Hardik Pandya surpasses Shikhar Dhawan to become India’s 5th-highest T20I run-scorer

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has surpassed former opener Shikhar Dhawan to become the country’s fifth-highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals. He achieved this milestone during the fourth T20I against England in Pune on Friday, where he played a crucial innings to help India secure a series-clinching victory.

Pandya played a vital role in India’s innings after they suffered an early collapse, scoring 53 off 34 balls with seven fours and two sixes. His counter-attacking knock lifted India from a precarious position of 79/5 to a competitive total of 181/9. His runs came at a strike rate of over 155, demonstrating his ability to accelerate under pressure. With this performance, Pandya now has 1,803 runs in 113 T20Is across 89 innings at an average of 28.17 and a strike rate of 141.63. He has also registered five half-centuries, with a highest score of 71*.

Previously, Dhawan held the fifth spot in India’s all-time T20I run charts with 1,759 runs in 68 matches. In 66 innings, he averaged 27.92 with a strike rate of 126.36, scoring 11 half-centuries, including a highest score of 92.

Leading India’s all-time T20I run-scoring chart is former T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma, who has amassed 4,231 runs in 159 matches at an average of 32.05 and a strike rate of 140.89. His record includes five centuries and 32 half-centuries, with a highest score of 121*. He is followed closely by Virat Kohli, who has 4,188 runs in 125 matches at an impressive average of 48.69, including a century and 38 fifties. Suryakumar Yadav occupies the third spot with 2,596 runs in 82 matches at an average of 38.74, including four centuries and 21 fifties.

The match saw England winning the toss and opting to field first. India got off to a disastrous start, losing Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, and skipper Suryakumar Yadav in quick succession to England’s Saqib Mahmood, who took 3/35. Despite a brief recovery by Abhishek Sharma (29 off 19 balls) and Rinku Singh (30 off 26 balls), India still struggled at 79/5. Pandya, alongside Shivam Dube, turned things around with an 87-run stand. Dube scored an equally impactful 53 off 30 balls, hitting four boundaries and four sixes. England’s bowlers, particularly Jamie Overton (4/32) and Adil Rashid (1/35), kept things tight, but India managed to post a competitive total of 181/9.

In response, England started strong with Phil Salt (23 off 21 balls) and Ben Duckett (39 off 19 balls) putting up a 62-run opening stand. However, India’s spinners quickly turned the game around, reducing England to 95/4. Harry Brook fought back with a valiant 51 off 26 balls, but wickets continued to fall at the other end. Harshit Rana (3/33) and Ravi Bishnoi (3/28) were the pick of the bowlers as England was bowled out for 166, falling 15 runs short of the target.

Shivam Dube was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his all-round performance. With this win, India secured the series 3-1, showcasing their depth and resilience ahead of future T20I assignments.