This article explores the elite statistical milestones and record-breaking performances of cricketers who have maintained the highest batting averages in T20I history. In other words, the most consistent T20I batsmen throughout their careers.
Highest Batting Average in T20Is
| Player | Team | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | India | 117 | 31 | 4188 | 48.69 |
| Karanbir Singh | Austria | 40 | 4 | 1721 | 47.80 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | Pakistan | 93 | 21 | 3414 | 47.41 |
| Sohail Ahmed | Bahrain | 67 | 28 | 1833 | 47.00 |
| Mohammad Ihsan | Spain | 24 | 6 | 845 | 46.94 |
| Sami Sohail | Malawi | 62 | 19 | 1988 | 46.23 |
| Tilak Varma | India | 41 | 13 | 1289 | 46.03 |
| Manish Pandey | India | 33 | 17 | 709 | 44.31 |
| Faheem Nazir | Switzerland | 27 | 4 | 985 | 42.82 |
| Rinku Singh | India | 32 | 16 | 665 | 41.56 |
| Jermaine Baker | Cayman Islands | 22 | 3 | 783 | 41.21 |
| Ryan ten Doeschate | Netherlands | 23 | 10 | 533 | 41.00 |
| Saiteja Mukkamalla | USA | 21 | 3 | 737 | 40.94 |
| Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming | Japan | 45 | 4 | 1669 | 40.70 |
Note: Batters who’ve batted in a minimum of 20 innings are shown.
Key Insights on Highest Batting Average in T20I Cricket
Leading Individual Batting Averages in T20I History
Virat Kohli holds the record for the highest batting average in men’s T20I cricket, amassing 4188 runs at an average of 48.69 across 117 innings. See his overall T20I records here.
Mohammad Rizwan and Austria’s Karanbir Singh are the only two opening batters to sustain an average above 50 in T20I cricket.
Rizwan stands as the only wicketkeeper-batter to achieve a batting average exceeding 50 in T20Is.
Virat also maintains the highest average as a captain in the format, averaging 47.57 while scoring 1570 runs in 46 innings as the leader of the Indian team.
Former Indian captain MS Dhoni holds the record for the most unbeaten innings, remaining not out 42 times while averaging 37.60 in 85 outings.
Record-Breaking T20I Averages by Venue and Conditions
Pakistan’s Rizwan is the solitary batter to maintain a batting average above 60 in home T20I matches.
Malawi’s Sami Sohail is the only player to average over 60 in an overseas country, achieving this feat specifically in Rwanda.
JP Duminy of South Africa possesses the highest batting average in overseas T20Is, with 648 runs at 46.48 in 22 innings.
Qatar’s Muhammad Tanveer (in Doha) and Pakistan’s Babar Azam (in Lahore) are the only two batters to average above 40 at a single specific venue.
Elite Milestone Averages Against Opponents and Calendar Years
Malawi’s Sohail is the only batter in the world to average above 100 in both winning causes and successful run chases in T20Is.
Rizwan recorded the highest batting average within a single calendar year, averaging 73.66 with 1326 runs in 26 innings during 2021.
The 1326 runs scored by Rizwan in 2021 represent the second-most runs scored by any batter in a calendar year in T20I history.
Virat boasts the highest average against a specific opponent, scoring 794 runs at an average of 49.62 in 22 matches against Australia.