During the India vs Netherlands game at Sydney in the Group 2 of the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, the Indian batting unit created a new history in the T20 cricket world. In the first innings of that game, three Indian batters scored 50+ runs, which was the third such incident in T20 World Cup history.
After India chose to bat first, opener KL Rahul returned to the pavilion in the third over after scoring only nine runs. However, skipper and another opener Rohit Sharma scored 53 off 39 balls (4 fours and 3 sixes), while Virat Kohli scored 62 not out off 44 balls (3 fours and 2 sixes) and Suryakumar Yadav remained not out on 51 off 25 balls (7 fours and only six). Those incredible batting performances helped India to score 179/4 in 20 overs. In reply, Netherlands only managed to score 123/9 (20 overs), while India won by 59 runs.
3 batters scoring 50+ runs in an innings in Men’s T20 World Cup
It was the only third time in Men’s T20 World Cup history that three batters scored 50 or more runs in an innings.
India recorded it for the first time in Men’s T20 World Cup history, back in the inaugural edition in 2007, when they faced England at Durban in the Super 8 stage. Apart from the openers Gautam Gambhir (58) and Virender Sehwag (68), Yuvraj Singh (58) also recorded the fastest T20I fifty, where he also hit six sixes in an over to Stuart Broad.
During the Super 10 stage of the ICC World T20 2016, three South African batters also scored 50+ runs against England in Mumbai. Openers Hashim Amla (58), Quinton de Kock (52) and the middle-order batter JP Duminy (54) were those strong Proteas batters.
So, India is now the first team to record this same feat twice in Men’s T20 World Cup history.
Three 50+ scores in a T20 World Cup innings
Team | Number of 50+ scores | Opposition | Venue | Date |
India | 3 | England | Durban | 19/09/2007 |
South Africa | 3 | England | Mumbai | 18/03/2016 |
India | 3 | Netherlands | Sydney | 27/10/2022 |
India have recorded thrice to manage three 50+ scores in a T20I innings
In fact, India are still the only side to record three 50+ scores in a T20I innings more than once. There are 11 more teams who have also recorded three 50+ scores in a T20I innings, but all of these teams have experienced it once each.
Meanwhile, it was actually India’s third time to manage three 50+ scores in a T20I innings. The other one was outside the Men’s T20 World Cup, during the 2019 Mumbai T20I against West Indies. Apart from the openers Rohit Sharma (71) and KL Rahul (91), skipper Virat Kohli (70*) also scored 50+ runs in that innings.
