Suryakumar Yadav, Sikandar Raza Included As ICC Releases T20I Player Of The Year 2023 Nominees

In the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year 2023 nominees, the cricket governing body has included Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav, Zimbabwe batter Sikandar Raza, Uganda left-arm spinner Alpesh Ramjani and New Zealand batter Mark Chapman in the list.

Suryakumar Yadav is currently the number-one batter in the T20I format whereas, Sikandar Raza has played some brilliant T20I knocks for Zimbabwe in the past. Uganda’s Alpesh Ramjani showcased tremendous performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup Africa qualifier and helped the team book a maiden place in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Mark Chapman on the other hand was also at his best with his performance in the shorter format for the Blackcaps.

A brief look at the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year 2023 nominees

Suryakumar Yadav

Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav had a tremendous year with the bat in the T20I format in 2023 and will aim to win the award for the second consecutive time. Suryakumar has played a total of 18 T20I matches this year and has scored 733 runs at an average of 48.86. His strike rate was 155.95 on this occasion and has slammed 2 hundred as well in the T20I format this year. His highest score has been 112* and is one of the prime candidates to win the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year 2023 award.

Sikandar Raza

Zimbabwean batsman Sikandar Raza ended the year 2023 with 515 runs in the T20I format along with six half-centuries. Raza was in significant form during the 2024 T20 World Cup Africa qualifier and hit a total of three half-centuries from six matches in the qualifiers. Raza’s highest score came against Kenya, where he scored 82 runs and also picked up 2/21 with the ball. However, Zimbabwe finished 3rd in the standings and were not able to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup from the Africa region.

Sikandar Raza has been brilliant for Zimbabwe over the years and with such great performance, Raza can win the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year.

Alpesh Ramjani

Alpesh Ramjani is one name, with whom not many cricket fans might be familiar. But, the Uganda left-arm spin bowling all-rounder has played a very major role in helping them qualify for their first-ever T20 World Cup. Uganda made a major upset by defeating Zimbabwe in the 2024 T20 World Cup Africa qualifier.

Alpesh Ramjani has played a total of 35 T20I matches for Uganda and has picked up 60 wickets along with 549 runs with two half-centuries.

Mark Chapman

The young left-handed batsman started playing T20Is in 2023 on a tour of Pakistan earlier this year and scored 270 runs to become the Player of the Series. Chapman has played a significant role for the Kiwis at the number 4 and 5 position and till now has scored 1349 runs from 62 matches at an average of 29.97. Chapman is also among the top run scorers in the T20I format this year and has scored 576 runs from 21 matches. Chapman has also slammed one hundred this year.

Amongst very tough competition, Suryakumar Yadav and Sikandar Raza are one of the main contenders to win the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year 2023.