Top 5 Most Fifties In T20 Internationals

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the 2022 T20 World Cup (x.com)

T20 international matches stands as the epitome of rapid-fire entertainment. The fast-paced, condensed format demands a unique set of skills, blending power-hitting with finesse, and precision with innovation. In this lightning-quick arena, the art of crafting a memorable innings is mastered by those who can make a profound impact in the shortest span.

As boundaries are blurred and run rates soar, the ability to navigate through the challenges of the game, seizing moments and steering their teams to victory, sets them apart in this whirlwind spectacle.

As we dive into the landscape of T20I cricket, here at OneCricket, we unravel the tales of top five batsmen who have already left an enduring legacy in the format by notching up the most half-centuries.

Top 5 Players With Most T20I Half-Centuries:

1. Virat Kohli - 37

Virat Kohli in action against AFG in January 2024 (BCCI)

At the zenith of T20I batters with most half-centuries continues to remain Indian batting wizard Virat Kohli. The cricketer notched up 37 of them from just 109 innings until January 2024, which even includes a number of match-winning ones from high-octane T20 World Cup clashes. Overall, Kohli has 38 fifty-plus scores to his name in T20Is as he also made a century against Afghanistan at the 2022 T20 Asia Cup.

The prolific right-handed batsman holds an astonishing average of 51.75, the highest among all batters with more than 1,000 runs, let alone 4,000. Moreover, Kohli also holds a number of staggering T20I records like tallying the highest number of runs (4,037), and for minting the most runs in T20 World Cup matches as well.

2. Babar Azam - 33

Babar Azam in New Zealand in January 2024 (x.com)

Pakistan legend and former captain Babar Azam has emerged as one of the stalwarts of his country’s famed batting line-up. Having made his T20I debut in 2016, the cricketer has already smacked 36 fifty-plus scores in the format, which includes 33 half-centuries. One of the most famous half-centuries from his illustrious batting profile continues to remain the 68* he made against arch-rivals India in their 2021 T20 World Cup faceoff in Dubai.

Babar, with his unreal consistency in the format, has often matched Indian icon Virat Kohli owing to their similar stroke-making skills. The legendary opening batsman recently completed 100 T20Is for his country, and he scored a rapid 66 on the occasion against hosts New Zealand at Hamilton.

3. Rohit Sharma - 29

Rohit Sharma celebrating his 50 against AFG in January 2024 (BCCI)

Current Indian captain Rohit Sharma has listed 29 half-centuries in his illustrious 143-match career so far. Notably, the only reason Sharma is placed at number three on the list because he has converted five of his overall 34 T20I fifty-plus scores into hundreds.

Apart from profiling the highest number of T20I tons and the third highest number of half-centuries, the dashing opening batsman has also tallied the second highest aggregate of runs, with 3,974 of them to his name. As of now, the cricketer is primed to become only the second batsmen in history after teammate Virat Kohli to cross the 4,000-run landmark.

Sharma has further garnered astonishing T20I records of featuring in most matches (151), and for hitting the highest number of sixes with 190 maximums.

4. Mohammad Rizwan - 25

Mohammad Rizwan during Pakistan's tour of NZ in January 2024 (x.com)

Pakistan batting maverick Mohammad Rizwan has already listed 26 fifty-plus scores, including 25 half-centuries from just 76 T20I innings, thus achieving the feat much quicker than his teammate Babar Azam and dashing Indian opener Rohit Sharma. Rizwan made his format debut back in April 2015 with a match against Bangladesh at Mirpur, and up until January 2024, the legendary wicketkeeping-batter has featured in 88 matches for his country.

The right-handed batsman was involved in a match-winning 152-run partnership with Babar back in the 2021 T20 World Cup, one which scripted Pakistan’s first-ever win against arch-rivals India in any World Cup game. His career average of 47.55 even surpasses that of Babar, Sharma and fellow modern-day T20I heavyweights David Warner, KL Rahul, Jos Buttler, Martin Guptill and Suryakumar Yadav.

5. David Warner - 24

David Warner at the 2022 T20 World Cup (AP)

Prolific opening batsman David Warner announced himself to the big stage with a sizzling 89 against South Africa in one of Australia’s home T20Is from 2009. While the cricketer is currently on a sabbatical from the format, he is poised to make his return sometime in lieu of this year’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies.

Warner played the last of his 99 matches for Australia during the 2022 T20 World Cup at home. Overall, he has listed 24 half-centuries in the format, and another score of 100 or more in his illustrious journey. His aggressive batting diligence was instrumental in helping Australia secure their maiden T20 World Cup title in 2021, as he clubbed a tournament-winning 53 against New Zealand in the final.

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