2020 saw T20 cricket dominating most of the cricket scene as ODIs and Tests took a backseat due to the coronavirus pandemic. If not for the pandemic, the World T20 could have been held in Australia. Nevertheless, every nation is gearing up for back-to-back World T20 in 2021 and 2022. So, here's the best XI of T20Is in 2020.
Openers
KL Rahul (India)
Rahul has had a great year in limited-overs cricket in 2020. He carried his form in IPL to T20Is, helping India seal a 2-1 T20I series win over Australian Down Under. He was the second highest run-getter in T20Is, aggregating 404 runs @ 44.88 with a strike rate of 140.76 with 4 fifties in 11 T20Is in 2010.
Tim Seifert (New Zealand)
Partnering Rahul is Tim Seifert of New Zealand who has had a terrific year in T20Is in 2020. He struck 4 fifties in 11 T20Is in 2020, aggregating 352 runs @ 50.28 with a strike rate of 140.23.
Middle-order
Jonny Bairstow (England)
Bairstow is turning out to be a ruthless T20 player, boasting of a high strike rate of 150.91 in 12 T20Is in 2020. He struck 3 fifties, aggregating 329 runs in 2020.
Dawid Malan (England)
Dawid Malan was the find of the year in 2020. He was the game changer for England as he won games single-handedly with his consistent batting. He scored 397 runs @ 49.62 with 4 fifties in 10 T20Is in 2020.
Babar Azam (Pakistan, captain)
Azam of Pakistan not only shone with the bat in 2020, but also as the leader in limited-overs cricket. He struck 4 fifties in 8 T20Is in 2020, aggregating 276 runs @ 55.20 and boasts of a strike rate of 144.50 in 2020. His team won 6 games, losing 1 and 1 no result out of 8 T20Is, with a winning percentage of 85.71 – the best among captains of Test playing nations.
Mohammad Hafeez (pakistan)
Hafeez emerged the highest run-getter in 2020 in T20Is, managing 415 runs @ 83.00 and boasts of a strike rate of 152.57. He struck 4 fifties in T20Is in 2020. His highest score was 99 not out – the second T20I batsman after Malan to remain not out on 99 in 2020.
Keeper
Jos Buttler (England)
Buttler of England enhanced his reputation as a hard-hitting keeper-batsman in 2020, coming up with a strike rate of 150.77. He struck 3 fifties in 8 T20Is, aggregating 291 runs @ 55.20. He also had 9 dismissals as keeper.
Spinner
Ashton Agar (Australia)
Agar is a surprise packet in this list, as he has beaten Zampa to this XI for the lone spinner’s spot. Agar took 13 wickets @ 12.46 in just 6 T20Is.
Pacers
Lungi Ngidi (SA), Haris Rauf (Pak) and Shardul Thakur (India)
The South African pacer was the highest wicket-taker in T20Is in 2020, bagging 17 wickets @ 20.52 in just 9 games. Haris Rauf of Pakistan is the next best bowling star of 2020, bagging 16 wickets @ 23.25 in 11 T20Is in 2020. Thakur has also made it to the list after his consistent show in T20Is in 2020. He bagged 15 wickets @ 18.73 in 10 T20Is in 2020.
Cover image courtesy: Sportzwiki
