Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah Lead ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year

Dubai, Jan 25 (NationPress) Rohit Sharma has been appointed as the captain of the ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year, with Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh also making the cut in this illustrious lineup.

Under Rohit's guidance, India clinched the T20 World Cup title in Barbados last year, following which he declared his retirement from this format. The Indian pace trio played a significant role in this triumph.

The seasoned opener demonstrated his batting prowess, accumulating 378 runs in 11 matches at an impressive average of 42.00, alongside a striking strike rate exceeding 160. Rohit had an outstanding T20 World Cup, scoring three half-centuries, including a remarkable 92 against Australia in the Super Eight round.

Apart from his batting skills, Rohit’s insightful leadership was vital in steering a youthful Indian squad through high-pressure situations, ensuring that the year was unforgettable for his nation.

Pandya reinstated his position as the premier all-rounder in the shortest format with a remarkable 2024, propelling him back to the top of the ICC Men’s T20I all-rounder rankings.

He amassed 352 runs and secured 16 wickets across 17 matches, with his contributions being key in India’s successful campaign that crowned them as world champions in the 20-over format.

The 31-year-old had a flawless performance in the USA and the West Indies, scoring 144 runs with the bat, alongside claiming 11 wickets, including a thrilling performance where he defended 16 runs in the final over against the Proteas. This match also showcased his top figures of 3/20 in 2024.

Pandya’s best batting display came against Bangladesh during the group stage, where he scored an unbeaten 50.

Meanwhile, Bumrah's return to T20I cricket in 2024 was nothing less than sensational, with the right-arm speedster’s accurate yorkers and expertise in death bowling proving crucial to India’s title-winning journey. He claimed 15 wickets in 8 matches at an incredible average of 8.26, rendering him nearly unplayable.

Beyond the World Cup, Bumrah’s consistency across formats solidified his status as one of the elite fast bowlers in international cricket.

His efforts have also positioned him as a contender for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy as the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year.

On the flip side, Arshdeep emerged as India’s leading bowler in 2024, concluding the year with 36 wickets in 18 matches at an average of 13.50, ranking him as the eighth-best T20I bowler globally.

His standout display came during the T20 World Cup, where he ended up with the second-most wickets in the tournament, achieving 17 scalps from 8 games.

Renowned for his precision and poise, Arshdeep excelled in the death overs, often shifting the game's momentum in India’s favor, and his ability to swing the ball early while executing pinpoint yorkers made him a complete package in T20 cricket.

His best bowling figures were against the co-hosts USA in the T20 World Cup, where he dismantled their batting lineup with a blistering 4/9 spell.

Arshdeep’s ascension in 2024 gained him widespread acclaim, including a nomination for the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year.

The ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year also features Australia's Travis Head (539 runs), England's Phil Salt (467 runs), Pakistan's Babar Azam (738 runs), West Indies' Nicholas Pooran (464 runs), Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza (573 runs and 24 wickets), Afghanistan's Rashid Khan (31 wickets), and Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga (179 runs and 38 wickets).