Top Records to Look for in ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Every season of the T20 World Cup comes with massive excitement and record-breaking campaigns. The upcoming 2026 season, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka starting from February 07, with the Indian side beginning the event against the United States of America (USA) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, also holds the same place and can be exceptional.

Heading into the T20 World Cup 2026, there will be expectations of truck-loaded sixes and boundaries, which could break several records with the bat. In the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, a few other batters will have the opportunity to break their long-time T20 World Cup records.

A look at the top records to look for in ICC T20 World Cup 2026

1.   Most runs in T20 World Cup history

As of now, heading into the 2026 edition of the event, Virat Kohli leads the chart of most runs in the history of the T20 World Cup. The right-handed batter has managed 1292 runs in 33 innings at an average of 58.72 and a strike rate of 128.81 with 15 half-centuries. But having retired from the shortest format, he won’t get more runs.

England’s former captain, Jos Buttler, has a chance to overtake Kohli. The wicket-keeper batter has recorded 1013 runs in T20 World Cups in 34 innings at an average of 42.20 and a strike rate of 147.23 with six fifties and one century. He will need 280 more runs to go beyond Kohli in the list.

2.   Most wickets in T20 World Cup history

Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, Bangladesh’s left-arm spinner, Shakib Al Hasan, leads the chart of the most wickets in the tournament history with 50 wickets in 41 innings at an average of 20.12 and a strike rate of 17.58 with an economy rate of under seven. But he is also unlikely to play another game of the competition. 

See Also: Top Cricket Stadiums to Watch Out for in ICC T20 World Cup 2026

In the same list, both Wanindu Hasaranga and Rashid Khan are stuck at 37 wickets. The former has an average of 11.72, while Rashid averages under 15. Both of them will eye to cross the 50-mark in the wickets column in the T20 World Cups to lead the ladder.

3.   Most sixes in T20 World Cup history

In terms of most sixes in the T20 World Cups, Chris Gayle, undoubtedly, leads the chart with 63 sixes in 31 innings to notch up 965 runs at an average of under 35 and a strike rate of 142.75. In the list of the top seven, only the active player to stay in contention of playing the T20 World Cup 2026 remains Buttler.

The England opening batter has clubbed 43 over boundaries in only 34 innings to bash five fifties and one century. His eyes will be on that record to go past Gayle as he will need only 21 sixes, which isn’t a massive number for the power of the England veteran.

4.   Most T20 World Cup trophies

In the history of nine editions of the T20 World Cups, India won the maiden season of the event in 2007 by beating Pakistan in the final under the leadership of MS Dhoni at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. They are also the defending champions, having won the 2024 season under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma in Barbados against South Africa in the final.

West Indies are tied with India and England in winning two titles of the event. The Darren Sammy-led side clinched the trophy in 2012 when it was played in Sri Lanka and in 2016 when it took place in India. Meanwhile, England won their first title in 2010 in the Caribbean before lifting it in 2022 down under. All three sides will have the chance to lift the most trophies in the T20 World Cups during the 2026 season.

5.    Most wins in T20 World Cups

Heading into the T20 World Cup 2026, Sri Lanka has earned the most wins in the competition with 31 victories coming in 51 games at a winning rate of 61.76%. Pakistan sits in the second position with 28 wins in 47 games at a rate of 60.63%. India is in third with 27 wins in 44 games at a win percentage of 63.95.

The Suryakumar Yadav-led side will have the chance to be the best in the list if they continue their same unbeaten dominance from the last season. Subsequently, Sri Lanka will also have the chance to retain the same success in 2026.