In a fast-paced format like T20I, being a captain is a tedious job. Every ball in this format is an event in itself, where the match can turn on its head at any moment.
On top of that, we have the T20 World Cup every 2 years, so they also need to perform consistently along with leading the team.
The captains need to set an example by being fearless and scoring as many runs as possible. Their batting performance can turn out to be instrumental in winning matches and big tournaments alike.
Here are the top 10 instances of captains wielding the most runs in a calendar year in T20Is.
Most T20I Runs in a Calendar Year as Captain
| Captain | Innings | Runs | Avg | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam (PAK) | 26 | 939 | 37.56 | 2021 |
| Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (JPN) | 20 | 860 | 50.58 | 2024 |
| Muhammad Waseem (UAE) | 23 | 849 | 42.45 | 2024 |
| Nizakat Khan (HKG) | 27 | 784 | 35.63 | 2024 |
| Babar Azam (PAK) | 26 | 735 | 31.95 | 2022 |
| Haider Butt (BHR) | 21 | 682 | 45.46 | 2024 |
| Muhammad Waseem (UAE) | 20 | 664 | 34.94 | 2023 |
| Rohit Sharma (IND) | 29 | 656 | 24.29 | 2022 |
| Andy Balbirnie (IRE) | 27 | 617 | 23.73 | 2022 |
| Sikandar Raza (ZIM) | 23 | 573 | 28.65 | 2024 |
Key Insights
939: Pakistan’s former captain, Babar Azam, holds the record for scoring the most T20I runs in a calendar year as a captain. Azam had a prolific run in 2021, as he accumulated 939 runs at an average of 37.56, which included 9 fifties and 1 hundred.
2: With that, he became the first skipper to score 500+ runs in a single year. Moreover, he is the only captain to score 500+ runs in consecutive years in T20Is.
