T20 World Cup: Indians to win player-of-the-tournament award
What's the story
Indian batter Sanju Samson was adjudged the Player of the Tournament for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. Samson starred with 50-plus knocks in each of India's last three knockouts, including the final. He smashed 89 as India beat New Zealand to win their third title. He became the third Indian to win the player-of-the-tournament award. Here's the elite list.
#1
Virat Kohli: 2014 and 2016
In 2014, Virat Kohli became the first Indian to be adjudged the Player of the Tournament at the T20 World Cup. He smashed a record 319 runs at 106.33, but India lost to Sri Lanka in the final. The following edition (2016) also saw Kohli win the award. Despite his heroics (296 runs at 98.66), India lost to West Indies in the semi-final.
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Multiple awardsÂ
Kohli remains the only player to be adjudged the T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament twice. And he did so in back-to-back editions. Pakistan's Shahid Afridi was the first player to win this award, back in 2007.
#2
Jasprit Bumrah: 2024
India won their second T20 World Cup title in 2024, with Jasprit Bumrah winning the player-of-the-tournament award. He bowled brilliant spells throughout the campaign, taking 15 wickets at 8.27 (ER: 4.17). Bumrah showed his masterclass in the high-voltage final against South Africa, returning 2/18. He pulled India back from the jaws of defeat as SA needed just 30 runs in the last five overs.
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Sanju Samson: 2026
As mentioned, Samson is the latest Indian on this list. He now has the most runs for India in a T20 World Cup edition, breaking Kohli's record. While Kohli scored 319 runs in 2014, Samson concluded the 2026 edition with 321 runs at 80.25.