory, scoring a match-winning 76 off 59 balls in the final against South Africa to earn Player of the Match honours. 

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Despite struggling for form earlier in the tournament, he finished with 151 runs. Winning the POTM award in the final, Virat Kohli called curtains to his T20I career, retiring from the format with immediate effect. 

Virat Kohli Records at T20 World Cups

Below is a list of all the records he has achieved in the coveted ICC event. 

Most runs in T20 World Cups

Virat Kohli's stats at the T20 World Cup state that he has amassed 1292 runs in 33 innings. Kohli has scored the most runs in the history of the tournament. With Rohit Sharma, 1,220, right behind him. 

Most runs in a single T20 World Cup edition  

Former Indian T20I batter, Virat Kohli, tops the chart for most runs in a single T20 World Cup edition with 319 runs at the 2014 tournament. He achieved the total in just 6 innings at an average of 106.33, and remains the highest total score by any batter in a single T20 World Cup edition hosted by Bangladesh. 

Most Player of the Match awards 

Virat Kohli’s dominance in T20 World Cups is reflected in his 8 Player of the Match awards, the most by any cricketer in the tournament's history. His ability to anchor an innings and explode at the finish has haunted opponents for over a decade.

Also Read: Pakistan Star Sahibzada Farhan Hunts Down Virat Kohli's T20 World Cup Record

Most notably, his unbeaten 82 against Pakistan at the MCG* in 2022 and his crucial 76 in the 2024 Final against South Africa are legendary.

Only player to win the Player of the Tournament twice 

Virat Kohli is the only player to win two Player of the Tournament trophies (2014, 2016), underlining his status as the king of high-pressure environments. In the two editions, he totalled 273 and 319 runs in the 2014 and 2016 editions, respectively. 

Most runs in knockouts 

Known for his match-winning abilities, Kohli has been absolutely sensational in T20 World Cup knockouts and holds the record for having scored the most runs in this stage of the tournament. Notably, in six innings, he scored 373 runs, with an average of 93.25 and a strike rate of 145.13, with five half-centuries. 

Most runs batting at the No.3 position 

Virat Kohli’s T20 World Cup records further signify his dominance, batting at No.3. In the tournament's history, the Indian batting legend has scored 1,132 runs batting at his favoured position. He holds the record for most runs at the No.3 batting position. 

Highest batting average (Minimum 500 runs)

Among players with a minimum of 500 runs in the T20 World Cup, India legend Virat Kohli has the best batting average of 58.72. Not only that, no other batter with 500-plus runs in the tournament has an average of 50 or more. 

Virat Kohli T20 World Cup Stats

When it comes to winning games, Kohli has done it time and again in matches India were not expected to win. Moreover, numbers cannot be ignored. Indeed, Virat Kohli T20 World Cup records undermine why he is the undisputed ‘King’ of the tournament. 

Also Read: England Break India’s Massive T20 World Cup Record, Not Alone At The Top