All-rounders dominate record for most matches in T20 cricket; Rohit on top of Indian list

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.

Huge congrats to Captain @KieronPollard55 on his 5⃣0⃣0⃣th T20 today!👏🏽 What an achievement!🏆 #MenInMaroon #ItsOurGame pic.twitter.com/8PFzbTxaQq

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 4, 2020

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. 

Most wickets in an IPL season:

32 : Dwayne Bravo, 2013
32 : Harshal Patel, 2021*
30 : Kagiso Rabada, 2020/21
28 : Lasith Malinga, 2011
28 : James Faulkner, 2013#KKRvRCB

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) October 11, 2021

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

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)

Author: William Paul

Featured photo: AFP / INDRANIL MUKHERJEE