India score 283-1 in Johannesburg: What are the highest team totals in men's T20Is?

Varma and Samson tore up the record books in Johannesburg, both scoring their second centuries of the series in a blistering display. Samson took the lead immediately, hitting his first six off Gerald Coetzee in the second over of the innings before Abhishek Sharma joined in, taking 22 runs in boundaries off Andile Simelane's first over into the attack. Abhishek was out in the following over, however, bringing Varma to the crease off the back of his maiden international hundred in the last match.

Samson reached 50 off just 28 balls as Varma fought to catch up. He took 25 balls for his own 50, hitting four consecutive boundaries off Aiden Markram after brining the milestone up. Varma's attack meant both he and Samson were in the 90s at the same time. Samson just about beat Varma to three figures, registering a 51-ball ton before Varma completed his off 41. In doing so, Varma became just the second India player to score back-to-back hundreds in men's T20Is.

While India threatened to break the record for the highest team score in a men's T20I, which they set only a month ago against Bangladesh, they ended well short. They scored 297-6 against Bangladesh, but 281-1 is still their second-highest score in the format and the third-highest of any team. They are also the only side to have scored more than 250 in the format for the loss of only one wicket.

Overall, only six times has a full-member team made more than 260 in a men’s T20I - India (twice), Afghanistan, England (267-3 against West Indies in 2023), Australia (263-3 against Sri Lanka, 2016) and Sri Lanka (260-6 against Kenya, 2007).

The highest men’s T20I team score still belongs to Nepal, who made 314-3 against Mongolia last year in the Asian Games. In all T20Is, the score of 300 has been breached five times, with Argentina Women possessing the highest team score of 427-1, which they made against Chile.

Highest team totals in men's T20Is