T20 Team 0f The Year 2021

As compared to the last year, fans enjoyed a lot more cricketing action in 2021. Amidst the Covid-19 outbreak, the boards of different nations managed to conduct the tournaments in strict bio-bubbles. The ICC T20 World Cup 2021, which was scheduled to be held last year, took place this year between October and November. Different T20 franchise tournaments were conducted, while the teams also played several T20 bilateral series.

There is no denying that T20 cricket has become the most exciting and loved format in the game. To the delight of the fans, they witnessed numerous domestic and internationals T20 competitions in the year 2021. The world saw a new T20 World Cup winner i.e., Australia. The Men in Yellow claimed their first-ever T20 World Cup title after beating New Zealand in the final.

Over the past 12 months, we have seen some sensational performances in T20 internationals. And, on the basis of that, we have compiled our T20 team of the year 2021. Here’s a look at those 11 players on the list.

T20 Team 0f The Year 2021

Mohammad Rizwan

In the recently concluded third T20 international against West Indies, Mohammad Rizwan played a sensational knock of 87 runs off just 45 balls to help Pakistan chase down a mammoth 207-run total in 18.5 overs. With that, he also became the first-ever batsman to score 2000 runs in T20 cricket in a calendar year.

M Rizwan has scored runs for fun in the shortest format this year. In 29 T20 internationals, he has managed to score 1326 runs at an average of 73.66. He was the third-highest run-scorer in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, amassing 281 runs in 6 matches at an average of 70.25.

Rizwan’s sensational run in T20 internationals this year makes him the number one batsman in our T20 team of the year.

Babar Azam

Along with Rizwan, Babar Azam has had a great run in 2021 as far as T20 international performances are concerned. He has scored the second most number of runs in T20 internationals in 2021. Babar Azam has also played 29 T20Is this year, scoring 939 runs at an average of 37.56.

The Pakistan skipper has formed a formidable pair with M Rizwan in T20 cricket. The duo has given countless outstanding starts to the team, which helped the other batsmen play a lot more freely. Babar Azam was the highest run-scorer in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 as he aggregated 303 runs in 6 matches at an average of 60.60.

Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Marsh has played some impactful knocks in T20 internationals for Australia in 2021. Such performances with the bat also helped him find a place in Australia’s squad in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Perhaps, Mitchell Marsh has made the biggest impact with the bat for Australia in the shortest format this year.

In the slow and low surfaces in Bangladesh, where all the Australian batsmen were struggling, Mitchell Marsh sent the bowlers on a leather hunt. He scored the bulk of the runs for Australia in the series.

He was the highest run-scorer in the series, aggregating 156 runs in 5 matches at 31.20. His match-winning knock of 77-run off 50 deliveries in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 against New Zealand will be remembered forever. Mitchell Marsh has scored 627 runs in 21 T20 internationals this year at an average of 36.88.

Mohammad Naim

Mohammad Naim made his debut for Bangladesh in a T20 international against India in November 2021. Since then, he has managed to play 22 T20 internationals for Bangladesh, scoring 570 runs at 27.14.

In his career so far, Naim has played some notable knocks and he impressed with his fierce strokeplay and exceptional temperament. 2021 has been a solid year for M Naim as far as T20 internationals are concerned.

He played some solid knocks at the top of the order for Bangladesh in ICC T20 World Cup 2021. He was, in fact, the highest run-getter for the team, amassing 174 runs in 7 matches at 24.86. In the year 2021, M Naim has scored 575 runs in 26 T20 internationals at 23.00.

Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler came into the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with a hunger to make England win the T20 World Cup 2021. He is regarded as one of the most destructive hitters in the game and he played like one in the competition. Buttler looked threatening from the very first game.

He exhibited a sensational display of ball-striking and helped the team finish the league stage at the number one position in Group 2. Buttler amassed 269 runs in 6 matches at a staggering average of 89.67. Overall, he has scored 589 runs in 14 T20 internationals in 2021 at an average of 65.44 and a strike rate of 143.30.

Mahmudullah

Mahmudullah didn’t have the greatest of the outings in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Still, he managed to score 169 runs in 8 T20 internationals at an average of 28.17, including a half-century. He played a couple of notable knocks in the tournament.

Besides, the Bangladesh skipper has played a vital role in Bangladesh’s victories in T20 internationals this year. Overall, he has managed to score 496 runs in 26 T20 internationals this year at 23.61.

Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan is, unarguably, the most important player in the Bangladesh Cricket Team across formats. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a big asset for any side in the shortest format. Shakib Al Hasan played an instrumental role with the bat in helping Bangladesh reach the Super 12 stage.

Bangladesh played three matches in the qualifying round of the competition, scoring 20, 42 (29) and 46 (37). Besides, he picked 11 wickets with the ball in 6 matches in the tournament. He was the highest run-scorer for Bangladesh in the T20 series against Australia, scoring 114 runs in 5 matches at 22.80. Besides, he picked 7 wickets in 5 matches at 18.14.

Wanindu Hasaranga

Impressive performances in white-ball cricket for the last couple of years has made him a household name in T20 cricket. Over the last couple of years, consistent performances with the ball have helped Wanindu Hasaranga become one of the most important assets for Sri Lanka in white-ball cricket. Hasaraga was sensational throughout the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.

He picked 16 wickets in 8 matches at 9.875 and finished the ICC T20 World Cup tournament with the most number of wickets by any bowler, including a hat-trick. He is credited for putting a halt on the run-flow for the opposition in the middle overs. Hasaranga is one of the best spinners in world cricket right now and is currently the number one in the ICC T20 rankings for bowlers.

Tabraiz Shamsi

Tabraiz Shamsi has been in the form of his life. A rarity in world cricket, left-arm Chinaman, Tabraiz Shamsi has had great success in the shortest format of the game over the last couple of years. He has been South Africa’s biggest bet in T20 internationals.

The current number two bowler in the ICC rankings in T20Is, Tabraiz Shamsi finds a place in our T20 team of the year 2021. For those of you who don’t know, Shamsi has picked the second most number of wickets in T20 internationals in 2021. In 22 matches, he has managed to pick 36 wickets at an average of 13.36.

Mustafizur Rahman

When it comes to the shortest format of the game, Mustafizur Rahman has been Bangladesh’s biggest bet in the fastest bowling department. His biggest weapon- the off cutters- has fetched him a number of wickets.

His ability to vary the pace and not get too complacent has helped him become a lethal weapon in T20 cricket. Rahman has played quite well for Bangladesh in T20 internationals this year. He is, in fact, the fifth-highest wicket-taker in T20 internationals this year. In 20 T20Is, he has managed to pick 28 wickets at an average of 17.39.

Hasan Ali

Hasan Ali endured an underwhelming performance for Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. He, was, in fact, the only Pakistan bowler who didn’t perform well in the tournament. In 6 matches, he managed to pick only 5 wickets at 41.40. However, apart from that tournament, Hasan Ali was phenomenal for Pakistan in the shortest format in 2021.

The 27-year old bowled at great areas and was amongst the wickets in all the series he was part of in this year. He played 18 T20 internationals and managed to pick 25 wickets at an average of 19.28.