Best T20I XI of 2021

The 2021 season has been quite exciting for the fans. This year started with India’s historic Test win at The Gabba and ended with the Ashes being held Down Under. Now, it is time to look back at the top performers.

We witnessed the T20 World Cup which was heavily criticized because of the poor quality of pitches. The favorites India were knocked out in the group stage itself. But, the tournament’s knockout stages were quite exciting.

The underdogs Australia went on to win the World Cup. Thanks to an all-round performance by the team, they proved that the Test specialist bowlers can adapt to the conditions. Adding on, the Pakistani team were on full flow, but at the end of the World Cup, were knocked out by the eventual champions. Let us have a look at the best T20 XI of the year:

1. Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper)

This year has been the defining one for Mohammad Rizwan. During the initial phase of his career, he lacked consistency. But, he took that factor of the game to another level in 2021.

Rizwan played 27 matches for Pakistan in 2021. With 1146 runs to his name, he became the perfect opener for Pakistan. Adding on, he was instrumental in Pakistan’s win over India during the T20 World Cup.

The highest score of 104 not out shows his ability to play throughout the innings. This stat becomes more attractive when one checks his strike rate throughout this year, which is 131.57. This year, his tally of 10 half-centuries is difficult to break for any batter in upcoming years. Recently, he also became the first batter ever to score 2000 T20 run in a calendar year.

 2. David Warner

David Warner was having a horrible time during the IPL. Because of his poor form, he was sacked from captaincy and later on, was dropped. This was a huge shock for his fans as Warner was always known for his consistency.

But, things turned in favor of the Australian batter as he was the Man of the Series during the T20 World Cup. Thanks to the trust shown by Aaron Finch in Warner, he went on to score 289 runs from 7 innings. The highest score of 89 with a strike rate of 146.70 shows why he is regarded as one of the finest batters in this generation.

During the T20 World Cup, Warner scored three half-centuries with an average of 48.16. Adding on, he gave the middle order a perfect platform to cash in. Because of his contributions with the bat and the impact he makes, Warner is the opener of the squad.

 3. Babar Azam (captain)

As David Warner is more effective as an opener, Babar Azam takes a spot at number three. Under his captaincy, Pakistan has become a T20 powerhouse and continues to grow significantly. Babar was able to bring together a team comprising youngsters and veterans which makes him a special captain.

In 27 games, Babar has scored 853 runs at an average of 37.08. Along with Rizwan, he has given Pakistan solid starts on numerous occasions. His consistency makes him an effective T20 batter.

During the T20 World Cup, Babar was the highest run-scorer with 303 runs to his name. The highest score of 70 with an average of 60.60 shows his impact as a player. During adverse situations, he can anchor the innings.

 4. Aiden Markram

Even though South Africa was struggling as a team just before the T20 World Cup, they performed better than what was expected from them. This was mainly because their middle-order performed exceptionally well. Amongst the batters, Aiden Markram was one of the most consistent performers with the bat.

This year, Aiden has scored 570 runs with an average of 43.84. A strike rate of 148.82 showcases his ability to attack from the word “go.” During the game against England, Aiden crafted an important partnership with Rassie which was the defining moment of the match.

Adding on, he can bowl as a part-time bowler. This makes him a valuable asset as he can cover up for a bowler who is having a bad day. There is no doubt that franchises will be keeping an eye on him during the IPL mega auctions.

 5. Jos Buttler 

Post-2015 ICC World Cup, England has been one of the most dangerous teams in limited-overs cricket. And, one of the most vital members of the squad has been Jos Buttler, who is well known for his ability to strike the ball cleanly and his innovative approach to the game. His rise has fueled the growth of English cricket significantly.

Buttler has scored 589 runs in 14 games with a strike rate of 143.30. With a hundred to his name against Sri Lanka, he has shown how dangerous he can be with the bat at any stage of the game. This year, he has also scored five half-centuries in this format, which shows his consistency.

Talking about his average, Buttler has a solid average of 65.44. As he bats high up in the batting order for England, this average is the second-best in the lineup. However, here, he plays the role of the finisher, for which, he is more than capable.

 6. Mitchell Marsh 

No one believed that Mitchell Marsh would come into the Australian T20 World Cup side this year. And, given the fact that he was the most significant contributor with the bat in the final, is another surprising fact for those who had signed him off. This year has been nothing short of spectacular for the all-rounder.

He occupied the number three position as an attacking top-order batter who can bowl medium pace. This resulted in the demotion of Steve Smith, but it worked for Aaron Finch and the management. With 627 runs to his name, Marsh was highly effective.

Even though a strike rate of 129.81 is a bit low by his standards, he contributed in almost every game he played. With 6 half-centuries to his name, he was in the best shape of his career. Thankfully, the management was successful to bring the best out of him

 7. Rashid Khan

Times are a bit turbulent for Afghanistan back home, but Rashid Khan has been playing with pride for his nation. The T20I player of the decade has been playing for various franchises all around the world. For any team he plays for, he is an impact player who can destroy batting lineups easily.

This time around, Rashid was unplayable in the T20 World Cup. In 5 games, he picked 8 wickets. However, his economy rate of 6.10 shows his skills with the ball. Teams often tend to play him out as he can be lethal if the batter tends to attack him.

During the warm-up match against the Windies, Roston Chase had no idea how to pick him. Well, this is the story of most batters while they face Rashid. Adding on, he can be a valuable contributor with the bat down the order.

 8. Wanindu Hasaranga

 Arguably, Wanindu Hasaranga is the best T20 bowler in the world. He has been able to bring Sri Lanka into the sporting news because of his contributions and single-handed efforts to bring his team over the line. There is no doubt that he is the next superstar from the island nation.

Hasaranga has played 20 T20Is this year and has picked 36 wickets. His best performance came against a strong Indian side, which comprised of IPL stars. During that game, he picked 4 wickets for 9 runs and was unplayable.

Throughout the year, he had an impressive economy rate of 5.44. This makes him the best bowler in this format. Adding on, he can bat as well, for the Lankans, he has scored some valuable runs down the order.

 9. Josh Hazlewood

Few people would have imagined the rise of Josh Hazlewood as a T20 bowler. Over the years, he has been the backbone of Australia’s Test and ODI bowling attack. But, this year, he has established himself as a T20 bowler as well.

This makes him a great learner of the game. He took the initiative to play in the IPL to gain some experience. This helped him to perform for his national side during the T20 World Cup.

In 7 games, Hazlewood picked 11 wickets for Australia. During the whole tournament, he had an impressive economy rate of 7.29. Given the fact that he bowled during the powerplay and the death overs, this stat is somehow impressive.

 10. Tabraiz Shamsi

Tabraiz Shamsi is another spinner who has been dominating the format. For the South Africans, he has been a consistent performer with the ball. Even during his off days, he ensures that he pick wickets to bring his team back into the game. This makes him a standout bowler.

This year, Shamsi played 22 T20Is and picked 36 wickets for his team. Over the year, he averaged 13.36 and had an impressive economy rate of 5.72. There is no doubt that his captain managed him effectively.

His best bowling figures of 4/25 show his ability to keep it tight and also pick wickets. A bowling strike rate of 14 is also impressive, given the fact that the format is batter-friendly. Shamsi makes it to the squad as the proper spin bowling option for captain Babar.

11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

Shaheen Shah had a good year with the ball in the shortest format of the game. He was unplayable against India. Within the powerplay, he destroyed the opening pair of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul during the T20 WC game between two nations. Currently, he is one of the impact players for Pakistan.

The only poor outing for Shaheen came against Australia in the semi-final of the World Cup. During that game, Matthew Wade smashed him for three consecutive sixes to guide Australia into the final. But, this should not define Shaheen’s outstanding year with the ball.

In 20 games, he picked 19 wickets with an economy rate of 7.89. He has been Pakistan’s prominent bowler for over two years. As his career progresses, there is no doubt that he will get better.