The nation with immense talent and young prodigies, South Africa, is one of the toughest nations to play against in the sport. The fact that they are yet to win an ICC trophy just does not do justice to their talent and caliber. The country has produced some great cricketers including Ab De Villiers, Faf Du Plessis, Dale Steyn, and Shaun Pollock. The great all-rounder, Jacques Kallis, is also one of the most inspiring former cricketers in the nation. This article is all about the batters of the nation. Their caliber and talent speaks volumes. The Great AB de Villiers has redefined the T20 batting and here are the top 10 batters for the nation with the most runs in the T20 World Cups.
1. AB de Villiers
The most unique batter to ever play the sport, Ab de Villiers was a former South African right-handed middle-order batter. His range of shots was unbelievable, and he possessed the ability to dispatch the bowlers all around the ground. His lap shots were such a joy to watch. The batter was one of the greatest in modern-day cricket and gave a different dimension to the game. Also, a wicket-keeper, he made his T20I debut against Australia in 2006. The batter was also loved by fans across borders. Such was the aura of the great AB de Villiers. He played 29 innings in the T20 WCs and scored 717 runs.
2. JP Duminy
JP Duminy was one of the finest Protea all-rounders. His aggressive batting and incredible range of shots allowed him to dominate the bowling attack of the opposition. Also, a full-time off-spinner, Duminy was well known for his wicket-taking ability. He made immense contributions to the team in all three formats. Duminy played a pivotal role in the middle order for the nation. The left-handed batter was generally given the role of pacing the innings which he did consistently. As a batter in the T20 World Cups, he is the second-highest scorer for the nation with 568 runs in 20 innings.
3. Jacques Kallis
The cricketer who fulfilled the responsibilities of two different players at a time, a bowler who could bowl crucial spells and a batter who could contribute major runs with ease, Jacques Kallis, was undoubtedly the most important all-rounder in the history of South African cricket. The right-arm medium-fast bowler and a right-handed top-order batter was one of the greatest cricketers of all time. He made his T20I debut against New Zealand in 2005. It was difficult to put him under one category of all-rounders, that’s how good he was with both bat and ball. He batted in thirteen T20 WC innings and scored 433 runs.
4. Quinton de Kock
One of the most flamboyant batters and a great puller of the ball, Quinton De Kock, is the opening batter for South Africa in the white-ball formats. He made his debut in the shortest format in 2012 against the Kiwis, New Zealand. De Kock is one of the prolific run-getters for South Africa in the ODI and the T20 format. He has made 9000+ combined runs in the white-ball formats. De Kock is also one of the finest wicketkeepers and has performed brilliantly behind the stumps as well. He has played eighteen T20 WC innings and has scored 410 runs thus far.
5. Hashim Amla
The former right-handed opening batter for the nation across formats was undoubtedly one of the prolific batters for South Africa. Hashim Amla was the consistent run-getter for his team when the team found itself in tough situations. Amla was also a key part of the IPL and has even scored a ton for the Punjab Kings. He made his T20I debut against England in 2008 and went on to score 1277 runs in the format. He played fourteen innings in the T20 WCs and scored 376 runs.
6. Graeme Smith
A leader like no other, Smith led South Africa significantly in all three formats. Under his leadership, the nation became the no.1 test side for the first time in the history of cricket. The left-handed opening batter was one of the nation’s greats. A technically strong batter who could demolish any bowling attack when in full flow, Graeme Smith, played some flamboyant innings for South Africa. He made his T20I against New Zealand in 2005. He batted in sixteen T20 World Cup innings and scored 352 runs for South Africa.
7. Albie Morkel
Another fiery player for South Africa, Albie Morkel, was a former batting all-rounder. His range-hitting ability was next to none as he smashed sixes with ease and at will. Also, a handy medium-bowler, Morkel made some immense contributions to his nation. His consistent performance with both bat and ball in hand made him one of the best assets of South Africa. He made his T20I debut against New Zealand in 2005. He was also a part of Ipl where he represented the Chennai Super Kings. He made 308 runs in 20 innings in the T20 World Cups.
8. Faf du Plessis
The right-handed opening batter for the nation in the white-ball formats proved to be one of the best openers for the nation. His consistent performances helped South Africa to become one of the most dangerous sides in the sport. His ability to pace his innings when required is something that stands out. Du Plessis played nine T20 WC innings and scored 271 runs.
9. Herschelle Gibbs
The best wicketkeeper batter to ever play for the nation, Gibbs was a prominent part of the squads across formats. The player made his T20I debut against New Zealand in 2005. He played twelve T20 WC innings and scored 265 runs. His career came to an unfortunate end after a bail hit his eye during a practice game against England.
10. Aiden Markram
The right-handed top-order batter for South Africa and a stand-in captain as well, Markram is currently one of the best batters in the nation across formats. He made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka in 2019 and established himself in the squad after performing consistently. He has scored 261 runs in nine T20 World Cup innings.
