Rashid Khan Reveals His Top 5 T20 Players, Leaves Out Chris Gayle

Afghanistan leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, has revealed his list of five best players in the T20 format. Surprisingly, Rashid left out the highest scorer in the format, Chris Gayle, and included New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson.

The T20 format is a fast-paced one where a couple of failures could result in an axing from the playing XI. Therefore, maintaining consistency in such a format where plenty of risks are involved right from the start isn’t easy. Ahead of the T20 World Cup, Rashid elaborated on his top-5 T20 players in the world.

First up, he chose Indian skipper, Virat Kohli. The 32-year-old is a legendary all-format player, perhaps the best there ever is. His exploits in white-ball cricket are a few levels above his contemporaries. Rashid’s Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) teammate, Kane Williamson, and AB de Villiers were next up on the list.

“Doesn’t really depend on the wicket, doesn’t matter whatever the wicket is, he is someone who is going to step up and perform,” Rashid said about Kohli. “A destructive batsman, someone who can give you quick runs at any stage, any wicket, against any bowler, and he can play any shot. As a captain, you will always love to have that batsman,” the Afghan spinner stated regarding de Villiers.

“They are the kind of batsmen who can do the job for you easily” – Rashid Khan on Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard

Finally, the last two spots on the list were filled up by the deadly Mumbai Indians (MI) duo of Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard. The all-rounders have been an essential part of MI’s domination in the IPL over the last few years. However, in the middle overs and the death overs, the damage that Hardik and Pollard can do is quite unparalleled.

“These two will be my key (batters) who can chase 80-90 when I need them in the last four-five overs. They are the kind of batsmen who can do the job for you easily,” Rashid said.

Although De Villiers has retired from international cricket, the rest of the players will be key to their side’s chances heading into the T20 World Cup.

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