Top 10 specialists in Twenty20 cricket

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Chris Gayle who has 21 centuries in the game's shortest format, poses with KXIP co-owner Preity Zinta

#8 Kieron Pollard

Pollard is known for his fearsome hitting
Keiron Pollard is known for his fearsome hitting

Franchises: Adelaide Strikers, Barbados Tridents, Dhaka Gladiators, Karachi Kings, Melbourne Renegades, Multan Sultans, Mumbai Indians, Somerset, Trinidad & Tobago

Matches: 420 | Runs: 8124 | Strike Rate: 150.58 | Batting Average: 29.86 | Highest Score: 89* | Wickets: 251 | Bowling Strike Rate 17.4 | Best Bowling Figures 4/15 | Economy Rate: 7.90 | Catches: 239

Brute force with the bat, uncanny wicket-taking ability and an athletic boundary patroller -Pollard fits the template of a Caribbean all-rounder to the tee. He specialises in taking the game away from the opposition in the middle overs with the ball and in the death overs with his raw hitting power. The balls that this temperamental Trinidadian clubs, sails over the boundary, the ones he mistimes, do too.

Trivia: His career strike rate has never dipped below 150 and holds the records for most catches for a fielder in the format.


#7 Shane Watson

Shane Watson has played some of his best cricket for his T20 franchises
Shane Watson has played some of his best cricket for his T20 franchises

Franchises: Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings, Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators, St Lucia Zouks, Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder

Matches: 264 | Runs: 6783 | Strike Rate: 139.38 | Hundreds: 4 | Batting Average: 29.36 | Highest Score: 124* | Wickets: 215 | Economy Rate: 7.90 | Catches: 76

Shane Watson, with his dependable seam-up and explosive batting, while when it comes to the opening is often one of the first names on the team sheet. Rajasthan Royal's IPL title surge in 2008 was based on a large part, on Watson's regular contributions. He remains one of the most bankable freelancers in the format and easily a modern great. Post his retirement from all forms of international cricket in 2016, his form has been resurgent, indicating that he's got plenty still to offer.

Trivia: He's the only player to have won 2 Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in the IPL, in 2008 and 2013 playing for Rajasthan Royals.

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Edited by Amit Mishra