All Player of the Tournaments in T20 World Cup

Unlike Test matches, T20s test the ability of a player to handle pressure situations and his rapid decision-making skills. One has to be on their toes at all times so as to not miss out on a single opportunity to give their side an advantage. The Player of the Tournament award is given to the player who excels in all aspects of the game. He is the one who stands out from the rest of the players after his superficial efforts. There have been six editions of the T20 World Cup to date and the following players could truly call themselves “the cream of the crop.” That being said, here’s a list of all the player of the tournaments in the T20 World Cup.

Shahid Afridi – Pakistan, 2007

Shahid Afridi was voted to be the player of the tournament of the inaugural T20 World Cup. The all-rounder beat the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Sanath Jayasuriya, Morne Morkel, and others on his way to achieving the feat. His batting exploits towards the death was one of the key factors behind Pakistan’s success in the early editions of the T20 World Cup. Batting with an awe-inspiring strike rate of 200, Afridi scored 91 runs in the death. The Leg-spinner was also the joint leading wicket-taker with 12 scalps under his belt alongside Australia’s Stuart Clarke.

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Tillakaratne Dilshan – Sri Lanka, 2009

Despite coming short in the finals to fellow Asian heavyweights Pakistan, former Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan was named the player of the tournament of the 2009 World T20. Being promoted as an opener, Dilshan scored a total of 317 runs at a strike rate of 144.74. Averaging above 52 in the tournament, Dilshan also recorded three majestic half-centuries. His flawless innings of 96* against the West Indies in the Semi-Finals was the highest score by a batsman in the entirety of the World Cup. 

Kevin Pietersen – England, 2010

One of the biggest reasons behind England winning its first-ever ICC tournament was Kevin Pietersen. Pietersen amassed 248 runs in the 6 matches he played at an impressive average of 62. Batting with a sublime strike rate of 137, KP scored two half-centuries in the tournament as well. Above all, he was adjudged the player of the tournament for his exploits and he was consistent enough too.

Shane Watson – Australia, 2012

Former Australian opener Shane Watson had quite an impactful stint in the 2012 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. The then 31-year-old batted six innings in the tournament, scoring a total of 249 runs at an average of 49.80. He also took 11 wickets at an average of 16.00 and an economy-rate of 7.33 with his extremely useful medium-pace bowling. It was also during this tournament that he achieved the highest all-rounder rating in T20I history, clocking in at 557.

Virat Kohli – India. 2014

The 2014 T20 World Cup has a bittersweet memory in the minds of Indian fans. Despite suffering a heartbreaking defeat in the finals, Kohli was adjudged “Player of the Tournament”. Virat’s scintillating run with the bat continued as he scored 319 runs in just 6 matches in the tournament. His phenomenal run included 4 exquisite half-centuries. However, one can also put forth the argument that India would never have made it to the finals if it wasn’t for the heroics of Virat.

Virat Kohli – India, 2016

There’s something special about Virat Kohli from the year 2016. It was the year that propelled him to being considered the greatest batsman this generation has ever seen. Riding the tide of momentum, Virat’s purple patch continued throughout the 2016 WT20. His meritorious performances for team India in the need of the hour transcend brilliance. Exceeding all expectations, Virat scored an impressive 273 runs in five innings at an inhuman average of 136.50. He scored three fifties, which included a highest of 89*.

All Player Of The Tournaments In T20 World Cup