Chris Gayle sits at the top of the list for the highest T20 scores by players, having hammered 175* in an IPL match back in 2013. T20 cricket is by far the most popular form of this sport and has leagues all over the world. It's a format where technique doesn't matter and the batters with good power-hitting ability flourish.
Over the years, there have been plenty of batters who ripped apart the bowling attacks and recorded big centuries. Today we take a look at the top 10 highest T20 scores by players.
List of highest T20 scores by players

Player | Score | Balls | Team | Opposition | Venue | Date |
Chris Gayle | 175* | 66 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Pune Warriors India | Bengaluru | 23 Apr 2013 |
Aaron Finch | 172 | 76 | Australia | Zimbabwe | Harare | 3 Jul 2018 |
Dewald Brevis | 162 | 57 | Titans | Knights | Potchefstroom | 31 Oct 2022 |
Hazratullah Zazai | 162* | 62 | Afghanistan | Ireland | Dehradun | 23 Feb 2019 |
Hamilton Masakadza | 162* | 71 | Mountaineers | Eagles | Bulawayo | 11 Feb 2016 |
Adam Lyth | 161 | 73 | Yorkshire | Northants | Leeds | 17 Aug 2017 |
Brendon McCullum | 158* | 64 | Warwickshire | Derbyshire | Birmingham | 3 Jul 2015 |
Brendon McCullum | 158* | 73 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Bengaluru | 18 Apr 2008 |
Aaron Finch | 156 | 63 | Australia | England | Southampton | 29 Aug 2013 |
Glenn Maxwell | 154* | 64 | Melbourne Stars | Hobart Hurricanes | Melbourne | 19 Jan 2022 |
Chris Gayle – 175* (66)
Chris Gayle is arguably the greatest batter in T20 cricket and it is only fair he holds the record for the highest T20 score. The Jamaican superstar obliterated Pune Warriors India in the IPL 2013 on his way to 175 not out in just 66 deliveries.
On 23rd April 2013, Pune Warriors India took on Royal Challengers Bangalore at Bengaluru with rain hovering over. But it was the ‘Gayle storm’ that decimated Pune Warriors. Gayle looked in his element from the get-go and brought up his fifty off just 17 balls. It took him only 13 balls more to get to his century, which remains the fastest T20 century ever.
Gayle remained unbeaten on 175, with his innings consisting of 17 sixes and 13 fours. It was raining records as RCB posted 263/5 which happens to be the highest team score in the league.
Most runs in India vs England Tests
Aaron Finch – 172 (76)
On 3rd July 2018, Aaron Finch was just one hit away from breaking the record for the highest T20 score. Playing against Zimbabwe at Harare, the Australian opener smashed 172 in 76 deliveries.
Finch reached his fifty off 22 balls and took 28 more to reach the three-figure mark. Finch had three balls left in the innings to break the record but lost his balance and was out hit-wicket. He hit 10 sixes and 16 fours in his knock. Finch holds the record for the highest T20I score.
Dewald Brevis – 162 (57)
Broke on to the scene as ‘Baby AB’, Dewald Brevis put on an incredible show for Titans in the CSA T20 Challenge. On 31st October 2022, the young South African sensation smashed 162 in just 57 deliveries against Knights.
Brevis lit up Senwes Park, Potchefstroom to bring up his fifty in 18 balls and hundred in 35 balls. He continued the blitz and reached 150 off 52. Brevis hit 13 sixes and as many fours in his magnificent knock. Among the players who have hit more than 150 in a T20 innings, Brevis’ strike rate of 284.21 ranks the highest.
Hazratullah Zazai – 162* (62)
On 23rd February 2019, Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai destroyed the Ireland bowling attack in a T20 international at Dehradun. Zazai smashed an unbeaten 162 off 62 balls as Afghanistan posted 278 in their 20 overs – the then-highest team total in T20Is. Zazai’s innings included 11 fours and 16 maximums.
Hamilton Masakadza – 162* (71)
The veteran Zimbabwe batter registered one of the highest T20 scores when he made 162 not out in 71 deliveries in the Domestic Twenty20 Competition. Opening the innings for Mountaineers, Hamilton Masakadza took down Mashonaland Eagles with 11 sixes and 14 fours.
Adam Lyth – 161 (73)
In the 2017 T20 Blast, Yorkshire put on 260 in a group match against Northamptonshire and the star of the show was Adam Lyth. The opening batter made 161 off 73, which included 20 fours and seven maximums. Lyth holds the record for the highest T20 score in the T20 Blast competition.
Brendon McCullum – 158* (64)
Brendon McCullum has two identical highest T20 scores, having hit an unbeaten 158 twice. This one came seven years after his first, playing for Warwickshire versus Derbyshire in the 2015 T20 Blast.
The destructive Kiwi batter tore apart the Derbyshire bowling attack as he reached the century mark in 42 deliveries. McCullum remained unbeaten on 158 off 64, which included 13 fours and 11 maximums.
Brendon McCullum – 158* (73)
Brendon McCullum was at the forefront of the T20 revolution when he blasted 158 not out against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first-ever match of the Indian Premier League. The country and the world watching could not have hoped for a better show to launch a league that promised to be a pivotal moment in the sport.
Donning the Kolkata Knight Riders jersey, McCullum treated the Bengaluru crowd with 13 sixes and 10 fours on his way. McCullum took 32 balls to complete his fifty but doubled that in the next 21 deliveries and reached 150 off 70 deliveries.
Aaron Finch – 156 (63)
Aaron Finch makes another entry on the list of highest T20 scores, having struck 156 off 63 versus England in 2013. This was the highest individual T20 score in international cricket at the time, before Finch himself broke it five years later.
Finch smashed the English bowling attack all over the Ageas Bowl, Southampton. Finch kept going after completing his century off 47 deliveries as Australia posted 248 on the board. The knock included 11 fours and 14 sixes.
Glenn Maxwell – 154* (64)
Glenn Maxwell opened the batting for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League on January 19th, 2022. He delivered the highest T20 score in the league's history as he hammered an unbeaten 154 in 64 deliveries versus Hobart Hurricanes.
Maxwell entertained his home crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, reaching his fifty off 20 balls and recording a 41-ball century. Maxwell hit 22 fours and four sixes in his knock as Stars registered 273/2 – the highest team score in the BBL.