Brendon McCullum’s top 3 innings in T20I Cricket

Brendon McCullum Top 3 innings in T20I cricket career was nothing short of extraordinary. He participated in a staggering 370 T20 matches, leaving a lasting impact on the format. McCullum’s aggressive style and explosive batting made him a T20 sensation, and his career statistics spoke volumes. He accumulated a remarkable 9,922 runs in T20 cricket, a tally that included seven centuries and 55 half-centuries.

Notably, he concluded his illustrious cricketing journey as the second-highest run scorer in the T20 format, a testament to his consistency and ability to dominate the shortest version of the game. What set McCullum apart was his versatility, as he represented 27 teams in various T20 leagues around the world. However, today we are talking about McCullum’s top 3 T20I innings for New Zealand.

Here are Brendon McCullum Top 3 innings in T20I Cricket:

3. 116* off 56 vs. Australia in 2010

Brendon McCullum’s blazing innings of unbeaten 116 against Australia stand as a legendary display of destructive batting in T20I cricket. This innings marked his maiden T20I century and is etched in cricketing history as one of his most remarkable performances. Facing the formidable pace attack of Australia, featuring Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait, and Ryan Harris, McCullum unleashed his onslaught.

McCullum’s half-century came in 33 balls, but what followed was pure carnage as he smashed an additional 65 runs off just 23 deliveries. His extraordinary knock included 12 fours and eight towering sixes. With this, Baz carried New Zealand to a formidable total of 214/6. The match eventually concluded in a thrilling super over, where New Zealand emerged victorious.

2. 91 vs. India in 2012

In a crucial match against India during their tour in 2012, Brendon McCullum’s knock of 91 runs showcased his ability to rescue his team from crunch situations. New Zealand found themselves in deep trouble when they were reduced to 2-2 after opting to bat first. It was McCullum’s calculated innings that breathed life back into the Kiwi side.

McCullum formed crucial partnerships with the young Kane Williamson for a 90-run stand and with skipper Ross Taylor for 47 runs. Initially, he played an anchor role in rebuilding the innings while assessing the situation. Then McCullum unleashed a calculated assault, particularly targeting the seam-bowling duo of Zaheer Khan and Lakshmipathy Balaji.

His fearless approach was evident when he took on off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin too. Though falling just short of what would have been his second T20I century, McCullum’s brilliant 91 ensured that New Zealand reached a competitive total of 167-5, which ultimately proved sufficient for victory.

1. 123 vs. Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup 2012

In the 2012 World T20 in Sri Lanka, Brendon McCullum delivered a scintillating performance that left a lasting mark on T20I cricket. Batting at No. 3, he faced Bangladesh’s bowlers with brutal intent. Coming in at 19-1, he initially grappled with the left-arm spin of Abdur Razzak but swiftly found his rhythm against the seamers.

He reached fifty in just 29 balls and showed no signs of slowing down. McCullum played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s charge, helping them accumulate 62 runs in five overs during the middle phase and another 63 in the final four overs of the innings. The pinnacle of his innings was the century, when he hit 51 balls, making it the highest T20I score at that time.