With the T20 World Cup kicking off on Saturday, we thought we would take this opportunity to rank the Top 10 batters in the world in this format. With all the best players in the world descending on India and Sri Lanka over the next 4 weeks, we’ll get a chance to compare the best of the best, but before then, we want to make our picks for who we rate the highest. To do this, we’ve considered a combination of form, experience, talent (there is some projection to some of these picks), consistency and style, to come up with our Top 10. Whilst what these batsmen have done in other formats factors in, this is specifically about T20.
10. Tilak Varma
Since breaking through in the IPL in 2022, Tilak Varma has established himself as one of the more reliable middle-order batters in the T20 format, with his performances for Mumbai Indians translating seamlessly to the international stage. Averaging almost 50 across 41 T20 internationals underlines both his consistency and the trust now placed in him at the highest level.
A left-handed option who is particularly good against spin, Tilak gives a side balance and control through the middle overs, allowing power hitters such as Hardik Pandya the freedom to go big. Poised for a breakout on the global stage, Tilak’s skillset will be especially valuable for India ahead of a home World Cup.
9. Mitch Marsh
There are few players in world cricket who strike the ball as cleanly and powerfully as Mitch Marsh. Since taking on the Australian captaincy in 2024, Marsh has enjoyed a resurgence in white ball cricket. Taking on increased responsibility at the top of the order and producing consistent impact performances, highlighted by his recent century in the Big Bash. While injuries have occasionally interrupted his momentum, Marsh’s ability to dominate pace in the powerplay will make him integral to his sides hopes to lift a world cup next month.
8. Heinrich Klaasen
Klaasen’s decision to retire from international cricket last year came as a surprise and a significant loss for South Africa. Despite stepping away from the international game to focus on franchise leagues, his place among the most destructive players in the format remains unquestioned.
Klaasen’s ability to generate power off the back foot, particularly when hitting straight, is one that sets him apart from other middle order batters. Combined with his quality against spin in the middle overs and extensive experience in the IPL, Klaasen’s absence in India for the World Cup will be felt.
7. Dewald Brevis
From a player whose international career is ending, to one whose is only just beginning, Brevis represents the next generation of T20 batting. One of the most exciting young players in the game, Brevis announced himself on the international stage with a 41-ball century against Australia in August, showing that he is not just a player for the future, but one who can make an impact right now.
Still only 22, Brevis has hit 39 sixes in just 19 T20 international innings. His ability to clear the boundary with ease makes him a constant threat and he might already possess the fastest hands in the game.
There is definitely some projection in ranking him this highly at this stage of his career, but if Brevis continues on his current trajectory and delivers on the world stage, he has the potential to quickly be one of the most sought-after players in the short format.
6. Abhishek Sharma
As the current number one ranked T20 batter in world, Abhishek definitely has a case to be higher on this list. I just struggled to put him above others who have been proven world class performers for multiple years. With two centuries and striking at 188 in his 33 T20 internationals, you would be hard pressed to find a more dominant player over the course of the last 2 years. His partnership with Travis Head – someone we will get onto later in the list – at the top of the order, was a large part of Sunrisers Hyderabad forming the most explosive batting lineup in recent memory – scoring 260+ three times in the tournament. Abishek will be hoping to have similar success alongside Sanju Samson at the top of the order for India in the World Cup.
5. Phil Salt
Salt epitomises what you want from a modern-day T20 opener. He goes hard in the powerplay, often from ball one, and once he gets in, he tends to go big. His four T20 international centuries are only surpassed by Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma, despite both playing more than double the number of innings Salt has.
Salt has also been a standout in franchise cricket over the last few years, being an integral part of back-to-back IPL title winning sides, scoring 400+ runs both for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025.
Currently ranked number two in the world behind Abhishek Sharma, Salt edges his younger counterpart because of his sustained output over multiple seasons and his influence within successful teams. Whether it’s a correlation or causation, Salt at the top of the order has consistently been a feature of winning sides.
4. Nicholas Pooran
Like Klaasen, Pooran opted to step away from international cricket to focus on franchise leagues, robbing us of 5+ more years of Pooran putting on the West Indian colours. Still only 29, Pooran remains at the peak of his powers.
As a left-handed option who excels against both spin and pace, and can bat at both the top of the order or through the middle, Pooran is such a valuable commodity to any team. Despite standing at just 5’7’’, his six hitting ability is second to none, leading the IPL in 2025 with 40 maximums and underlying his reputation as one of the cleanest hitters in the game. It’s a shame we’ll have to wait until March to see Pooran clear the ropes on Indian soil.
3. Travis Head
Travis Head is the best all format batsman in the world. If there was any doubt, or argument for someone like Ben Duckett or Harry Brook, the recent Ashes series certainly extinguished that.
Head’s T20 international record is not necessarily reflective of the player that he currently is. A large part of that is down to him being shuffled around the order. Since establishing himself as an opener, both in Aussie gold and Sunrisers orange, his game has reached new heights. Alongside Abhishek and Klaasen, Head spearheaded Sunrisers to a record-breaking batting season in 2024, scoring 567 runs at an absurd 192 strike rate. Yes, it’s a different format, but given the form he showed in the Ashes, and the confidence Travis Head is playing with, expect more of the same as he partners Mitch Marsh at the top of the order for Australia.
2. Jos Buttler
At his best, Buttler remains one of the most dangerous and consistent batters in the game. Like Head, Buttler shifted from a middle order finisher to the top of the order. The idea being that if you have a player as good as Buttler, you want him to face as many balls as possible. It also gives him the chance to play longer, match winning innings. The move has paid clear dividends. Buttler has now scored seven IPL centuries, second only to ‘King Kohli’, and averages over 45 when opening the batting in England colours.
While his tenure captaining England did not always deliver the results expected, he still led them to a T20 World Cup in Australia, and there wasn’t a drop off in his individual performances. Now under Harry Brook’s leadership, England will need Buttler to be at his best to help them a lift the trophy again.
1. Suryakumar Yadav
It’s easy to get caught up in form and who the hot name is at any given moment, but class is permanent. Suryakumar Yadav remains the gold standard in T20 cricket. His lap sweep over fine leg against 140kph is a shot that every batter would steal if given the chance. Yes, his international numbers have dipped slightly over the last couple of years – but I guess you can’t average 50 striking at 200 forever. Suryakumar is the complete batter, scoring 360 degrees against pace, and arguably the best player of spin on the planet.
Unlike many others on the list, he does not benefit from the luxury of the powerplay, yet still scores at a rate north of 160, while operating in the most difficult phase of the game. Until someone else can consistently replicate that level of influence from the hardest position in T20 cricket, Suryakumar Yadav remains the clear number one.