Delhi: If seen from the perspective of T20 International, 2024 was a special year, because while on one hand the T20 World Cup was organized, on the other hand India ended its drought of not winning an ICC tournament by winning it under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma. This victory also made Indian players more deserving of a place in the best T20 XI of the year. It is a different matter that with this World Cup, two of their stalwarts also retired. So let’s make the best T20 International XI of 2024:
The schedule of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle has come out, India will play series against these 6 teams
opener ,
Phil Salt: Although, being the captain of the World Cup winning team and scoring 378 runs in 11 innings in a year, they would have given direct entry to Rohit Sharma for the record of strike rate of 160+ but he retired. So now England’s Phil Salt will be selected. Phil scored 467 runs in 17 innings in the year at a strike rate of 164+, which included one 100 and two 50s. He will also become the wicketkeeper of the team.
Travis Head: The other opener will be Travis Head who will shine in both franchise and international cricket in 2024. Records during the year: 539 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 178.47 which includes number 3 in the list of highest runs in T20 World Cup.
Batsman:
Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper): Another wicketkeeper in the team who scored three T20 International 100 in a year and no one else has such a record. Total record in the year: 436 runs in 12 innings with a strike rate of 180+ and he is the regular batsman of the Test team in the year in terms of strike rate. There was no one better (Tilak Verma is not counted in this discussion).
Nicholas Puran: 464 runs in 21 innings in T20 International in 2024 at a strike rate of 142.33, which includes 228 runs in 7 innings of T20 World Cup. It was not easy for any bowler to get him out.
Heinrich Clasen: Although the claim of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan for a place cannot be ignored, there is no answer to the sensation that was associated with Klaasen’s name. Every time he played with his bat to win the match. Record in the year: 278 runs in 14 innings at 128+ strike rate.
Allrounder:
Tilak Verma: Although many experts will vote for Glenn Maxwell because of his big name, but Glenn Maxwell neither plays much in the T20 World Cup nor has confidence in his fitness. Even though Tilak Verma played only 5 T20 Internationals, he scored 306 runs with two 100s and the strike rate was 187+. How not to appreciate this sensational record?
Hardik Pandya: Hardik’s all-round talent was a special feature of India’s success in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The record in that tournament was 144 runs and 11 wickets and the overall record for the year was 352 runs and 17 wickets in 17 innings.
Bowler:
Rashid Khan: Another memorable year for this cricketer as Afghanistan played in the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-finals. Rashid’s record for 2024: 31 wickets in 14 matches. Since Rohit Sharma was not included in the team, Rashid will be made the captain.
Adam Zampa: One of the best white ball spinners in the world who took 35 wickets in 21 matches in the year including 13 wickets (in 7 matches) in the T20 World Cup.
Arshdeep Singh: Arshdeep Singh’s name shone as the most exciting white ball pacer and took 36 wickets in 18 matches (of which he topped with 17 wickets in 8 matches in the World Cup), which is the highest among the players of the Test country. Continued his reputation as a death ball bowler.
Jasprit Bumrah: Although he did not play T20 International before or after the T20 World Cup in 2024, he made such an amazing impact in this tournament itself that it is difficult to ignore his claim for a place in the best team of the year. Record: 15 wickets in 8 matches with an economy of 4.17 and was player of the tournament.
Note: All records till 25 December 2024