Exclusive: T20-I Best Team of the Year 2022 – 4 Indians Included

Jos Buttler to lead as we look at the combined best team of the year 2022 for T20 Internationals. 

We are at the end of the year 2022, and we don’t have any more T20 Internationals left to be played further. This is the year that saw England win their second T20 World Cup beating Pakistan. The year that also saw Team India register the most T20 wins in a calendar year. 

Overall, India ended as the most successful team of 2022 with 28 wins from 40 games at a W/L ratio of 2.8. New Zealand followed India with 15 wins from 22 games at a W/L ratio of 2.5. Whereas the 2022 World Cup champions had just 15 wins from 27 games with a W/L of just 1.36.

While India led the team performance, the batting and bowling performance had a lot of Indian players. But how about the best 11 players for the year 2022? Well, let’s find out the combined best T20 International Team of the Year 2022. Before that, let’s look at our unique methodology to determine the players. 

Stats Wizard Methodology:

Batting: As always, we have analyzed the batting performances basis the batting rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game. This includes runs scored, consistency, the number of match-winning & good knocks, acceleration bonus, and power-hitting bonus. 

Bowling: We have analyzed the bowling performances basis the bowling rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game. This includes wickets taken, consistency, the number of match-winning and good spells, number of maidens bowled, and economy rate bonus.

Overall, the combined best team of the year 2022 is selected basis of the performance rating. Only players who played more against top 10 teams are given the preference; hence a lot of associate nation performances are ignored. Also, the team has a combination of 1-3 all-rounders, a minimum of 3 pacers, and a minimum of 1 spinner. 

Openers:

#1: Jos Buttler [ England ] 

Inns: 15 // Runs: 462 // Avg: 35.5 // SR: 160.4 // HS: 80* // Rating: 6.6 

The best opener of the T20 World Cup 2022, Jos Buttler led from the front for England. Although Buttler didn’t play much, he was good in the limited appearances with 462 runs under his belt from 15 innings at a good average of 35.5 and a strike rate of 160.4. His unbeaten 80 off 49 balls against India in the Semi-final of the T20 World Cup was the highlighting performance of the year.  

#2: Mohammad Rizwan [ Pakistan ]

Inns: 25 // Runs: 996 // Avg: 45.3 // SR: 122.9 // HS: 88* // Rating: 7.6 

Mohammed Rizwan didn’t have a good T20 World Cup, but his performance over the year was good. He ended the year as the second-highest run-getter scoring 996 runs from just 25 innings at a good average of 45.3 and a decent strike rate of 122.9. Rizwan scored 10 fifties this year which is the most by any batter. His consistency of 56% is also the best among the top 20 run-getters. 

Middle-order:

#3: Virat Kohli [ India ]

Inns: 20 // Runs: 781 // Avg: 55.8 // SR: 138.2 // HS: 122* // Rating: 8.1

You cannot ask for a better T20I middle-order with Virat Kohli at 3, Suryakumar Yadav at 4, and Glenn Phillips at 5. Virat Kohli at 3 has redeemed himself this year with some breathtaking knocks. Not only did he score his maiden T20I hundred, but he also scored the best knock of his career during his unbeaten 82 vs Pakistan at T20 World Cup 2022. Virat ended the season with 781 runs under his belt at a brilliant average of 55.8; the best among the top 20 run-getters. 

#4: Suryakumar Yadav [ India ]

Inns: 31 // Runs: 1164 // Avg: 46.6 // SR: 187.4 // HS: 117 // Rating: 8.9 

The leading run-getter of the year and undoubtedly the best T20I of the year, Suryakumar Yadav took T20 batting to a level only he can imagine. His 1164 runs came at a strike rate of 187.4, and he hit 106 fours and 68 sixes this year; both being the highest among all batters. He scored two centuries this year, but the best one came against South Africa where he smashed 68 off 40 balls when his team was 49-5 after 9 overs. 

#5: Glenn Phillips [ New Zealand ]

Inns: 19 // Runs: 716 // Avg: 44.8 // SR: 156.3 // HS: 104 // Rating: 8.1 

New Zealand’s best middle-order batter and a perfect number 5 position player, Glenn Phillips had the best year of his career. Before 2022, Glenn had scored only 645 from 30 innings, but 2022 saw Glenn scoring 716 runs from just 19 innings at a brilliant average of 44.8 and a fantastic strike rate of 156.3. His 104 off 64 against Sri Lanka was one of the best knocks of this year where he revived New Zealand from 15-3 to 167-7.  

All-rounders:

#6: Hardik Pandya [ India ] 

Inns: 25 // Runs: 607 // Wkts: 20 // SR: 145.9 // HS: 71* // Rating: 7

Undoubtedly the best all-rounder of the year, Hardik Pandya was equally good in both areas. While Hardik scored a total of 607 runs as a finisher, he complemented that by taking 20 wickets. Hardik Pandya’s best all-round performance came against England where he score a Quik-fire 51 off 33 balls and bowled a brilliant spell of 4/33. Another of his brilliant all-round performance was against Pakistan where he scored 33 off 17 balls and bowled a brilliant spell of 3/25. 

#7: Shadab Khan [ Pakistan ]

Mat: 20 // Runs: 201 // Wkts: 25 // ER: 6.8 // BBI: 4/8 // Rating: 6.9

Be it playing a valuable role as a finisher or acting as a wicket-taking bowler, Shadab Khan impressed in both areas. He finished the 2022 season with 201 runs under his belt at a brilliant strike rate of 154.6; excellent from a bowling all-rounder perspective. In addition, he took 25 wickets at an economy rate of just 6.8. His spell of 2/16 vs South Africa was a key in turning the match in Pakistan’s favor. 

Bowlers:

#8: Wanindu Hasaranga [ Sri Lanka ]

Inns: 19 // Wkts: 34 // Avg: 15.7 // ER: 7.4 // BBI: 4/33 // Rating: 8.4

Sri Lanka’s best performing player and also the number 1 ranked T20I bowler as on December 16, 2022, Wanindu Hasaranga impressed with his brilliant bowling in the middle-overs. Time and again, he was able to take wickets to bring Sri Lanka in the game. With 34 wickets from just 19 innings, Hasaranga had a Wickets/Inns ratio of 1.79 and a bowling strike rate of 12.7; the best among the top 10 bowlers.

#9: Sam Curran [ England ]

Inns: 19 // Wkts: 25 // Avg: 21.1 // ER: 7.6 // BBI: 5/10 // Rating: 6.2 

The Player of the tournament in World Cup 2022 was the key bowler in England’s victorious campaign. Sam finished the 2022 campaign with 25 wickets to his name at a good economy rate of 7.6. Having bowled quite a few good spells this year, he would be remembered for his Player of the match performance in the final where he bowled a brilliant spell of 3/12.  

#10: Josh Hazlewood [ Australia ]

Inns: 17 // Wkts: 26 // Avg: 18.2 // ER: 7.5 // BBI: 4/12 // Rating: 6.6 

The best-ranked pacer in the world, Josh Hazlewood continues to dominate the T20 format with his disciplined line and length. He is a prime example of how a Test match bowler can be successful in T20s as well. In the 17 T20Is this year, Hazlewood has taken 26 wickets at a good economy rate of 7.5. What’s more, his 26 wickets have come at a consistency of 64.7; second-best after Arshdeep Singh. 

#11: Arshdeep Singh [ India ]

Inns: 21 // Wkts: 33 // Avg: 18.1 // ER: 8.2 // BBI: 4/37 // Rating: 7.2 

In only his debut year, Arshdeep has already established himself as one of the best T20 bowlers for Team India. In the 21 innings Arshdeep Singh has played this year, he took a total of 33 wickets at a good average of 18.1 and an economy rate of 8.2. Including his debut spell of 3.3-1-18-2 vs England, his performance of 3/32 against Pakistan at T20 World Cup 2022 was his main highlight.  

Combined Best T20 International Team of the Year 2022: 

Jos Buttler (c&wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Glenn Phillips, Hardik Pandya, Shadab Khan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sam Curran, Josh Hazlewood & Arshdeep Singh

So, that’s about the combined best T20 International team of the year 2022. On top of the 11 players mentioned here, we would like to highlight the performance of Sikandar Raza, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Haris Rauf, Lungi Ngidi, Pathum Nissanka, Moeen Ali, and Mitchell Santner. They were almost good as the above-mentioned 11 players. 

Thanks for reading! What’s your T20 International Team of the Year 2022? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com

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