5 cricketers who have played the most T20 matches

Ever since its inception in the world of cricket the T20 format has completely changed the dimension of cricket. This slam bang format of cricket has become the most popular format today eclipsing both Tests and ODIs.

It was introduced to create a fast-paced form of the game which would be attractive to spectators at the ground and viewers on television - and it has been very successful in doing so.

T20s have also given birth to the modern day cricketer - who plies his trade in the various T20 franchises around the world. Such cricketers are in very high demand every time any T20 tournament takes place in any part of the world. So, who are the players who have played the maximum number of T20 matches? Let us have a look:

#5 Dwayne Smith - 308

Tall, aggressive and powerful, Dwayne Smith is the perfect T20 batsman to have at the top of the order. With a high backlift, he has the ability to nonchalantly hit pick up shots over both the mid-wicket and the cover region. He also has the knack of picking up important wickets with his seam up bowling.

He has played a total of 308 T20 matches so far which puts him at number 5 on the list. He has plied his trade in the T20 competitions of India, Pakistan, Australia and West Indies among others. Indian fans would most remember him for his stints at the top of the order for Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings.

#4 Brendon McCullum - 318

Kiwi Superstar Brendon Mccullum

Brash and powerful, this superstar from New Zealand is easily one of the best glovesmen of his era and redefined the art of batting. His big-hitting exploits were not limited to limited overs internationals alone as he smashed the fastest century in the history of test cricket in his final match.

He has played a total of 318 T20 matches over the course of his career and he is the only non West Indies player to feature on the list.He will always be fondly for his innings of 158* in the inaugural match of the IPL which set the tone for the tournament.

#3 Chris Gayle - 323

Christopher Henry Gayle is a legend of the T20 genre. This flamboyant West Indies cricketer revolutionized modern day cricket - relying on terrific hand-eye coordination to hit even the good length deliveries out of the park. A powerful batsmen who can turn the tide of any match in a matter of overs, he is a prized commodity in all the T20 leagues around the world.

He has played a total of 323 T20 matches so far. He has played in every major T20 league in the world be it the IPL, the Big Bash or the PSL. He is a crowd favourite at Bengaluru where is a part of a dreaded trio along with Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers for the RCB.

#2 Dwayne Bravo - 371

Dwayne Bravo in action for the West Indies.

Dwayne Bravo is the typical West Indies cricketer - full of flair and passion both on and off the field. He bats with the same flair with lovely shots all round the wicket. At his best he is reminiscent of the great VVS Laxman with his wristy flicks to even balls from outside the off stump.

With the ball, he is more than useful with his wide range of deliveries especially at the death. He also emerged with the purple cap - awarded to the highest wicket taker in the IPL in 2013.

All in all he has played a total of 371 matches so far and looks set to add to his tally with the upcoming IPL as well as the ongoing Big Bash League.

#1 Kieron Pollard - 399

Kieron Pollard first caught the eye of the cricketing word after his fearsome hitting in the 2009 edition of the Champions League T20. He was soon bought by the Mumbai Indians for a whopping US $750,000 and there has been looking back ever since.

Since then, he has been a regular feature in all the major T20 leagues around the world. At his best, there is no boundary in the world that he cannot clear while his athletic fielding serves another added advantage.

He has played 399 T20 matches. With the IPL coming up, he would be looking to increase his lead at the top of the table.