CricTracker's T20I XI of the year 2016

This year, we’ve witnessed some exhilarating T20 action including the pinnacle – Wolrd T20 in India that had the fans on their toes every minute. The T20 season bore witness to some thrilling matches, exciting nail-biters and more importantly built a spectacular atmosphere. Some memorable wins and some heartbreaking losses but at the end of the day, it was the victory of the game itself. Whether it be batsmen amassing runs with the cricket bat or spinner’s wizardry with the ball or the electrifying fielders flying all over, the shortest format has never failed to entertain us to the core. The valour displayed by some of the cricketers at the big stage is worth lauding and appreciating. Here we did the hard task of compiling the best T20I XI according to their performances in the year. Mohammed Shahzad (Afghanistan) Mohammad Shahzad of Afghanistan. (Photo by Christopher Lee-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) The Afghanistan opener’s zealous batting at the top order took everyone by surprise in the World T20. The 28-year-old played an essential part in Afghanistan’s qualification for the Super 10s in the World T20. He is the typical opener who loves to come hard at the bowlers and plays his shots from the onset. Mohammed Shahzad was the second highest run scorer in T20 Internationals this year with a run tally of 520 runs. He stormed 25 sixes throughout the year which is the most by anyone in the list. His magnificent strike rate of 152.94 shows the blistering starts he has provided Afghanistan as an opener. Martin Guptill (New Zealand) Martin Guptill of New Zealand. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) The dashing opener Martin Guptill has continued to dazzle in the T20 format. His willingness to go after the bowlers from the very first ball has helped New Zealand create a winning platform right at the start of the innings. He is a brilliant stroke maker who has the ability to go big on his day. Guptill has gained recognition as an attacking batsman for the Kiwis. At an excellent average of 49, the right-hander has smashed 392 runs this year. He’s done so at a superlative strike rate of 171.92 which makes him an appropriate opening choice for the T20I XI. Virat Kohli (India) (Captain) India’s Virat Kohli celebrates after victory in the World T20 cricket tournament match between India and Australia. (Photo by MONEY SHARMA/AFP/Getty Images) Everyone thrives to achieve consistency, but very few have persisted with it as fluently as Virat Kohli. The man who never stops the energy that never ends. Like he has so often been was the mainstay of the Indian batting right through 2016. For his performance, he was awarded the Player of the tournament award in the WT20 for a second consecutive time. Kohli has unsurprisingly been the highest run scorer in T20 games this year with 641 runs. His astounding average of 106.83 is something to marvel at. His ability to assess situations and seize the opportunity with both hands makes him one of the most fascinating batsmen to watch out for. Kane Williamson (New Zealand) New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images) The Kiwi captain has emerged one of the most significant batting prospects in the cricketing world today. A batsman who seems to have memorised the coaching manuals from A to Z, his stylish and nonchalant batting defines his hunger for runs. Quite early in his career he was identified as a future star and is coming true to the predictions. Kane Williamson has enjoyed decent success this year for the Kiwis as he captained them to the semis in the WT20. Talking about his heroics with the bat, he amassed 383 runs that too at a colossal batting average of 49. He has scored runs at a brisk pace and played match winning knocks for his side. He fits well into the middle order. Glenn Maxwell (Australia) Glenn Maxwell of Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images) Glenn Maxwell’s audacity to cut loose with the bat and hit unconventional shots out of the box has made him one of the most fearsome batsmen in modern day cricket. Also a handy spinner, he can often chip in as a surprise element with the ball as well. Maxwell has the ability to score runs at a brisk pace and his strike rate of 174.69 is an apparent proof of that. He has compiled a total of 435 runs this year at an exquisite batting average of 48.33. Along with his batting and bowling, it is his supreme fielding adds up to the versatility on his part. Jos Buttler (England) (wk) Jos Buttler. (© Getty Images) Jos Buttler has shot to prominence in the English side with his aggressive batting in the lower order. He can finish games from crunch situations with plenty of pinch-hitting to offer. His strike rate has been above 150, it marks his effectiveness with the bat and makes him a valuable asset for England. Boasting of a terrific average of 61, Jos Buttler aggregated 366 runs in 2016. He has also donned the wicketkeeping responsibilities of England quite well. Very few batsmen in the world can be as destructive as him and that surely calls for a spot at No.6 in the best XI. Shane Watson (Australia) Shane Watson of Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images) Now retired, Shane Watson was considered as one of the finest allrounders in world cricket. He had earlier announced WT20 as the swansong of his career. A prolific allrounder with a reputation of striking the ball cleanly also took wickets at crucial junctures in the game. He maintained his stature this year as well with 298 runs that too at a fabulous batting average of 49.66. His strike rate of 150.50 is also noteworthy. With the ball, he managed to take 9 wickets and was fantastic in the fielding department as well. Ravichandran Ashwin (India) (Photo Source: BCCI) The spin wizard from India has been on a roll for quite some time now. He is probably one of the greatest match winners that Team India has ever had in their ranks. His control in general and judicious use of the variations like the carrom ball has helped him baffle the batsmen and take wickets. While Ashwin has created an enigma in the traditional format, his numbers in the shorter formats has also been quite pleasing. He is the second highest wicket-taker this year in T20Is with 23 scalps. His bowling average has also been exceptional at 16.17 along with an economy just above six. Jasprit Bumrah (India) India’s Jasprit Bumrah . (Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images) Armed with an unorthodox action, Jasprit Bumrah has managed to grab many eyeballs in his debut year. His ability to throw in yorkers at the death and bowl tight overs at that stage of the game has left the batsmen blooming who have struggled to pick him. He is also blessed with pace and knows how to vary it for the best effect. After having gained accolades for his bowling in the Mumbai Indians lineup, he has proved his worth at the international stage. Bumrah has led the bowling charts for the most wickets with 28 in his kitty. He has done so at a decent bowling average of 18.82. His stellar performances have boosted the spirits of the Indian pace attack. Al-Amin Hossain (Bangladesh) Bangladesh. (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images) Al-Amin Hossain has reflected his performance in domestic circuit into the international stage. He has an uncanny action and isn’t easy for the batsmen to read. He also has some pace behind his deliveries and hurries onto the bat. No wonder he has bowled splendidly for Bangladesh in the shorter formats this year and leads their bowling charts. With a scintillating 22 wickets this year, Al-Amin has shouldered the responsibility of the pace attack well in Mustafizur Rahman’s absence. His bowling average has also been remarkable at 15.18. It will be interesting to see what he has got to offer to the Tigers in the coming years. Imran Tahir (South Africa) South African cricketer Imran Tahir celebrates. (Photo by JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) The South African leg-spinner has become a worldwide sensation not only for his wonderful bowling skills but also for the celebratory run he takes, every time he gets a wicket. With his ability to take wickets on dull surfaces Tahir is one of the spinners in international cricket today who doesn’t rely on assistance from the wicket to be effective. He has made some giant strides in international cricket and now excelled in the shortest format as well. Imran Tahir has managed to bag 16 wickets this year at a wonderful average of 14.68. He has a number of variations to topple any batsman and give him a tough time. 12th man: Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan) Afghan cricketer Mohammad Nabi celebrates the dismissal of Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan. (Photo by -/AFP/Getty Images) Honing his skills as an efficient allrounder, Mohammad Nabi’s rise in the ranks of Afghanistan has been significant. His capability as an allrounder and as a captain have proved quite beneficial for Afghanistan at international events. The young team has been on the rise and have time and again challenged the established teams. The allrounder has scored 234 runs with the bat this year. His bowling figures have been more intriguing with 21 wickets in his kitty. He has had a sublime economy rate of just over 7 along with an excellent average of 18.09 while bowling. He is the 12th man in our team of the year for T20I. Not quite there but almost there!

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