The 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup will be held in the UAE and Oman from October 17 to November 14. The matches will begin with the group stage featuring the qualifying sides. Two teams from each of the two participating groups will progress to the Super 12 round, which begins from October 23. Australia, South Africa, England and West Indies are in one Super 12 group and India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and New Zealand in the other. Windies are the defending champions in the event. Ahead of the 2021 edition, here are some interesting T20 World Cup records to know about.
1. When 450-plus runs were scored in one match
The highest match aggregate in a T20 World Cup clash is 459 runs in a match between England and South Africa in Mumbai during the 2016 edition. South Africa batted first and posted a mammoth 229 for 4 as Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy all cracked half-centuries. However, England chased down the target with two balls to spare and two wickets in hand courtesy of Joe Root’s brilliant 44-ball 83. England’s chase is top on the list of most successful chases in T20 World Cup history. South African pacer Kagiso Rabada was hammered for 50 in his four overs.
2. Only one batter averages over 80 in the T20 World Cup (Minimum 10 innings)
Indian captain Virat Kohli has an incredible record in the T20 World Cup. He has amassed 777 runs in 16 matches at an average of 86.33. Among players who have played more than 10 knocks, only Kohli averages in excess of 80. Aussie legend Michael Hussey is second on the list with an average of 54.62 from 21 matches. Kohli and Chris Gayle hold the joint record for the most five-plus scores in the T20 World Cup with nine each. While the Indian skipper has nine half-centuries, Gayle has seven fifties and two hundreds.
3. Most runs through boundaries in an innings
Chris Gayle has a unique record to his name. He has scored the most runs through boundaries in an innings. He achieved the feat during his knock of 117 against South Africa in Johannesburg during the inaugural edition in 2007. The left-hander smashed seven fours and 10 sixes during his innings, which means he scored 88 of his 117 runs through fours and sixes. In addition, Gayle also holds the record for the fastest hundred (48 balls vs England in 2016) and has also hit the most sixes (60).
4. Best economy rate in the tournament (Minimum 250 deliveries)
Apart from picking wickets, keeping runs down also matters a lot in the T20 format. West Indies’ Sunil Narine is a master of art. Hence, it is not surprising that he has the best economy rate in the T20 World Cup – 5.17. In 12 T20 World Cup matches, he has claimed 15 wickets. Samuel Badree, Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum also have an economy rate of under six in the T20 World Cup.
5. Youngest and oldest player to feature in a T20 World Cup match
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir is the youngest ever player to feature in a T20 World Cup match. He was 17 years and 55 days old when he played his first match in the tournament. Afghanistan leggie Rashid Khan is second on the list. He was 17 years and 169 days old when he featured in the T20 World Cup for the first time.
Former Australian cricketer Ryan Campbell became the oldest player to feature in a T20 World Cup match when he represented Hong Kong in the previous edition of the ICC event. He was 44 years, 34 days when he played his first game in the 2016 T20 World Cup. Brad Hogg (43 years, 53 days) is second on the list.