The year 2023 was quite special for T20 cricket, which made its debut in the Asian Games. While the Indian cricket team failed to win the ICC ODI World Cup on home soil, but, a young unit, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, brought immense pride by winning the Asian Games Gold at Hangzhou in China. The International Cricket Council (ICC) also paid special attention to popularising the shortest format among the associate members as countries like Nepal, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Malaysia, Uganda and Kenya have started featuring in more bilateral series than before. As we have already bid adieu to 2023, let’s take a look at the top T20I run-scorers of the year:
Muhammad Waseem:
The UAE opener has capped off the year as the highest run-getter in T20Is. Featuring 23 matches, Muhammad Waseem has aggregated a total of 863 runs including as many as 7 half-centuries. His top score of 91 came in February during a home T20I against Afghanistan which the UAE won by 9 wickets.
Roger Mukasa
The 34-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has represented Uganda in 31 T20Is over the year 2023. Roger Musaka has struck two fifties and has scored 738 runs in total while maintaining a strike rate of over 130.
Suryakumar Yadav
While most of the senior players had stayed away from the shortest format in 2023, Suryakumar Yadav was bestowed the responsibility of leading India’s T20I squad. Apart from successfully serving the leadership duty, SKY also continued his sublime form in the format. In his 18 T20I appearances, the Indian middle-order batter has registered 733 runs at an average of 48.86 including 2 hundreds and 3 half-centuries.
Simon Ssesazi
The next name on the list is Simon Ssesazi from Uganda who played 33 T20Is in 2023. The Southpaw racked up 755 runs. Despite registering 5 fifty-plus scores, Ssesazi’s average was not quite up to the mark.
Virandeep Singh
The Indian-origin all-rounder featured in 21 T20Is for Malaysia in 2023. Virandeep Singh got a century under his belt while recording a total of 665 runs. He has also slammed 5 centuries, maintaining an average of 51.15.
It was certainly a year to remember for the women’s cricket team of Australia, which secured their sixth T20 World Cup title by overcoming hosts South Africa in the final. Here are the top run-scorers of women’s T20Is in 2023:
Hayley Matthews
The Caribbean opener tops the chart, having accumulated 700 runs in 14 T20Is. Hayley Matthews has slammed 4 half-centuries and one ton at a commendable strike rate of 132.32.
Laura Wolvaardt
Laura Wolvaardt was a key component of the South African unit which became the runners-up of the 2023 T20 World Cup. The 24-year-old opener has played 19 T20Is in 2019 to aggregate 586 runs, with her best score being 89.
Rebecca Blake
Rebecca Blake, who made her international debut for Romania in 2022, featured in 9 T20Is last year. She has registered 537 runs at a 100-plus batting average, smashing a century and five fifties.
Kavisha Egodage
The talented all-rounder from the UAE has already spent five years in international cricket at the age of just 20. Kavisha Egodage featured in 22 T20Is over the year 2023 and scored a total of 518 runs.
Esha Oza
Another UAE cricketer, Esha Oza rounds off the top-five list of highest run-scorers in women’s T20Is. The batting all-rounder recorded 498 runs in 22 T20Is last year. She also slammed two half-centuries while her strike rate was slightly below 100.
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