Retired Australian dynamo David Warner has just overtaken Virat Kohli to become the fifth-highest run-scorer in T20 cricket, a huge feat for a player who is still going strong even after retirement from all formats. Warner achieved the milestone during a lively knock of 71 off 51 balls for London Spirit against Manchester Originals in The Hundred competition, whose runs are counted in T20s.
38-year-old Warner still going strong
His innings, featuring 12 fours and one six, came at a strike rate above 139, but despite his valiant effort, his team fell short of the 164-run target set by the hosts against Manchester. Barring Warner, none of his teammates even got to a 20-run mark, with Josh Tongue taking 3 wickets.
In 419 T20 matches, Warner now boasts 13,545 runs at an average of 36.80, with eight centuries and 113 fifties. His T20 repertoire is built on aggression and consistency, with a career-best score of an unbeaten 135. In 2025 as well, Warner is going massively strong and is one of the few who has mustered over 1000 runs in T20s this year. This is despite he didn’t get to play in the IPL.
Virat Kohli slips to sixth
Indian batting legend Virat Kohli now sits sixth on the all-time T20 run-scorers list with 13,543 runs in 414 matches, maintaining a stellar average of 41.92 and a strike rate of 134.67. He has amassed nine centuries and 105 half-centuries, with a top score of 122 not out. Having said that, Kohli can still add to his tally when the IPL time comes. He may not play any other T20 games apart from featuring in the IPL.
Atop the T20 run charts remains the indomitable Chris Gayle, the format’s ultimate power hitter. With 14,562 runs from 463 matches, Gayle’s strike rate of 144.75 and haul of 22 centuries make him cricket’s T20 batting legend.
Most T20 runs in history
| Player | Span | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100 | 50 | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gayle | 2005-2022 | 455 | 14562 | 175* | 36.22 | 144.75 | 22 | 88 | 1056 |
| Kieron Pollard | 2006-2025 | 629 | 13854 | 104 | 31.48 | 150.68 | 1 | 63 | 930 |
| Alex Hales | 2009-2025 | 499 | 13814 | 119* | 29.90 | 145.50 | 7 | 87 | 566 |
| Shoaib Malik | 2005-2025 | 515 | 13571 | 95* | 35.99 | 127.24 | 0 | 83 | 422 |
| David Warner | 2007-2025 | 418 | 13545 | 135* | 36.80 | 140.45 | 8 | 113 | 477 |
| Virat Kohli | 2007-2025 | 397 | 13543 | 122* | 41.92 | 134.67 | 9 | 105 | 435 |
| Jos Buttler | 2009-2025 | 435 | 13123 | 124 | 35.56 | 145.73 | 8 | 93 | 559 |
