TOP 5: High profile batsmen who did not score a T20I century
Scoring a T20I century circles around so many factors like the position at which a batsman is slotted to play, the situation of the match, the playing conditions etc. More often the top order batsmen have the best go at scoring a century in the shortest format.
We look in to high profile batsmen with established International careers who failed to achieve their maiden T20 century yet at the International level:
Kevin Pietersen
England cricketer Kevin Pietersen known for his swashbuckling style of cricket has registered 1176 T20I runs in 37 matches with 7 half centuries to his name. He scored the runs at an average of 37.93 and a strike rate of 141.51. His highest score at international level is 79.
One would wonder if he could have achieved the feat had he played a bit longer. At the domestic level, KP scored 3 T20 centuries in 200 matches.
Kane Williamson
The Kiwi cricketer scored 1805 T20 International runs at an average of 31.66 in 65 innings. He scored 13 half centuries but no tons to his name. He came agonizingly close when he scored a near match winning 95 against India at Hamilton but his dismissal trickled down the chase for the Blackcaps.
Even in the domestic T20 level, Williamson registered one century, coming early on his career when he opened the innings for Northern Districts in a Champions League match against Cape Cobras.
Jos Buttler
For a smashing cricketer like Jos Buttler, a T20 International century is still a unreachable fruit. Until recently he did not score a century in domestic T20 cricket. He achieved that feat scoring a 124 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2021.
Buttler who now opens for England has scored 1791 T20I runs in 80 matches at an average of 31.42 and a strike rate of 140.25. He has 13 half centuries to his name with a high score of 83*.
AB de Villiers
The Proteas cricketer has revolutionized the game with his batting skills. AB who scored 4 T20 centuries in T20 cricket has not registered any at the international level.
The right-handed-batsman scored 1672 runs in 75 innings at an average of 26.12 with the help of 10 half centuries. He holds a strike rate of 135.16. With the decision made on his non returning to international cricket, it is one gap in a highly celebrated career.
Virat Kohli
The Indian captain is regarded as one of the best all-format cricketers and is the leading run getter in T20I cricket. He became the first ever batsman to score 3000 T20I runs but has not registered a century in the shortest format yet.
Kohli slammed 28 half centuries in 84 innings and scored 3159 runs at an average of 52.65. He also holds a very impressive strike rate of 139.04 but the wait for his first T20 International century continues.
He has 5 T20 centuries to his name – some of which have come in a flurry in the 2016 IPL edition.
The wait continues as on to when can a talent like Virat Kohli registered his maiden T20I ton!
