The Best of 2017: Best XI from the T20 Leagues

The cricketing calendar of 2017 comes to an end after some exciting brand of cricket played throughout the year. As expected, the T20 leagues managed to garner a lot of attention. In the fast paced evolving game of cricket, the love for the shortest format is only increasing with each passing season. And these T20 leagues do not seem to disappoint either.

The year 2017 saw some brilliant action in the various leagues – be it the IPL, or the PSL. Mumbai Indians registered their third title in the IPL this year to enter the record books. Meanwhile, PSL was a historic occasion in itself as cricket of international sorts returned back to the Pakistani soil with the PSL finals this year. Similarly, there was joy for the associate nations as well.

The likes of Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan became the first cricketers from Afghanistan to be drafted into an IPL team. The achievements of the T20 leagues seem to be an endless list. For the players, they have become globe trotters playing for the various franchises. They are always pumped up to give their best show to fetch another deal in another league in some other part of the globe.

So, who were the top performers in T20 leagues in the year of 2017? We try to analyzse the stats and bring out the best performers in the shortest format of the game in the period of last 12 months. Before we head forward, here is the parameter used for judgment: all stats are updated till December 22, 2017.

Here is a look at the top players across the different T20 leagues in 2017:

1. Brendon McCullum

Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum is like a good wine. He is simply getting better with age. And at the same time, is leaving his fans with the same old question, why did he retire so soon? McCullum kickstarted the year with Brisbane Heat in the 2016-17 season of the Big Bash League. He then moved to UAE for the PSL and subsequently headed to India for his stint with the Gujarat Lions.

The stay in the Caribbean awaited next as he joined the Trinbago Knight Riders there. An injury followed but he was back to be with Middlesex and then joined the Rangpur Riders’ victorious campaign in the BPL. And now, he has signed two-year deal with Brisbane Heat again. As on December 22, 2017, McCullum has 1493 runs to his name in 56 T20 matches – the highest by any batsman this year. He has 11 fifties to his name, the most by any player and 5 ducks – again the most by any player!