Top 10 Captains with most runs in T20Is

Some of the finest cricketing captains have left their mark on not just the longer formats of the game but also on the shortest one. T20 cricket is all about taking the chances and being proactive in the field as well as with the bat. In the shortest format of the game, T20s, a captain has to be on his toes at all times because of the pace at which the game is played. Here’s a look at 10 captains with most runs in T20Is: 10. Paul Collingwood (England)- 511 runs: Paul Collingwood. (© Getty Images) The man who ended England’s long wait for a global trophy, Paul Collingwood was a gutsy cricketer. Not only did he have a sound temperament with the bat, but his bowling skills also contributed in many of England’s wins. An incredible fielder, Collingwood was a treat to watch taking flying catches at point. He wasn’t the prettiest looking batsman but his assuring presence in the middle meant a lot to the dressing room. His 30 T20Is as a skipper produced 511 runs with the best of 79 including 3 fifties. He led England to a title win in the 2010 World T20 in the Caribbean. 9. Peter Borren (Netherlands)- 532 runs: Peter Borren, Captain of the Netherlands. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) Born in Christchurch, Peter Borren turned out for Canterbury A and New Zealand Under-19s – playing alongside Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder at the Under-19 World Cup in 2001-02 – before opting for Netherlands. A naturally talented all-rounder, he had never been seriously coached until joining up with the Dutch squad. Borren earned that nickname ‘Baldrick’ from his team-mates – after the character in Blackadder – and is a chirpy presence in the field. His 34 T20Is as a skipper have produced 532 runs with the best of 57, his only fifty in the shortest format. 8. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)- 583 runs: Pakistan’s captain Shahid Afridi. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images) The Pakistan T20I captain has played in T20 leagues around the world and proved a huge hit. He is one of the game’s biggest hitters and a mercurial character. His fast leg-breaks have proved highly effective in the shorter formats of the game. ‘Boom Boom’ is indeed a superstar and a magnetic crowd-puller. His 42 T20Is as Pakistan’s skipper produced 583 runs with one fifty that was his top score of 50. He is likely to quit international cricket after the ongoing World T20 in India. 7. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)- 652 runs: Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara. (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images) The Sri Lankan legend is one of the greatest players to have graced the game. He has retired from international cricket, however, continued to feature in County cricket and T20 leagues around the world. The elegant left-hander, a master tactician, led the islanders to many memorable wins throughout his glorious career. A brilliant wicketkeeper, Sanga continues to inspire the new generation of Sri Lankan cricketers. His 22 T20Is as a skipper produced 652 with the best of 78 including 6 fifties. 6. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)- 735 runs: New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum. (Photo by PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images) Brendon McCullum’s captaincy was recognised by world cricket’s governing body, winning him the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award in 2015. The Black Caps skipper, retired from international cricket following the Test series against Australia, in February 2016, has been widely lauded for his hard but fair approach to captaincy. As a batsman, he was fearless and an awesome entertainer who loved to take the attack to the opposition bowlers. He was one of the few in top flight cricket who could demolish and demoralize bowling attacks. He made 735 runs as the captain of New Zealand in the shortest format with the top score of 74 including 5 fifties. 5. Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan)- 753 runs: Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez celebrates. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images) Mohammad Hafeez, who is currently serving a 12-month bowling ban, cannot apply for a reassessment of his action until his suspension ends. It is his batting though that has over the years made him a player to watch out for. He bats aggressively at the top of the order, but his organised technique also means he can switch to defensive mode if required. As Pakistan’s skipper in the shortest format, he has scored 753 runs with the top score of 86 including 5 fifties. 4. Graeme Smith (South Africa)- 803 runs: Graeme Smith. (© STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty Images) The former South African skipper, Graeme Smith is one of the most respected captains to have ever played the game. His leadership and his batting were all about being direct and upfront. He had a magnificent career for the Proteas in all formats of the game. His achievements as a batsman are significant, but the most important monument to his career was the fact that under Smith, the confidence of South Africans, both within and outside of the national team and its structures, had been rebuilt. His 27 T20Is as Proteas’ captain produced 803 runs with the top score of 89 not out including 4 fifties. 3. William Porterfield (Ireland)- 893 runs: (Photo Source: Getty Images) While others – the likes of Eoin Morgan and Ed Joyce and Rankin – have flirted with England, William Porterfield has remained an almost ever-present figure in Ireland’s rise in international cricket. Porterfield, a left-handed top-order batsman and outstanding fielder in the cordon, captained Ireland at every level from U13 upwards. He took part in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2004 and then spent time at the ICC Winter Training Camp in 2006, later captaining Ireland A that year. His 48 matches as skipper have produced 893 runs with the best of 72 including 3 fifties. 2. Faf du Plessis (South Africa)- 963 runs: Faf du Plessis. (© GORDON HARNOLS/AFP/Getty Images) Francois du Plessis, known as Faf, could well have joined the South African player drain to England when he signed a Kolpak deal with Lancashire in 2008. However, he was called up to the national side after a stunning season in the MTN40 competition in South Africa in 2010-11 and has never looked back ever since. A batsman of immense ability, Faf is one of the top batters in world cricket today. His 29 T20Is as a skipper have produced 963 runs with the best score of 119 including this one ton and 6 fifties. He currently leads the Proteas only in the shortest format. 1. MS Dhoni (India)- 1008 runs: India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. (Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images) Barring Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni is arguably the most popular and definitely the most scrutinised cricketer from India. He has an unorthodox batting and wicketkeeping style but has been hugely successful. Under Dhoni’s captaincy, India has won the top prize in all formats including the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Dhoni became the first and is the only captain to score 1000 runs in the format. He is also the skipper of the Indian team since 2007 and has led the team in most matches. MSD has scored 1008 runs from 65 matches as India’s T20I skipper. This includes the top score of 48 not out. (All stats updated till 27th March 2016) Also read: Top 10 Highest individual scores in World T20