2024 was a record-breaking year for international T20 cricket. For the first time ever, more than 600 matches (673) were played in a single year. The most significant T20 World Cup, with 20 teams, took place in the middle of the year. In this record-setting year, four Indian players made it to the ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year.
Despite India having four representatives, there were no players from the runner-up team, South Africa, in the best XI. Similarly, players from Bangladesh and New Zealand were absent. However, there is one player each from Australia, England, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka.
As part of the 2024 year-end awards across various categories, the ICC today announced both the Men’s and Women’s T20I Teams of the Year. From India, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh were selected for the men’s team. Rohit Sharma, in fact, is the captain of this year’s best XI.
Among others, Australia’s Travis Head opened the batting, England’s Phil Salt batted at number three, Pakistan’s Babar Azam was fourth, West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran came in fifth, and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza made it to the sixth spot. In the bowling department, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga were the two spinners in the team.
Just like the men’s team, the women’s T20I Team of the Year also has the highest number of players from India. Smriti Mandhana was selected as an opener, Richa Ghosh was named as a wicketkeeper, and Deepti Sharma was included as a bowler.
Other players in the women’s team include Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp from South Africa, Chamari Athapaththu from Sri Lanka, Hayley Matthews from West Indies, Nat Sciver-Brunt from England, Amelia Kerr from New Zealand, Orla Prendergast from Ireland, and Sadia Iqbal from Pakistan.
None of the players from Bangladesh, male or female, made it to either of the teams.
ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year:
Rohit Sharma (captain) (India), Travis Head (Australia), Phil Salt (England), Babar Azam (Pakistan), Nicholas Pooran (wicketkeeper) (West Indies), Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), Hardik Pandya (India), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), Jasprit Bumrah (India), Arshdeep Singh (India).
