Virat Kohli to his name has © AFP
Virat Kohli to his name so far has 536 runs in 2016  © AFP

India’s Virat Kohli with his unbeaten knock of 82 runs against Australia in Match No. 31 at Mohali in the ongoing ICC Twenty20 (T20) World Cup, became the first player to achieve the 500 run mark in a single calendar year in T20I.  Since the start of 2016, Kohli has amassed a total of 536 runs in 12 matches at an incredible average of 107.20 with a strike rate of 133.66. Kohli so far has hit 6 half-centuries with a best of 90 not-out. Coming at No.2 in the table is New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, who collected 472 runs in 2012, playing 12 matches for his team. ALSO READ:  India vs Australia, T20 World Cup 2016: Virat Kohli’s knock reminds Shane Warne of buddy Sachin Tendulkar

Next in the list is Tillakaratne Dilshan, who made 471 runs in 12 matches playing for Sri Lanka in 2009. Kohli features again in the list having made 471 for India in 2012. Coming in a close next is Bangladesh’s Sabbir Rahman who is having a great run with the bat, making 463 runs so far in 2016.The rest in the Top 10 includeds the likes of Brendon McCullum (459), Umar Akmal (434). Kumar Sangakkara(434), McCullum(417). Coming in last is Afghanistan’s Mohammad Shehzad who has so far accumulated 407 runs in 2016. Only associate nation player to feature in the Top 10.

Most No. of T20 I runs scored in a single calendar year
Player Matches Runs HS Average Year
V Kohli (India) 12 536 90* 107.2 2016
MJ Guptill (NZ) 13 472 101* 47.2 2012
TM Dilshan (SL) 12 471 96* 42.81 2009
V Kohli (India) 14 471 78* 39.25 2012
Sabbir Rahman (Ban) 16 463 80 35.61 2016
BB McCullum (NZ) 15 459 123 30.6 2012
Umar Akmal (Pak) 18 441 64 29.4 2010
KC Sangakkara (SL) 12 434 78 43.4 2009
BB McCullum (NZ) 12 417 69* 41.7 2009
Mohammad Shahzad (Afg) 12 407 118* 37 2016

India qualified for the T20 World Cup semi-finals and knocked out Australia after Virat Kohli smashed a brilliant unbeaten 82 in their do-or-die showdown in Mohali on Sunday.