Most Runs in One Season of T20 World Cup

Sahibzada Farhan holds the record for the most runs in one edition of the Men's T20 World Cup. The Pakistan opener scored 383 runs in the 2026 T20 World Cup, breaking Virat Kohli's long-standing record of 319 runs from the 2014 tournament. Farhan scored his runs at an average of 76.60 and a strike rate of 160.25, with two centuries and two fifties.

The 2026 tournament completely changed the all-time single-edition batting list. Tim Seifert scored 326 runs for New Zealand, Sanju Samson made 321 for India, and Ishan Kishan finished with 317. Before that tournament, Kohli's 319 had stood as the record for 12 years.

Most Runs in a Single T20 World Cup Edition

Farhan is the first batter in Men's T20 World Cup history to score more than 350 runs in a single edition. His 383-run tournament also included the first two-century campaign by one batter in a single Men's T20 World Cup.

1. Sahibzada Farhan – 383 Runs in T20 World Cup 2026

Sahibzada Farhan scored 383 runs in the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, the highest total by any batter in a single edition of the tournament.

The Pakistan opener played seven matches and batted in six innings. His scores included 47, 73, 0, 100 not out, 63 and 100. That level of consistency allowed him to pass a record that had stood since 2014.

Farhan averaged 76.60 and scored at a strike rate of 160.25. He did not simply build his total through slow, long innings. He attacked during the powerplay, kept the run rate high through the middle overs and still managed to bat deep enough to make two hundreds.

Pakistan did not reach the semi-finals, but Farhan finished the tournament as its leading run-scorer.

Farhan Broke Virat Kohli's 12-Year Record

Virat Kohli had held the single-edition record since the 2014 T20 World Cup.

He scored 319 runs in six matches that year, and several top batters came close in later tournaments without passing him.

Farhan finally moved ahead of Kohli during Pakistan's Super Eight match against Sri Lanka in 2026. He scored 100 from 60 balls, taking his tournament total to 383. Pakistan won the match by five runs.

That innings officially ended Kohli's long stay at the top of the record list.

Farhan Scored Two Centuries in One Tournament

Farhan's 2026 campaign was also special because he became the first batter to score two centuries in one Men's T20 World Cup edition.

His first hundred came against Namibia, where he scored an unbeaten century.

He then reached three figures again against Sri Lanka in Pakistan's final Super Eight match.

Before Farhan, only Chris Gayle had scored two Men's T20 World Cup centuries across his career. Farhan became the first to do it within the same tournament.

Farhan and Fakhar Zaman's Record Partnership

One of Farhan's most important innings came against Sri Lanka.

Farhan and Fakhar Zaman added 176 runs for the opening wicket. Fakhar scored 84, while Farhan made 100.

The partnership became a record stand in T20 international cricket at the time.

Pakistan later lost wickets quickly, but the huge opening partnership had already given them enough runs to win a close match.

Farhan's century in that game also pushed him past Kohli's single-edition record.

2. Tim Seifert – 326 Runs in T20 World Cup 2026

Tim Seifert scored 326 runs for New Zealand in the 2026 T20 World Cup, placing him second on the all-time single-edition list.

Seifert played nine matches and scored his runs at a strike rate of 166.32. New Zealand's deep run into the tournament gave him plenty of opportunities, but he also made strong use of them.

His aggressive batting at the top helped New Zealand put pressure on bowlers during the powerplay.

Seifert eventually passed Kohli's old record of 319, but Farhan had already moved the overall record much higher.

New Zealand reached the final, which helped Seifert build one of the largest run totals ever recorded in a Men's T20 World Cup.

Why Seifert's 326 Runs Were Important

Seifert's value came from scoring quickly rather than simply occupying the crease.

A strike rate above 160 over a full World Cup campaign is difficult to maintain.

Opening batters face the new ball, when fast bowlers can get movement, but they also have the advantage of fielding restrictions.

Seifert made strong use of those first six overs and gave New Zealand several fast starts.

His 326 runs would have broken the old world record before the extraordinary batting seen elsewhere in the 2026 tournament.

3. Sanju Samson – 321 Runs in T20 World Cup 2026

Sanju Samson scored 321 runs from only five innings during India's title-winning 2026 T20 World Cup campaign.

His numbers become even more impressive when the number of innings is considered. Samson averaged 80.25 and had a strike rate of 199.37, meaning he was scoring at almost two runs per ball across the tournament.

Samson did not begin the tournament as a regular member of India's playing XI.

Once he got his opportunity, he produced three major performances in India's most important matches.

That late run helped India win the trophy and earned Samson the Player of the Tournament award.

Samson Scored 97* Against West Indies

Samson's tournament changed when he returned to the side for a key match against West Indies.

He scored an unbeaten 97 and helped India stay alive in the competition.

The innings was aggressive from the start and showed why India had brought him back into the batting order.

Instead of using several matches to build his run total, Samson made most of his 321 runs during India's final stages.

Samson Scored 89 in the Semi-Final and Final

Samson followed the West Indies innings with 89 against England in the semi-final.

He then scored another 89 against New Zealand in the final.

Three consecutive scores of 80 or more in high-pressure World Cup matches gave India major runs when the tournament was on the line.

His 89 in the final became the highest individual score in a Men's T20 World Cup final.

Samson's 321 runs also became the most ever scored by an Indian batter in one T20 World Cup edition.

4. Virat Kohli – 319 Runs in T20 World Cup 2014

Virat Kohli scored 319 runs in the 2014 T20 World Cup and held the single-edition record for 12 years.

He played only six matches and finished with an extraordinary average of 106.33. He also scored four half-centuries.

Kohli's tournament was built around consistency.

He scored runs in the group stage, delivered in the semi-final and then produced another major innings in the final.

India did not win the tournament, but Kohli was named Player of the Tournament.

Kohli's 2014 Semi-Final Against South Africa

One of Kohli's best innings came against South Africa in the semi-final.

India were chasing 173.

Kohli controlled the chase and remained unbeaten on 72 from 44 balls as India reached the final.

The innings showed his strength in run chases.

He did not need to attack every delivery. He kept the required rate under control, found boundaries when needed and stayed at the crease until the match was won.

Kohli Also Scored 77 in the Final

India faced Sri Lanka in the 2014 final.

Kohli again led the batting and scored 77, but India could manage only 130/4.

Sri Lanka chased the target and won by six wickets.

Kohli finished the tournament with 319 runs despite playing only six games.

For more than a decade, no batter could pass that total.

Why Kohli's 319 Remains Special

The 2026 tournament had a larger format and gave leading teams the possibility of playing more matches.

Kohli reached 319 from only six games.

His average of more than 100 showed how rarely he was dismissed.

Farhan now owns the overall record, but Kohli's 2014 campaign remains one of the greatest batting performances in T20 World Cup history.

5. Tillakaratne Dilshan – 317 Runs in T20 World Cup 2009

Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 317 runs for Sri Lanka in the 2009 T20 World Cup.

He was the leading run-scorer of the tournament and played a major role in taking Sri Lanka to the final.

Dilshan's batting was especially effective because he attacked from the top of the order.

The tournament also made his famous scoop shot even more popular.

The shot became so closely linked with him that it became known as the "Dilscoop."

Dilshan Helped Sri Lanka Reach the Final

Sri Lanka were one of the strongest teams in the 2009 tournament.

Dilshan repeatedly gave them fast starts and finished as the competition's leading run-scorer.

His 317 runs remained the second-highest single-edition total for many years.

Only Kohli's 319 in 2014 had gone past him before the 2026 tournament produced several new entries near the top.

6. Ishan Kishan – 317 Runs in T20 World Cup 2026

Ishan Kishan scored 317 runs during India's 2026 title-winning campaign, matching Dilshan's 2009 total.

Kishan played nine matches and scored at an outstanding strike rate of 193.29. He finished with three fifties and repeatedly gave India aggressive starts.

His best performance came against Pakistan.

Kishan scored 77 from 40 balls, hitting ten fours and three sixes.

The innings gave India the momentum they needed after losing an early wicket.

Kishan Also Scored a Fifty in the Final

Kishan remained important until the last match.

In the 2026 final against New Zealand, he scored 54 from only 25 balls.

His quick innings helped India build a huge total.

Sanju Samson made 89, while Kishan kept the scoring rate high from the other end.

India eventually won the final by 96 runs.

Kishan's 317 runs at a strike rate close to 200 made his tournament one of the most aggressive 300-run campaigns in T20 World Cup history.

7. Babar Azam – 303 Runs in T20 World Cup 2021

Babar Azam scored 303 runs in the 2021 T20 World Cup, the highest total by any batter in that edition.

Pakistan went unbeaten through the group stage, and Babar's consistency at the top played a major part.

He scored four half-centuries and regularly provided stable starts alongside Mohammad Rizwan.

Pakistan reached the semi-final before losing to Australia.

Babar's 303 runs remained Pakistan's best single-edition T20 World Cup total until Farhan scored 383 in 2026.

Babar and Rizwan Controlled the Powerplay

One of Pakistan's strongest features in 2021 was the opening partnership between Babar and Rizwan.

They did not always attack from the first ball.

Instead, they often protected their wickets early before increasing the scoring rate later.

That approach worked especially well against India, where Pakistan chased 152 without losing a wicket.

Babar scored an unbeaten fifty in that historic victory.

8. Mahela Jayawardene – 302 Runs in T20 World Cup 2010

Mahela Jayawardene scored 302 runs for Sri Lanka in the 2010 T20 World Cup.

He became one of the first batters to cross 300 runs in a single edition.

Jayawardene also scored a century against Zimbabwe during the tournament.

His batting was based more on timing and placement than raw power.

He could score quickly without trying to hit every delivery for six.

Sri Lanka reached the semi-final, and Jayawardene finished among the tournament's leading batters.

9. Tamim Iqbal – 295 Runs in T20 World Cup 2016

Tamim Iqbal scored 295 runs for Bangladesh in the 2016 T20 World Cup.

His tournament included one of the best innings by a Bangladesh batter in T20 World Cup history.

Tamim scored 103 not out against Oman, becoming the first Bangladeshi to score a T20 international century.

He finished the tournament as its leading run-scorer.

His 295 runs remain one of the highest totals ever recorded in a single Men's T20 World Cup.

10. David Warner – 289 Runs in T20 World Cup 2021

David Warner scored 289 runs as Australia won the 2021 Men's T20 World Cup.

Warner had entered the tournament under some pressure after a difficult period, but he returned to form at the right time.

He produced several important innings during Australia's run to the title.

Warner scored 49 in the final against New Zealand and helped set up Australia's successful chase.

He was named Player of the Tournament.

His 289-run campaign completes the top ten single-edition totals through 2026.

Most Runs in T20 World Cup 2026

Sahibzada Farhan finished as the leading run-scorer of the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup with 383 runs.

The top of the tournament batting list was packed with record-breaking totals.

Three players passed Kohli's old 319-run record during the tournament: Farhan, Seifert and Samson. Ishan Kishan came only two runs short.

Most Runs by an Indian in One T20 World Cup

Sanju Samson now holds the Indian record with 321 runs in the 2026 tournament.

He moved two runs ahead of Virat Kohli's 319 from 2014.

What makes Samson's record unusual is that he reached 321 from only five innings.

Samson's combination of 321 runs, an average above 80 and a strike rate close to 200 made his campaign one of India's greatest tournament batting performances.

Most Runs by a Pakistani Batter in One T20 World Cup

Farhan also holds Pakistan's single-edition record.

His 383 runs in 2026 moved him well ahead of Babar Azam's 303 from 2021.

Babar's record had stood for five years.

Farhan did not simply pass it. He added another 80 runs to the previous Pakistan mark.

His two centuries also gave Pakistan one of the most dominant individual batting campaigns in tournament history.

Most Centuries in One T20 World Cup

Sahibzada Farhan became the first player to score two centuries in one Men's T20 World Cup edition.

He reached three figures against Namibia and Sri Lanka in 2026.

T20 World Cup centuries are rare because batters normally face fewer balls than in ODI cricket.

Scoring two in the same competition requires both aggressive batting and enough time at the crease.

Farhan managed both.

300 Runs in a Single T20 World Cup

Reaching 300 runs in one Men's T20 World Cup remains a major achievement.

Several players have now crossed that mark, but many of the biggest names in T20 cricket never managed it.

A batter must combine consistency with enough match opportunities.

A team that exits early gives its players fewer innings, while a player who reaches the semi-finals or final may have more chances to build a big total.

This is why Farhan's record is especially interesting. Pakistan were eliminated in the Super Eight stage, yet he still finished with 383 runs.

Why the 2026 Tournament Changed the Record List

Before 2026, Kohli's 319 was considered extremely difficult to beat.

The expanded tournament format gave teams more possible matches, but batters still had to make use of those opportunities.

Farhan, Seifert, Samson and Kishan produced extraordinary campaigns.

Farhan went all the way to 383, while Seifert and Samson also passed Kohli.

The record list now looks very different from the one that existed before the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Most Runs in One Season vs Most Career T20 World Cup Runs

These are two different records.

Most runs in one season or edition counts runs from one T20 World Cup only.

Farhan holds that record with 383 in 2026.

Most career runs combines a player's runs from every T20 World Cup they played.

A player can therefore lead the career list without ever holding the record for one single edition.

This article focuses only on runs scored within one tournament.

How Difficult Is It to Break Farhan's 383-Run Record?

A future batter would need at least 384 runs in one tournament.

That is a very high number in T20 cricket.

Even if a player reaches the final and plays eight or nine matches, they still need to average around 45 to 50 runs per game.

If the team exits earlier, the required average becomes much higher.

Farhan scored his 383 from only six innings, so breaking the record through a shorter campaign would require an exceptional run of form.

Who Scored the Most Runs in One T20 World Cup?

The direct answer is Sahibzada Farhan of Pakistan.

He scored 383 runs in the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, including two centuries and two half-centuries.

His average was 76.60, and his strike rate was 160.25.

Farhan broke Virat Kohli's previous record of 319, which had stood since the 2014 tournament.

FAQs

Who has scored the most runs in one T20 World Cup?

Sahibzada Farhan holds the record with 383 runs for Pakistan in the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup.

What was the previous record for most runs in one T20 World Cup?

Virat Kohli held the previous record with 319 runs in the 2014 T20 World Cup.

How many runs did Sahibzada Farhan score in T20 World Cup 2026?

Farhan scored 383 runs from six innings, averaging 76.60.

How many centuries did Farhan score in T20 World Cup 2026?

Farhan scored two centuries, becoming the first batter to make two hundreds in a single Men's T20 World Cup edition.

Who scored the second-most runs in one T20 World Cup?

Tim Seifert is second with 326 runs for New Zealand in 2026.

How many runs did Sanju Samson score in T20 World Cup 2026?

Sanju Samson scored 321 runs from five innings and was named Player of the Tournament.

What is Virat Kohli's highest run total in one T20 World Cup?

Kohli scored 319 runs in six matches in 2014.

Who scored the most runs for India in one T20 World Cup?

Sanju Samson holds the Indian record with 321 runs in 2026.

Who scored the most runs in T20 World Cup 2021?

Babar Azam finished as the leading run-scorer with 303 runs.

Who scored the most runs in T20 World Cup 2026?

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan topped the tournament with 383 runs.

Sources

• ICC – Sahibzada Farhan Breaks the Single-Edition T20 World Cup Runs Record
  View official ICC report