A Star is Born: Naman Dhir's 173
Playing for the Amritsar Soormas against the Mohali Kings, captain Naman Dhir produced an innings for the ages. The right-hander smashed a scarcely believable 173 from just 64 balls. His onslaught included a staggering 16 fours and 12 sixes, propelling
his team to a mammoth total of 279. The knock was not just a match-winning one; it was a statement. Dhir, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, became the Indian with the highest individual T20 score, and this performance has catapulted him into a very exclusive club of global power-hitters. It was an innings that sent shockwaves through Indian domestic cricket and beyond.
1. The Unquestionable King: Chris Gayle (175)
At the very top of the mountain sits Chris Gayle. His unbeaten 175 for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in the 2013 IPL is the stuff of legend and remains the highest individual T20 score. The 'Universe Boss' was at his most destructive that day, reaching his century in a record 30 balls. The innings was pure carnage, featuring 13 fours and a record 17 sixes. Gayle's knock single-handedly defined the match, leading RCB to a total of 263, which was then the highest T20 team score. More than a decade later, it remains the benchmark for T20 brutality.
2. The Indian Challenger: Naman Dhir (173)
Naman Dhir's monumental knock of 173 has placed him second on the all-time list, just two runs short of Gayle's iconic record. What makes his innings so remarkable is that it came in a state-level league, proving that world-class talent can emerge from anywhere. By scoring 173, he dislodged Australian great Aaron Finch from the number two spot, a phenomenal achievement for the Amritsar Soormas skipper. His innings is now the highest T20 score by an Indian batsman in any T20 competition.
3. The Captain's Record: Aaron Finch (172)
Pushed to third place is Aaron Finch's magnificent 172 for Australia against Zimbabwe in 2018. While it's no longer second on the overall list, it remains the highest individual score in a T20 International. Finch, captaining Australia, was in imperious form, hitting 16 fours and 10 sixes from 76 balls. He broke his own T20I record of 156, which he had set against England five years earlier. Finch's innings was a masterclass in opening the batting, as he and D'Arcy Short put on a then-world record 223-run partnership.
4. The Afghan Annihilator: Hazratullah Zazai (162)
In fourth place is Afghanistan's Hazratullah Zazai, who blasted an unbeaten 162 from just 62 balls against Ireland in 2019. This explosive innings was instrumental in Afghanistan posting a then-record T20I total of 278/3. Zazai's knock was a whirlwind of power, including 11 fours and a massive 16 sixes. It was a defining moment for Afghan cricket, announcing their arrival as a serious force in the shortest format of the game and showcasing Zazai as one of its most exciting talents.
5. The Associate Star: Hamza Khan (164*)
Rounding out the top five is an incredible knock from Rwanda's Hamza Khan, who scored an unbeaten 164 in May 2026. Playing against the Ivory Coast in an ICC T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier, Khan hit nine fours and an astonishing fifteen sixes from just 65 balls. His innings highlights the incredible growth and power-hitting present in associate nations, proving that jaw-dropping performances are no longer limited to the top-tier teams. It serves as a powerful reminder of cricket's expanding global reach.
