T10 League 2021: Best XI of the tournament

The Abu Dhabi T10 League 2021 brought another season of excitement and thrill. This time, the pandemic was not enough to stop the cricketing action in the shortest ever format of the game. Stars from around the world joined in and participated to make a name for themselves in the ten-over format. Well, the fans had their share of excitement as they could witness exciting cricketing action for 90 minutes.

Short, sweet, and interesting! This is how one would describe this year’s T10 league. While Chris Gayle went into his beast mode, the bowlers tried to york him out, but they were unable to do so. Nicholas Pooran showed why he is the next big thing in cricket by scoring consistently throughout the tournament. Apart from that, many players contributed to their team’s cause.

Here is the best XI as per their performance in the recently concluded T10 league:

1. Paul Stirling: Team Abu Dhabi

Paul Stirling is one of the most successful batsmen in Irish cricketing history. With a healthy average of over 29 in T20s, he has been a successful batsman in the shortest format of the game. This year too, he scored 209 runs with a strike rate of 229.67. Apart from that, the highest score of 64* makes him the opener of this team. Therefore, the most important batsman of team Abu Dhabi makes it to this list!

2. Evin Lewis: Delhi Bulls

Evin Lewis is one of the most brutal strikers of the cricket ball today. However, poor form meant that he was excluded from the Mumbai Indians squad last season. To make up for the loss, the Windies batsman scored 216 runs in the T10 league. Adding on, a massive strike rate of 242.69 speaks a lot about his talent. Therefore, Lewis makes it to this list of best XI of the recently concluded Abu Dhabi T10 league!

3. Nicholas Pooran: Northern Warriors

Most probably, Nicholas Pooran is in the form of his life. The Windies batsman had a decent IPL and BBL this year. To sharpen his ball-striking skills, he took part in the shortest format ever, the T10 league. In the nine matches he played, Pooran scored 241 runs with a brutal strike rate of 243.33. Apart from that, he has the highest score of 89, which is a huge individual score for a 10-overs match!

4. Lendl Simmons: Northern Warriors

Simmons has been a T20 specialist throughout his career. Well, this year too, he made a name for himself in the T10 league. Of the 9 matches he played, Simmons scored 211 runs with a strike rate of 139. The highest score of 54* and an average of 70.33 showcases his impact as a batsman. Therefore, he makes it to this playing XI!

5. Azam Khan: Deccan Gladiators

For those who don’t know him yet, Azam Khan is the next big-hitter from Pakistan. The Wicketkeeper-batsman was in stellar form during the LPL. Well, he continued his form in the recently concluded T10 league in Abu Dhabi too. During the tournament, he scored with a strike rate of 206.89. Apart from that, he accumulated 120 runs in six innings. Therefore, he makes it to this best XI of the T10 league!

6. Kieron Pollard: Deccan Gladiators

The Windies great Kieron Pollard has been one of the most valuable players in the T20 format across the world. Well, he has shifted his phenomenal momentum in the T10 tournament too! During 5 matches, Pollard scored 85 runs with an impressive strike rate of 166.66. For a batsman who comes in down the order, this performance is noteworthy. Hence, he makes it to this playing eleven. Also, there is no best XI without Pollard!

7. Chris Jordan: Qalandars

In the shortest format of the game, the main pressure is on the bowler. It is his performance that will decide the outcome of the game. And talking about performances, Chris Jordan makes it to this best playing XI. The English all-rounder had a decent T10 season as he took 7 wickets in seven matches. Apart from that, a decent economy rate of 8.36 is noteworthy. Adding on, Jordan’s ball-striking ability enables him to make it to this playing XI.

8. Fabian Allen: Northern Warriors

Fabian Allen is another West Indian on this list. The bowling all-rounder has been a good performer in the limited-overs format. In T20Is, the all-rounder has an economy rate of 7.62. And, it looks like Allen has made a name for himself in the T10 league. During 9 matches, he took 11 wickets. Although the economy rate is a bit high (9.81), his wicket-taking ability can help any team to end up as the winning side!

9. Rayad Emrit: Northern Warriors

Rayad Emrit has been unsuccessful in the international circuit for the Windies. In the twenty overs format, the bowling all-rounder has scored only 17 runs with the bat, and with the ball, he has taken only four wickets. However, he had a decent T10 season as he took 8 wickets with an economy rate of 12.64. In a tournament where every bowler has an economy rate of over 10, this performance is noteworthy. Therefore, he makes it to this playing eleven!

10. Jamie Overton: Team Abu Dhabi

Jamie Overton ended up as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, In the nine matches he played, Overton picked up 12 wickets. With an economy rate of 12, he had a decent outing with the ball. Also, his best bowling figures of 4/24 showcases his potential as the strike bowler for his team. Therefore, the leading wicket-taker of the tournament makes it to this playing XI! 

11. Junaid Siddique: Northern Warriors

Junaid Siddique is another bowler who has performed exceptionally well in the recently concluded T10 league. In the 9 matches he played, he has picked 11 wickets with a decent economy rate of 11.50. Apart from that, he has the best bowling figures of 4/20. In a tournament that is severely unfair on the bowlers, this is a commendable effort. Therefore, he makes it to this list of the best playing eleven of Abu Dhabi T10 league!