T20 cricket has risen tremendously in recent years as followers of the sport find it intriguing due to its explosive action. The emergence of domestic leagues has also played a vital role in the popularity of the shortest format of the sport among cricket enthusiasts. The top T20 competitions, such as Indian Premier League (IPL) and Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), have contributed to the success of the T20 format.
Whether it’s international cricket or franchise leagues, it has been witnessed that teams heavily bank on players who are known for their versatile nature in the shortest form of the sport. Currently, there are many players in the business who are known as T20 specialists for their impeccable skills. In the last few years, these players have proven themselves with their stunning displays.
Talking more, here are ten players who could be called T20 specialists
10. David Miller
David Miller. (Photo Source: Getty Images)
David Miller is active in international cricket since 2010, and in these years, he has played some magnificent knocks for South Africa. Currently, he is the second-leading run-scorer for his national side with 2216 runs with two tons and six fifties in 114 matches, at a phenomenal strike rate of 144.64.
As a middle-order batter, the veteran has served his nation excellently with several match-finishing innings. In October 2017, he smashed the fastest T20 international century against Bangladesh in Potchefstroom. The southpaw brought his maiden T20I hundred in just 35 balls against Bangladesh and broke into the record books.
Apart from international cricket, he also plays league cricket consistently. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he has served Punjab Kings (PBKS), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Gujarat Titans (GT) thus far. In 2022, he contributed to GT’s maiden title victory. Scoring 481 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 142.73, he became the third-leading run-getter for the team.
9. Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The dashing England wicketkeeper-batter is a proven performer for England in the shortest form of the sport. In 2022, he was appointed as England’s captaincy mantle in the white-ball format, and after a few months, he led his side to the second T20 World Cup title in Australia. With 225 runs in six matches of the tournament, at a strike rate of 144.23, he ended up as the leading run-scorer for the champion side.
In the early stages of his T20I career, Buttler served England in the middle order, but after 2017, Eoin Morgan assigned him the task of an opener. The change in the batting position brought positive results as he succeeded in giving them but ideal starts to the team with his superb batting technique.
Currently, he is the highest run-scorer for England in T20Is, amassing 2713 runs with a ton and 20 half-centuries in 106 games at a fabulous strike rate of 144.07. The veteran also plays the cash-rich IPL regularly since 2016. In the past, he was associated with Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2016-17 seasons, but currently, he is a vital cog in Rajasthan Royals (RR) due to his exceptional batting capability.
8. Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Rashid Khan has played an instrumental role in Afghanistan’s development as T20I playing nation. With his superb leg-break skills, he has brought smiles to a lot of faces. Currently, he is the leading wicket-taker for his nation, with 129 wickets in 80 matches at an economy of 6.18.
Riding on his marvellous bowling spell of 4.0-0-26-2, Afghanistan vanquished the powerful West Indies team in the ICC T20 World Cup 2016. Mesmerised by his unprecedented talent, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) reserved his services at the 2017 IPL auction to defend the title. Playing his maiden IPL season, he looked confident and became the second-leading wicket-taker for Sunrisers with 17 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 6.62.
In 2022, he joined Gujarat Titans (GT) and chipped in with 19 wickets in 16 contests at an economy of 6.59 in the famous title triumph. Along with the IPL, the spin wizard also plays other T20 leagues, such as BBL, Pakistan Super League, and SA20 League, consistently.
7. Sunil Narine
Sunil Narine. (Photo Source: ILT20)
When it comes to T20 cricket, Sunil Narine is a renowned name since the start of his career. Back in 2012, he made his T20I debut against Australia, and within a few months, he grabbed a lot of eyes due to his extraordinary bowling display for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the fifth edition of IPL.
Bagging 24 wickets in 15 games, he played a staple role in his team’s success in the competition. After providing his services to the Kolkata-based franchise for more than 11 years, he has emerged as the highest wicket-taker for the team, picking up 158 wickets in 156 matches at an economy of 6.74.
Talking about his international numbers, the veteran is the fourth leading wicket-taker for West Indies. The legendary spinner has grabbed 52 wickets in 51 T20Is under his belt at a sensational economy of 6.01. He played his last international game in 2019, but his presence could be witnessed in a majority of domestic leagues.
6. Alex Hales
Alex Hales (Photo Source: Twitter)
Alex Hales is known for his fierce opening batting skills in T20Is. Riding on his muscle power, England have won a lot of matches in the shortest form of the game. In his 12-year-old T20I career, he has chalked up 2074 runs with a ton and 12 fifties in 75 matches, at a decent strike rate of 138.35.
His career went through ups and downs in recent years as the veteran couldn’t make it to the national squad from 2019 to 2022. Just days before the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, his exile from international cricket ended with a seven-match T20I series in Pakistan. In England’s second title win, he emerged as the second-leading run-getter for his side with 212 runs in six matches at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 147.22.
Discussing his league career, the 34-year-old has played all major domestic T20 competitions, such as IPL, BBL, PSL, The Hundred (Men’s Competition), and Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
5. Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell. (Photo Source: Cricket Australia/Twitter)
Glenn Maxwell is an integral part of the Australia cricket team in white-ball cricket. However, his requirement gets more essential in T20s as his playing technique is ideal for the shortest form of the sport. In 2012, the then 23-year-old Maxwell made his debut for Australia against Pakistan in Dubai.
Since then, he has made 98 appearances for his national team, in which he has piled up 2159 runs with three centuries and ten fifties, at a remarkable strike rate of 150.97. These batting figures also make him the third-highest run-getter for Australia in T20Is, following the former Australia skipper Aaron Finch and opener David Warner. In 2016, he registered an amazing feat on his name with his outstanding 145-run knock against Sri Lanka in a T20I contest in Pallekele.
The amazing innings over the years has put him in the fourth position on the chart of batters with the most runs in innings in the shortest form of the sport. Along with international cricket, he is also a huge name in domestic leagues such as IPL and BBL. In the cash-rich T20 tournament, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is receiving his services since 2021, and in return, the veteran has delivered some valuable match-winning knocks to the franchise.
4. Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Suryakumar Yadav grabbed a lot of eyes with his batting display in the IPL. Joining the MI in 2018, he set the stage on fire with his miraculous performances. Scoring 512 runs with four half-centuries in 14 matches, he became the top-scorer for MI in the season. With this notable performance, he became a regular member of the team.
In March 2021, Suryakumar entered international cricket, and within a few months, he turned into a star in the business with his brilliant batting performances. In 2022, he surpassed Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan and held the top slot in the ICC T20I rankings. With this achievement, he became the second Indian player to become the number one T20I batter.
The right-handed batter compiled 239 runs in six matches at an impressive strike rate of 189.68 and became the third-leading run-getter in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. With his fantastic numbers, he got elevated in the team as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed him the vice-captain of India’s T20I side.
3. Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan. (Photo Source: MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Shakib Al Hasan is known for his superb all-round capability. Riding on his electrifying performances, his team has won many great matches across formats. Currently, the 36-year-old is the most successful player for Bangladesh in T20Is, as he is the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker for his national side.
Thus far, Shakib has racked up 2345 runs and 136 wickets in 115 matches under his belt. Apart from international cricket, he is also active in domestic leagues such as IPL, PSL, CPL and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). In the IPL, he has represented champion sides such as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
The veteran also played an essential role in KKR’s maiden title win in 2012 with his economical and wicket-taking bowling. In his eight appearances in the competition, he took 12 wickets at an economy of 6.50. While in his country’s T20 tournament BPL, he captains Fortune Barishal.
2. Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
The dashing South Africa batter Faf du Plessis is a huge figure in international cricket due to his fantabulous batting skills. After making his international debut in 2011, Cricket South Africa (CSA) believed in his technique and gave him a chance to represent the T20I team as well. Grabbing the golden opportunity with both hands, he delivered some incredible match-winning performances to his team.
Witnessing some of his heroic displays, the CSA appointed him the full-time captain of the South Africa T20I team in February 2013. In January 2015, he hit his maiden T20I century and became the second Proteas cricketer to smash a ton in the shortest form of cricket. Since February 2021, he is away from international cricket due to differences with CSA, but the dasher is still shining with his bat in domestic T20 tournaments such as IPL and PSL.
In the IPL, he was a part of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) till 2021, and in the last year of his association with the franchise, he powered the team to the fourth title victory with 633 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 138.20. Currently, he is serving as the captain and opening batter of RCB since 2022.
1. Andre Russell
Andre Russell. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Andre Russell is a giant figure in T20 internationals due to his muscle power. Banking on his power-hitting ability, he has taken a great many games home for the West Indies. In the 2016 T20 World Cup semi-final against the hosts India, he displayed his strength and bagged the game home with his unprecedented 43-run knock off 20 deliveries.
However, compared to international cricket, his batting figures are better in league cricket. In the biggest T20 tournament, IPL, he is an integral part of KKR due to his awesome all-round talent. As a KKR stalwart, the flamboyant batter is the third-highest run-getter for the team, with 2143 runs in 106 games at a stellar strike rate of 175.37
While with the ball, he is holding the second position in the chart of leading wicket-takers for the team, clinching 94 wickets in 106 games at an economy of 9.02. Apart from the wealthy tournament, he also plays BBL and CPL.