In 2023, there was a World Cup with 50 overs. Yet, 451 T20Is took place that year, counting the games played by associate nations. T20 leagues, unique shot strategies, and batsmen hitting boundaries with less effort resulted in an increasing number of runs in the shortest format.
This particular year witnessed 27 T20I centuries. The quickest of them all came from Kushal Malla who made his century in only 34 balls-a record in T20I history.
So, let’s look back at the top 5 men’s T20I scores of 2023.
1. Glenn Maxwell (104 from 48 balls against India):
On November 28, 2023, Maxwell was at his most aggressive against India. The Australian all-rounder gave his team an unlikely victory by hammering 20 runs off the final four balls of the game.
Australia required 47 runs from the final two overs and 22 of the final over when Maxwell and Australian captain Matthew Wade kicked it into high gear, enabling Australia to chase a massive 223 target.
Maxwell hit eight boundaries and eight maximums in only 48 balls while remaining undefeated at 104. Pradish Krishna, who had a terrible day on the field and let up 68 runs in his four overs, was the target of his wrath.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (123) struck a magnificent century earlier in the evening, but his innings was eclipsed by Mawell’s. Australia won the match, their lone triumph in the five-match T20I series against India following the 2023 World Cup, thanks to Maxwell’s century.
2. Johnson Charles (118 from 46 balls against South Africa)
At the SuperSport Park in Centurion, on a batsman-friendly pitch, Johnson Charles hit a stunning hundred runs in just 43 balls. This super performance helped his team reach 258 runs losing only five wickets in the T20I match.
Charles was aggressive from the first ball of the innings, coming in to bat at number three. Together with Kyle Mayers, he scored 135 runs from just 58 balls for the second wicket.
Despite Mayers leaving, Charles didn’t let up his attack on South Africa’s bowlers. He went head-to-head with seasoned bowlers such as Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Wayne Parnell, Sisanda Magala, Aiden Markram, and Tabraiz Shamsi. The West Indian player brought them extreme challenges. Ultimately, he was taken out after earning 118, hitting 10 boundaries and 11 maximums, with an incredible strike rate of 256.52.
3. Quinton de Kock (100 from 44 balls against West Indies )
Riding on Johnson Charles’ century, as previously indicated, South Africa had to get off to a fast start in order to chase a target of 259 from 20 overs.
In just 65 balls, Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks scored 152 runs together for the first wicket. In the aforementioned partnership, De Kock was the dominant player, smashing a century (100) off just 44 balls, which included eight boundaries and nine maximums. With seven balls remained, South Africa pursued the target after he set the example for the other hitters.
Because of his game-winning innings, the South African keeper-batsman was chosen Player of the Match.
4. Suryakumar Yadav (112* from 51 balls against Sri Lanka )
In 2023, top-ranked T20I batsman Suryakumar Yadav accomplished a notable feat, scoring two centuries in T20Is. Suryakumar Yadav first hundred was a spectacle against Sri Lanka in Rajot.
Coming to the play at position four, Suryakumar Yadav unleashed a storm on the pitch. The Lankan bowlers found him unplayable. With an astonishing strike rate of 219.61, Suryakumar Yadav hit seven boundaries and nine for maximum. Delivering a grand score of 112 not out in just 51 balls, Suryakumar Yadav was instrumental in India’s commanding total of 228. This energetic performance resulted in a convincing 91 runs victory for India. Suryakumar Yadav has been a consistent performer for India in the shortest format of the game. Suryakumar Yadav has scored four T20I hundreds.
5. Dipendra Singh Airee (52* From 10 balls against Mongolia)
A special mention should be made of Dipendra Singh Airee innings at bat. At the Asian Games in 2023, he made history by hitting the quickest half-century in T20Is against Mongolia.
He needed just nine balls to reach his half-century, which included eight maximums. His incredible strike rate of 520 allowed him to score. Singh’s T20I record for the fastest half-century will never be surpassed and is at most equal.