It is that time of year again. It’s time to reward cricket players for their outstanding performances. Yes, ICC awards are here. The International Cricket Council has named 4 players on the list for T20I player of the year. Surprisingly, no Indian player has made it to the list. The contenders are England’s Jos Buttler, Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka, Mitchell Marsh of Australia, and Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan. T20 international cricket has monopolized the year, with the T20 World Cup 2021 also taking place. While Australia went on to seize the tournament, Pakistan and England were remarkable. Mitchell Marsh was undoubtedly one of the notables, playing a substantial role in Australia’s victory over New Zealand in the final. Jos Buttler and Mohammad Rizwan were the two undisputed superstars for England and Pakistan, respectively.
4 players on the list for T20I player of the year
Wanindu Hasaranga
Hasaranga is currently one of the most competent spinning all-rounders, not just in the Asian subcontinent but in the world. Wanindu Hasaranga had a promising T20 World Cup campaign in UAE. He completed the competition as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, with 16 scalps. Hasaranga also slashed a stunning 71 against Ireland with the bat. He had also scored a hat-trick against South Africa in Sharjah, almost single-handedly leading Sri Lanka to victory before David Miller’s heroics dashed the Islanders’ hopes. Wanindu took 36 wickets in 20 matches this year at an average of 11.63. He achieved a half-century while accumulating 196 runs with the bat.
Mitchell Marsh
It is not at all surprising to see Marsh’s name in the list of T20I players of the year. Mitchell Marsh’s advancement to No. 3 was the favorable decision Australia has created in terms of T20 cricket for a long time. Marsh was instrumental in Australia’s first T20 World Cup victory this year. He scored 185 runs in six World Cup matches at an average of 61.66 and a strike rate of 146.82. His unbeaten 77 off 50 deliveries against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final earned him Player of the Match honors. Mitch scored 627 runs in 27 matches at an average of 36.88. With the ball, the lanky Australian took 8 wickets at 18.37.
Mohammad Rizwan
Rizwan made headlines after scoring an unbeaten 79 off 55 deliveries against India in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup opener. In the innings, the wicket-keeper batsman hit six fours and three sixes. Rizwan had even miraculously recovered from a chest infection in time for the Australia game. The wicket-keeper batsman had spent two nights in the intensive care unit before the game. Despite this, he managed to play in the semi-final against Australia, earning the respect of the entire cricketing community. Rizwan scored 1326 runs in 29 matches this year at an average of 73.66, including one century. As a wicket-keeper, he also had 24 dismissals.
Jos Buttler
With some astonishing performances for England in the T20 World Cup 2021, Jos Buttler reaffirmed his significance as arguably the best white-ball batter in the world. Even in bilateral tournaments against India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. Buttler’s heroics this year was unrivaled. Buttler hit the first century of the T20 World Cup 2021, taking Sri Lankan bowlers to task in Sharjah, attaining his century in just 67 balls. He finished the tournament with 269 runs, making him England’s leading run-scorer. Buttler scored 589 runs in 14 matches this year, averaging 65.44 with one century. He also had 13 dismissals as a wicket-keeper.
