Nicholas Pooran picks Top 5 All-time T20 Batters, Suryakumar Yadav and MS Dhoni not included [Exclusive]

Published - 31 Oct 2025, 18:39 IST | Updated - 31 Oct 2025, 19:32 IST

Nicholas Pooran is one of the finest batters in T20 cricket history. Earlier this year, the wicketkeeper-batter retired from international cricket at the age of just 30 to invest more time playing in franchise leagues around the world. Last month, he led Trinbago Knight Riders to the Caribbean Premier League title in his first year in charge of the franchise. During the tournament, he finished as the second-highest run-getter.

During a recent interview with CricTracker, Pooran was asked to name the five best batters according to him in the T20 format. It was interesting to get the Trinidad-born's take in this regard, as he himself is among the best batters to have played in the shortest format of the game.

Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Kieron Pollard, Jos Buttler, and AB de Villiers were the batters picked by Pooran. Former West Indies captain Gayle holds several T20 records, including the most runs, most centuries, and most sixes. He is also the first player to reach the 10,000-run mark in the format. The southpaw holds the record for the fastest T20I century (off 30 balls) and the highest individual T20 score (175*).

Meanwhile, Kohli has some staggering records in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has the most runs, most centuries, and most fifties in the format. He is also the only player to win Player of the Tournament awards in back-to-back editions of the T20 World Cup.

Pollard, who is also a former West Indies captain, made significant contributions for the Caribbean side as well as for the franchises he has played for over the years. He was one of the key players for the Mumbai Indians when they won the IPL five times under Rohit Sharma's leadership.

Jos Buttler captained England till the 2025 Champions Trophy. He has the most centuries in the IPL (7) among overseas batters. He led the Three Lions to victory in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Buttler also has the most runs against India in T20I cricket.

AB de Villiers, a former South Africa captain, made a name for himself by scoring runs all around the park. The right-handed batter was equally explosive against fast bowlers as well as spinners. In the recent World Championship of Legends, de Villiers returned to action after a long time and finished as the highest run-getter by a distance, amassing 431 runs in six matches at an average of 143.67 and a strike rate of 221.03.

Nicholas Pooran picks All-Time T20 XI; No Rohit, Dhoni

Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Kieron Pollard, Jos Buttler, AB de Villiers