Among the top T20 batsmen of all time, Chris Gayle is the best. No other batsman has been able to make 14 centuries, whereas Chris Gayle has 22 centuries to his name in T20 cricket, which is the highest and makes him the man to secure most centuries in T20 cricket. This blog by Playinexchange platform cricket experts will help you understand the T20 cricket player records worth knowing.
What Decides the Top T20 Batsmen of All Time
Five measures shaped the order in this list. Each one tests a different skill.[
| Measure | What it shows |
| Career runs | Staying power over many seasons |
| Centuries | Control of a full innings |
| Strike rate | Scoring speed |
| Peak ICC rating | Best spell of form |
| World Cup form | Performance in the biggest matches |
League stars and national team players share one list. Active batters add runs every season, so dates appear beside the figures.
The Top 10 T20 Batsmen of All Time
| Rank | Batter | Country | Best-known mark |
| 1 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 22 T20 hundreds and the first 10,000 T20 runs |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 1,292 T20 World Cup runs |
| 3 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 9,424 T20 runs at a strike rate of 150.13 |
| 4 | Rohit Sharma | India | 5 T20I hundreds and 4,231 T20I runs |
| 5 | Babar Azam | Pakistan | 4,596 T20I runs, the most by any batter |
| 6 | Jos Buttler | England | Captain of the 2022 World Cup winners |
| 7 | David Warner | Australia | 10 T20 hundreds, Player of the Tournament in 2021 |
| 8 | Suryakumar Yadav | India | Peak ICC rating of 912 |
| 9 | Glenn Maxwell | Australia | 5 T20I hundreds |
| 10 | Phil Salt | England | 4 T20I hundreds, ranked second by the ICC in December 2023 |
Gayle’s first place needs little defence. Kohli takes second on the strength of his World Cup runs. Beyond those two, every slot stays open to debate.
Most Centuries in T20 Cricket
Centuries in T20 Cricket – Most Centuries
Babar Azam holds the position of second most centuries in T20 cricket on the list. Statistics reveal that his count lies between 11, 12, or 13; hence ESPNcricinfo has the actual count. Warner and Kohli exited from T20 Internationals in 2024. Only three of the top T20 batsmen of all time reach double figures.
| Batter | T20 centuries |
| Chris Gayle | 22 |
| Babar Azam | 13 |
| David Warner | 10 |
| Virat Kohli | 9 |
Best T20 International Records
These figures cover T20 internationals up to June 2026. Every batter in the table faced national sides, which makes the top T20 batsmen of all time easier to compare.
This list covers T20 international matches up till June 2026. All batters in the list have played against national teams, thus making the comparison of the top T20 batsmen of all time easy.
| Batter | Runs | Matches | Average | Strike rate | Hundreds |
| Babar Azam | 4,596 | 145 | 38.94 | 128.02 | 3 |
| Rohit Sharma | 4,231 | 159 | 32.05 | 140.89 | 5 |
| Virat Kohli | 4,188 | 125 | 48.69 | 137.04 | 1 |
| David Warner | 3,277 | 110 | 33.43 | 142.47 | 1 |
Kohli averages the most. Rohit holds the hundreds. Warner scores fastest. Babar leads on runs after 145 matches, which is 20 more than Kohli played.
Highest ICC T20I Batting Ratings
Each rating below is a peak mark for one of the top T20 batsmen of all time or a rival.
| Batter | Peak rating |
| Abhishek Sharma | 931 |
| Dawid Malan | 919 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 912 |
| Virat Kohli | 909 |
| Aaron Finch | 904 |
| Babar Azam | 900 |
| David Warner | 894 |
Abhishek Sharma passed Malan’s 919 in October 2025 after a half-century against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup. He finished on 931.
T20 Cricket Player Records With a Story
Gayle has scored 175 not out against Pune Warriors for RCB in IPL 23 April 2013. Delivered 66 deliveries for the knock. This is the highest T20 score of the kind. He is the first player to get to 10,000 T20 runs four years later in April 2017.
There are other players in the list of top T20 batsmen of all time, who have interesting records. Kohli was also adjudicated as Player of the Tournament in 2014 and 2016 World Cups. He made his first T20I half-century at the Asia Cup in 2022.He scored his first T20I half-century against Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022. De Villiers was added to the list of Mr 360 as he played well around the attack, defence and spin. The great de Villiers retired from professional cricket in 2021.
Final Thoughts
Gayle has 22 centuries and Kohli has 1292 runs in the World Cup, while Babar Azam has 4596 runs in international cricket and it appears to be three different leaders. There is no one number that can rank the top T20 batsmen of all time. If you prefer hundreds, you’ll like Gayle.
Active batters will continue to update these numbers, please reference any number before 1998 by the date listed with the number. Users who are interested in more guides for cricket records can find them on Playinexchange.
FAQ’s
T20 Batsman of All Time: Who is the best?
Chris Gayle has the best record with 22 centuries and a best score of 175 not out. There are those who praise Kohli and de Villiers for being consistent and fast. Gayle is at the top of most lists of the greatest T20 batsmen of all time.
Who has the maximum number of centuries in T20 cricket?
Gayle leads with 22. Warner is 10 while Babar Azam is second.
Why and How Many Runs have the Most Scored in T20 World Cups?
Kohli, with 1,292 runs. He has also 15 scores of 50 or more in the tournament.
List of Batters with 5 Hundreds in T20I?
As of mid-2026, Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell are tied for the record with 705 runs. Suryakumar Yadav and Phil Salt have four apiece.
Which Player has the Highest ICC T20I Batting Rating?
Abhishek Sharma (931 points). Dawid Malan had a mark before him of 919.