The year 2017 is coming to an end with a handful of limited overs matches remaining in it. However, before the year ends, we had some batsmen and bowlers who performed well throughout the year on a consistent basis and need to be given their due. Therefore, COC brings to you the best eleven (plus one) from the Twenty-20 international cricket in 2017.
EVIN LEWIS (WI)
357 runs in 9 matches with a best of 125* and 31 sixes
Evin Lewis scored 357 runs in 9 matches for West Indies and proved that West Indies is a team to reckon with when it comes to the shortest format of international cricket. He scored 125* against India with 6 fours and 12 sixes at Kingston in July. This was his second century in T20Is and second against India, putting him in an elite list of batsmen with more than one century in the format.
ROHIT SHARMA (IND)
283 runs in 9 matches with a record fastest ton in 35 balls
Rohit Sharma started his India captaincy career with a 3-0 win over Sri Lanka and this included a record equaling century in the Indore T20I. He hit 118 off 43 balls with the century coming in 35 balls, equaling David Miller’s record of 35 ball century against Bangladesh in October. Rohit had a strike rate of 171.51, which is amazing for an opener.
VIRAT KOHLI (IND)
299 runs in 10 matches
Virat Kohli hit 299 runs in 10 matches with a best of 82. He kept India’s T20I slate relatively clean, suffering just one loss against West Indies. He amazed everyone with his ability to score quick runs without taking any risks.
BABAR AZAM (PAK)
352 runs 10 matches
Babar Azam scored 352 runs in 10 matches with a best of 86 and average of 39.11. He hit 33 fours and 4 sixes and kept Pakistan on the top with a 3-0 win over Sri Lanka in UAE. He is an extremely wonderful batsman who will reach new heights in coming time.
AB de VILLIERS (SA)
304 runs in 7 matches with average of 50.66
AB de Villiers has hit 304 runs in 7 matches with an average of 50.66. He has hit 12 sixes in the T20I matches so far and has given South Africa much needed experience when they have experimented with new faces this year.
MS DHONI (IND)
252 runs in 13 matches
MS Dhoni hit 252 runs in 13 matches with a strike rate of 138.46. He also hit his first career T20I fifty against England this year and has been one of the best finishers in the format, despite some shortcomings.
IMRAN TAHIR (SA)
14 wickets in 9 matches
Imran Tahir might have lost his place in the South African T20I team in the second half of the year, as they experimented with new faces, but he still picked 14 wickets in 9 matches. His best bowling was 5/24 and he impressed one and all. He can be credited along with Samuel Badree for the resurgence of leg spin in T20 format.
YUZVENDRA CHAHAL (IND)
23 wickets in 11 matches with best of 6/25
Yuzvendra Chahal proved that leg spinners are a must in every team, as he picked up 23 wickets in 11 matches this year to end up as the highest wicket taker in the format. He picked 2 four wicket hauls and one five wicket haul; he also became the second bowler after Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis to take 6 wickets in an innings against England.
JASPRIT BUMRAH (IND)
12 wickets in 11 matches
Jasprit Bumrah reigned supreme in the T20I format with 12 wickets in 11 matches. His biggest impact came when he bowled in the death overs as Virat Kohli used him to great effect when the bowlers are going for runs and batsmen are going after the bowlers.
KESRICK WILLIAMS (WI)
17 wickets in 9 matches
Kesrick Williams picked 17 wickets in 9 matches this year to keep Windies name high in the T20I format. Williams got the chance to show off all the skills he gained in the Caribbean Premier League and the domestic T20 tournaments in international cricket to great effect.
HASAN ALI (PAK)
12 wickets in 9 matches
Pakistan’s Hasan Ali was also in the mix taking 12 wickets in 9 matches. He was impressive in the shorter formats of the game and became highly effective in the death overs for Pakistan. His best bowling in T20Is this year was 3/23.
RASHID KHAN (AFG)- 12th MAN
17 wickets in 10 matches with a best of 5/3
Afghanistan’s teenage sensation Rashid Khan amazed one and all this year with his aggressive brand of leg spin bowling. He looked batsmen in the eye whenever he was hit for runs and ended up snaring them. His 17 wickets in 10 matches came at an astonishing average of 9.41, with a best of 5/3.
