Top five highest team totals in T20I cricket

Over the past ten years, T20I cricket has rapidly grown among cricket fans worldwide. The shortest format's rise in popularity and following has been chiefly because of the high-scoring matches where both sides hit lots of boundaries that entertain the fans.

In T20I cricket, batters place the lowest value on their wickets when compared to ODIs and tests. The flat nature of pitches in this format has meant that even a total of 200 is not safe these days.

In light of this, let's examine the top five team totals in T20I cricket so far.

5. Zimbabwe – 286/5 vs Seychelles, 2024

In the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier, Zimbabwe shattered Seychelles 286/5 in the Group B match. Zimbabwe's 286/5 is the fifth-highest total in the history of men's Twenty20 international cricket. Sikandar Raza (36 off 13), Tadiwanashe Marumani (86 off 37), and Brian Bennett (91 off 35) all made significant contributions to Zimbabwe's innings in the match. Later, after 6.1 overs, Seychelles was at 18/2 when rain interrupted, and Zimbabwe won the match by 76 runs (DLS method).

4. Afghanistan 278/3 vs Ireland, 2019

Afghanistan  became the first team to reach the 270-mark in a Twenty20 International, when they smashed 278/3 against Ireland in Dehradun in 2019. Hazratullah Zazai, the opener, led his team to a massive 278/3 in just 20 overs with an undefeated 162 off 62 balls, which included 16 sixes and 11 fours. They won the match by 84 runs after limiting Ireland to 194/6 later in the second innings.

3. India 297/6 vs Bangladesh, 2024

During the Hyderabad T20I between India and Bangladesh in 2024, the Indian cricket team scored 297/6, which is the third-highest total in T20I format. This is also the second-highest total in T20Is by any test-playing nation. India's captain Suryakumar Yadav scored a brilliant 75 runs, while opener Sanju Samson hammered 111 runs. In the later moments, Hardik Pandya (18-ball 47) and Riyan Parag (13-ball 34) led the hosts to 297/6. Ultimately India won the game by 133 runs.

2. Nepal 314/3 vs Mongolia, 2023

Nepal became the first team to score over 300 runs in an innings in T20I cricket. They accomplished this incredible feat against Mongolia in the 2023 Asian Games Men's Cricket Competition. With 12 sixes and eight fours, Nepal's Kushal Malla scored 137 runs off 50 balls while batting first. Nepal's total reached 314/3 in 20 overs thanks to a spectacular knock of 52 runs off just 10 deliveries from Dipendra Singh Airee towards the end. While chasing Mongolia was bowled out for 41 runs and Nepal won the lopsided match by 273 runs.

1. Zimbabwe – 344/4 vs Gambia, 2024

On October 23, 2024, Zimbabwe became the second team to reach the 300-run milestone in a T20I game. They smashed 344/4 against Gambia and registered the highest ever T20I team total during a game against Gambia in group B clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier.  The game was held at Ruaraka Sports Club Ground, Nairobi.

Zimbabwe not only broke India’s record for highest T20I total by a test-playing country, but also broke the overall record for highest T20I total, which was previously held by Nepal (314). Captain Sikandar Raza (133 off 43), Openers Brian Bennett (50 off 26), T Marumani (62 off 19) and Clive Madande (53 off 17) were the key contributors for Zimbabwe in that game.

Cover Credits - ICC Official