Sportskeeda Cricket Awards 2016: T20I Team of the Year

After struggling through slumber in 2015, T20s went into beast mode in 2016. A World T20 in the subcontinent was a carnival in itself. Add to that the IPL, and several of its clones across the world: fans were treated to an absolute feast throughout the year. Even the 50-over Asia Cup shrunk to 20-overs a side: T20s in the USA were the cherry on the cake.

With heavy doses of T20Is being injected in international fixtures, teams have started identifying 20-over specialists who are tailor-made for the game. India managed to play loads of T20s this year: starting with the Australia series, through the Asia Cup, the World T20 and finally the T20s in Zimbabwe and the US. 

The value of a combined team effort is undervalued in T20s: Most people believe that the shortest format runs only on individual performances, with a few top players making the bulk of the team. Yet, an IPL winning team like Sunrisers Hyderabad is a prime example of how a unit can fuse to devastating effect, combining small contributions from each of the players to paint a big picture.

Despite a cash crunch and tiffs between the players and the board, T20 cricket boomed in the Caribbean, breaking the roof with this year’s CPL. The ‘Champions’ seemed to be the only team that gave a rampant India team a run for their money in 2016.  

World T20 2012? Check.

World T20 2016? Check.

T20I series in the US? Check.

Sportskeeda T20I Team of the Year? Let’s find out.