Top 5 players from ICC World T20 2016

Another World T20 has concluded and we will have to wait for another 4 years before the next edition comes into the fray.

The tournament had some fine moments comprising some superb display of class from batsmen, bowlers and fielders. While some teams played brilliantly as a unit, some had individual masterclasses to thank for.

Castrol Activ’s Actibonds provide a reassuring presence, forming a protective coat around the engine. In a very similar fashion, these 5 players helped their teams thrive by offering great enjoyment and solidity.

This has been one of those tournaments where picking the best players is a tough task, but here are the 5 players from the World T20 2016 who we think were the best:

#1. Jason Roy

He might not be among the top two run-getters for even England, but whenever he gave England a good start, they won. A look at his match list would show you that he failed only thrice in giving England a good start—and they lost two of those games, further testifying to his importance at the top.

Most had placed their hopes on Alex Hales to be the man to torment the new ball, but it was Jason Roy who played the fearless cricket and became one of the pillars on which the England team stood and carved a place for themselves in the final.

He scored 183 runs at a strike-rate of 148, which included a blazing 17-ball 43 against South Africa while chasing 230.

#2. Joe Root

Without a doubt, he was the best player in the tournament. He played and starred for a team like England—who have some really talented players, but were still bettered by South Africa, West Indies, India and New Zealand when it came to quality.

Root led them to an unforgettable final, which they lost because only God wanted them to.

In the 6 matches that he played, he scored 249 runs, just 24 less than Virat Kohli, at a strike-rate of 146.47. In the final, when England had a sorry start to their innings, he came in and steadied the ship. He also chipped in with two wickets when he was given the ball by captain Eoin Morgan.

If luck was in his favour, he might as well have had the winner’s medal hanging around his neck.

#3. Virat Kohli

When a player has been named as the man of the tournament, you know that he had a tournament to remember. This man is just unreal. With each game, his stats in T20I keep rising towards the sky as his unparalleled batting talent is the only thing India can fully rely on.

In 5 games, he scored an astonishing 273 runs at an average of 137.50—yes, that was his average, not strike-rate—and hit at a rate of 146.77 runs per 100 balls. His efforts couldn’t take India to the final as luck favoured the Windies, or Lendl Simmons, to be precise—in the semi-finals.

However, his performances will forever be etched in the hearts of fans.

#4. Andre Russell

One couldn’t actually pick one standout player from the West Indies team, such has been their teamwork in the tournament. In one game, Gayle scored a century, in another, Lendl Simmons was the winner and then in another, Marlon Samuels saved the day.

It was this unpredictability that won them the World Cup along with a hint of luck. However, if there was one player who kept doing his job consistently, it was Andre Russell

It could safely be said that he was the most effective all-rounder in the tournament, taking 9 wickets while also scoring 91 runs. The run stat might not seem great, but let’s not forget his game-winning 43* against India.

His brute strength while batting and thoughtful bowling is why he was, on an overall basis, West Indies’ best player.

#5. Mitchell Santner

New Zealand came into this tournament without their legendary batsman, Brendon McCullum. McCullum was their most explosive player in this edition and his absence was supposed to bring New Zealand down even before they were up.

However, it was anything but that.

Playing in a young team—captain by the young Kane Williamson—they stunned India in the very first game, and the man who starred there was Mitchell Santner.

The slow left-armer was the revelation of the tournament as he took 12 wickets in just 5 games, at a miserly economy rate of 6.27. His exploits were the biggest reason for New Zealand’s unbeaten run to the semi-finals and his less-than-usual performance in that game was what gave England the victory.