ICC T20 World Cup: 5 men with most runs in tournament history

Cricket enthusiasts are eagerly waiting for 2020 as the year marks the return of the T20 World Cup after four long years. Fans simply adore T20 cricket thanks to its pulsating drama and high voltage action. The players can feel it and so can the fans and it won't be wrong to say that the 20-over format has turned out to be a masterstroke, opening up a completely new avenue in the sport.

When it comes to the shortest format of the game (not putting the 10-over adventure of recent times into consideration here), the biggest competition out there is the T20 World Cup. India won the inaugural edition and since then, four other nations have lifted the coveted trophy, with West Indies being the only nation to win it twice.

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With the seventh installment of the tournament approaching fast, it's time to crunch the numbers and when it comes to that, the first thing which pops in every cricket fan's mind is who has scored the maximum number of runs in the top tournament of the batsmen-friendly format.

Here, we list down the top five men who've scored the most number of runs in T20 World Cup history:

#5 AB de Villiers

England v South Africa - 1st NatWest T20 International

A player who has revolutionalized the game, ABD is a bona fide legend and needs no introduction. His brilliance with the bat gave cricket enthusiasts world over a plethora of enticing moments to cherish. Mr 360 is one of the most lethal batsmen to have ever played the game and had a vast array of shots in his arsenal.

Such was his influence on the game that even the staunchest of opposition supporters stood in awe of the South African's masterclass. De Villiers played quite a few notable innings in the T20 format for his nation and many deem him as the greatest T20 batsman of all time.

On the all-time list for most runs scored, he comes in at the fifth place with a total of 717 runs across 30 matches at the premier T20 competition.

#4 Virat Kohli

India v Australia - T20I: Game 2

Often heralded as the best batsman in recent times, it doesn't come a surprise that Virat Kohli features on this list as well. The Indian captain is yet to get his hands on the T20 World Cup trophy and will be looking to accomplish the feat in Australia.

As far as his numbers in T20 World Cups are concerned, Kohli has so far amassed 777 runs in just 16 innings at an average of 86.33. He was the highest-scoring Indian batsman at the last edition wherein India crashed out in the semi-finals (following a loss at the hands of eventual winners West Indies).

The Men in Blue possess a lot of firepower in their squad but if there is one man who seems to be the biggest threat on the field, it is King Kohli. Fans will no doubt be hoping to see the Indian skipper at his best this time around as well.

#3 Tillakaratne Dilshan

West Indies v Sri Lanka - ICC Twenty20 World Cup

Over the years, Sri Lanka has produced some sensational T20 cricketers and Tillakaratne Dilshan occupies the top slot in that category. His penchant for innovation in the game made him a fan favorite and such was his talent with the bat that even the greatest of bowlers often found themselves struggling to contain him. Dilshan is one of the most destructive T20 openers of his generation and his numbers at T20 World Cups support this argument to a T.

He amassed 897 runs in 35 T20 World Cup fixtures at a strike rate of 124.06. Sri Lanka is the only nation to have played three T20 World Cup finals and Dilshan was a part of all three of those historic nights.

Fans would never forget his whirlwind innings of 96* against the West Indies in the semi-finals of the 2009 edition which helped his side seal a spot in the final.

#2 Chris Gayle

ICC World Twenty20 India 2016: West Indies v England

Has there ever been a player like Chris Gayle? Has there ever been a player so fearsome and so ferocious with the bat as The Universal Boss?

Not many bowlers can claim to have got out of the Gaylestorm safe and sound and this only shows the kind of dominance the West Indian has on the game. He has made a name for himself in the cricketing world courtesy of his power-hitting and vibrant personality. Gayle is one of the few men who've won the ICC World T20 World Cup twice and with the 2020 edition approaching fast and The Universal Boss still going strong, ruling out a third one might be a bit silly.

He has amassed a total of 920 runs in 28 matches and is the only player in history to have recorded two tons in the competition as well.

#1 Mahela Jayawardene

West Indies v Sri Lanka - ICC T20 World Cup

Mahela Jayawardene belongs to the rare bracket of men who have played in three T20 World Cup finals. The classy Sri Lankan is often reckoned to be amongst the finest batsmen of his generation and it won't be wrong to say that Jayawardene's greatest asset was his versatility. From the grueling longer format to the swashbuckling T20 cricket, he was a master at everything and his prowess with the bat helped pave a glorious period for Sri Lankan cricket.

He has many records to his name, one amongst them being the highest run-scorer in the history of World T20 competitions. He was a part of the triumphant Sri Lankan side in 2014 and helped his nation lift the majestic cup after falling short in two finals in the past.

The former Sri Lankan skipper notched up a total of 1016 runs in 31 fixtures in T20 World Cups, which makes him the most prolific run-scorer in the history of the competition.