Top 5 Indian T20I batsmen of the decade

#2 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

Matches - 72, Innings - 67, Runs - 2,450, Average - 50, Strike Rate - 135.28

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has an exceptional record in T20Is, just like he has in Tests and ODIs. In fact, he is the only batsman in world cricket to average 50 or more in all three formats of the game.

Unlike in the 50-over World Cup, where he has fared miserably in knockout games, Kohli has reserved his best for the World T20 in the shortest format. He was the man of the tournament in both of the last two World T20 tournaments, even though India failed to win the crown.

Kohli smashed an unbeaten 72 from 44 balls in the 2014 World T20 semi-final against South Africa, and 77 from 58 balls in the final against Sri Lanka, which India lost as Yuvraj Singh crawled to 11 from 21 balls.

Two years later, in the 2016 World T20, he made 82 not out from 51 in the Super 10 game against Australia and followed it up with a blazing 89 not out from 47 in the semis against West Indies. Lendl Simmons’ equally brutal 82 not out from 51, however, dumped India out of the tournament.

Kohli has displayed amazing consistency in the format -- 22 fifties speak volumes of that - and he also has a highly impressive strike rate of 135.28. A T20I hundred is the only achievement missing from his kitty; Kohli’s best of 90 not out came against Australia at Adelaide in January 2016.