T20 is the fastest-growing format in the world of cricket at the moment. It started taking shape in 2003 and today every top cricketing nation has its own T20 franchise league. Few players have strictly committed themselves to this format of the game by giving up other formats.
Even in today's times, the T20 format is popular at the franchise level more than the international level. Therefore, fans tend to remember the performances of players in franchise cricket more than those at the international level.
The first ever T20 international was played between Australia and New Zealand in February 2005 at Auckland. Many former cricketers are of the opinion that T20 should be restricted only to club-level and international T20 games should be scrapped in a bid to add more life to Test and one-day formats.
Because of so much T20 cricket being played these days, mostly at the franchise level, the below-par international performances of players remain unnoticed. Let us take a look at 4 players who are kings at franchise level but flops at the international level in T20 cricket.
#4 Andre Russell
The big 'Dre Russ' is one of the most fearsome all-rounders in the T20 format. Russell has been around for a number of years now and has vast experience of playing T20 franchise cricket in almost every known cricketing country. Many cricket experts like to say that having Russell is like having 3 players.
At international level though, Andre hasn't quite clicked. In 44 games for the West Indies, he has scored only 366 runs at a poor average of 15. His strike-rate of 132 is decent but not as good as his numbers at the franchise level. With the ball too, he has picked only 23 wickets at an expensive economy of over 9.
Disputes with the board have kept Russell in and out of the West Indies team. Even though West Indies are two-time WT20 champions, their record in T20 bilateral series is poor. Things could have been different had Russell been a consistent member of the team, for he is a proven match-winner.
#3 Steven Smith
The Australian run-scoring juggernaut has been regarded as many as the best player after Bradman. Despite all his success at the Test level, Smith remains an ordinary T20I batsman.
In 30 T20Is, Smith has just 431 runs to his name at an average of just 21. It is surprising to see Smith failing at the international level while his counterparts Kohli, Williamson and Root have performed much better at the same stage.
Smith has been a dominant force in the IPL for a number of years now. He has also won a BBL title as captain for the Sydney Sixers in 2011-12. Smith also has made brief appearances in the T20 Blast for Worcestershire and Global T20 Canada for Toronto Nationals.
#2 Kieron Pollard
The Trinidadian giant has been a T20 powerhouse for over a decade now. A powerful lower-order hitter, Pollard muscles the ball harder than anyone else in world cricket when he is on song. In the field, he is one of the best athletes you will come across. He has been a stalwart in the IPL for the Mumbai Indians and also for the various teams he has played in other T20 leagues.
You will be surprised to know that Kieron Pollard's T20 international figures are pretty poor considering his standards. In 56 matches, he has scored only 768 runs at a mediocre average of 20. Someone who is known to hit more sixes than fours has cleared the fence only 39 times in his 56-match T20I career.
Pollard's bowling has completely gone off the boil in recent times and he is not considered a regular bowler anymore. In such a scenario, the only way he can keep himself in the reckoning is by scoring runs. Like many of his teammates, Pollard too doesn't play regularly for the West Indies because of disputes with the board.
#1 Ravindra Jadeja
From a local lad from Saurashtra to 'Sir' Ravindra Jadeja, Jaddu has come a long way, but not in T20 international cricket! For someone who once fetched $2 million in an IPL auction, his figures don't do justice to his talent at all.
In 40 T20Is for India, Jadeja has only 31 wickets to his name at an economy rate of 7.2. With the bat, he has been a total flop at the T20 international level. His strike rate of below 100 and average of 9 clearly suggest that he has never played the role of a finisher to perfection.
Jadeja, now out of favour, is going to find it very difficult to claw his way back into the Indian side after the emergence of Kuldeep and Chahal. If he is to make a comeback, Jadeja needs plenty of solid performances at the domestic level and more than just a slice of luck.
Check RCB Squad 2024 Details. Follow Sportskeeda for IPL 2024 Live Score, Schedule, Points Table