Top 5 T20I Debutants in 2018

Quite a lot of T20I matches were played in 2018 and it was the Pakistan team which emerged as the best T20I team of the year.

However, we saw a bunch of talented players get their respective maiden T20I caps for their nation. Several IPL stars like Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Khaleel Ahmed and Krunal Pandya made their international debuts in 2018.

The likes of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Shimron Hetmyer, Oshane Thomas, Shaheen Afridi, Junior Dala and Mark Chapman also received their T20I caps before going on to become household names. But, not every debutant was able to impress and some failed to make the most out of the golden opportunity.

There have been a few outstanding performers, who have shown a lot of potential and have been backed by their respective teams. Here are the best 5 T20I debutants of 2018.

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#5 Krunal Pandya

Out of all the Indian players who made their T20I debut this year, Krunal Pandya emerged as the best performer out of them. His heroics versus the Windies in his very first international match of the career helped India win the Kolkata T20I.

Krunal was even included in the T20I squad against Australia where he made it to the playing XI in all the 3 matches. Though he failed to perform well in the first T20I, it was his 4 wicket haul in the final match which helped India level the series.

Krunal has been retained in the Indian T20I squad for the tour of New Zealand and one can expect the Baroda born all-rounder to better this 2018 performance in the coming year.

Matches: 6, Runs: 23, Strike-rate: 176.92, Wickets: 6, Economy-rate: 8.12

#4 Hussain Talat

Hussain Talat has become an important part of Pakistan's T20I team

Aged 22, Hussain Talat made his T20I debut for Pakistan against West Indies on 1st April 2018 and compiled a crucial knock of 41 runs on his debut. The left-handed middle order batsman has represented Pakistan in 11 matches thus far and amassed 273 runs at a strike rate of 117.67. He has a highest score of 63 runs in T20Is.

Talat has also rolled his arm over in 5 innings where he has scalped 4 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 8.00. He has proved to be a utility all-rounder for Pakistan and can be counted as one of the reasons why the Men in Green have risen to the top of the ICC T20I rankings.

Matches: 11, Runs: 273, Strike-rate: 117.67, Wickets: 4, Economy-rate: 8

#3 Heinrich Klaasen

Heinrich Klaasen

Heinrich Klaasen drew the attention of the cricket fans by playing a match-winning innings against India in the bilateral ODI series. This innings helped Klaasen secure a place in the South African T20I squad and also earn himself a maiden IPL contract. The wicket-keeper batsman has represented the rainbow nation in 6 T20Is, where he averages 24.00 with the bat.

However, Klaasen scores runs at a very quick rate and has taken only 85 balls to score his 144 runs in 2018. Playing as the team's wicket-keeper, Heinrich has taken 6 catches behind the wickets. He will be seen playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the 2019 edition of the IPL and with talks of the league being held in South Africa, expect him to shine for the Royals.

Matches: 6, Runs: 144, Strike-rate: 169.41, Highest Score: 69, Catches: 6

#2 Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Afghanistan is known for producing mystery spinners and this year Mujeeb Ur Rahman emerged as that mystery spinner. The teenager became the first player born in the year 2001 to play an international match.

Mujeeb made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe on 5th February 2018. He has quickly become one of the best spinners of the world and has even played in the Indian Premier League.

Mujeeb has played 7 T20I matches for Afghanistan and has picked up 9 wickets at a miserly economy rate of 5.07. He has a mind boggling bowling average of just above 15 and also a bowling strike rate of 18. The mystery spinner is currently playing the Big Bash League in Australia where he is representing the Brisbane Heat.

Matches: 7, Wickets: 9, Economy-rate: 5.07, Strike-rate: 18, Best bowling figures: 3/17

#1 D'Arcy Short - Sportskeeda's T20I Debutant in 2018

D'Arcy Short was the sixth leading run-getter in T20Is in 2018

D'Arcy Short was the find of the Big Bash League last year where his batting performances helped the Hobart Hurricanes to reach the final of that season. Though the Hurricanes failed to win the title, they made sure the Australian team gets a swashbuckling batting prospect.

The left-handed batsman who made his T20I debut in February 2018 is currently ranked 16th in the ICC T20I rankings for batsmen. This shows how impressive has Short been with the bat for Australia.

He has scored 515 runs in the 18 matches he has played for Australia and has an average of 32.19. Short stands 6th in the list of the highest run scorers in T20Is of 2018, only behind big names like Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Aaron Finch.

Matches: 18, Runs: 515, Strike-rate: 121.18, Average: 32.18, Highest Score: 76