Highest Individual Score in a T20 World Cup Match

Introduction

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has delivered some of the most explosive batting performances in cricket history. In a format where every ball counts, scoring a century on the world stage is a rare and extraordinary achievement. Among all these iconic innings, the highest individual score in a T20 World Cup match stands as a benchmark of power-hitting, dominance, and fearlessness.

In this article, CricPredictor takes a deep dive into the record-breaking innings, the complete list of top scores, match context, and the legends who have mastered the World Cup stage.

🏆 The Record Holder: Highest Individual Score in T20 World Cup History

🔥 Brendon McCullum – 123 vs Bangladesh (2012)

Player: Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)
Score: 123
Balls Faced: 58
Fours: 11
Sixes: 7
Strike Rate: 212.06
Match: New Zealand vs Bangladesh
Tournament: ICC World T20 2012
Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka

While Chris Gayle started the fire in 2007, it was New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum who set the ultimate benchmark. In 2012, McCullum produced a masterclass of batting, scoring 123 runs off just 58 balls.

His innings was a blend of unorthodox sweeps and brute power, helping New Zealand post a massive 191/3. To this day, no batsman has managed to surpass this total in a T20 World Cup match.

📊 Top 10 Highest Individual Scores in T20 World Cup Matches

Many high scores occur in bilateral series, but doing it in a World Cup is different. Here is the accurate list of the highest scores solely in T20 World Cup history:

Rank	Player	Score	Team	Opponent	Year
1	Brendon McCullum	123	New Zealand	Bangladesh	2012
2	Chris Gayle	117	West Indies	South Africa	2007
3	Alex Hales	116*	England	Sri Lanka	2014
4	Ahmed Shehzad	111*	Pakistan	Bangladesh	2014
5	Rilee Rossouw	109	South Africa	Bangladesh	2022
6	Glenn Phillips	104	New Zealand	Sri Lanka	2022
7	Tamim Iqbal	103*	Bangladesh	Oman	2016
8	Jos Buttler	101*	England	Sri Lanka	2021
9	Suresh Raina	101	India	South Africa	2010
10	Chris Gayle	100*	West Indies	England	2016

Note: Scores marked with * indicate not out innings.

🦄 The "Universe Boss" Factor: Why Gayle is Still Special

Although Brendon McCullum holds the record for the highest score, Chris Gayle remains the undisputed king of T20 World Cup hundreds.

First Ever Century: Gayle scored the first-ever T20 World Cup ton (117) in the very first game of the 2007 inaugural tournament.
Only Multiple Centurion: Gayle is the only player in history to score two centuries in T20 World Cups (117 in 2007 and 100* in 2016).
Fastest Century: His 2016 century against England came off just 47 balls, which is the fastest in tournament history.

📈 Impact of High Individual Scores in T20 World Cups

When a player crosses the century mark in a World Cup, it almost always guarantees a win. High individual scores:

Psychological Advantage: It breaks the morale of the opposition bowlers.
Net Run Rate: Massive scores provide a crucial boost to the NRR in group stages.
Legacy: From McCullum’s ramps to Gayle’s power, these innings shape how the modern game is played.

🔮 CricPredictor Final Verdict

The record for the highest individual score in a T20 World Cup match represents the pinnacle of aggressive batting. While modern greats like Suryakumar Yadav and Glenn Maxwell threaten these records in bilateral series, Brendon McCullum’s 123 remains the mountain to climb on the World Cup stage.

Will we see this record broken in the next edition? The bats are getting bigger, and the boundaries are getting shorter—so never say never!

Stay tuned to CricPredictor for match predictions, player stats, fantasy tips, and record-breaking cricket stories.