The best T20I XI of 2021

The year 2021 was quite eventful and unusual in many ways, especially for T20Is. The much-awaited T20 World Cup finally went underway in the UAE.

Pakistan finally won a World Cup win against India after a wait of almost three decades. India, a tournament favourite, failed to proceed beyond the group stage. New Zealand finally had their big knockout moment against England, who looked formidable throughout the tournament. And Australia brought an end to the run of their five consecutive series defeats with their maiden T20 World Cup win.

Even the Associate and Affiliate teams put on some tremendous shows. From the power-hitting of Romanian batters R. Sateeshan and Taranjeet Singh to the spells of Nigeria’s Peter Aho and Uganda’s Dinesh Nakarni, T20Is witnessed some fabulous individual shows.

As curtains draw on 2021, we celebrate some consistent cricketers in T20Is this year with Cricket News’ best T20I XI.

Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan) | Wicketkeeper 
M 29 | R 1,326 | Ave 73.7 | SR 134.9 | HS 104* | 50+ 13 | Dismissals 22

The year 2021 made Rizwan a household name in the cricket fraternity. He became the first to breach 1,000 T20I runs and 2,000 T20 runs in a calendar year. He displayed a versatile range, often switching between the roles of anchor and aggressor depending on the need. His only T20I hundred came against South Africa at Lahore, when he batted through the innings with hardly any support and slammed a 64-ball 104 not out in the team’s total of 169.

Pakistan benefitted from Rizwan’s form, winning six out of seven bilateral series, topping their T20 World Cup group and ending their campaign after a close semi-final defeat against Australia, the eventual champions.

Rizwan is the wicketkeeper of this dream XI.

Jos Buttler (England) | Captain 
M 14 | R 589 | Ave 65.4 | SR 143.3 | HS 101* | 50+ 6

Since the side does not have an international captain, Buttler, the English limited-overs vice-captain, leads this side. England rode on his phenomenal form during their march in the T20 World Cup, and he was inarguably the best batter in the tournament. 

Buttler’s hundred against Sri Lanka in the World Cup is among the finest knocks played in 2021.

David Warner (Australia) 
M 7 | R 289 | Ave 48.2 | SR 146.7 | HS 89* | 50+ 3

A selection that may raise eyebrows, especially when pitted against Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam and Martin Guptill, particularly given the number of games he has played this year. But Warner’s story has made it to cricketing folklore.

Injury and bio-bubble fatigue resulted in Warner missing out on most of Australia’s dismal T20I bilateral outings this year. While there is no doubt about his IPL legacy, a handful of ordinary outings saw him get stripped off Sunrisers Hyderabad captaincy, and even his place in the XI, as the Orange Army finished at the bottom.

But Australia backed him to the hilt, and he repaid the faith by winning them their first ever T20 World Cup. He stood strong, smacked three fifties in the campaign and ended up as the Player of the Tournament.

With Rizwan and Buttler performing opening duties, Warner makes a good No. 3 considering his versatile abilities to boss the Powerplay as well as be effective against spinners.

Mitchell Marsh (Australia)
M 21 | R 627 | Ave 36.9 | SR 129.8 | HS 77* | 50+ 6
W 8 | Ave 18.4 | Econ 7.3 | BB 3/24

Marsh’s heroics in the T20 World Cup final provided Australia with one of their greatest cricketing moments. However, the process began earlier, as Australia suffered one defeat after another in bilateral outings but Marsh remained a consistent performer. 

He was Australia’s hero with bat and ball in the West Indies, showed grit on the difficult surfaces in Bangladesh, and was one of the best T20I players of the year.

Aiden Markram (South Africa)
M 18 | R 570 | Ave 43.8 | SR 148.8 | HS 70 | 50+ 6
W 5 | Ave 26.8 | Econ 7.4 | BB 3/21

The year witnessed Markram re-invent the T20 player in himself. He found success in the middle order, attacking at will, and was one of the primary reasons for South Africa’s above par performance in the T20 World Cup.

He was also effective with his part-time off-breaks, playing a hand in South Africa’s T20I series win in Sri Lanka.

David Miller (South Africa)
M 17 | R 377 | Ave 47.1 | SR 149.6 | HS 85* | 50+ 2

Miller’s return to form benefitted South Africa as he played critical roles in Pakistan, Ireland and in the T20 World Cup. The year saw him amass most T20I runs in a calendar year and record the highest batting average in the format in the past 10 years.

Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
M 20 | W 36 | Ave 11.6 | Econ 5.4 | BB 4/9
R 196 | Ave 14 | SR 121 | HS 71 | 50+ 1

Hasaranga was the first pick of this side. Ranked No. 1 in the ICC T20I Bowling Rankings, he has been a force behind Sri Lanka’s resurgence. After playing a crucial role in their 2-1 home series win over India, he finished as the leading wicket-taker of the T20 World Cup.

Hasaranga has also made vital contributions with the bat in the lower order, including his 47-ball 71 against Ireland and 21-ball 35 in the T20 World Cup.

Tabraiz Shamsi (South Africa) 
M 22 | W 36 | Ave 13.4 | Econ 5.7 | BB 4/25

Tied with Hasaranga for most T20I wickets in 2021, Shamsi, currently, the second-ranked T20I bowler, is the second specialist spinner of the side. Just like Hasaranga, he, too, also has gone for under six an over, bagging two four-wicket hauls in the year.

Trent Boult (New Zealand)
M 15 | W 23 | Ave 18 | Econ 7.1 | BB 3/17

Boult just managed to beat his New Zealand teammate Tim Southee for a berth in this side. It was a close call, but Boult did marginally better in the key moments. A left-arm pacer also added variety to the bowling line-up.

He was exceptional in the T20 World Cup and produced memorable bowling spells in New Zealand’s key clashes against India, Afghanistan and Australia in the final.

Josh Hazlewood (Australia)
M 15 | W 23 | Ave 16.3 | Econ 6.9 | BB 4/39

Not many would have given Hazlewood a chance to better his more illustrious teammates like Mitchell Starc or Pat Cummins. The year 2021 witnessed the rise of Hazlewood as a leading T20 bowler.

He played a significant role in Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) fourth IPL win. His brilliant outings in Bangladesh, followed by the CSK stint in the UAE, helped Hazlewood gain the much-needed experience on Asian tracks ahead of the T20 World Cup. He picked 11 wickets, often bowling in the Powerplay and at the death to help them win their maiden T20 World Cup.

Anrich Nortje (South Africa) 
M 11 | W 15 | Ave 15.9 | Econ 6.1 | BB 3/8

With pace, accuracy and intelligence as his fortes, Nortje evolution as one of the most complete fast bowlers across formats has made the sport more exciting. In today’s times, it’s difficult to think about a dream T20 team without him. 

Best T20 XI of 2021: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Jos Buttler (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wanindu Hasaranga, Tabraiz Shamsi, Trent Boult, Josh Hazlewood, Anrich Nortje.

12th man: Ravindra Jadeja (India).