Top 5 run-getters in India-Australia T20Is

The history of India-Australia T20I encounters is 12 years old but it encompasses only 19 matches. The beginning was explosive. These two teams fought a memorable battle in the 2007 T20I World Cup. The semi-final was won by India on the back of Yuvraj Singh’s lightning 70 (30) and Sreesanth’s fist-thumping spell of 2/12. The morale-boosting win propelled India into the final, and the rest is history.

A month later, Australia engaged in the first-ever T20I played on Indian soil. India once again emerged as the winner. Australia then exacted revenge by skittling India for only 74 at the MCG. The rivalry continued in the upcoming years. In the 2016 T20I World Cup, another chapter was added as Virat Kohli’s masterclass of 82 in 51 balls knocked Australia out of the competition.

In the clash between these two teams filled with batting firepower, we have witnessed a few thrilling batting displays. Only a handful of batsmen have managed to be consistent in these sporadic encounters though and here are the five top run-getters in India-Australia T20I matches.

#5. Yuvraj Singh - 283 runs

Yuvraj Singh

The left-handed maverick played a defining knock of 70 from just 30 balls in the first match between India and Australia. The lightning-fast innings helped India post a mammoth total. After successful defense of the target, India cruised into the final of the 2007 T20I World Cup. Yuvraj Singh was named Man of the Match for his blitz.

The Punjabi batsman struck two more half-centuries against the Aussies. Yuvraj’s unbeaten 77 from 35 balls helped India chase down the total of 202 at Rajkot in 2013. He top-scored with 60 off 43 balls in the following match between the two sides as well.

Yuvraj’s 283 runs against Australia were scored in eight innings at an average of 56.60. His strike rate while scoring these runs was a princely 162. He recorded a total of three half-centuries and 77 was his top-score.

#4. Shane Watson - 302 runs

Shane Watson

The Australian all-rounder enjoys the distinction of being the only centurion in India-Australia encounters. Unfortunately, Watson’s century ended in a losing cause as India chased down the target of 198. Watson had scored 124 runs from the team’s total of 197 and this remains his only hundred in T20Is.

Earlier, Watson had scored back to back half-centuries in India-Australia encounters. Both were scored on neutral grounds. His first innings was the 54 at Bridgetown, West Indies in 2010. The Australian followed it up with a knock of 72 which proved to be a match-winning one.

Watson’s next four innings versus India totaled only 34 runs. He made up for the failures with a grand knock of 124 not out at Sydney. In total, Watson piled up 302 runs in eight matches against India. He maintained an impressive strike rate of 158.11 and averaged 50.33 with two fifties and a century.

#3. Rohit Sharma - 313 runs

Rohit Sharma

Incredibly, Rohit Sharma has featured in all of India’s T20I matches against Australia. Since the 2007 T20I World Cup to the recent bilateral T20I series in Australia, the right-handed batsman has played 18 matches versus the Aussies.

Rohit has been formidable against Australia in ODIs, but he hasn’t been the same force in T20Is. In these 18 games, he has scored only 313 runs at an average of 24.07 with a strike rate of 136.

In 18 outings, Rohit has recorded eight single-digit scores. His top-score of 79 not out came at Bridgetown, West Indies in the 2010 World T20. India was chasing 185 runs to win and despite Rohit Sharma’s spectacular efforts, the team fell short by 49 runs.

Rohit’s other two fifties were scored in successive T20Is in Australia in 2016. Batting at the top, both the fifties from the Mumbai batsman helped India win those matches.

#2. Aaron Finch - 397 runs

Aaron Finch

A prolific run-getter in T20Is, Aaron Finch is second on the list of Australians with most runs in the shortest format. The opener also holds the top two spots in the highest individual scores in T20Is. He has been a consistent performer against India, but his best efforts have failed to clinch victories for his side.

In 11 T20Is against the Asian giants, Finch has piled up 397 runs at a healthy batting average of 36.09 with a strike rate around 138. He has struck two half-centuries and has been dismissed in the 40s three times. In the recent three-match T20I series at home, Finch totaled only 55 runs in three outings.

Playing on the dusty track of Rajkot, Finch registered his highest score of 89 versus India. Australia’s total of 201/7 proved short as Yuvraj Singh played a blinder. Finch’s 74 at Melbourne suffered the same fate as Australia failed to chase down India’s 185.

#1. Virat Kohli - 488 runs

Virat Kohli

How can there be an Indian batting record without Virat Kohli’s name in it? The Indian run-machine tops the tally of most runs in India-Australia T20Is by a margin of 91 runs.

Virat has accumulated 488 runs in 13 innings with an average of 61 while scoring at a strike rate of 143. This is also the most by any batsman in T20Is against Australia.

With five half-centuries Virat leads the fifties count as well. All of his 50-plus scores have resulted in Indian victories. Four of them were scored in succession.

His first big score was 90 not out on his favorite ground, Adelaide Oval in January 2016. India piled up 188/3 in 20 overs, enough to secure the win. Kohli’s subsequent scores of 59 not out and 50 helped India claim the away series 3-0.

In the 2016 World T20, Virat arguably played his best-ever T20I innings. Virat with his 82 not out in the chase of 161 knocked the Australians out of the World Cup.