Best XI Players Who Have Had No Appearance In T20I Cricket So Far

Some cricketers have been specialists in certain formats and they have never been considered for other formats despite their exceptional performances and their potential. The modern era has changed a lot and it is going to be tough for a player to stick to just one format and they must start adapting according to the formats.

T20 internationals do require a lot more risk-taking players who can have the impact in the side rather than piling up runs in the ODI internationals or test cricket. With a note on that, it is time to look at the best XI players who have 0 appearances in T20I cricket.

Best XI Players Who Have Had No Appearance In T20I Cricket So Far:

Dean Elgar:

Dean Elgar is a regular feature for South Africa in the test team and he was recently appointed the test captain of the side. Elgar has been in and out of the ODI side after making his debut in 2012 and has played 67 Tests and 8 ODIs so far making 4260 and 104 runs in the format. The left-hand batsman can also bowl some useful left-arm spin and it is a surprise that he isn’t part of the limited-overs plans for the Proteas.

Dimuth Karunaratne:

Dimuth Karunaratne is the current captain of the Sri Lankan test team and he has also captained the ODI team in the past. The left-handed opener has a good very technique but he doesn’t play a lot of shots to be effective in the T20 formats. He has played 72 Tests and 34 ODIs so far in his international career but has never made it to the Sri Lankan T20i side.

Marnus Labuschagne:

Marnus Labuschagne is one of the best batsmen going around in the world at the moment and he has been very impressive so far in his short international career. The 26-year-old has an average of over 60 in test cricket and has played 13 ODI internationals too. He has been part of the T20I squad but hasn’t made a single appearance in T20 internationals for Australia still.

Cheteshwar Pujara:

Cheteshwar Pujara is one of India’s most important batsmen in tests and the 33-year-old has always been a test specialist. He sticks to the limited resources he has and he waits for the bad ball to punish it rather than converting the good deliveries. He has played 85 Tests and 5 ODI internationals so far in his career but never has been in the scheme of things for the T20I side.

Azhar Ali:

Azhar Ali has captained Pakistan in both test and ODI internationals in the past but has never made his debut in T20 internationals and he is too good a player to be ignored. He had a good technique and his calmness on the ground has always spoken highly of him. However, he hasn’t been a T20 player but he still has been an important part of the test team at the number three position.

Wriddhiman Saha:

The veteran Indian wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha hasn’t played a T20 international yet for India and is unlikely to do so in the future too. Saha has played 38 Tests and 9 ODIs and has never been a regular feature in any format. He has played some excellent knocks in the IPL at times with his century in the 2014 IPL final but has never considered a T20 player.

Keshav Maharaj:

The left-arm spinner from South Africa, Keshav Maharaj is a regular feature in the test side for his country and has played a few one-day internationals too. He is a handy batsman down the order too and is an orthodox spinner who doesn’t show many variations which have been one of the reasons for not making it to the T20I side still. He has played 34 Tests and 8 ODIs so far picking up 120 and 10 wickets respectively.

Rakheem Cornwall:

The big West Indian off-spinner Rakheem Cornwall has played just 7 tests for West Indies so far but is a good prospect in the T20 format. He opens the batting in the Caribbean premier league and he is known for demolishing the bowling attacks in the T20s. He hasn’t played limited-overs cricket for West Indies yet and he might get picked up sooner or later in the limited-overs squad too.

Naseem Shah:

Naseem Shah is an upcoming fast bowler who made his debut for Pakistan in test cricket at the age of 16 in 2019. He has played 9 tests and has picked 20 wickets so far in his career. His pace has been a big asset in the armory and he hasn’t yet been picked up in the Pakistan ODI or T20 side. Consistent performances in test cricket will certainly bring him into contention for the limited-overs side.

Alzarri Joseph:

Alzarri Joseph is an important bowler for West Indies in Test and ODI cricket and the 24-year-old still has a long way to go in his career. Having made his debut in 2016, he has played 16 Tests and 34 ODI internationals so far but hasn’t featured in the T20i side. He is a wicket-taking bowler but tends to be expensive at times, which has made it tough for him to break into the T20i side.

Neil Wagner:

Neil Wagner is one of the best bowlers going around at the moment in test cricket and he has a big part to play in the New Zealand test side. The left-arm fast bowler does generate a lot of pace and the 35-year-old has played 52 matches in test cricket picking 222 wickets at an average of 26.5. He hasn’t played a One day international and T20 game for New Zealand so far which is really surprising.