No.10: Sherfane Rutherford 68* (39) v New Zealand, Tarouba

Sherfane Rutherford’s fiery fifty revived the West Indies' hopes in their T20 World Cup clash against New Zealand. The hosts were 30-5 in the seventh over, when Rutherford decided to counter-attack, aided by Akeal Hosein. With New Zealand's fast-bowling resources exhausted, Rutherford took full advantage in the 19th over, smashing Daryl Mitchell for sixes and taking 18 more runs off Mitchell Santner’s final over. His career-best unbeaten 68 off 39 balls lifted the West Indies to 149-9.

No.9: Nicholas Pooran 98 (53) v Afghanistan, Gros Islet

Two balls were all Nicholas Pooran needed to settle in, making an immediate impact with a record-breaking 36-run over against Azmatullah Omarzai. Pooran hammered three sixes and two fours, including one off a no-ball, signalling his intent. Along with Johnson Charles, Pooran steadied the innings and then took on the attack in the death, making 45 in the last 14 balls. He looked set for a century after blasting back-to-back sixes off Naveen-ul-Haq, only to be run out by a direct hit.

No.8: Tilak Varma 120* (47) v South Africa, Johannesburg

It is not often that a batter’s T20 hundred is overshadowed but Tilak Varma managed to do just that during the fourth T20I as his knock shone over Sanju Samson’s. Walking in with one ball to go in the powerplay, Tilak hit 10 sixes and nine fours - scoring 96 of his 120 runs in boundaries! Each six, timed perfectly off the middle of the bat, was better than the previous as he became just the second India batter to score successive T20I tons.

No.7: Ross Adair 100 (58) v South Africa, Abu Dhabi

Ireland claimed a historic first T20I victory over South Africa in Abu Dhabi, defending 195, their highest total against the Proteas. Ross Adair stole the show with a blistering 57-ball century, Ireland's third in T20Is, before his brother, Mark Adair, sealed the win with 4 for 31.

Ross, riding his luck after surviving five chances, hammered nine sixes, the most by an Irish batter in the format, and shared a 137-run opening stand with Paul Stirling, who returned to form with a half-century. Despite a late collapse, Ireland’s target proved insurmountable.

No.6 - Rahmanullah Gurbaz 60 (49) v Australia, Kingstown

In a crucial game that Afghanistan needed to win to keep their semi-final hopes alive, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and opener Ibrahim Zadran walked out with intent, putting together 118 runs for the opening stand in 15.5 overs. On a sticky wicket yet again, Gurbaz was the aggressor, hitting four sixes and as many fours, scoring at a rate of 122.44 as his team posted a challenging 148-6. He top-scored across both teams and while his efforts were overshadowed in the end, it played a massive role in Afghanistan's entry into the top four.

No.5: Heinrich Klaasen 52 (27) v India, Bridgetown

South Africa seemed to have failed to keep the missteps of the ICC knockouts aside as they were reeling at 70-3 in 8.5 overs in the final. Quinton de Kock's departure reduced them to 106-4, still needing 71 in the last 45 balls. Klaasen, however, remained unnerved, hitting five sixes in what could have been a knock for the ages. Some inspired bowling from India in the last four overs, though, led to his - and South Africa's - downfall.

No.4: Axar Patel 47 (31) v South Africa, Bridgetown

Axar Patel, a floater in the side, was promoted to No.5 in the World Cup final, arguably one of the biggest masterstrokes by the team management at the time. After India had lost three wickets for 34, and with Virat Kohli struggling on a slow wicket, Axar was sent up to counter the threat of the spinners. He scored 28 off 17 balls against the slower bowlers and ensured the run rate kept ticking from his end. His knock eventually allowed Kohli to settle down and attack the pacers in the end, helping India to a defendable total.

No.3: Aaron Jones 94* (40) v Canada, Dallas

Aaron Jones lit up the night with a masterclass that etched the USA’s name in the annals of T20 World Cup history. Chasing 195 against Canada in the opener, he walked in at 42 for 2, the shadows of defeat looming large. What followed was poetry in motion—a ferocious 94* off 40 balls, laced with ten colossal sixes, becoming only the second batter after Chris Gayle to hit 10 or more sixes in an innings in the tournament. Jones danced down, swept, and launched the spinners into oblivion and alongside Andries Gous took the USA to their first-ever T20 World Cup win.

No.2 Finn Allen 137 (62) v Pakistan, Dunedin

Finn Allen's sensational knock contained 16 sixes and led New Zealand to a dominant 45-run victory over Pakistan in the third T20I in Dunedin. Allen’s knock surpassed Brendon McCullum’s 123, setting a new record for the highest individual T20I score for New Zealand. His onslaught began with consecutive sixes off Shaheen Afridi and continued with explosive hitting throughout, including a 26-ball half-century.

Allen belted 28 runs off Haris Rauf in a single over, raced to 91 in five balls, and brought up his century with a six and a four. Despite the fall of Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell, Allen’s relentless assault, particularly on the leg side, was unstoppable as New Zealand posted 224 on the board.

No.1 Rohit Sharma 92 (41) v Australia, Gros Islet

Playing against famous nemesis Australia, who had denied India the WTC mace and the ODI World Cup before, Rohit Sharma walked out with vengeance with a semi-final spot on the line. Kohli had been dismissed for a duck but if any signs of an encore were feared, it quickly disappeared as Rohit struck Mitchell Starc for 29 in the third over.

There was no stopping him thereafter: in an innings defined by front-foot dominance, Rohit consistently punished the full deliveries. His powerful slog sweep off Pat Cummins, along with a smooth extra-cover drive against Marcus Stoinis, were just a few examples of his elegant strokeplay. Rohit was at the crease for 11 overs, of which six went for double-digits. The innings was the perfect climax for the skipper’s new-found romance with fearless batting as India rode on the momentum to beat Australia and then England to make the final.

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