Aakash Chopra picks top 5 T20I all-rounders of 2024, Hardik Pandya secures this spot

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has picked his top five all-rounders of the year 2024. India's star all-rounder has found a place in this list and is also the top pick among the five players.

Hardik Pandya was always going to be the top choice given a fantastic year for him in the T20I format. The allrounder was excellent with both bat and ball and also played a key role in India's T20 World Cup 2024 win.

The other four players in this list are Marcus Stoinis, Sikandar Raza, Roston Chase, and Azmatullah Omarzai. The criteria to be on this list was to play at least 10 T20Is in the whole year.

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Aakash Chopra picks Hardik Pandya as the best T20I allrounder of 2024

While speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra picked Hardik Pandya as his No. 1-ranked T20I allrounder of the year. Chopra named Pandya's achievements over the year and remembered how the allrounder's performances helped India win the T20 World Cup 2024.

"Hardik Pandya is at No. 1. He has scored 352 runs in 17 matches at an average of 44, which includes a half-century. He scored important runs throughout the World Cup. He has also picked up 16 wickets. He picked up David Miller's wicket and even more importantly Heinrich Klaasen's wicket (in the World Cup final)," Aakash Chopra said.

Hardik Pandya was undoubtedly a vital cog in India's T20 World Cup campaign in 2024. He scored runs in critical situations of the tournament and bowled crucial overs to win the games for his team.

His batting performance in the semi-final against England and his bowling performance in the final against South Africa helped India clinch the title. Hardik Pandya scored 144 runs with the bat at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 151.57 and also picked up 11 wickets at an average of 17.36.

Marcus Stoinis & Sikandar Raza

The second and third players on this list are Marcus Stoinis and Sikandar Raza respectively. While Stoinis also had an excellent T20 World Cup like Hardik, Raza has a T20I hundred to his name while also leading Zimbabwe to a memorable win over Pakistan.

"I have chosen Marcus Stoinis at No. 2. He has scored 330 runs at an average of 36 in 17 matches, which means you have done an excellent job. He has taken 21 wickets in those 17 matches," Aakash Chopra noted.

"At No. 3, you will get Sikandar Raza. He has scored 573 runs in 24 matches at an average of 28. He has scored a century as well. He also picked up 24 wickets. There is no doubt about it that you have to keep this player on this list," he explained.

Roston Chase & Azmatullah Omarzai

The last two players in this list are Roston Chase and Azmatullah Omarzai. Chase was one of West Indies' best players in their home T20 World Cup campaign while Omarzai had an excellent year with the ball and showed his skills as an allrounder.

"At No. 4, I have got Roston Chase. He is very underrated and flies under the radar. He has scored 336 runs in 22 innings with a highest of 67 and an average of 28. He has also picked up 15 wickets and bowls economically," Aakash Chopra explained.

"At No. 5, I have kept Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai. I find him a good player. He has scored 269 runs in 21 matches. His batting average is not very good, but he has picked up 18 wickets at an average of 22," the former India batter added.

Hardik Pandya is an established T20I player but will be aiming to stamp his authority in the ODI format as well. With the Champions Trophy due in less than a couple of months, Hardik Pandya will be key to India's chances in the tournament.