T20 Team of the Year: Who makes our XI from 2020?

We look at the stand-out performers from across the men's 20-over game. But what changes would you make?

KL Rahul - 25 matches, 1,074 runs, strike-rate 133.41, 1 hundred, 9 fifties

Men's T20 Player Index No.9

The second-highest run-scorer in 20-over cricket in 2020, a remarkable achievement given he played the fewest of any player in the top 10. It mightn't have been the pinnacle of his year, but Rahul enjoyed a stellar 12 months for India, only once scoring fewer than 50 in his first nine innings which included four half-centuries. 

But his performances reached their peak at the Indian Premier League. The second-best score of the year (132*) ensured the Kings XI Punjab skipper was top of the run-scoring charts, piling on 670 at 55.83. Those performances were key to Rahul climbing into the Player Index top 10 for the first time in 2020 as the highest outright batsman in the standings.

Quinton de Kock (WK) - 25 matches, 788 runs, strike-rate 150.09, 6 fifties, 28 dismissals

Men's T20 Player Index No.10

It is becoming increasingly clear why the South African is overworked in white-ball cricket because he is simply one of the best around. For The Proteas he was a rare shining light in a year of pain, with two fifties in nine matches. That position of prominence is unlikely to end anytime soon.

Naturally, it came during his only sole franchise outings with Mumbai Indians that produced his most significant contributions. One of just six players to register more than 500 runs in the IPL for the eventual champions, while his strike-rate of above 150 across a quarter of a century of matches is hugely impressive. Another individual who has graced the Player Index top 10 for the first time.

Babar Azam - 32 matches, 1,242 runs, strike-rate 136.63, 1 hundred, 12 fifties

Men's T20 Player Index No.21

It was another stellar year for the Pakistan captain, who cemented his status as one of the best all-format batsman in the world in 2020. But this is definitively his premier form. International outings were limited but four half-centuries in five innings says it all.

Perhaps with the exception of the Vitality Blast, though he still stuck an unbeaten century, he dominated wherever he tread. Most of those outings came at home in the National T20 Cup - he averaged an eye-watering 91.66 - and the PSL where he finished as the top run-scorer as Karachi Kings claimed the title. 

At 1,242, no player scored more T20 runs in 2020. Progressed from outside the top 50 in the Index to a career-best 21st thanks to his form during the second half of the year.

^{Marcus Stoinis kicked off the year with some fireworks at the BBL}

Marcus Stoinis - 38 matches, 1,094 runs, strike-rate 144.70, 1 hundred, 9 fifties

Men's T20 Player Index No.7

The Australian might have been the bridesmaid in terms of silverware but his individual performances were unquestionably brilliant. For Melbourne Stars, shifted to the top of the order, he became the first batsman to surpass 700 runs in a single edition of the Big Bash League. His breathtaking 147 not out against champions Sydney Sixers was the best in the competition's history.

Everything thereafter was always likely to struggle to match those efforts, but Stoinis was more than effective in a slightly lesser role for Delhi Capitals and Australia. Helped DC reach the IPL final with 352 runs and 13 wickets. For his country, he reached double figures in all four appearances but was only part of one victory.

Mohammad Hafeez - 33 matches, 1,005 runs, strike-rate 141.54, 8 fifties, 3 wickets, 75.3 ave

Men's T20 Player Index No.34

There is something refreshing about putting together the finest collection of players in 20-over cricket in 2020 and still finding a place for a 40-year-old. In a Pakistan side full of youthful exuberance, Hafeez remains a key figure even if he could have fathered one or two of his teammates.

He was the highest-scoring player in T20 internationals, more than Rahul or ICC No.1 Dawid Malan, partly thanks to a career-best 99* in his penultimate appearance against New Zealand. Only Fakhar Zaman scored more runs for PSL runners-up Lahore Qalandars. The question remains, can he go again in 2021?

Shadab Khan - 33 matches, 672 runs, strike-rate 152.42, 4 fifties, 38 wickets, 24.39 ave

Men's T20 Player Index No.29

One of the best-emerging allrounders on the circuit. Shadab is now an established legspinner and an affective lower-order batsman in international and franchise cricket. His 672 runs at a strike-rate of 153.42 put him above Glenn Maxwell and produced an average above that of Steve Smith.

Elsewhere, he took the most wickets of any bowler to play 32 matches or fewer. His performances may not have amounted to much for Islamabad United, Dhaka Platoon or Pakistan but they represent more evidence that his talent is worth tracking in the years to come.

^{Shadab Khan once again proved effective with bat and ball}

Kieron Pollard (c) - 35 matches, 643 runs, strike-rate 199.07, 3 fifties, 21 wickets, 22.80 ave

Men's T20 Player Index No.1

Everywhere Mr T20 tread in 2020 success seemed to follow. He captained two sides to victory in the biggest franchise competitions around and produced some fine individual performances both as leader and with bat and ball. His status as the Player Index No.1 has been largely unchallenged during 2020.

The pandemic dictated that much of Pollard's best work had to wait until the second half of the year. He orchestrated Trinbago Knight Riders to an unbeaten run to the CPL title and then inspired Mumbai Indians to the IPL crown. Either side came some punchy performances for West Indies which left him with 643 runs at a strike-rate of 199.07 and 21 wickets at 22.80.

Rashid Khan - 44 matches, 55 wickets, ave 19.63, econ 6.34

Men's T20 Player Index No.3

If you turned on a T20 competition in 2020 and Rashid Khan wasn't featured you weren't doing it right. The Afghanistan superstar was everywhere this year, playing more senior 20-over matches than anyone on the circuit at 44.

It is, therefore, no surprise that he was the leading spinner with 55 wickets at an eye-watering economy rate of 6.34. He perhaps didn't quite enjoy the dominance of previous years there is no doubting his status as the best in his field, highlighted by his third T20 hat-trick for Adelaide Strikers against Sydney Sixers at the start of the year.

Shaheen Shah Afridi - 37 matches, 52 wickets, ave 20.67, econ 7.57

Men's T20 Player Index No.110

This perhaps felt like the year Shaheen went from promising youngster to one of the best of the world in the 20-over game. Only Haris Rauf took more scalps as a seamer but with superior numbers and impact across the board, it is hard not to consider him as the premier quick of the year.

Finished the PSL as the leading marksman and took that form to England, first for Pakistan as they drew the T20 series, and then for Hampshire. Afridi claimed 6-19 against Middlesex, including four wickets in as many balls in one of the stand-out displays of the year.

Upon returning home he inspired Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to National T20 Cup success with 20 wickets and helped Qalandars reached a maiden PSL final. Having been 277th in the Player Index at the start of 2020 he is the biggest climber in the XI.

^{Mohammad Amir played in three franchise finals in 2020}

Mohammad Amir - 36 matches, 42 wickets, ave 24.97, econ 7.77

Men's T20 Player Index No.67

In a year which ended with the confirmation of the left-armer's international retirement, we had another reminder of Amir's skill and ability at this level. The format is worse off without him.

His 42 wickets helped him guide three sides to major finals in 2020. Karachi Kings went all the way in the PSL, while Khulna Tigers and Galle Gladiators just fell short in the Bangaladesh and Lanka Premier League.

Jasprit Bumrah - 23 matches, 35 wickets, ave 16.28, econ 6.62

Men's T20 Player Index No.6

The lay of the land will always dictate that Bumrah and his India teammates will have limited opportunity to influence lists such as these, but it is hard to ignore a man who helped bowl Mumbai Indians to a fourth title in six editions.

Bumrah is a master-craftsman at both ends of an innings, superbly accurate with the new ball and near-impossible to get away at the death. He took 27 of his 35 wickets at the IPL, second only to Kagiso Rabad, floating around the innings and proving deadly in doing so. There is little argument he is the best quick around with the white-ball in hand.

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