Most Man of the Match Awards in T20 World Cup History

The T20 World Cup has produced many great individual performances, but only a few players have won the Player of the Match award again and again on the biggest stage.

Virat Kohli holds the record for the most Man of the Match awards in Men's T20 World Cup history. He has won the award eight times. Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa is second with six awards, while Chris Gayle, Mahela Jayawardene and Shane Watson have won five each.

Kohli's record is even more impressive because many of his awards came in high-pressure matches. He won three Player of the Match awards against Pakistan alone and finished his T20 World Cup career with another award in the 2024 final against South Africa.

Most Man of the Match Awards in T20 World Cup

Virat Kohli remains clearly ahead at the top. Adam Zampa moved into second place during the 2026 T20 World Cup, while Will Jacks joined the group of players with four awards after an outstanding all-round tournament.

1. Virat Kohli – 8 Player of the Match Awards

Virat Kohli has won the most Player of the Match awards in T20 World Cup history with eight.

Kohli played in the tournament from 2012 to 2024 and became one of the most reliable batters the competition has seen. He finished his Men's T20 World Cup career with 1,292 runs in 35 matches at an average of 58.72.

His ability to perform under pressure was a major reason for his eight awards.

Kohli was especially strong in run chases. When India lost early wickets or needed to control a difficult target, he often stayed calm and took the match deep.

Virat Kohli's First T20 World Cup Player of the Match Award

Kohli made his T20 World Cup debut in 2012.

His first major performance came against Pakistan in Colombo. India were chasing 129, and Kohli scored an unbeaten 78 from 61 balls.

He also took one wicket with the ball.

India won comfortably, and Kohli was named Player of the Match.

That innings started a remarkable record against Pakistan in T20 World Cups.

Kohli Won Three Player of the Match Awards Against Pakistan

Kohli won the award against Pakistan in 2012, 2016 and 2022.

No player has won more Player of the Match awards against the same opponent in Men's T20 World Cup history.

His 2016 innings came in Kolkata on a difficult pitch, where he scored an unbeaten 55 and guided India through a tricky chase.

The 2022 performance in Melbourne became one of the most famous T20 innings ever played.

Virat Kohli's 82* Against Pakistan in 2022

India were chasing 160 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and fell to 31/4.

The chase looked almost finished.

Kohli stayed calm and slowly rebuilt the innings with Hardik Pandya. India still needed 48 runs from the last three overs.

Kohli then attacked Pakistan's fast bowlers and produced two unforgettable sixes off Haris Rauf in the 19th over.

He finished unbeaten on 82 from 53 balls, and India won on the final ball.

Kohli was named Player of the Match.

That innings is often remembered as one of the greatest performances of his T20 career.

Kohli Finished His T20 World Cup Career With Another Award

Kohli's eighth and final T20 World Cup Player of the Match award came in the 2024 final against South Africa.

India were in trouble at 34/3.

Kohli stopped the collapse and built the innings carefully before attacking later.

He scored 76 from 59 balls, helping India reach 176/7.

South Africa finished seven runs short, and India won the title.

Kohli was named Player of the Match in what became his final T20 international.

It was a fitting finish to a T20 World Cup career filled with big-match performances.

Virat Kohli's T20 World Cup Record

Kohli's overall tournament record explains why he won so many awards.

He scored 1,292 runs, including 15 scores of fifty or more.

He also won the Player of the Tournament award twice, in 2014 and 2016.

No other player has won that award twice in Men's T20 World Cup history.

His combination of runs, consistency and knockout performances makes him one of the greatest T20 World Cup players ever.

2. Adam Zampa – 6 Player of the Match Awards

Adam Zampa is second for the most Player of the Match awards in Men's T20 World Cup history with six.

The Australian leg-spinner moved into second place during the 2026 tournament.

Zampa has been one of Australia's most important T20 bowlers for many years. His main role has been to control the middle overs and take wickets before the death overs begin.

He does not rely on huge turn. Instead, he bowls with good pace, changes his length and keeps attacking the stumps.

Adam Zampa's 2021 T20 World Cup Impact

Zampa played a major role when Australia won their first Men's T20 World Cup in 2021.

His best performance came against Bangladesh.

He took 5/19, helping Australia bowl Bangladesh out for only 73.

Australia then chased the target quickly.

Zampa finished the tournament with 13 wickets and was one of the most important bowlers in Australia's title-winning campaign.

Zampa Continued Building His Record

Zampa remained effective in the 2024 and 2026 editions.

By the 2026 T20 World Cup, he had moved ahead of Gayle, Jayawardene and Watson on the all-time Player of the Match list.

He reached six awards after another strong performance during the tournament.

His rise to second place is especially notable because bowlers usually have fewer chances than top-order batters to dominate a full match.

Why Zampa Has Been So Important for Australia

T20 matches are often decided in the middle overs.

If a team scores freely from overs seven to fifteen, it can build a huge total.

Zampa's job has been to stop that.

He takes wickets while also keeping the run rate under control.

That has made him one of the most valuable T20 World Cup bowlers of his generation.

3. Chris Gayle – 5 Player of the Match Awards

Chris Gayle won five Player of the Match awards in Men's T20 World Cups.

Gayle played 33 matches and scored 965 runs.

He was one of the first true superstars of T20 international cricket and produced some of the most powerful batting performances in the early years of the tournament.

His five awards came from matches where he completely changed the game with aggressive batting.

Gayle Started the T20 World Cup With a Century

The first Men's T20 World Cup began in 2007.

Gayle immediately made history by scoring 117 against South Africa in the opening match.

He became the first batter to score a century in T20 international cricket at a World Cup.

Even though West Indies lost the match, Gayle had already shown what T20 batting could look like.

He continued to dominate future editions.

Gayle's 2016 Century Against England

One of Gayle's best T20 World Cup innings came against England in 2016.

West Indies were chasing 183 in Mumbai.

Gayle smashed an unbeaten 100 from 48 balls.

He hit eleven sixes and made the chase look easy.

West Indies won with plenty of balls remaining, and Gayle was named Player of the Match.

He became the first batter to score two centuries in Men's T20 World Cup history.

Why Gayle Was Such a Dangerous World Cup Batter

Gayle's biggest strength was six-hitting.

He did not need many balls to change a match.

A normal over could suddenly become a 20-run over if the bowler missed his length.

His power in the first six overs also forced captains to change fields early.

That ability helped him win five Player of the Match awards during his World Cup career.

4. Mahela Jayawardene – 5 Player of the Match Awards

Mahela Jayawardene also won five Player of the Match awards in the Men's T20 World Cup.

The Sri Lankan batter played 31 matches and scored 1,016 runs.

Unlike Gayle, Jayawardene did not rely on raw power.

He used timing, placement and smart shot selection.

His batting showed that a player could dominate T20 cricket without trying to hit every ball for six.

Jayawardene's Century Against Zimbabwe

Jayawardene scored one of his best T20 World Cup innings against Zimbabwe in 2010.

He made a century and became one of the early batters to reach three figures in the tournament.

He used the field well, found gaps and accelerated as the innings continued.

His ability to control an innings made him especially valuable for Sri Lanka.

Jayawardene Was Reliable in Major Matches

Sri Lanka were one of the strongest T20 World Cup teams during Jayawardene's career.

They regularly reached the knockout stages.

Jayawardene's experience helped them handle pressure.

He could build an innings when early wickets fell and also increase the scoring rate when the team had a good start.

His five Player of the Match awards came from a career based on consistency rather than only one or two explosive performances.

Jayawardene and Sri Lanka's 2014 Title

Jayawardene played his final T20 international during Sri Lanka's 2014 title-winning campaign.

Sri Lanka defeated India in the final.

Although Jayawardene did not win Player of the Match in the final, the title completed an excellent T20 World Cup career.

His five awards and more than 1,000 tournament runs keep him among the competition's greatest batters.

5. Shane Watson – 5 Player of the Match Awards

Shane Watson won five Player of the Match awards in T20 World Cups and remains one of the greatest all-round performers in tournament history.

Watson scored 537 runs and also took 22 wickets.

His ability to open the batting and bowl important overs gave Australia two match-winning options in one player.

His greatest tournament came in 2012.

Shane Watson Won Four Awards in One T20 World Cup

Watson produced an extraordinary run during the 2012 tournament.

He won four Player of the Match awards in a single edition.

For many years, that stood alone as the record for the most Player of the Match awards in one Men's T20 World Cup.

He scored 249 runs and took 11 wickets during the tournament.

Watson was eventually named Player of the Tournament.

Watson Dominated With Bat and Ball

Watson was dangerous because teams could not focus on only one part of his game.

With the bat, he attacked fast bowlers in the powerplay.

With the ball, he used medium pace, cutters and slower deliveries to take wickets.

A player who can score a fifty and then take two or three wickets has a very strong chance of winning Player of the Match.

Watson did that repeatedly in 2012.

Will Jacks Equalled Watson's Single-Tournament Record in 2026

The 2026 T20 World Cup produced another remarkable all-round campaign.

Will Jacks won four Player of the Match awards, equalling Watson's record for the most in a single Men's T20 World Cup edition.

Jacks won awards against Nepal, Italy, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

He finished the tournament with 226 runs and nine wickets.

His batting strike rate was 176.56, and he also gave England useful off-spin overs.

Will Jacks' 2026 Tournament

Jacks played several different roles.

Against Nepal, he scored a quick unbeaten 39 and took an important wicket.

Against Italy, he made 53 not out from only 22 balls and also contributed with the ball.

His best bowling performance came against Sri Lanka, where he took 3/22.

He also produced an all-round match against New Zealand, taking 2/23 and scoring an unbeaten 32.

Four Player of the Match awards in one tournament placed him in rare company.

Players With the Most T20 World Cup Player of the Match Awards

The top of the list is now clear:

Kohli has a two-award lead over Zampa and three more than Gayle, Jayawardene and Watson.

Most Player of the Match Awards in a Single T20 World Cup

The record for most Player of the Match awards in one edition is four.

Two players have done it:

Watson dominated with both bat and ball in 2012.

Jacks matched the record 14 years later with a similar all-round impact.

Most Man of the Match Awards for India in T20 World Cup

Virat Kohli leads all Indian players with eight Player of the Match awards.

His record includes major performances against Pakistan, Australia and South Africa.

His final award came in a World Cup final.

That combination of quantity and match importance makes his record especially difficult to challenge.

Most Man of the Match Awards for Australia

Adam Zampa leads Australia's T20 World Cup Player of the Match list with six awards.

Shane Watson is close behind with five.

The fact that two Australians are among the top five shows how important both players have been in different eras.

Watson brought all-round power, while Zampa has built his record mainly through leg-spin.

Most Man of the Match Awards for West Indies

Chris Gayle leads West Indies with five Player of the Match awards.

His performances came across several editions.

Gayle was part of West Indies squads that won the tournament in 2012 and 2016.

His ability to dominate the powerplay made him one of the most feared batters in T20 World Cup history.

Most Man of the Match Awards for Sri Lanka

Mahela Jayawardene leads Sri Lanka with five awards.

Tillakaratne Dilshan is also high on the overall list with four.

Both were important members of Sri Lanka's strong T20 World Cup teams.

Their batting styles were different, but both could control an innings and score quickly when needed.

Virat Kohli vs Adam Zampa

Kohli and Zampa sit first and second on the all-time list.

Their records were built in completely different ways.

Kohli usually won awards with big batting performances.

Zampa won them through wicket-taking spells and tight bowling.

Player of the Match vs Player of the Tournament

These two awards are different.

Player of the Match is given after one game.

Player of the Tournament is given for performance across the full competition.

Virat Kohli won eight Player of the Match awards and also won the Player of the Tournament award twice.

Shane Watson won five match awards and was Player of the Tournament in 2012.

Jasprit Bumrah won Player of the Tournament in 2024, while Sanju Samson won the award in 2026.

Virat Kohli's Two Player of the Tournament Awards

Kohli was named Player of the Tournament in 2014 and 2016.

He is the only player to win the award twice.

In 2014, he scored 319 runs and played several important innings as India reached the final.

In 2016, he again became India's main batter and produced big performances under pressure.

Those two tournament awards add more weight to his record of eight individual match awards.

Most Player of the Match Awards in T20 World Cups

Player of the Match awards are not a perfect way to compare players, but they show how often a cricketer produced the most important performance in a game.

Winning one award at a World Cup is special.

Winning five, six or eight means the player repeatedly influenced major international matches.

This is why Kohli's eight awards are such an important T20 World Cup record.

Who Has Won the Most Man of the Match Awards in T20 World Cup History?

The direct answer is Virat Kohli.

He won eight Player of the Match awards during his Men's T20 World Cup career.

Adam Zampa is second with six.

Chris Gayle, Mahela Jayawardene and Shane Watson are tied next with five each.

Kohli's record includes three awards against Pakistan and one in the 2024 final, making his total even more impressive.

FAQs

Who has the most Man of the Match awards in T20 World Cup history?

Virat Kohli holds the record with eight Player of the Match awards in the Men's T20 World Cup.

Who is second for most Player of the Match awards in T20 World Cup?

Adam Zampa is second with six awards through the 2026 tournament.

How many T20 World Cup Player of the Match awards did Chris Gayle win?

Chris Gayle won five Player of the Match awards.

How many Man of the Match awards did Shane Watson win in T20 World Cups?

Shane Watson won five awards during his T20 World Cup career.

How many Player of the Match awards did Mahela Jayawardene win?

Mahela Jayawardene won five T20 World Cup Player of the Match awards.

Who won the most Player of the Match awards in one T20 World Cup?

Shane Watson in 2012 and Will Jacks in 2026 both won four awards in one tournament.

How many Player of the Match awards did Virat Kohli win against Pakistan?

Kohli won three against Pakistan, in 2012, 2016 and 2022.

Did Virat Kohli win Player of the Match in the 2024 T20 World Cup final?

Yes. Kohli scored 76 against South Africa and was named Player of the Match.

Who won four Player of the Match awards in the 2026 T20 World Cup?

England all-rounder Will Jacks won four awards.

Who has won the T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament award twice?

Virat Kohli is the only player to win it twice, in 2014 and 2016.

Sources

• Cricbuzz – Most Player of the Match Awards in T20 World Cup History
  View T20 World Cup record statistics