The next ICC T20 World Cup is just a little more than three months away and fans are already debating over who is the best T20 player in the world. Many fans will be hoping their star players gain momentum, before the mega ICC event, and will be observing their performances in upcoming international matches.

Arguably the most celebrated T20 competition, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 concluded with some unexpected surprises. Some big-name players with impressive statistical backup failed while some added more numbers to their names. It was an expected performance from the top-ranking players like Aiden Markram, KL Rahul, Josh Hazlewood, and Wanindu Hasaranga. Some star players struggled to play up to their reputation, but no one can write them off for the upcoming World Cup in Australia.

The Indian team ranks first in the ICC T20 rankings currently and is one of the leading contenders to lift the World Cup trophy in Australia. But the following list features only two Indian cricketers based on their stats, current form, and ICC rankings. There are no players from two-time <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/5-players-from-india-squad-for-ireland-tour-who-might-not-make-it-to-t20-world-cup-2022/">T20 World Cup</a> winners West Indies and last year&#8217;s runner-up New Zealand.

Here&#8217;s a look at the best T20 World XI:

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-574842" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2021/10/Jos-Buttler.jpg" alt="Jos Buttler" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-574842" class="wp-caption-text">Jos Buttler. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)</figcaption>

The star English batter is in the form of his life, having played numerous mind-blowing knocks in this year&#8217;s Indian Premier League. He finished the season as the Orange Cap winner and was crucial in guiding Rajasthan Royals to the finals. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/eng-vs-ind-bhuvneshwar-kumar-stuns-jos-buttler-twice-in-a-row/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buttler</a> equaled Virat Kohli&#8217;s record for most centuries in a single IPL season with four excellent hundreds. He also came very close to breaking Kohli&#8217;s highest-runs-in-a-season record but failed due to a short dry spell during the mid-season. He scored 863 runs in 17 matches, with an average of 57.53 and a strike rate of 149.05.

The 31-year-old star was brilliant in T20 World Cup 2021, where he was the only player to score a century. Buttler finished the tournament as the fourth-highest run-getter with 269 runs in six matches, with an average of 89.66 and strike rate of 151.12.

He remained unbeaten on three occasions and led the best average and strike-rate chart among top-ten players. Buttler currently ranks in 15th position in the ICC best T20I batters chart, only one English player ranks above him, Dawid Malan.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-577653" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2021/11/Babar-Azam-1.jpg" alt="Babar Azam" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-577653" class="wp-caption-text">Babar Azam. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

The 27-year-old has been dominating white-ball cricket for the last few years and it is safe to term him a playing legend. He has forced himself into the so-called &#8216;fab-four&#8217; list, which consists of the best batters who are scoring consistent runs in every format of the game, making it to &#8216;fab-five&#8217;. The Pakistani skipper was excellent in PSL 2022, despite his team Karachi Kings finishing in the last position. He scored 343 runs in just 10 PSL matches at an average of 38.11 and a strike rate of 118.68 with two fifties.

Azam also dominated the last year&#8217;s T20 World Cup in the UAE, where he finished the tournament as the highest run-scorer. He was the only player to cross the 300-run mark and scored four half-centuries in the six matches. Fans and Team Pakistan will be hoping for similar performances from Azam in the upcoming World Cup as well.

Notably, Azam ranks first in the ICC T20I batting rankings with a comfortable 24-point lead over second-placed and teammate Mohammad Rizwan. He will also lead this best World XI list, with his calm leadership skills. He will play a second fiddle role to Jos Buttler, with the Englishman playing explosive cricket from the start.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-581132" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2021/11/KL-Rahul-2.jpg" alt="KL Rahul" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-581132" class="wp-caption-text">KL Rahul. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Another wicketkeeper-opener in this list and the only batter from the number one ranked team in the world. India have managed to remain at the top with overall team efforts and some individual heroics in recent past. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/kl-rahul-to-miss-england-tour-with-groin-injury-to-travel-abroad-for-treatment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KL Rahul</a> has been one of the few consistent batters alongside Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for Team India. He was crucial in guiding Lucknow Super Giants to the knockout stages, in their debut IPL season. He finished another season with 600-plus runs to his name, with an average of 51.33 and a strike rate of 135.38.

The 30-year-old opener was Team India&#8217;s highest run-scorer in last year&#8217;s World Cup with 194 runs in five matches, with three half-centuries. He maintains a 40+ average in both domestic and international T20Is with an excellent strike rate of around 140.

The star batter is currently the second-highest ranked Indian player to feature in ICC T20I batting rankings. As Virat Kohli&#8217;s form has dipped lately, onus will be on Rahul to do the bulk of scoring alongside skipper Rohit Sharma.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-354759" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2019/09/CT_353113.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-354759" class="wp-caption-text">CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA &#8211; MARCH 16: Aiden Markram of South Africa (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)</figcaption>

The 27-year-old batter has shown his versatility in playing different roles according to conditions and is the only South African player on this list. Markram was spectacular for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2022 season and developed himself into the finisher role alongside <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/nicholas-pooran-cricket-west-indies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nicholas Pooran</a>. He scored 381 runs in 12 IPL innings with an average of 47.62 and a strike rate of 139.05 and remained unbeaten on four occasions.

Markram also showed his responsible batting in last year&#8217;s World Cup with two fifties in five matches. He managed to maintain a 50-plus average in the tournament and stabilized the South African middle-order with Rassie van der Dussen.

So far, he has played 20 international matches in the shortest format but still ranks third in ICC T20I batting rankings. He maintains an average of around 40 in international T20 matches and also contributes with his off-spin spells in middle-overs. Markram will be a key batter for his side on the upcoming mega event.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-470919" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2020/12/Glenn-Maxwell-1.jpg" alt="Glenn Maxwell" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-470919" class="wp-caption-text">Glenn Maxwell. (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

The experienced Australian batter will not miss from any T20 list from any cricket pundit. He has been in great form with both bat and ball lately and will fancy big runs in the upcoming World Cup at home. Maxwell finished this year&#8217;s IPL on an impressive note with his all-rounder role. He managed to cross the 300-run mark once again, despite missing the first few matches this season, and finished some games with his impressive overall strike rate of 169.10.

The 33-year-old all-rounder played a small but crucial knock of unbeaten 28 runs off 18 balls in last year&#8217;s World Cup final and guided Australia to the glory. He is likely to play at number five for Australia in the upcoming World Cup following <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/he-looked-locked-in-marnus-labuschagne-feels-steve-smith-was-in-right-headspace-on-day-1-in-galle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steven Smith</a> and Mitchell Marsh.

Maxwell ranks fourth in the ICC T20I best all-rounders chart. He maintains a strike rate of above 150 in both domestic and international T20 matches. He can bowl economically in powerplay overs and play the sixth bowler role as well if needed.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-529610" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2021/06/Liam-Livingstone.jpg" alt="Liam Livingstone" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-529610" class="wp-caption-text">Liam Livingstone. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption>

The star English batter is finally doing justice to his abilities and reputation. He will be a key player for England in Australia because of his ability to hit biggies on any ground. He cost a big chunk of money to Punjab Kings in IPL mega auction, but after the tournament fans labeled him as a &#8216;steal-buy&#8217;. Livingstone scored 437 runs in 14 IPL matches despite playing the finisher&#8217;s role, with an average of 36.42 and a strike rate of 182.08. He also managed to bag six wickets and was impressive while fielding as well.

But he will be remembered by the fans, for his 117-meter six to <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/eng-vs-ind-virat-kohli-umimpressed-as-umpire-stops-mohammed-shami-midway-through-run-up/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mohammed Shami</a> this season. Livingstone has scored so far 342 runs in 20 T20Is with an average of 24.43 but has maintained a strike rate of 154.75. His bowling stats are also impressive as he has picked 12 wickets at an average of 25.75 and an economy rate of just 8.13.

The 28-year-old is likely to play in the fifth or sixth position for England in the upcoming World Cup in Australia.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-573120" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2021/10/Rashid-Khan-3.jpg" alt="Rashid Khan" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-573120" class="wp-caption-text">Rashid Khan. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)</figcaption>

The Afghan spinner is no longer a young prospect for the future but has already established himself as the best spinner in world T20 cricket, despite being just 23 years of age. He has already completed 100-plus wickets on the international level and reached the same milestone in IPL this season. He struggled to get along with his usual best at the beginning of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cant-stop-laughing-harsha-bhogle-reacts-as-gujarat-locals-dupe-russian-punters-with-fake-ipl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPL </a>this season but went on taking 19 wickets in 16 matches, with an average of 22.15 and an economy rate of 6.59.

He was the highest wicket-taker for the Afghanistan team in last year&#8217;s World Cup, with eight wickets in just five matches, with an average of 14.00 and an impressive economy rate of 6.10. He has taken 109 T20 International wickets so far in just 61 matches and has maintained an economy rate of just over six.

Rashid Khan ranks fourth in ICC T20I bowling rankings and will be looking to climb up the chart with quite a few T20I matches scheduled before the World Cup.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-575495" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2021/11/Wanindu-Hasaranga-celebrating.jpg" alt="Wanindu Hasaranga celebrating" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-575495" class="wp-caption-text">Wanindu Hasaranga celebrating. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)</figcaption>

The 24-year-old Sri Lankan all-rounder has made a name for himself in the last two years and is living up to the expectations, with consistently impressive performances. It cost more than INR 10 crore in IPL mega auction for RCB to purchase Hasaranga, but the player performed better than his heavy price tag later. He managed to take 26 wickets in 16 matches and his tally was only second to Purple Cap winner <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/rohit-took-review-in-fear-of-you-being-next-bowler-bhuvneshwar-kumar-takes-cheeky-dig-at-yuzvendra-chahal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yuzvendra Chahal,</a>who took 27 in 17 matches. Also, he maintained a noticeably better average and economy rate than the Indian leggie.

RCB paid this huge amount for Hasaranga after his extraordinary spell in last year&#8217;s T20 World Cup. Hasaranga finished the tournament as the highest wicket-taker, with 16 wickets from just eight matches, with an average of 9.75 and an economy rate of 5.20. He has so far taken 62 wickets from just 38 international matches with an impressive economy rate of 6.61.

Hasaranga ranks sixth in ICC T20 best bowlers chart, just 41 points behind Rashid Khan. He will be leading the much-improved Sri Lankan bowling lineup in the upcoming World Cup in Australia.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-579564" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2021/11/Josh-Hazlewood-1.jpg" alt="Josh Hazlewood" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-579564" class="wp-caption-text">Josh Hazlewood. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

The 31-year-old right-arm pacer has established himself as one of the best pacers in the world, suitable for all three formats. Hazlewood was signed by RCB for just INR 7.75 Crore in IPL mega action this season. He managed to take 20 wickets at the end of the season, despite missing the first four matches. He was crucial for Bangalore&#8217;s side in the death overs and is expected to play the same role for Australia in the T20 World Cup at home.

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/he-has-always-had-the-skill-aaron-finch-confident-of-josh-hazlewood-making-it-big-at-t20-world-cup/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Hazlewood</a> is not far behind big-name Aussie pacers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc when it comes to consistency. He was the highest wicket-taker for Australia against Sri Lanka in the five-match T20I series at home, with eight wickets earlier this year.

Hazelwood currently ranks in ICC&#8217;s top-ten bowlers&#8217; charts in all three formats. His current form makes him a favourite to finish the upcoming World Cup, as the highest wicket-taker. And his bowling partnership with Starc and Cummins makes Australia a clear favourite to lift the famous trophy at home.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-668415" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2022/07/Jasprit-Bumrah-celebrating-Liam-Livingstones-wicket.jpg" alt="Jasprit Bumrah celebrating Liam Livingstone's wicket" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-668415" class="wp-caption-text">Jasprit Bumrah celebrating Liam Livingstone&#8217;s wicket (Photo Source: Twitter/BCCI)</figcaption>

The star right-arm pacer is the only Indian bowler on this list, ahead of the upcoming World Cup in October. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/virat-kohli-smashes-jasprit-bumrah-for-magnificent-six-during-warm-up-match/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bumrah</a> remains one of the best bowlers in the world, despite a slight dip in form earlier this year. He struggled for wickets and also went expensive in the beginning of IPL 2022 for Mumbai Indians. However, he made a great comeback with 15 wickets, to the end of this season with an impressive economy rate of 7.18, the best among capped Indian pacers.

Bumrah has so far taken 69 wickets in 58 T20 international matches. He maintains an impressive economy rate of 6.50 in T20I matches and will be a key bowler for Team India on pace-friendly Australian pitches in the World Cup.

The 28-year-old speedster ranks in 34th position in ICC T20 best bowlers chart but maintains a top-ten position in Test and ODI formats. He is likely to form a pace partnership with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel for Team India in the upcoming World Cup.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-283231" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/09/Shaheen-Shah-Afridi.jpg" alt="Shaheen Shah Afridi" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-283231" class="wp-caption-text">Shaheen Shah Afridi. (Photo Source: ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

The left-arm pacer has established himself as the best bowler for the Pakistani side, at just 22 years of age. He finished Pakistan Super League 2022 season as the highest wicket-taker and also guided Lahore Qalandars to triumph. He took 20 wickets in just 13 matches at an average of 19.70 and an economy rate of 7.57.

The Pakistani speedster is in great form with wickets in each of his last ten outings. He took seven wickets in six matches in last year&#8217;s T20 World Cup and once again will be a key bowler for <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/it-will-not-be-easy-for-pakistan-to-beat-india-in-t20-world-cup-this-time-shoaib-akhtar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pakistan </a>in the upcoming World Cup in Australia.

Shaheen Afridi ranks in ICC&#8217;s top-ten bowlers&#8217; chart for Tests and ODIs while 11th for T20Is. He has played four T20I matches after the last year&#8217;s World Cup and would be looking to get into some much important game time before the T20 World Cup 2022.

There are no players from two-time T20 World Cup winners West Indies and last year's runner-up New Zealand in this preferred XI.

Best T20 World XI ahead of ICC T20 World Cup 2022

The Indian team rank first in the ICC T20 rankings and is one of the leading contenders to lift the T20 World Cup 2022 trophy in Australia.

Best T20 World XI ahead of ICC T20 World Cup 2022

There are no players from two-time T20 World Cup winners West Indies and last year's runner-up New Zealand in this preferred XI.

9. Josh Hazlewood