T20 World Cup: All the Player of the Tournament winners
A cricketer grabs the Player of the Tournament award for his consistent performances throughout a particular campaign. In an event like a World Cup, each and every individual looks to give his best for his respective country. Over the eight editions of the T20 WCs, some renowned players have managed to win this special award for their solid efforts on a consistent basis in the respective campaigns.
Let’s take a look at the ones who won the Player of the Tournament award in T20 WCs:
1.Shahid Afridi (2007)
All-rounder Shahid Afridi grabbed the Player of the Tournament award in the inaugural 2007 edition of the T20 World Cup. Though his side ended up as the runners-up, Afridi had a solid tournament on a personal note. He was Pakistan’s second-highest wicket-taker with 12 scalps in seven innings at an average of 15.66 and an economy rate of 6.71 with best figures of 4/19. With the bat in hand, he scored 91 runs in six innings.
2.Tilakaratne Dilshan (2009)
Like Afridi, Tilakaratne Dilshan’s side Sri Lanka also came second best in the final of the 2009 campaign at Lord’s. The right-handed batter was the highest run-scorer in the second edition of the T20 WC. Dilshan amassed 317 runs at an average of 52.83 and a strike rate of 144.74. In seven innings, he struck three half-centuries with the highest score of 96*.
3.Kevin Pietersen (2010)
England’s Kevin Pietersen became the first player to win the Player of the Tournament award with his team ending up winning the trophy. The right-handed batter finished the victorious campaign as the second-highest run-getter. In six innings, Pietersen slammed 248 runs at an average of 62.00 and a strike rate of 137.77. Having scored the most runs for England, Kevin hit two half-centuries with the best score of 73*.
4.Shane Watson (2012)
Australian all-rounder Shane Watson slammed the most runs in the 2012 edition held in Sri Lanka. The Aussie smacked 249 runs in six innings at an average of 49.80 and a strike rate of 150.00. The right-handed player hammered three fifties with the best score of 72. The second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament, Watson picked up 11 scalps at an average of 16.00 and an economy rate of 7.33
5.Virat Kohli (2014)
Virat Kohli finally arrived in the T20 WC as he top-scored in the 2014 campaign held in Bangladesh. The star India batter mustered 319 runs, which is the highest in any edition to date. In just six innings, Kohli averaged 106.33, hitting four half-centuries, with two of them coming in the semi-final and the grand finale. Though India lost in the summit clash with Sri Lanka, Kohli picked up his major award.
6.Virat Kohli (2016)
Kohli grabbed the award again in the following tournament held in India in 2016. To date, he is the only player with two Player of the Tournament awards and he did that in back-to-back editions. The second-highest run-scorer of that campaign, Kohli amassed 273 runs in five innings at a staggering average of 136.50 with three fifties and the best score of 89*.
7.David Warner (2021)
David Warner ended the 2021 edition with the second most runs as Australia clinched their maiden T20 WC title in the UAE. The swashbuckling opener plundered 289 runs in seven innings at an average of 48.16 and a strike rate of 146.70. The southpaw smashed three half-centuries with the highest score of 89*. His 53 in the final against New Zealand helped the Aussies in sealing the trophy.
8.Sam Curran (2022)
Sam Curran became the first specialist bowler to grab this special prize. The left-arm medium pacer helped England win their second T20 WC trophy. The highest wicket-taker for England, Curran picked up 13 wickets in six innings at an average of 11.38 and an economy rate of 6.52 with the best figures of 5/10. He became the first English bowler to pick a five-for in T20Is.
