West Indies cricket team all-rounder Kieron Pollard holds the record for most matches in T20 cricket.

Since making his T20 debut for Trinidad and Tobago in 2006 against Cayman Islands, Pollard has played in a total of 581 T20 matches.

In 2020, Kieron Pollard became the first cricketer to play 500 T20 matches when he stepped out for the first of two T20Is against Sri Lanka.

On the historic occasion, Pollard added another feather to his cap as he became the second player after Chris Gayle to amass 10,000 runs in T20 cricket.

Dwayne Bravo comes in second on the list for most matches in T20 cricket. The ‘Champion’ all-rounder, who is the all-time leader for most wickets in T20 cricket, has featured in 522 T20 matches. 

Bravo’s legacy in T20 cricket is immense, as he also holds the record for most wickets for West Indies in T20Is (78 wickets in 91 matches) and most wickets in a single Indian T20 League campaign.

In the upcoming Indian T20 League 2022, Dwayne Bravo looks set to overtake Lasith Malinga for most wickets in Indian T20 League history.

Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik is third on the list for most matches in T20 cricket. The allrounder, who was most recently involved in the 2021-22 Pakistan Super League, has played 472 matches in his celebrated cricket career and is the third batter to cross the 10,000-run mark in the format.

Chris Gayle is the fourth player on the list for most matches in T20 cricket with 463 outings in 20-overs cricket. The ‘Universe Boss’ is arguably the greatest batter in the shortest format of cricket as he holds records for most runs in T20, most runs in powerplays in T20s, most sixes in T20 cricket, fastest century in T20 cricket and highest individual score in T20 cricket (175 not out).

Ravi Bopara completes the top five list for most matches in T20 cricket. The England all-rounder played in 411 matches and is the only active player who featured in the Twenty20 Cup in 2003, the first-ever cricket series in T20s. Bopara was last seen in action for Sylhet Sunrisers against Chattogram Challengers in the 2022 Bangladesh Premier League.

Most matches in T20 cricket

Player Career Span Matches Runs Wickets
Kieron Pollard 2006-2022 581 11,427 304
Dwayne Bravo 2006-2022 522 6,747 571
Shoaib Malik 2005-2022 472 11,698 158
Chris Gayle 2005-2022 463 14,562 83
Ravi Bopara 2003-2022 411 7,987 245

Rohit Sharma, captain of the Indian cricket team and Team Mumbai in the Indian T20 League, leads the list of Indians who have played the most matches in T20 cricket. Rohit, who made his T20 debut in 2007, has 370 T20 games under his belt and isi ahead of MS Dhoni (347), Suresh Raina (336), Dinesh Karthik (327) and Virat Kohli (326).

Most matches in T20 cricket (India)

Player Career Span Matches Runs Wickets
Rohit Sharma 2007-2022 370 9,895 29
MS Dhoni 2006-2021 347 6,935 -
Suresh Raina 2006-2021 336 8,654 54
Dinesh Karthik 2006-2021 327 6,283 1
Virat Kohli 2007-2022 326 10,273 8

Author: William Paul

Featured photo: AFP / INDRANIL MUKHERJEE