Top 5 T20I run-getters in 2017

T20 cricket this year has witnessed some fabulous moments. With the format demanding big hitting over nudging the ball through the gaps, batsmen have been granted a free license which has only made the job of the bowlers harder.

While the ability to thread the ball through the gaps for singles and twos is still a useful asset to have, the attacking approach to batting has given a new outlook to the game.

As the calendar year comes to a close, here is the list of the top run-getters in the T20I format this year:

#T-5 Virat Kohli and Mohammad Shahzad - 299 runs

The Indian skipper finished as the highest run-getter for India

The Indian skipper was in fine form with the bat in the T20 format this year as he amassed 299 runs from 10 games at an average of 37.37 and a strike rate of 152.00, finishing as the highest run-getter for India.

Opening the batting alongside KL Rahul, Kohli did not have the best of starts, scoring only 52 runs in three games against England at home. However, he hit a purple patch against Sri Lanka in early September, compiling 82 runs off 54 balls, to earn the Man of the Match award.

A rare lean patch against Australia was followed by quality knocks against the touring New Zealand side as the skipper helped himself to a half-century, helping India win the series.

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Mohammad Shehzad, the dashing right-hander from Afghanistan, was also at the top of his game this calendar year, amassing 299 runs from just seven matches at an average of 49.83 and strike rate of 131.71.

Shahzad enjoyed a good run in the Desert T20 Challenge where he scored 176 runs from four matches, including a quickfire fifty in the final to emerge as the top run-getter in the tournament.

He carried his form into the three-match T20 series against Ireland where he scored yet another half-century and finished with an average of 41 from three games.

#4 Ahmed Shehzad - 304 runs

Shehzad had a great end to the year

One of the most prolific openers for Pakistan in the shorter formats of the game, Ahmed Shehzad was single-handedly responsible for many of their victories this year.

Shehzad did not have the greatest of starts, with scores of 13, 14 and 4 in the first three T20s of the year, against West Indies, but came into his element in the final T20 of the series with a half-century which paved the way for Pakistan's series victory.

In the historic series against World XI in Pakistan, Shehzad got his side off to flying starts in the first two T20Is with scores of 39 and 43, and his innings of 89 off 55 balls in the last T20I earned him the Man of the Match award.

In the three-match series against Sri Lanka, the opener scored 22 and 27 in the first two T20Is which saw him cross the 300-run barrier for the year.

#3 AB de Villiers - 304 runs

AB de Villiers was at his devastating best

It's no secret that AB de Villiers is one of the best and most destructive batsmen in the shortest format of the game. With a unique ability to score runs all around the ground, AB excelled yet again this year with 304 runs from seven matches at an average of 50.66 and a magnificent strike-rate of 152.

Having missed the first two matches against Sri Lanka at home in January, AB returned with a bang, crafting a 44-ball 63 run knock to get his game going. A 17-ball 26 against hosts New Zealand in a one-off T20I was followed by a string of terrific performances against England.

Captaining the side, AB stroked his way to a 58-ball 65 in the first T20I and followed it up with a whirlwind 20-ball 46 in the next game. In the final game of the series, his 19-ball 35 run knock at a strike rate of 184.21 took him to 304 runs from seven games in the year.

#2 Babar Azam - 352 runs

Babar Azam is one of Pakistan's most consistent batsmen

Pakistan's Babar Azam, who is touted as one of the players to watch out for in the future, exhibited his class yet again this year with 352 runs from 10 games at an average of 39.11 and a strike rate of 119.72.

Against West Indies in their first T20I series of the year, Babar got off to good starts, and with scores of 29, 27, 43 and 38, he was the rock in Pakistan's middle-order. He continued with a Man of the Match performance against World XI with a 52-ball 86 run knock in the first T20I and followed it up with scores of 45 and 48 in the next two T20Is.

After a rare set of failures against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, he got back into form with a 31-ball 34 run unbeaten knock in the last T20I in Lahore.

#1 Evin Lewis - 357 runs

Evin Lewis's proficiency at the top of the order has made West Indies a force in the shortest format

Destructive and fearless at the top of the order, Evin Lewis's powerful striking of the ball at the top of the order has been immensely beneficial for the Carribean side. With a century and two fifties in 2017, it's no surprise that Lewis finished as the top run-getter in the shortest format of the game.

Failing to get off to a strong start in the T20I series against Pakistan at home in April, Lewis came into his element in the third T20I as he smashed his way to a 51-ball 91 run knock, laced with nine sixes and five fours that earned him the Man of the Match award.

Later, against Afghanistan, Lewis' string of poor performances by his lofty standards - he compiled scores of 26, 25 and 19 in three games - did not deter him as he blasted his way to his second T20I century, against India, a spectacular 62-ball 125 decorated with 12 sixes and six fours.

In the one-off T20I in England, Lewis smashed his way to a 28-ball 51 that led the way for WI's victory.