Cricket
Who Has the Most 50+ Scores in T20Is? Kohli, Babar Ranked
Since the dawn of T20 internationals, the emphasis for batsmen has been creating impact with rapid and consistent scoring. In a format where a slow over can send the run rate spiralling, batters who can reach significant totals consistently are prized. Players considered the hallmark of 20-over success are those who can balance the demands of power hitting and good totals. To determine the best T20I batsmen ranked, SportsBoom has compared icons like Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, and Jos Buttler. By looking at statistical information and media perception, this model will look at the titans who towered over 20-over cricket.
Virat Kohli /Getty Images
SB Market Index: How We Evaluate T20I's Most Consistent Batsmen
This evaluation of the top T20 International run-scorers combines a statistical analysis of their consistency with expert and media perception to provide a comprehensive ranking, known as the SB Market Index.
Industry Insights
This is a curated analysis from top 10 cricketing and sports media sources measuring how prominently each player is featured in discussions of the ‘greatest T20I batsmen of all time’.
| Source Name | V Kohli | Babar Azam | R G Sharma | Mohammad Rizwan | D A Warner | J C Buttler | P R Stirling | K L Rahul | Muhammad Waseem | Virandeep Singh |
| ICC Official Player Rankings (historical high positions) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| ESPNcricinfo – ‘T20I XI of the Decade’ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wisden – ‘T20I Cricketer of the 2010s’ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sky Sports Cricket – ‘T20I GOAT Batsman’ debate | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cricbuzz – ‘Best T20I Players Ever’ feature | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| The Cricketer – Top T20I Players list | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sportskeeda – ‘Greatest T20I Batsmen’ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Reddit r/Cricket – ‘All-Time T20I XI’ Polls | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cricket Monthly – Impact Player Analysis | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| talkSPORT – ‘Top 10 T20I Batsmen’ countdown | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Mentions | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
SB Score
This score is calculated based on three key T20I career metrics: batting average (40% weightage), total 50+ scores (35% weightage), and total runs (25% weightage).
| Player | Matches | Runs | 50+ Scores | Average | SB Score |
| V Kohli | 125 | 4,188 | 38 | 48.70 | 1.000 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | 106 | 3,414 | 30 | 47.42 | 0.916 |
| Babar Azam | 128 | 4,223 | 36 | 39.84 | 0.871 |
| K L Rahul | 72 | 2,265 | 22 | 37.75 | 0.697 |
| Muhammad Waseem | 78 | 2,750 | 22 | 38.19 | 0.729 |
| Virandeep Singh | 102 | 3,013 | 21 | 37.66 | 0.706 |
| J C Buttler | 137 | 3,700 | 27 | 35.92 | 0.771 |
| D A Warner | 110 | 3,277 | 28 | 33.44 | 0.716 |
| R G Sharma | 159 | 4,231 | 32 | 32.05 | 0.755 |
| P R Stirling | 151 | 3,669 | 24 | 26.78 | 0.597 |
SB Market Index
| Rank | Player | SB Score | Industry Insights | SB Market Index |
| 1 | V Kohli | 1.000 | 10 | 8.200 |
| 2 | R G Sharma | 0.755 | 9 | 7.351 |
| 3 | D A Warner | 0.716 | 9 | 7.343 |
| 4 | J C Buttler | 0.771 | 9 | 7.354 |
| 5 | Babar Azam | 0.871 | 8 | 6.574 |
| 6 | Mohammad Rizwan | 0.916 | 7 | 5.783 |
| 7 | K L Rahul | 0.697 | 4 | 3.339 |
| 8 | P R Stirling | 0.597 | 0 | 0.119 |
| 9 | Muhammad Waseem | 0.729 | 0 | 0.146 |
| 10 | Virandeep Singh | 0.706 | 0 | 0.141 |
Virat Kohli: The King of T20I Consistency
Perhaps unsurprisingly, echoing his status as one of the greatest batsmen of all-time, Virat Kohli has topped the SB Market Index for this model.
The Indian legend cemented his legacy in all formats of cricket, notably retiring after guiding his country to the T20 World Cup trophy in 2024.
Looking at Virat Kohli, T20I average of 48.70 helped him stand at the top, as well as the most 50+ scores and more than 4,000 runs in total.
His dominance in the statistical SB Score was mirrored in his perfect Industry Insights score, with many considering him the format’s best.
The Chasing Pack: Sharma, Warner, and Buttler
In a close three-way finish, Rohit Sharma, David Warner and Jos Buttler also had a strong showing in terms of T20I batting records consistency.
The respective Indian, Australian, and English stars recorded similar Industry Insights ratings and career records many players can only dream of.
Rohit Sharma T20I runs are the most of the players curated, and leading his country to the 2024 T20 World Cup quelled doubts about his captaincy.
Comparatively, David Warner utilised his explosive left-handed style to great effect, particularly in Australia’s victorious 2021 T20 World Cup outing.
Similarly, Jos Buttler played a somewhat understated role in England’s 2019 T20 World Cup win but his legacy in the 20-over format is unblemished.
Beyond international impact, each of these men also achieved success with their domestic franchises, marking them as elites of T20 cricketing.
England captain Jos Buttler / Getty Images
The Modern Masters: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan
Another interesting aspect of this analysis is the superior statistical performances of Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan for their country.
The Pakistani superstars excelled in terms of their averages (39.84 and 47.42, respectively), ending behind only Kohli in terms of this model.
While their Industry Insights score might be slightly lower than some of their peers, Babar Azam T20I fifties was also second to Kohli, yet again.
Despite a lack of trophies in 20-over cricket, both Babar and Rizwan have shown the skill and consistency to be ranked in the greatest ever.
Conclusion on T20I's Batting Legends
In terms of SportsBoom’s comprehensive model, Virat Kohli has emerged as the top-performing batsman in T20 Internationals.
His statistical dominance and media perception saw him ahead of the likes of Rohit Sharma, David Warner, and Jos Buttler.
It is also worth noting the presence of Ireland’s Paul Stirling and Malaysia’s Virandeep Singh, highlighting Associate nations.
Being ranked among other legends on this list is a testament to their determination, in a format that prizes grit and big hitting.
Bruce Douglas has more than 12 years of experience in local news media. He has worked at all levels of print and online publication, from crime and politics to photography, newspaper layout, proofreading, mentoring, sub-editing, and leading a newsroom. He played numerous sports at the school level and enjoys keeping up to date.