It was a year that belonged to Pakistan opening batsman and wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan as far as T20Is are concerned. Rizwan, who was promoted up the order to open the innings along with the new all-format skipper of Pakistan, Babar Azam just scored runs left, right and centre in the shortest format of the game.
In 29 games, Rizwan amassed 1326 runs at a staggering average of 73.66 including a century against South Africa in Lahore. Rizwan’s aggregate was the best for a batsman in T20Is in a calendar year. The second best is 939 by Babar Azam, that too in this year only. Rizwan also had 24 dismissals to his name as the wicket-keeper.
Talking about keepers, another gloveman who had a sensational year was Jos Buttler. Not just in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, Buttler scored runs throughout the year. In 14 matches in 2021, Buttler amassed 589 runs, at an average of 65.4 including a fabulous century against Sri Lanka in the global event.
He was one of the main reasons for England’s outstanding run in the league stage of the World Cup. Going with his runs, Buttler also has 13 dismissals to his name.
Next on the nominees’ list was Player of the Final, Mitchell Marsh. The promotion to No. 3 has worked wonders for Marsh’s career, especially in the shortest format as he was the only good aspect of Australia’s series losses against the West Indies and Bangladesh, going into the World Cup.
The knocks against West Indies and New Zealand in the T20 World Cup were just excellent examples of the persistence of a move and it giving results in a massive way. Marsh scored 627 runs in 27 matches at an average of 36.88, going with eight wickets.
Last but not least in the list is Sri Lanka’s leg-spinning all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga. It was the year where a star was born for the island nation. Hasaranga took a World Cup hat-trick, was the player of the series against India, got to play alongside Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Glenn Maxwell in the IPL for Royal Challengers Banglore.
He made crucial contributions with both bat and all for Sri Lanka. In 20 games, Hasaranga picked up 36 wickets while scoring 196 runs, including a half-century in the T20 World Cup
