The T20I World Cup has been a popular platform for cricketing nations to showcase their talent and compete against the best teams in the world. South Africa has always been a strong contender in T20I cricket and has produced some top-class batsmen over the years. In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 run-scorers for South Africa in T20I World Cups. From the likes of Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers to the current generation of players such as Aiden Markram, these batsmen have left an indelible mark on the T20I World Cup history for South Africa. So, let's dive into the statistics and highlights of these top-performing batsmen.
1. AB de Villiers
The first position on this list belongs to AB de Villiers, who scored 717 runs in 29 innings of the T20I World Cups between 2007 and 2016. With the highest score of 79*, he played with an average of 29.87 and an incredible strike rate of 143.00. He remained not out on five occasions.
2. JP Duminy
Next on the list is JP Duminy. Duminy scored 568 runs in 23 innings of the T20I World Cup matches between 2007 and 2016. While playing with an incredible strike rate of 129.68, he registered a high score of 86*. Besides his explosive batting style, he was known for his handy leg-spin bowling.
3. Jacques Kallis
The third spot in this list belongs to Jacques Kallis, who scored 433 runs in 13 T20I World Cup innings played between 2009 and 2012. During this tenure, Kallis played with a strike rate of 117.66 and recorded an impressive average of 36.08. The batter has bagged three half-centuries in the tournament.
4. Quinton de Kock
Quinton de Kock, with 410 runs in 18 innings, stands in the fourth position on this list. De Kock's aggressive style of batting helped him in playing with a strike rate of 130.99 and getting to the highest score of 63 runs. He has been a part of the tournament since 2014.
5. Hashim Amla
Next up is Hashim Amla, with 486 runs in 14 innings between 2012 and 2016. With the highest score of 58 runs, he played with a strike rate of 127.45. An average of 31.33, along with three fifties, tell us that Amla's contributions as an opener have been immense.
6. Graeme Smith
On number six is Graeme Smith. Smith has racked up 352 runs in 16 innings, with the highest score of 41 runs. He has an average of 22.00 and a remarkable strike rate of 115.00. Smith's contributions both as a captain, and as a batter have been quite significant.
7. Albie Morkel
Spot number seven in this list belongs to Albie Morkel. He has recorded 308 runs under his name in 20 innings during the T20I World Cups of 2007-2014. A strike rate of 142.59 tells us that Morkel used to score runs at a quick rate. Coming in to bat down the order, Morkel remained not out on five occasions.
8. Faf du Plessis
Standing on number eight is Faf du Plessis, who bagged 271 runs in nine innings between 2012 and 2016. He recorded the highest score of 65 and played with a strike rate of 136.18. Du Plessis is known for his ability to play aggressive shots and rotate the strike.
9. Herschelle Gibbs
With 265 runs in 12 innings, Herschelle Gibbs makes it to the ninth spot on this list. He played with a strike rate of 125.59 and an average of 24.09. During the T20I World Cups between 2007 and 2010, Gibbs registered his best score of 90* runs.
10. Aiden Markram
Making it to the final spot in this list is Aiden Markram, with 261 runs in 9 innings with a highest score of 52*. While appearing in only the tournament only twice, he has scored runs at an incredible average of 137.36 and a strike rate of 137.36. Markram is considered to be a vital asset for South Africa in the future T20I World Cups.
