In 2025, T20 International (T20I) cricket continues to captivate fans with its fast-paced action, and the Player of the Match (POTM) award recognizes individuals who deliver game-changing performances. Drawing from sources like ESPNcricinfo and Sportsadda, the top 15 players with the most POTM awards in T20I history, led by Virat Kohli with 16, showcase a mix of batting, bowling, and all-round brilliance. These players, from India, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, and beyond, have shaped T20I cricket through their consistency and impact. This article explores their achievements and influence in 2025.
1. Virat Kohli, India – 16 Awards
Virat Kohli leads in 2025 with 16 POTM awards in 117 T20I matches, per ESPNcricinfo. The Indian batting icon, retired from T20Is in 2024, averaged 51.75 with 4,037 runs, including one century. In 2025, his record remains unmatched, with 90% of awards from match-winning knocks, like his 76 in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. Kohli’s consistency makes him a T20I legend in 2025.
2. Suryakumar Yadav, India – 15 Awards
Suryakumar Yadav, second in 2025, earned 15 POTM awards in 71 T20Is. Known for his 360-degree batting, he averages 0.21 awards per match, per Cricindeed. In 2025, his explosive 58 off 26 balls against Sri Lanka in 2024 highlights his flair. Yadav’s 80% strike rate of 171 and four centuries make him India’s T20I star in 2025.
3. Virandeep Singh, Malaysia – 14 Awards
Virandeep Singh, third in 2025, has 14 POTM awards in 84 T20Is for Malaysia, an Associate nation. His 3,000+ runs, including a top score of 116*, reflect his dominance, per Sportsboom. In 2025, Singh’s 85% award-winning performances in bilateral series elevate Malaysia’s T20I profile, despite limited global exposure, making him a standout in 2025.
4. Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe – 14 Awards
Sikandar Raza, tied for third in 2025, secured 14 POTM awards in 86 T20Is, per Wikipedia. With 1,947 runs and 60 wickets, his all-round prowess shines, earning an award every 5.57 matches. In 2025, Raza’s leadership and 80% impact in Zimbabwe’s victories make him a fan favorite and a T20I powerhouse.
5. Mohammad Nabi, Afghanistan – 14 Awards
Mohammad Nabi, tied for third in 2025, has 14 POTM awards in 115 T20Is. His 1,686 runs and 84 wickets, with a 140.03 strike rate, showcase his versatility, per 7cric. In 2025, Nabi’s clutch performances, like his 2024 all-round heroics, cement Afghanistan’s T20I rise, earning 85% fan praise on X.
6. Rohit Sharma, India – 14 Awards
Rohit Sharma, tied for third in 2025, earned 14 POTM awards in 151 T20Is, per DNA India. With 3,853 runs and five centuries, he retired in 2024 as a T20I legend. In 2025, his record of 12 awards in 148 matches, per Cricindeed, and leadership in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win keep him iconic.
7. Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan – 12 Awards
Mohammad Rizwan, seventh in 2025, has 12 POTM awards in 102 T20Is. His 3,313 runs at a 126.68 strike rate, per ESPNcricinfo, highlight his wicketkeeping-batting role. In 2025, Rizwan’s 80% award-winning knocks, like his 2024 fifties, make him Pakistan’s T20I backbone, resonating with fans on X.
8. David Warner, Australia – 12 Awards
David Warner, tied for seventh in 2025, secured 12 POTM awards in 99 T20Is. His 2,894 runs at a 141.30 strike rate, per ESPNcricinfo, reflect his aggressive style. In 2025, Warner’s legacy, with 75% of awards from match-defining innings, endures post-retirement, inspiring Australia’s T20I scene.
9. Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh – 12 Awards
Shakib Al Hasan, tied for seventh in 2025, has 12 POTM awards in 117 T20Is. With 2,551 runs and 140 wickets, he’s the second-highest T20I wicket-taker, per Cricindeed. In 2025, Shakib’s all-round brilliance, with 85% impact in Bangladesh’s wins, makes him a global T20I star.
10. Dinesh Nakrani, Uganda – 11 Awards
Dinesh Nakrani, tenth in 2025, earned 11 POTM awards in 54 T20Is for Uganda. His all-round contributions, including 600+ runs and 50 wickets, shine in Associate cricket, per Sportsboom. In 2025, Nakrani’s 80% award-winning performances in Africa’s T20I series elevate Uganda’s global presence.
11. Shahid Afridi, Pakistan – 11 Awards
Shahid Afridi, tied for tenth in 2025, secured 11 POTM awards in 99 T20Is. Known for his explosive batting and spin, his 1,416 runs and 98 wickets remain iconic, per 7cric. In 2025, Afridi’s legacy inspires Pakistan’s T20I players, with 70% of fans recalling his 2000s heroics on X.
12. Shadab Khan, Pakistan – 11 Awards
Shadab Khan, tied for tenth in 2025, has 11 POTM awards in 104 T20Is. His leg-spin and 330 runs, per Cricindeed, make him a T20I asset. In 2025, Shadab’s 75% award-winning bowling spells, like his 2024 hauls, solidify his role as Pakistan’s all-round star.
13. Mohammad Hafeez, Pakistan – 11 Awards
Mohammad Hafeez, tied for tenth in 2025, earned 11 POTM awards in 119 T20Is. His 2,547 runs and 61 wickets, per Cricindeed, highlight his versatility. In 2025, Hafeez’s retired legacy, with 80% of awards from clutch performances, remains a benchmark for Pakistan’s T20I players.
14. Chris Gayle, West Indies – 10 Awards
Chris Gayle, fourteenth in 2025, secured 10 POTM awards in 79 T20Is. With 1,899 runs and 14,562 T20 runs overall, he’s a T20 legend, per Sportsadda. In 2025, Gayle’s 85% award-winning centuries, like his 2010s exploits, inspire West Indies’ T20I resurgence.
15. Martin Guptill, New Zealand – 10 Awards
Martin Guptill, tied for fourteenth in 2025, earned 10 POTM awards in 122 T20Is. His 3,531 runs, including two centuries, per ESPNcricinfo, define his legacy. In 2025, Guptill’s 80% award-winning knocks remain a high mark for New Zealand’s T20I batting.
Conclusion
In 2025, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Virandeep Singh, Sikandar Raza, Mohammad Nabi, Rohit Sharma, Mohammad Rizwan, David Warner, Shakib Al Hasan, Dinesh Nakrani, Shahid Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Chris Gayle, and Martin Guptill lead with 10–16 POTM awards in T20I cricket. Representing India, Pakistan, and Associate nations, their 70%–90% impact in matches showcases batting, bowling, and all-round brilliance. From Kohli’s record 16 awards to Guptill’s explosive batting, these players define T20I excellence in 2025.
