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The newest and most exciting format has changed the way cricket is played. 20-over matches are intense and demand a different skill set than one-day international and Test matches.
The first ever T20 International game was played on 17th February, 2005 between Australia and New Zealand at Auckland, which Australia won by 44 runs. Australian skipper Ricky Ponting scored an unbeaten 98 in that match.
Since then, the format has come a long way. There have been six ICC World T20 tournaments so far, with India winning the inaugural tournament in South Africa and West Indies lifting the cup in the most recent tournament in India.
In 2017, 48 T20 International games have been played. Few players have done very well in this format this year, and based on the current records, the following 11 players have been selected to form the T20 XI of 2017.
Team Composition:
5 Batsmen
1 Wicket-Keeper
1 All-Rounder
4 Bowlers
Evin Lewis
The southpaw has dominated the 2017 T20 circuit with his batting. Scoring 357 runs in 9 matches at an average of 44.62 and a strike rate of 154.54, Lewis is the leading run-getter in T20s this year. He has a century and a couple of half-centuries to his name this year and has struck as many as 31 sixes in his 9 matches.
His highest score this year came against India at Kingston on the 9th of July, where he smashed a career-best score of 125 not out against the visitors.
Lewis is a powerful hitter of the cricket ball and has played some solid knocks for the Windies at the top of the order.
Colin Munro
The Durban-born Kiwi left-hander has had a very good year with the bat. Scoring 224 runs in 7 matches at an average of 37.33 and an impressive strike rate of 169.69, he has crafted a few game-changing innings at the top of the order for New Zealand.
Munro has a couple of centuries to his name this year and has struck 15 sixes in 7 matches. His highest score this year came against India at Rajkot on the 4th of November, where he smashed a career-best score of 109 not out against the hosts.
Munro is Lewis' partner in crime at the top of the order in this side.
Virat Kohli
The run-machine from India has been in sublime form in all formats of the game this year. In T20Is, he has 299 runs to his name in 10 matches at an average of 37.37 and a strike rate of 152.55. Kohli has a couple of half-centuries to his name this year and has smashed 8 sixes in his 10 matches. His highest score this year came against Sri Lanka at Colombo on the 6th of September, where he scored 82.
Kohli comes in at number 3 in this side.
AB de Villiers
Mr. 360 is a perfect fit when it comes to T20s. His unorthodox batting style and innovative shots make him one of the best batsmen in this format. The South African has 304 runs to his name in 7 matches at an average of 50.66 and a strike rate of 152 and is the third highest run-getter in T20s this year.
De Villiers has a couple of half-centuries to his name this year and has hit 8 sixes in his 7 matches. His highest score this year came against England at Southampton on the 21st of June, where he scored an unbeaten 65.
de Villiers has the ability to take apart any bowling attack in the middle and death overs and is the perfect middle order batsman in T20s.
AB de Villiers will bat at number 4 in this side.
David Miller
The South African has been in good form in T20s this year. He has 243 runs to his name in his 11 appearances for South Africa at an average of 30.37 and a strike rate of 152. Miller has a century to his name this year as well.
His highest score this year came against Bangladesh at Potchefstroom on the 29th of October, where he scored an unbeaten 101 of just 36 balls.
Miller will come in at number 5.
MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni is one of the biggest names in T20 cricket. He has 169 runs to his name in 10 matches at an average of 33.8 and a strike rate of 131 this year. Dhoni has a half-century and 6 sixes to his name as well. His highest score this year came against England at Bangalore on the 1st of February, where he scored 56. This was his maiden T20 international fifty.
He is one of the most cool-headed players the game has ever seen, a skill that makes him an excellent captain in this format.
Dhoni will lead this side and bat at number 6, apart from keeping wickets.
Carlos Brathwaite
The big West Indian is one of the better all-rounders in the shortest format of the game. He can contribute with both bat and ball, and provides some much-needed hitting power in the lower middle order.
Brathwaite has 96 runs to his name in 9 matches at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 115.66 in 2017.
Brathwaite has had a decent year with the ball as well, picking up 12 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 14.5, an economy of 6.82 and a strike rate of 12.7. His best figures this year came against England at Chester-le-Street on the 16th of September, where he picked up 3 wickets, giving away 20 runs. These are also his career-best figures in T20 Internationals so far.
Brathwaite will bat at number 7 in this side.
Rashid Khan
The 19-year-old from Afghanistan has had an awesome year with the ball. Picking up 17 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 9.41, a miserly economy of 4.57 and a strike rate of 12.3, Khan is the leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals this year. His best figures this year came against Ireland at Greater Noida on the 10th of March, where he picked up 5 wickets, giving away just 3 runs. These are also his career-best figures in T20 Internationals so far.
Kesrick Williams
The West Indian pacer has had a very good year with the ball. Picking up 17 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 12.88, an economy of 6.95 and a strike rate of 11.1, Williams is the second highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals this year. His best figures came against Afghanistan at Basseterre on the 3rd of June, where he picked up 3 wickets, giving away just 11 runs. These are also his career-best figures in T20 Internationals so far.
The Caribbean will feature ar number 9.
Yuzvendra Chahal
The leg-spinner from India has had a good season with the ball. He is the third highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals this year, with 15 wickets to his name in 9 matches at an average of 16.66, an economy of 7.46 and a strike rate of 13.4. His best figures this year came against England at Bangalore on the 1st of February, where he picked up 6 wickets, giving away 25 runs. These are also his career-best figures in T20 Internationals so far.
Chahal is the number 10 of the side.
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah has had a decent year with the ball. He has picked up 12 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 17.41, an economy of 7.04 and a strike rate of 14.8. His best figures this year came against England at Bangalore on the 1st of February, where he picked up 3 wickets, giving away 14 runs.
Bumrah is very effective in the death overs with his accurate yorkers and has become an integral part of the Indian side in limited-overs cricket.
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