Top 7 Indians with Most player of the Series Awards in T20I's Ft. Abhishek Sharma

In the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, consistency is a rare characteristic. However, an individual can dominate an entire series of matches with match-winning performances across multiple games, inspiring confidence in teammates, and winning Player of the Series award as a badge of dominance. India has produced a long list of such match-winners in the batting, bowling and all-rounder disciplines, who have defined a moment, turned a contest around, and stamped their authority on world cricket. From the calm brilliance of Virat Kohli, the explosive nature of modernity of Suryakumar Yadav, the death-over brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah and the fearlessness of youth in Abhishek Sharma, there is an indelible impression made by all of these names. 

Now let us look at the Indian cricketers in T20Is with the most Player of the Series awards, which is ultimately a list of modern match-winners, who have contributed to India's ascendency in the shortest form of the game.

1) Virat Kohli – 7 Awards

Virat Kohli, the public face of Indian cricket for the past ten years, remains on top with an incredible record of seven 'Player of the Series' awards in T20 international cricket. His consistency, particularly in chasing, and ability to remain calm under pressure, has led to him being called the “Chase Master." Kohli's T20I legacy is defined not only by runs but by his ability to deliver at the opportune moment and when needed most.

During his seven series, Kohli scored 1,842 runs at a staggering average of 92.10 and strike rate of 145.38, including three centuries and fourteen half-centuries. Kohli has turned those tremendous moments of high-pressure into personal milestones for themselves, from his unforgettable 90* against Australia in Mohali in 2016, to his perfect 122* against Afghanistan in the 2022 Asia Cup. Most notably, India has never lost a bilateral T20I series in which Kohli earned Player of the Series meaning he had an unmistakable effect.

2) Suryakumar Yadav – 5 Awards

Redefining batting in the modern-day phenomenon of Indian T20 cricket, Suryakumar Yadav is already well on the way to moving into the category of the greats. With five Player of the Series awards under his belt, and the kind of fearlessness associated with his batting, in addition to the 360-degree shot-making, Suryakumar Yadav has become a true nightmare for bowlers around the world. In a short span of time, he has already become the standard for creativity and confidence, blending both style and reliability.

In performances that have earned him Player of Series honors, Suryakumar has scored 1,103 runs at an average of 71.40 and a remarkable strike rate of 181.63, complete with two centuries and eight fifties. Some of his most impactful series include the 2022 tour to the West Indies in which he scored three fifties in three matches, and the 2023 series played at home against Sri Lanka in which his innings of 112 not out and 51 not out spoke of his superiority when it comes to adaptability. One of the most iconic shots in modern cricket is his one-handed pick-up flick over fine leg to bring events into even further perspective, perfectly illustrating both his fearless batting and silly shot-making style.

3) Jasprit Bumrah – 3 Awards

When you talk about match-winning spells, Jasprit Bumrah is simply in a class of his own. The spearhead of India’s bowling attack and a maestro of precision, Bumrah has won three Player of the Series awards based on his ability to change matches on the ball. He can break partnerships during the Powerplay and gluttonize batters during the death - he is always an influence.

In series when Bumrah has been the best, he has taken 38 wickets at an average of just 11.21 and an economy rate of 5.83, and in that time he has taken two five-wicket hauls, including his career-best 6/12 against England in 2025. Bumrah's spells in Durban, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad have been iconic to India's T20 supremacy. Even more astonishingly, Bumrah owns the record for most wickets taken by an Indian in T20I series deciders - that demonstrates his talent for striking when the pressure is at its peak.

4) Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 3 Awards

Quiet, composed, and simply effective, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of India's best new-ball specialists in white-ball cricket. He can swing the ball both ways and control the run-rate in the powerplay - three Player of the Series awards in T20Is serves as evidence. For almost a decade, Bhuvi has been India's first-choice player to get wickets with the new ball.

In his Player of the Series winning performances, he has taken 34 wickets at an average of 13.50 and an economy rate of 6.41, with a best performance of 5/4 against South Africa in 2018. From the memorable five-for in Johannesburg to his spells against Australia and Sri Lanka, Bhuvneshwar showed that 'smart' bowling can win games, not just 'fast' bowling. His knuckleball, always disguised, continues to deceive some of the world's best batters.

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5) Hardik Pandya – 3 Awards

Hardik Pandya is India's go-to all-rounder when it comes to T20 internationals, consistently demonstrating an affinity for the big moment. He has attained three Player of the Series awards, showcasing his ability to change the game with both bat and ball with the ability to shift the fortunes of the match entirely by himself. He is one of the most valuable T20 players in the world due to his ability to strike the ball cleanly and bowl seamers cleverly.

During his Player of the Series awards, Hardik has had a successful career that has included scoring 612 runs at 51.00 average, taking 29 wickets, and achieving a strike rate of 158.5. Some of his best performances included the 2022 Player of the Series run against England which featured an incredible all-round performance of 71* off 33 balls, and taking 4 wickets for 16 runs as well as match-winning performances against the Sri Lankan series in 2021 and a series win against Bangladesh in 2024. Hardik has been India's go-to when they have required a moment of magic, either with the wicket or the boundary.

6) Rohit Sharma – 2 Awards

The Hitman of Indian cricket has been known for quite a while for making a small start turn into a statement. Apart from his two Player of the Series awards, Rohit’s temperament to perform in big matches and timing has frequently set the tone for India's T20 success. When in form, there are few bowlers in world cricket who can hold him back.

Rohit has, in his series as mentioned, accumulated 378 runs with the glistening average of 94.50 and strike-rate of 161.5 - these include his phenomenal 121* against South Africa in 2022. Rohit’s twin tons in their series against West Indies and South Africa will always be acknowledged as hallmarks of India's T20 journey thus far. Whether loading up with KL Rahul at the other end, or the sole opener, Rohit's graceful and powerful combination continues to rank him as India's most trusted match winner.

7) Abhishek Sharma – 2 Awards*

The youngest and most recent player on this elite list is Abhishek Sharma, India's up-and-coming T20 star. The left-handed opener had a breakout year in 2025, earning two Player of the Series titles in his first season- no small feat, which illustrates how talented and composed a player- and person he really is. 

In Abhishek's two Player of the Series series, he scored 412 runs at an average of 82.40 and a strike rate close to 200, with 2 centuries and 3 fifties. Abhishek's innings of 124* vs Zimbabwe and 102* vs Sri Lanka proved his power, calmness as he batted and his range of shot-making. Still early in his career, Abhishek has found a way to dominate the powerplay, an entirely new attacking approach at the top for India. At this early stage of his career he is already being touted as one of India's brightest T20 stars- fearless, focus and full of flair.

FAQs

1. Who has the most Player of the Series awards for India in T20Is? 
With 7 Player of the Series awards in T20 internationals, Virat Kohli holds the record among Indians. 

2. How many Player of the Series does Suryakumar Yadav have? 
India's sensational middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav has won 5 Player of the Series awards in T20 internationals.

3. Which bowlers have the most Player of the Series awards for India in T20Is? 
Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar share the distinction of being the bowlers with the most Player of the Series awards for India in T20 internationals, each with 3 awards. Both bowlers have been a match-changing accountant with ball in hand - Bumrah at the death and Bhuvneshwar at the powerplay.

4 How many Player of the Series awards has Hardik Pandya won in T20I formats?
All-rounder Hardik Pandya has earned the Player of the Series award three times in T20I internationals, displaying his ability to shine with both bat and ball as an all-rounder on the biggest stage while it matters most.

5 Who is the youngest Indian to win multiple Player of the Series awards in T20Is?
In 2025, Abhishek Sharma became the youngest Indian to accumulate two Player of the Series accolades after only 11 T20I matches, quickly becoming one of India's next T20 stars as an aggressive left-handed opener.