Cricket in Numbers: Who Dominates Australia with Most 50+ Scores for India in T20Is?

From the aggressive strikers to the classic anchors, these star batsmen have been able to cross the 50-run mark in Australia in the T20I format. Let’s take a look at the Indian batsmen who have scored the most 50+ runs in Australia in the T20I format.

Virat Kohli — 9

Virat Kohli, the King of the game, stands tall in this list, with 9 half-centuries in Australia in the T20I format. Even a year after his retirement, his dominance in the shortest format still remains unmatched by any other player. Kohli also led India to win a T20I series in Australia, 2-1.

Virat Kohli in Australia:

• Innings: 16;
• Not Out: 6;
• Runs: 747;
• Average: 74.70;
• Strike Rate: 141.20;
• 100s: 0;
• 50s: 9.

Whether it is India chasing down the total or setting a total, Virat Kohli smashing runs has been the main element for the team in Australia. During the India tour of Australia 2016, Virat established himself as the best T20I batsman. The three-match series saw his prime, as it also helped India to get a whitewash against Australia in Australia in the T20I format.

He started off with a 90-run knock in the first game, followed by 59 runs in the second, and 50 runs in the third. With three consecutive half-centuries, Kohli had set a record for every Indian batsman who would visit Australia in the future.

Later, in the India tour of Australia 2018, he brought up a half-century in the 3rd T20I, scoring 61 runs off 41 balls to help India win the game. In his last T20I series in Australia, Virat Kohli scored 85 runs off 61 balls in the Sydney match, but India ended up losing the game by just 12 runs.

Virat Kohli further went on to play the T20 World Cup 2022, which was played in Australia. In the very first game for India, he brought up the best T20I knock in the World Cup against Pakistan. Kohli ended up scoring 82 runs off just 53 balls, as India won the game with ease.

It was also one of the best campaigns by Virat Kohli in the T20 World Cup. He further brought up half-centuries against the Netherlands, Bangladesh, and England in the semi-final, ending as the top scorer of the tournament.

Rohit Sharma — 3

After Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma takes a place in the list for scoring three 50+ scores in the T20I games in Australia. But it should be noted that Rohit Sharma has made just three 50+ scores in Australia in the shortest format of the game. This creates a huge difference between him and Virat Kohli, who is at the top.

Rohit Sharma in Australia:

• Innings: 13;
• Not Out: 0;
• Runs: 297;
• Average: 22.84;
• Strike Rate: 120.24;
• 100s: 0;
• 50s: 3.

Taking a look at his stats in Australia, it may not be very impressive, but they have helped India to win games. The India tour of Australia 2016 came to be the best for the Hitman, as he was able to dominate the Australian bowlers. In the first game, he was only able to score 31 runs, still India went on to win the same.

But in the second T20I, he scored 60 runs off 47 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes, being the team’s top run scorer. This is also his best score in Australia, but Rohit continued his momentum in the third T20I. He brought up another half-century in the third T20I, where he scored 52 runs off 38 balls.

Rohit Sharma brought up his last 50+ score in Australia in the T20 World Cup 2022. This came when India faced the Netherlands in the Group stages, as Rohit Sharma was able to score 53 runs off 39 balls, playing a crucial role in the team’s win. After the T20 World Cup 2022, he didn’t play a T20I in Australia and retired in June 2024.

KL Rahul — 3

When it is about India in Australia, one cannot forget the name of KL Rahul. Although he is not a part of the Indian team in the T20I format now, he used to be one of the most aggressive openers for the team at one time. KL Rahul joins Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in this list, as he has scored three 50+ scores in Australia in the T20I format.

KL Rahul in Australia:

• Innings: 11;
• Not Out: 0;
• Runs: 236;
• Average: 21.45;
• Strike Rate: 116.83;
• 100s: 0;
• 50s: 3.

He started off with the T20I series against Australia in 2018, but was not able to score well across all the games. But Rahul went on to mark his return in style in the India tour of Australia 2020. In the first T20I match of the series, he ended up scoring 51 runs in just 40 balls with 5 fours and one six, as India won the game by 11 runs.

After this, KL Rahul returned to Australia for the T20 World Cup 2022, which was also his last T20 tournament in Australia. In this, he had a terrible start, failing to score runs in the first three games for the Indian team. But he was able to regain his form in the match against Bangladesh. KL Rahul ended up scoring 50 runs for the team in 32 balls, helping India to win.

His third and final T20I 50+ score in Australia came just after this game, when India went against Zimbabwe. Rahul was able to score 51 runs off 35 balls in this match, helping India to win. Later, he was not able to perform well for the team in the match against England in the semi-final, which turned out to be his last T20I in Australia.

Suryakumar Yadav — 3

Suryakumar Yadav also joins Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in this list, as he ties with them for the most 50+ scores in Australia in T20Is. Despite his debut coming in 2021, the Indian skipper has not failed to etch his name in the record books. Suryakumar Yadav also started with his T20I journey in Australia from the T20 World Cup 2022.

Suryakumar Yadav in Australia:

• Innings: 9;
• Not Out: 3;
• Runs: 303;
• Average: 50.50;
• Strike Rate: 183.63;
• 100s: 0;
• 50s: 3.

With his impressive strike rate, it can be seen that SKY has no fear of the pacers in the T20I format while he plays in Australia. It should also be noted that all three 50+ scores brought up by the current Indian captain in Australia have been in the T20 World Cup 2022. While he looks good with the bat in the current series, he has yet to score a half-century.

His first half-century in Australia came against the Netherlands. With Suryakumar Yadav scoring 51 runs off 25 balls, the Indian team was able to set a big total for them to chase. Eventually, the team ended up winning it, and Suryakumar Yadav got the POTM award.

Next in the game against South Africa, he brought up his best score in Australia, scoring 68 runs off 40 balls. India lost this game by 5 wickets, as SKY remained the lone warrior. After this, he brought up another half-century in Australia during the match against Zimbabwe. Suryakumar ended up scoring 61 runs off 25 balls, leading India to win the game.

Shikhar Dhawan — 2

If you have been watching Indian cricket for a long time, you cannot forget the times when Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan used to open in the T20I format. Shikhar Dhawan has also played for India in the T20I series against Australia, playing a vital role for the team in these games. This puts Dhawan on this list, as he has scored two 50+ scores in the T20I format in Australia.

Shikhar Dhawan in Australia:

• Innings: 8;
• Not Out: 0;
• Runs: 271;
• Average: 33.87;
• Strike Rate: 153.97;
• 100s: 0;
• 50s: 2.

In just eight innings, Shikhar Dhawan was able to notch up two half-centuries for the Indian team in Australia. He first played in the India tour of Australia 2016, but failed to register a 50+ score in the same. But when he returned in the 2018 series, he started off with a bang.

In the first T20I, he was able to score 76 runs in just 42 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes, but it came in a losing cause. India lost this game by just 4 runs, as Dhawan failed to score another 50+ score in the same series. Yet, he was able to do it again in the India tour of Australia 2020. In the second T20I match of the series, he scored 52 runs off 36 balls in the chase, as India won the game by 6 wickets.