Tilak Varma Surpasses Dhoni and Raina in T20I Rankings
Tilak Varma Achieves New Milestone
In a remarkable achievement, Indian cricketer and T20I vice-captain Tilak Varma has surpassed legendary players MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina, as well as his teammate Ishan Kishan, to become the seventh-highest run-scorer for India in T20 internationals. This milestone was reached during the second T20I match against Zimbabwe held in Harare, where Tilak scored an impressive 60 runs off just 29 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes at a striking rate of 206.90.
Tilak Varma's T20I Statistics
Currently, Tilak has amassed a total of 1,634 runs in 58 T20I matches, averaging 44.16 with a strike rate of 145.37. His record includes two centuries and nine fifties, with his highest score being 120*. He has now overtaken Dhoni, who scored 1,617 runs in 98 matches at an average of 37.60, and Raina, who has 1,605 runs in 78 matches at an average of 29.18.
Top T20I Run-Scorers for India
The leading run-scorers for India in T20 internationals are as follows:
| Player | Runs | Matches | Innings | Average | Strike Rate | Centuries | Fifties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 4,231 | 159 | 151 | 32.05 | 140.89 | 5 | 32 |
| Virat Kohli | 4,188 | 125 | 117 | 48.69 | 137.04 | 1 | 38 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 3,272 | 113 | 107 | 36.35 | 162.94 | 4 | 25 |
Tilak Varma's Performance in 2023
This year has seen a mixed performance from Tilak in T20Is, accumulating 451 runs in 18 matches at an average of 34.69 and a strike rate nearing 149, including three fifties and a top score of 60*.
Match Highlights: India vs Zimbabwe 2nd T20I
In the match, Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to field first. India faced early setbacks with Abhishek Sharma scoring 8 and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributing 20 runs off nine balls. However, Ishan Kishan formed a solid partnership, scoring 81 runs off 44 balls, including nine fours and two sixes, first with skipper Shreyas Iyer (25 runs off 20 balls) and then with Tilak Varma. India finished their innings at 219/5 in 20 overs. For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani and Newman Nyamhuri were the standout bowlers, taking one wicket each.