Top 5 most overrated 'T20 specialists' in cricket

Any sport in the world has to evolve ceaselessly over time in order to remain relevant and renowned. T20 was an innovative attempt which came off particularly due to overwhelming crowd engagement.

However, its popularity always has relied on a few ‘box-office’ players.

Here are a few T20 stars who are clearly overrated by media and fans:

5. Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan burst on to the scene with a magnificent performance for the Rajasthan Royals in the first season of the IPL. He scored 435 runs at a healthy average of 31.07 coupled with a ravaging strike rate of over 179.

However, the next two IPL seasons were decent for him, if not ordinary – the sole, substantial highlight being the century against Mumbai Indians, though for a losing cause. In the 2011 IPL auction, Yusuf was bought for a whopping $2.1 million by Kolkata Knight Riders. A dreadful slump was to follow.

Yusuf, in the three seasons for KKR, has managed just 809 runs in 44 games at a combined average of 26.09, striking at over 130 runs per 100 balls. On the whole, the numbers don’t look bad.  However, a meagre one half-century in 44 games doesn’t sound good either.

Yusuf at KKR hasn’t been the Yusuf of old. By and large, he has struggled his way through to a 30-odd knock in almost every innings, only to surrender his wicket before he could put the finishing touch on the innings. KKR bought him back in this year’s auction at $541,000. The steep decline in his market value speaks for itself.

He is no more a part of the national side either – having played the last T20I against South Africa, back in 2012. Apart from a handful of match-winning all-round performances, he hasn’t really made an impression in Indian colours.

He has the ability, but as long as it doesn’t manifest on the field, he will continue to belong to this inglorious list of over-hyped players.