A total of nine players have been shortlisted for the Player of the Tournament in the ongoing 2022 T20 World Cup. The multi-national tournament that began on October 16 will come to a close on November 13 (Sunday) with Pakistan and England crossing swords in a high-voltage final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This edition of the T20 World Cup will probably go down as one of the best ICC tournaments ever, particularly because of the number of nail-biting edge-of-the-seat thrillers it paved way for.
Several individuals stood tall for their teams when the going got tough and single-handedly dragged their country to the promised land. Nine players from five teams are now battling for the most prestigious individual award - Player of the Tournament. Let's take a look at the shortlisted players for the prestigious award:
India: Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav
Former India captain and maverick batter, Virat Kohli scored 296 runs at an average of 98.66 along with smashing four half-centuries in six matches. His 82 not out against Pakistan at the MCG will indelibly be edged in the sport. Swashbuckling middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav has also been shortlisted as the right-hander aggregated 239 runs in six matches at a stunning strike rate of 189.68 and also notched three half-centuries.
England: Jos Buttler, Sam Curran and Alex Hales
England captain Jos Buttler has so far scored 199 runs in five matches with the help of two half-centuries, including one against India in the semi-final. Apart from being at his decimating best with the bat, Buttler also has eight dismissals behind the stumps. Buttler's opening partner Alex Hales has also been shortlisted. The right-handed batter has accumulated 211 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 148.59 so far along with two half-centuries, including one against India in the semi-final. Sam Curran, who has been England's best bet with the bowl, is also shortlisted. He has so far bagged 10 wickets at an economy rate of 7.28, including a five-wicket haul against Afghanistan.
Pakistan: Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi
Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has been a revelation in the 2022 T20 World Cup. With the ball, he has bagged 10 wickets in six matches at an economy rate of 6.59. With the bat, Shadab has played crucial cameos in the middle-order, including his thunderous half-century against South Africa. Spearhead Shaheen Afridi accompanies Shadab in this list. The left-arm pacer has picked 10 wickets in six matches at an economy rate of 6.17.
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza
Zimbabwe's superstar Sikandar Raza also made the cut after he set the tournament on fire with his all-around brilliance. Raza scored 219 runs in eight matches along with one half-century while finished with 10 wickets to his name.
Sri Lanka: Wanindu Hasaranga
Sri Lanka's ace spinner Wanindu Hasaranga completes the list of shortlisted players for the prestigious award. The leg-spinner finished with 15 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 6.41.
