#ThatWas2017: T20 Cricket's best XI for 2017
What's the story
2017 has been a good year for cricket. But the format that has benefited the most in 2017 has been T20 cricket. Several teams have made rapid strides in cricket's shortest format. When squads are picked these days, specialists are now opted for this format. Hence we picked our own T20 cricket's best XI for the year 2017.
Openers
Evin Lewis and Aaron Finch
West Indies opener Evin Lewis has had a sensational 2017. The left-handed batsman is top of the scoring chats with 357 runs in 9 matches. The 25 year old even blasted a century against India and averaged about 45 in 2017. Australian opener, Aaron Finch, gets the nod in this list. The hard hitting right-handed opener has 158 runs in 5 matches.
Middle order
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers
India's captain, Virat Kohli, has had a dream 2017. The run machine scored 299 runs in 10 games at an average of 37. Virat would be the captain of this side. There is no side in the world that would say no to the quality of AB de Villiers. The South African has scored 304 runs this year in just 7 matches averaging 50+.
Middle order
Babar Azam and MS Dhoni
Pakistan's Babar Azam has scored the second-most runs in 2017 with 352 runs to his name in 10 matches at an average of 39.11. He is one player to look out for in 2018. The best wicketkeeper in the world, MS Dhoni, has proved his critics wrong yet again this year. He enjoyed a fantastic year with 252 runs at an average of 42.
Spinners
Yuzvendra Chahal and Rashid Khan
Yuzvendra Chahal has been India's match winner in the past few games. The 27-year-old is the top wicket taker of 2017 with 23 wickets in 11 games at a stunning average of 14.13. Afghanistan's teen sensation Rashid Khan also makes this list boasting 17 wickets in 10 games at an average of 9.41. The 19-year-old is currently the number 2 ranked T20 bowler.
Seamers
Carlos Brathwaite, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult
Big man, Carlos Brathwaite, was successful with the ball this year with 12 wickets to his name. Jasprit Bumrah has established himself as a key figure in India's limited overs setup and is the go to man in the death overs. Bumrah has taken 12 wickets this year. New Zealand's most potent weapon Trent Boult has 11 scalps in 6 games this year.