Top 3 T20I knocks by Indian batsmen this decade

The T20 format has developed a lot this past decade, as the batsmen have come to realize that it needs a game plan as well, apart from hitting the big ones. Earlier, the belief was that the format is tailormade for the hard-hitting batsmen to come out and display their talent. However, over the last few years, the cricket universe has witnessed several special innings from players who were earlier deemed to be misfits in this format.

The Indian team has had considerable success in the shortest format of the sport since 2010. They reached the final of the 2014 T20 World Cup and also played the semifinals in the 2016 edition but have failed to replicate the success they achieved in 2007.

Also see - Ranji most runs

While India couldn't win another twenty-over World Cup this decade, several batsmen from the country have played some memorable knocks in this format. Here’s a glance at the top three T20I knocks by Indian batsmen in this decade.

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#3 Suresh Raina - 101 vs South Africa, 2010

Suresh Raina became India's first ever T20I centurion in 2010

India reached West Indian shores to play the T20 World Cup in 2010 with several big names from the IPL on the team roster. MS Dhoni was the captain of the side which featured the likes of Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, and Yusuf Pathan. With a host of big hitters present in the team, the fans expected India to dominate the opposition bowlers.

Raina produced a classic knock in the group stage of the tournament and became the first T20I centurion from the nation during the fixture versus South Africa. He hit 101 runs off 60 balls and guided India to a total of 186/5. The left-handed batsman showed no signs of fear, facing the dangerous duo of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel with expert adeptness.

He slammed nine fours and five sixes during his knock. The Uttar Pradesh-born player deservedly received the Man of the Match award as his innings helped India win the match by 14 runs.

#2 Yuvraj Singh - 77* vs Australia, 2013

India's biggest T20 star

Yuvraj Singh was the one player who made the T20 format popular in India with his 6 sixes off Stuart Broad in the inaugural World Cup. Singh has now retired from international cricket but continues to wow the fans with his big-hitting skills in the foreign T20 leagues.

Having been an integral part of the Indian team, he played many memorable innings but the most special knock of his career came against Australia at Rajkot. Batting first, the visitors had set India a mighty target of 202 runs.

India then lost their top four batsmen in 11.1 overs. The scoreboard read 100/4 when MS Dhoni joined hands with Yuvi in the middle. The Punjabi all-rounder stitched a 102 run partnership with his skipper for the fifth wicket to drive India home. In this partnership, Dhoni's contribution was 24 runs off 21 deliveries.

At the other end, Yuvraj struck 77 runs off 35 balls in an innings which included eight fours and five sixes. He had a strike rate of 220 that night, which shows how brutally he whacked the likes of Clint McKay, James Faulkner, and Nathan Coulter-Nile. The experts billed this run chase as one of the best in T20I cricket history and Singh picked up the Man of the Match trophy for his whirlwind knock.

#1 Virat Kohli - 82* vs Australia, 2016

The chase master

Virat Kohli saved India from a shameful group stage exit at the 2016 T20 World Cup by playing an incredible innings of 82 runs at Mohali. In the do-or-die Super 10 match, Australia had won the toss and Steve Smith elected to bat first.

Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell guided Australia to a decent score of 160 runs in the first innings. As hosts, the Indian team was under immense pressure to win this game. However, they did not get the start that they would have wished for.

The trio of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Suresh Raina was back in the hut before the team total crossed 50. Kohli waged a lone battle from one end but the team seemed to have landed itself in a soup when Yuvraj Singh departed in the 14th over. The home side still required 67 runs off 6 overs and the onus to take the team through was on him.

The right-handed batsman brought his A-game to the table in the final six overs as he decimated the likes of Nathan Coulter Nile, James Faulkner, and Josh Hazlewood. His unbeaten knock filled with nine boundaries and six sixes drove India home with five balls to spare. Though MS Dhoni (18 runs off 10 deliveries) played an able supporting role, the future Indian T20I captain was instrumental in sealing India's semifinal spot.