T20 International cricket has transformed batting, encouraging players to combine power, timing and innovative stroke play in a format where every delivery can change the course of a match. While a century is a major achievement in a game limited to 20 overs per side, a score of 150 or more represents an exceptional individual performance.
Australia's Aaron Finch holds the record for the highest individual score in men's T20 International cricket, having scored 172 against Zimbabwe in Harare in July 2018. His innings remains the benchmark for batters in the shortest international format.
However, the list of the highest individual T20I scores extends well beyond the leading cricket nations. Players representing Associate nations have also produced remarkable innings, with Karanbir Singh, Hamza Khan and Mohammad Ihsan featuring among the highest scorers in the format.
Here is a look at the top 10 highest individual scores in men's T20 International cricket, including the players, their teams, opponents and the years in which they achieved these milestones.
Top 10 Highest Individual Scores in T20I Cricket
Rank | Player | Team | Score | Opposition | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Australia | 172 | Zimbabwe | 2018 | |
2 | Karanbir Singh | Austria | 164 | Hungary | 2026 |
2 | Hamza Khan | Rwanda | 164* | Ivory Coast | 2026 |
4 | Hazratullah Zazai | Afghanistan | 162* | Ireland | 2019 |
5 | Mohammad Ihsan | Spain | 160 | Croatia | 2025 |
6 | Aaron Finch | Australia | 156 | England | 2013 |
7 | Sacha De Alwis | Cayman Islands | 150* | Brazil | 2024 |
7 | Connor Carroll | Croatia | 150* | Switzerland | 2026 |
9 | Glenn Maxwell | Australia | 145* | Sri Lanka | 2016 |
10 | Sahil Chauhan | Estonia | 144* | Cyprus | 2024 |
An asterisk indicates that the batter remained not out. Players with the same number of runs share the same rank.
Source: Published men's T20I batting records. The rankings reflect records available through 2026 in the sources consulted.
1. Aaron Finch – 172 Runs
Aaron Finch holds the record for the highest individual score in men's T20 International cricket. The former Australia captain scored 172 runs off 76 balls against Zimbabwe in Harare on July 3, 2018.
Finch combined powerful hitting with effective placement, striking 16 fours and 10 sixes. His innings produced a strike rate of 226.31 and helped Australia post a formidable total.
The performance demonstrated Finch's ability to dominate an opposition attack while maintaining an exceptional scoring rate. He reached a level that very few batters have approached in the years since.
Finch also features elsewhere in the top 10, with his 156 against England in 2013 ranking as another of the greatest individual innings in men's T20I history.
His record of 172 remains the highest individual score in the format, underlining the difficulty of sustaining such a high scoring rate across an entire innings.
2. Karanbir Singh – 164 Runs
Austria's Karanbir Singh joined the highest-scoring batters in men's T20 International cricket with an innings of 164 against Hungary on June 28, 2026.
Singh scored 164 runs off 57 balls, striking 18 fours and 12 sixes. His innings came at a remarkable strike rate of 287.71, making it one of the most explosive performances on the all-time list.
The innings placed Singh level with Rwanda's Hamza Khan in terms of runs scored, although Singh's innings was completed while Khan remained unbeaten in his record performance.
Singh's achievement also highlights the growing contribution of Associate nations to T20I cricket. With the shortest international format providing opportunities for aggressive batting, players outside the traditional leading teams continue to produce outstanding statistical performances.
2. Hamza Khan – 164 Not Out
Rwanda's Hamza Khan scored an unbeaten 164 against Ivory Coast on May 24, 2026, producing one of the leading individual performances in men's T20 International cricket.
Khan reached the total from 65 balls, hitting nine fours and 15 sixes. His strike rate of 252.30 reflected an innings built around powerful boundary-hitting and sustained attacking intent.
His score equalled Karanbir Singh's 164 in the all-time rankings, although Khan finished his innings unbeaten.
The performance is a significant achievement for Rwanda and demonstrates how T20 International cricket has expanded the range of teams capable of producing exceptional individual scores.
4. Hazratullah Zazai – 162 Not Out
Afghanistan's Hazratullah Zazai scored an unbeaten 162 against Ireland in Dehradun on February 23, 2019.
Zazai faced 62 balls and struck 11 fours and 16 sixes, reaching a strike rate of 261.29. His innings was one of the most destructive displays of batting in the early years of Afghanistan's rise in international cricket.
The left-hander's performance helped Afghanistan build a huge total and placed him among the leading individual scorers in men's T20Is.
Zazai's 162 remained one of the highest scores in the format for several years. It continues to rank among the most memorable innings by an Afghanistan batter and illustrates the impact a single player can have in a 20-over contest.
5. Mohammad Ihsan – 160 Runs
Spain's Mohammad Ihsan scored 160 against Croatia in Cartagena on December 7, 2025, adding another major innings to the list of the highest individual T20I scores.
Ihsan reached his total from 63 balls, hitting five fours and 17 sixes. His innings came at a strike rate of 253.96, with sixes accounting for a substantial share of his scoring.
The performance placed Ihsan among the few batters to have reached 160 runs in a men's T20 International innings.
His achievement also reflects the growing depth of international T20 cricket, where players representing European Associate nations are producing totals that compare with the leading scores recorded by established cricketing countries.
6. Aaron Finch – 156 Runs
Aaron Finch's second appearance on this list came against England in Southampton on August 29, 2013.
The Australian batter scored 156 runs off 63 balls, striking 11 fours and 14 sixes. His strike rate of 247.61 reflected an innings dominated by aggressive stroke play.
At the time, the innings established a new benchmark for the highest individual score in men's T20 International cricket. Finch's record was eventually surpassed by his own 172 against Zimbabwe in 2018.
Having produced two of the leading scores in the format, Finch remains one of the most significant batters in the history of men's T20I cricket.
His performances demonstrate the importance of power-hitting, timing and consistency in a format that places considerable demands on attacking players.
7. Sacha De Alwis – 150 Not Out
Sacha De Alwis of the Cayman Islands scored an unbeaten 150 against Brazil on December 14, 2024.
The innings placed De Alwis among the small group of batters to have reached the 150-run mark in men's T20 International cricket.
His performance is notable because scores of this magnitude are rare even among the most experienced international batters. Reaching 150 requires a player to maintain an aggressive approach without losing the consistency needed to build a substantial innings.
De Alwis's achievement also adds to the growing collection of high individual scores produced by Associate nations in international T20 cricket.
7. Connor Carroll – 150 Not Out
Croatia's Connor Carroll scored an unbeaten 150 against Switzerland on May 19, 2026.
Carroll reached the milestone from 72 balls, hitting 13 fours and 10 sixes. His innings demonstrated the ability to combine boundary-hitting with sustained scoring throughout a long T20I innings.
The performance brought him level with De Alwis in the all-time rankings, with both batters recording unbeaten scores of 150.
Carroll's innings is another example of the increasing competitiveness of Associate cricket and the opportunities the T20 format provides for players to establish themselves on the international stage.
9. Glenn Maxwell – 145 Not Out
Maxwell faced 65 balls and struck 14 fours and nine sixes, finishing with a strike rate of 223.07.
Known for his innovative shot-making and ability to score quickly against different bowling styles, Maxwell produced an innings that demonstrated his range of attacking options.
His 145 remains one of the highest individual scores in men's T20 International cricket and one of Australia's most significant batting performances in the format.
10. Sahil Chauhan – 144 Not Out
Estonia's Sahil Chauhan completes this list with an unbeaten 144 against Cyprus on June 17, 2024.
Chauhan scored his runs from just 41 balls, hitting six fours and 18 sixes. His strike rate of 351.21 highlights the extraordinary speed at which he accumulated runs.
Although his total was lower than the scores above him, the innings stands out for its remarkable scoring rate. Chauhan demonstrated how a batter can transform a T20I innings through sustained six-hitting and aggressive shot selection.
His performance remains one of the most explosive individual innings in men's T20 International cricket and an important milestone for Estonia.
Who Holds the Record for the Highest Individual Score in T20I Cricket?
Aaron Finch holds the men's T20I record with 172 runs against Zimbabwe in 2018. Karanbir Singh and Hamza Khan follow with 164 runs each, while Hazratullah Zazai ranks next with an unbeaten 162.
The list also features players from Austria, Rwanda, Spain, the Cayman Islands, Croatia and Estonia, demonstrating that the highest individual scores are no longer the exclusive domain of the traditional leading cricket nations.
What Makes a 150-Run T20I Innings Exceptional?
A T20 International innings is limited to 120 legal deliveries per team, which makes a score of 150 particularly demanding for an individual batter. A player must score rapidly while managing the risk of dismissal, adapting to different bowlers and making the most of scoring opportunities.
Several factors contribute to such performances:
Boundary-hitting: Regular fours and sixes allow batters to accumulate runs quickly.
Strike rotation: Taking singles and twos prevents the innings from depending entirely on boundaries.
Shot selection: Successful batters identify scoring opportunities without taking unnecessary risks on every delivery.
Concentration: Maintaining a high scoring rate over an extended innings requires discipline and consistent decision-making.
Match conditions: Pitch behaviour, ground dimensions, bowling quality and the innings situation all influence the final score.
The highest individual scores in T20Is show that explosive batting is not simply about hitting sixes. The best performances combine power, timing, awareness and the ability to sustain pressure on the opposition.
Conclusion
The highest individual scores in men's T20 International cricket reflect the remarkable evolution of batting in the shortest international format. Aaron Finch's 172 remains the record, while Karanbir Singh, Hamza Khan and Hazratullah Zazai feature among the leading performers.
The presence of players from Associate nations also illustrates the expanding reach of international T20 cricket. Their performances have added new names to the record books and demonstrated the depth of batting talent across the global game.
As T20I cricket continues to develop, the record for the highest individual score will remain a significant benchmark for future generations. Finch's 172 sets the standard, but the achievements of the players on this list show that extraordinary individual innings remain possible wherever international T20 cricket is played.
