Legendary Australia batter-keeper Adam Gilchrist has chosen his top five T20I players in the world today ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022 which will be played down under from October 16 onwards.
Gilchrist, who himself is credited for revolutionizing the game with his work with both bat and wicket-keeping gloves, enjoyed an amazing career for Australia in white-ball cricket. He won three World Cup titles with the Kangaroos.
He scored 9619 runs in 287 ODIs at a strike rate of 96.94 and 2622 T20 runs at a strike rate of almost 141.
Talking to the ICC review, Gilchrist now picked five of the best T20I players at the moment.
His first choice was the 2021 T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament, David Warner. In 91 T20Is, Warner has 2684 runs with one century and 22 fifties at a strike rate of 140.89.
“He’s at the top of the order. I think just his attacking attitude, the way he kick-starts innings at the top, and the confidence he’ll have from the previous T20 World Cup,” Gilchrist said.
Next, he picked Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who in 87 T20Is, has 3039 runs with 2 centuries and 27 fifties at a strike rate of 130.03.
Gilchrist said: “His versatility across all formats, but also when it’s getting down to T20 cricket, just across all conditions, I think he can play all conditions really well.”
The third pick by Gilchrist was Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has had an amazing comeback to the Indian team in 2022. He has 989 runs in 73 T20Is at a strike rate of 148.89 and has picked 54 wickets as well.
“Pandya is just an awesome figure straight across the board. His ability to bat, bowl, field, and entertain, he’s definitely in there,” the former Australia keeper said.
Rashid Khan of Afghanistan was Gilchrist’s fourth choice, given that he has 118 wickets in 71 T20Is with an economy of 6.24.
“He’s just got to be there in any T20 team, doesn’t he? Cricketer of the year in this format across the world. Over the last decade, Rashid Khan is in there,” Gilchrist added.
His last pick was England captain Jos Buttler, who has made 2227 runs in 94 T20Is at a strike rate of 142.57 with one century and 15 fifties.
“It’s a bit batting heavy I know, but Jos Buttler for me. He is just dynamic, his power and his courage to take it on. Simply a stroke of brilliance from him and its game over,” Gilchrist signed off.
(ICC inputs)
