5 underrated performers in T20 cricket
The first T20 game in world cricket was between Australia and New Zealand on 17th February 2005. The Kiwis went all retro with retro costumes, headgears, and moustaches. The game was considered a one-off clash conducted entirely to entertain the crowd. However, after India won the T20 World Cup 2007 the game saw a steady rise in viewership.
The Indian Premier League in 2008, which was the brainchild of Lalit Modi, marked the birth of franchise based T20 leagues around the world. Recently Pakistan decided to introduce Pakistan Super League after clashes with the BCCI made it impossible for Pakistani players to play in the IPL.
David Warner, Chris Gayle, and Kieron Pollard are some of the cricketers who have earned a special spot in the hearts of the fans with their consistent performances over the years. They enjoy the spotlight and the plaudits they deserve.
Also read: Top 5 unsung heroes of 2016
Sadly there are so many cricketers who have been delivering excellent performances over the years but have been unable to gain the same attention.
Let’s take a look at 5 such underrated cricketers:
#1 Michael Klinger
Michael Klinger has been one of the most consistent T20 batsmen in the last couple of years. His astute judgement and strokeplay make him an extremely lethal opponent for any bowler.
It’s extremely difficult to make a mark as a batsman when you play for a country like Australia which produces excellent players on a consistent basis. Klinger has taken it up as a challenge and has kept scoring runs over the years.
3891 runs in just 123 T20 matches at an average of 38.91 with a strike rate of 127.03 are extremely good statistics indeed. He is nicknamed the ‘Jewish Bradman” for his abilities which are similar to that of the legendary batsman.
He scored 326 runs for the eventual champions Perth Scorchers in the 2014-15 season of the Big Bash League finishing as the highest scorer. Though he was purchased by the Kochi Tuskers in the 2011 IPL auction he was benched for a major part of the season because of the limitations on foreign players.
It is high time he gets the credit he deserves for his abilities.