The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. The tournament will feature 55 matches played across eight venues. Five venues will be in India, while three will be in Sri Lanka. A total of 20 teams will take part in the tournament. Scotland recently replaced Bangladesh after Bangladesh withdrew from the event.

The 20 teams have been divided into four groups, with five teams in each group. India and Pakistan are placed in Group A. Australia and Sri Lanka are in Group B. England and West Indies are part of Group C, while New Zealand and South Africa are in Group D. After the group stage, the tournament will move into the Super 8 round, followed by the knockout matches.

Over the nine editions of the Men’s T20 World Cup played so far, batters have delivered many outstanding performances. As the new edition approaches, we take a look back at the five highest individual scores in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

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1. Brendon McCullum (123 off 58) vs Bangladesh – 2012

Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum holds the record for the highest individual score in Men’s T20 World Cup history. He scored 123 runs off 58 balls against Bangladesh at Pallekele in the 2012 tournament.

New Zealand were sent in to bat and scored 191 for 3 in 20 overs. Bangladesh were later restricted to 132 for 8, and New Zealand won the match by 59 runs. Batting at number three, McCullum hit 11 fours and seven sixes. He was dismissed on the final ball of the innings.

2. Chris Gayle (117 off 57) vs South Africa – 2007

West Indies legend Chris Gayle scored 117 runs off 57 balls against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2007. This was the first match of the Men’s T20 World Cup.

West Indies scored 205 for 6 after batting first. Gayle opened the innings and hit seven fours and ten sixes. He added 145 runs for the first wicket with Devon Smith. However, South Africa chased the target and won the match.

3. Alex Hales (116 off 64) vs Sri Lanka – 2014*

England batter Alex Hales played a match-winning knock against Sri Lanka in Chattogram during the 2014 T20 World Cup. He remained unbeaten on 116 runs from 64 balls.

England chased a target of 190 runs and won the match by six wickets. Hales hit 11 fours and six sixes. He shared a 150-run partnership with Eoin Morgan to guide England to victory.

4. Ahmed Shehzad (111 off 62) vs Bangladesh – 2014*

Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad scored an unbeaten 111 runs off 62 balls against Bangladesh in Mirpur during the 2014 T20 World Cup.

Pakistan batted first and scored 190 for 5. Bangladesh were restricted to 140 for 7, and Pakistan won by 50 runs. Shehzad opened the innings and hit ten fours and five sixes.

5. Rilee Rossouw (109 off 56) vs Bangladesh – 2022

South Africa batter Rilee Rossouw scored 109 runs off 56 balls against Bangladesh in Sydney in the 2022 T20 World Cup.

South Africa scored 205 for 5 after batting first. Bangladesh were bowled out for 101, and South Africa won the match by 104 runs. Rossouw batted at number three and hit seven fours and eight sixes.

The T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, will begin on February 07 with Pakistan and the Netherlands locking horns for the curtain-raiser at the SSC stadium in Colombo. India, the defending champions, will open their campaign on the same evening against the United States of America (USA) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Over the years, various players have earned success in the T20 World Cup with the bat. It’s not that easy to be consistent in the shortest format of the game at a decent strike rate, which will always be an advantage for the teams. Virat Kohli leads the chart, followed by the World Cup-winning captain, Rohit Sharma.

List of highest run-scorers in ICC T20 World Cup history

1.   Virat Kohli (India)

Virat Kohli, who retired from the shortest format of the game after the previous World Cup, finished the competition as the leading run-getter. The Delhi-born amassed 1292 runs in 33 innings at an average of 58.72 and a strike rate of 128.81 with the help of 15 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 89 runs against West Indies in Mumbai.

Kohli retired from the format with 4188 runs in 117 innings of the T20Is at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04, shouldering on 38 half-centuries and one century at the best score of unbeaten 122 runs against Afghanistan,

2.   Rohit Sharma (India)

India’s title-winning captain, Rohit Sharma, remains in second position of the table with 1220 runs in 44 innings at an average of 34.85 and a strike rate of 133.04, with the help of 12 half-centuries at the best score of 92 against Australia in the previous edition at the Darren Sammy International Cricket Stadium in St. Lucia.

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The Nagpur-born overall clubbed 4231 runs in 151 innings of the T20Is at an average of 32.05 and a strike rate of 140.89, thanks to 32 half-centuries and five centuries at the best score of unbeaten 121 runs.

3.   Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)

Sri Lanka won their last T20 World Cup in 2014 when they got the better of MS Dhoni’s India in Mirpur. Mahela Jayawardene, the former captain, retired after the final of the tournament. He finished as the competition’s third leading run-getter with 1016 runs in 31 innings at an average of 39.07 and a strike rate of 134.74, thanks to six fifties and one century.

Jayawardene had 1493 T20I runs in 55 innings of the T20Is at an average of 31.76 and a strike rate of 133.18 with the help of nine half-centuries and one century at the best score of 100.

4.   Jos Buttler (England)

Jos Butler, the wicket-keeper batter of the England side, won the T20 World Cup for the national side in 2022 against Pakistan at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). He is the tournament’s fourth leading run-getter with the help of 1013 runs in 34 innings at an average of 42.20 and a strike rate of 147.23, thanks to five half-centuries and one century at the best score of unbeaten 101 runs.

Buttler’s contribution, towards the beginning of the event, was in the middle order. While later on, he decided to promote him up the order and open the batter. In T20Is, the Lancashire batter has smashed a total of 3869 runs in 132 innings at an average of 35.69 and a strike rate of 148.97, with the help of 28 half-centuries and one century at the best score of 101*.

5.   David Warner (Australia)

David Warner, the left-handed opening batter of the Australian side, also won the T20 World Cup in 2021 when they beat New Zealand in the final. The southpaw is the fifth leading run-getter of the competition with 984 runs in 41 innings at an average of 25.89 and a strike rate of 134.24 with the help of eight half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 89 runs.

Warner has cashed in 3277 runs in 110 innings of the shortest format at an average of 33.43 and a strike rate of 142.47, shouldering on 28 half-centuries and one century at the best score of unbeaten 100 runs. He has also retired from the shortest format of the game. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially unveiled the host nations for all major men’s global tournaments scheduled between 2026 and 2031. This roadmap includes the ICC Men’s T20 World Cups, ICC Men’s ODI World Cups, the return of the ICC Champions Trophy, and the finals of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). These events will occur across a number of cricketing nations, featuring both established nations and new cricketing nations.

In arguably one of the most significant announcements, England will host each of the three finals of the World Test Championship in this period, in 2027, 2029, and 2031. This highlights England’s historical significance in Test cricket, with plenty of options for hosting at iconic venues such as Lord’s and The Oval.

The global cricket calendar over these six years will see India involved in hosting four major tournaments, the most by any country, highlighting the BCCI’s central role in the sport’s commercial and global growth. Other nations like Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Scotland are also set to play a key role as co-hosts, showcasing the ICC’s intent to promote cricket’s development in new regions.

Full List of ICC Men’s Tournaments from 2026 to 2031

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Key Highlights

• England will host all three WTC finals in 2027, 2029, and 2031, a major nod to its legacy in red-ball cricket.
• In 2029, the ICC Champions Trophy will return after a long period of absence, in India.
• This will only be the second time Namibia will host a senior ICC tournament as a co-host, along with South Africa and Zimbabwe, in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
• Ireland and Scotland co-hosting the 2030 T20 World Cup with England will be the first senior men’s ICC tournament hosted in conjunction by these countries.
  
• India will either co-host or host the following four tournaments, confirming its supremacy in the global cricket economy.
  

The distribution of host nations between Full Members and nations on the rise reflects the ICC's dual mandate: expanding the game globally and protecting the rivalries and fan bases that drive the enormous success of world events.

With nine different major ICC events to take place between 2026 and 2031, the world of cricket has an exciting period ahead of it, with plenty of action across the formats. T20 excitement in Australia and India, 50-over contests in southern Africa, or red-ball battles in England are on the horizon, and it's a great time to be a fan of international cricket.

Hardik Pandya achieved what he missed it in Champions Trophy 2017. India won their 3rd Champions Trophy against New Zealand with 4 wickets remaining in hand. It was Hardik Pandya who controlled the inmings with his important 18 runs in 18 balls with 1 six and 1 four included. Pandaya ensured this time India would go par above the line. At the point where Pandya got out India, were just few runs short of a big win. 

Where Jadeja and Rahul finished things off and India won their third Champions Trophy silverware which is more by any playing nations. Hardik Pandya with the win overly joyed and satisfied this time which he couldn't able to replicate in the Champions Trophy 2017 against Pakistan. India outplayed every opponent there but missed it in the final. 

Redemption is the Greatest Revenge

After the victory in Champions Trophy this time Pandya attended the presser with the biggest smile of his achievement, where he claimed that he wouldn't be able to forget that day when India lost the final against Pakistan. India had to chase a huge total of, 300 plus in the biggest final where Indian batting collapsed miserably and it was Hardik Pandya who was lavishing the Pakistani bowlers he scored 74 runs out of 43 balls, with the mix-up with Jadeja Pandya got out, if he would have been there chances of winning would be more. 

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Hardik seemed extremely pleased when he was addressed he said the victory was just another milestone of his greatness but I am desired to bring more and more trophies to India. For me its always been winning more championships is important.  I said it earlier when we won the T20 World Cup last year, I need 5-6 trophies to be there for India and I am happy we got the Champions Trophy this year. 

Preparing For The Next Target

With T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy in hand the hunger of attaing more Championships have been increased. I have been ready for my next assignment of T20 World Cup 2024 which is going to happen in India and would like to replicate the same performance which we did in 2024. The most important thing in my life is, used to think how can add on more to team increase the chance of winning one more trophy.

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As Champions we will try to show our dominant presence in the World Cup that too why we will remain as Champions and would like to retain the cup. I love victory everyone comes and puts their heart out That is what I did for my team India, My Bharat. Now my next aim is to win the T20 World Cup and make sure it, stays with India.