The International Cricket Council (ICC) on January 22 announced the men's T20I team of the Year for 2023. Suryakumar Yadav has been named as the captain of the side. There are three other Indian players on the list -- Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravi Bishnoi, and Arshdeep Singh – whereas no player from Pakistan, Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Bangladesh could earn a place in the side.
Suryakumar had an exceptional year in the shortest format of the game. He added two centuries to his tally. His strike rate continued to impress many. Later, in the year, he was named captain of the T20I team for the series against Australia and South Africa. He led the team in the absence of Rohit Sharma and an injured Hardik Pandya.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza was rewarded for his all-round performances. The other player from Zimbabwe is pacer Richard Ngarava with 26 wickets from 15 matches.
However, the surprise entry into the playing XI is Uganda's left-arm spinner Alpesh Ramjani. He took as many as 55 wickets from 30 matches at an economy rate of 4.77 runs per over.
Bishnoi was a part of India's Hangzhou Asian Games 2023 gold medal-winning side. He climbed to the no.1 spot in T20I bowler rankings with exceptional performances in the home T20I series against Australia after the ODI World Cup 2023.
England opener Phil Salt has been named opener alongside Jaiswal. Salt hit two centuries against West Indies brushing off the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction snub. West Indies’ Pooran has been given the opportunity to don the gloves.
Alongside Arshdeep and Ngarava, Ireland’s Mark Adair is the third pacer in the side. Adair is capable of contributing with the bat down the order as well. The Irishman took 26 wickets in the calendar year. His 36-ball 72 against Scotland in the Regional Qualifier made headlines as well.
ICC Men's T20I team of the Year: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Phil Salt, Suryakumar Yadav (c) Nicholas Pooran (wk), Mark Chapman, Sikandar Raza, Alpesh Ramjani, Mark Adair, Ravi Bishnoi, Richard Ngarava, Arshdeep Singh
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