Top 5 Indian Batsmen With Most T20I Runs vs Afghanistan

Virat Kohli in action against Afghanistan at the 2022 Asia Cup (AP)

Since their inaugural encounter in 2010, the T20 International clashes between India and Afghanistan have been scarce, totaling only five meetings until late 2023. Their competitive engagements have primarily unfolded within the framework of prestigious multi-nation tournaments like the World Cup and the Asia Cup, with their most recent clash occurring during the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Despite Afghanistan’s meteoric rise as formidable adversaries in limited-overs cricket, a number of Indian batting stalwarts have managed to unleash remarkable consistency and dominance in these sporadic confrontations. Their ability to flourish against Afghanistan’s burgeoning bowling arsenal in T20Is stands as a testament to their adaptability and skill.

Ahead of India’s much-awaited three-match home T20I series against Afghanistan in January 2024, here at OneCricket, we take a look at five ‘Men in Blue’ batters who have amassed the highest number of runs in prior India vs Afghanistan clashes.

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5 Indians With Most T20I Runs vs Afghanistan:

1. Virat Kohli - 172 runs

Modern-day legend Virat Kohli has taken apart the best of opponents throughout his prolific T20I career. His individual record against Afghanistan is no different as the cricketer has even listed sparkling match-winning knocks in each of his two batting appearances.

Kohli first came across Afghanistan back in September 2012 during the 2012 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. Aged 24 at the time, the cricketer punched out a sizzling 39-ball 50 to headline India’s 23-run win in the game. Nearly a decade later in September 2022, Kohli once again faced Afghanistan, this time in search of some much-needed form during the 2022 Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi.

As it turned out, the right-hander celebrated his T20I reunion with Afghanistan by packing his career-best score of 122* from just 61 balls. The innings marked his first and only T20I ton to date, and also ended his near three-year century drought in international cricket.

2. KL Rahul - 131 runs

KL Rahul in action against Afghanistan during the 2021 T20 World Cup (x.com)

Charismatic Team India opener KL Rahul has encountered Afghanistan’s spin might twice in his career, and in both games, the cricketer produced dazzling 60-plus knocks to headline huge Indian wins.

For starters, Rahul pumped out 69 runs from just 48 balls against the likes of Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi back during the concluding stages of the 2021 T20 World Cup in Abu Dhabi. The right-hander even formed a 140-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma and was adjudged as ‘Player of the Match’ for his game-defining effort.

Rahul pulverized Afghanistan attack with another 41-ball 62 the following year during their 2022 Asia Cup dead-rubber bout in Dubai. The prolific opening batsman thumped six boundaries and two sixes in his innings, one which was largely overshadowed by Virat Kohli’s 122* later in the same evening.

3. Rohit Sharma - 75 runs

Rohit Sharma in action against Afghanistan at the 2021 T20 World Cup (x.com)

Much like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma also took guard at the crease only twice in a decade against Afghanistan in T20I matches. After scoring a solitary run in India’s 23-run win over them at the 2012 T20 World Cup, the star opener produced a match-winning 47-ball 74 in his subsequent appearance at the 2021 T20 World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

Having sustained huge defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand earlier in the tournament, the ‘Men in Blue’ took field against Afghanistan with a fierce gung-ho approach, amassing a staggering 210-2 upfront in the game after being put into bat first. Sharma himself belted three sixes and eight boundaries to top score in the innings, and was fittingly rewarded with a ‘Player of the Match’ honors after India’s emphatic 66-run win.

4. Suresh Raina - 56 runs

Suresh Raina against Afghanistan at the 2012 T20 World Cup (x.com)

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina faced Afghanistan in each of their first two meetings against them in 2010 and 2012 respectively. While the batting stalwart failed to pack a colossal run-scoring effort, he did contribute with crafty middle-overs contributions that yielded one-sided wins for the Indian team on both occasions.

Back during India’s 2010 T20 World Cup faceoff against Afghanistan in Gros Islet, Suresh Raina belted a boundary and a six during his 13-ball 18 while batting at number three. His innings, coupled with Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni’s finishing act helped Team India chase down Afghanistan’s 115-run total with more than five overs to spare.

Two years later in the subsequent T20 World Cup chapter in Colombo, Raina unleashed a boundary-laden 33-ball 38 to help India reach 159-5 by the time of their 20 overs. The total turned out to be a match-winning one later in the game as MS Dhoni and co. prevailed in the contest by 23 runs.

5. Murali Vijay - 48 runs

Murali Vijay made his T20I debut against Afghanistan in 2010 (x.com)

Dashing Indian opener Murali Vijay, interestingly, made his T20I debut with a game against Afghanistan back during the 2010 T20 World Cup at Gros Islet in May. The elegant right-hander celebrated the occasion by unfurling a near run-a-ball 48 to headline India’s successful run-chase.

Vijay bashed two boundaries and three sixes off the 46 deliveries he faced in the innings, which itself remained his career-best T20I score until his international retirement.

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