T20 World Cup: Best Twenty20 players in the world ranked by CricViz

On the eve of the World Cup, CrizViz ranks the 20 best Twenty20 players in the world – and there’s a bit of everything from legandary leggies to versatile veterans.

Australia boasts just two players rated among the top T20 players in the world by respected cricket analysts CricViz, with some of our biggest names and most high-profile cricketers failing to rate a mention in these power rankings ahead of the T20 World Cup.

The lack of T20 superstars for Australia shows just how tough a task Justin Langer and his men face when their T20 World Cup campaign begins in Dubai this week.

Here CricViz run through who they rate as the 20 best T20 players in world cricket:

The ICC T20 Cricket World Cup starts Oct 17 and you can catch the first round on us with Kayo Freebies. Get the play underway at kayosports.com.au/freebies

Rashid Khan is the top rated T20 players in the world.

1. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

Bowler – right-arm leg spin

Rashid Khan is the outstanding bowler in T20 cricket. Leg breaks, googlies, and all manner of other variations, all delivered at speed from a flat, darting angle. Rashid is one of only a handful of player who, worldwide, can win a game off their own back.

2. Jasprit Bumrah (India)

Bowler – right-arm fast seam

Jasprit Bumrah has become the finest all-format fast bowler in the world over the past few years, but it’s in the shortest format where he does his best work. New ball wickets and death over yorkers, Bumrah is a white ball bowler in the classic mould – but with enough modern innovation and unorthodox delivery to keep things fresh.

3. Jonny Bairstow (England)

Batter/Keeper – right hand

Jonny Bairstow’s technical tweaks may have seen him fall away in Test cricket, but the reward is him becoming arguably the best white ball batter on the planet. His ability to bat anywhere in the top four, destroying spin and pace alike, is matched by a ferociously attacking intent. On top of all that, he’s a much-improved wicketkeeper, and a leading contender for any World XI chat.

Jonny Bairstow has become arguably the best white ball batter on the planet.

4. Kieron Pollard (West Indies)

Batter – right hand

Kieron Pollard stands as perhaps the greatest T20 batter of all time. A calm, collected member of the all-conquering Mumbai Indians side, Pollard perhaps goes underrated as a pure player – his six-hitting, particularly against spin, is outstanding. Their longevity is testament to their mastery of the most volatile skill in T20 cricket, the “finisher” role.

5. Andre Russell (West Indies)

All-rounder – batting: right hand, bowling right-arm fast

Andre Russell is still among the most feared all-round cricketers in the game. At his best (and his fittest, “Dre Russ” is the perfect T20 operator, dominating the death overs with both his long levered boundary-hitting, and his skilful yorkers, high pace and canny bowling. While his knee injuries have affected his consistency of late, he still stands up there with the very best around.

6. Suryakumar Yadav (India)

Bowler – right-arm medium, off spin

Suryakumar Yadav might not have been most people’s shout for the second Indian on the list, but he’s well-deserving of his spot. A stylish, attacking middle order player, ‘SKY’ has been a key part of Mumbai Indians’ recent success, technically gifted against both high pace and spin – in a star-studded batting order, Suryakumar still stands out.

Glenn Maxwell will be key to how Australia performs.

7. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

All-rounder – batting: right hand, bowling right-arm off spin

The highest ranked Australian on the list, Glenn Maxwell is a world class all-rounder – but it’s his batting which has him in the top 10 here. With 360 degree stroke play, dominance against both pace and spin, Maxwell is among the most watchable and charismatic batters in the game.

8. Jos Buttler (England)

Batter – right hand

Jos Buttler has batted up and down the order in T20, first making his name as an elite finisher, but has now shifted to being an elite opener. Few batters in the world match his versatility with his obvious power and class.

9. Nicolas Pooran (West Indies)

Batter – left hand

Nicholas Pooran is a swaggering, skilful left-hander who specialises in hitting spin through the middle overs. A member of the outrageous West Indies batting line-up, Pooran is part of the next generation of Caribbean hitters who look set to maintain the Pollard/Gayle/Russell dynasty.

Shaheen Shah Afridi (second right) is one of the most aggressive seamers in the game.

10. Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)

Bowler – left-arm fast

Shaheen Shah Afridi is the outstanding attacking new ball bowler in T20 cricket, renowned for bowling fast, full spells of Powerplay swing. On his day, Shaheen is the most aggressive seamer in the game.

11. Evin Lewis (West Indies)

Batter – left hand

Evin Lewis is an underrated excellent T20 batter, opening the batting with consistent aggression against both pace and spin. The least prominent member of the West Indies batting group, Lewis still very much holds his own alongside the legends.

12. Mitchell Starc (Australia)

Bowler – left-arm fast seam

Mitchell Starc plays far less T20 cricket than the other players on this list, but when he does turn out he’s still very much an elite bowler. Fast swing in the Powerplay, and yorkers at the death, Starc is the fastest left-armer in the world, and destructive with it.

13. Shimron Hetmyer (West Indies)

Batter – left hand

Shimron Hetmyer is another of the Caribbean batters who dominate this list. A squat, powerful left-hander, Hetmyer is happy to slide up and down the order, anchoring or finishing to the team’s needs.

14. DJ Bravo (West Indies)

Bowler – right-arm medium seam

DJ Bravo is a T20 legend, the most prolific wicket-taker in the format, and with more trophies in his cabinet than almost anyone in the game’s history. A constantly changing bowler, Bravo is constantly asking questions of even the best batters around – and is in as good a form as he’s had in years.

DJ Bravo is a T20 legend.

15. Hardik Pandya (India)

All-rounder – batting: right hand, bowling right-arm medium seam

Hardik Pandya is a hard-hitting Indian all-rounder, another member of the outstanding Mumbai Indians side who have dominated the IPL in recent seasons. While fitness issues have limited his bowling opportunities, Hardik’s distinctive long-armed six-hitting alone is enough to get him on this list.

16. Quinton de Kock (South Africa)

Batter – left hand

Quinton de Kock’s rapid starts and Powerplay dominance make him one of the most sought-after players on the T20 circuit – combined with outstanding work behind the stumps, de Kock is an extremely valuable T20 performer.

17. Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand)

Bowler – right-arm fast

Lockie Ferguson has burst onto the top level T20 scene with some superb performances in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders. Arguably the fastest bowler in the world, Ferguson is the archetypal “enforcer”, bowling nose-and-toes through the middle and vulnerable spin hitters.

Lockie Ferguson is a real weapon for the Kiwis.

18. Mujeeb ur Rahman (Afghanistan)

Bowler – right-arm off break

Mujeeb ur Rahman is an Afghanistan mystery spinner, familiar to Australian fans from his time with Brisbane Heat. An intelligent, canny operator who is more than comfortable bowling with the field up in the Powerplay, Mujeeb is the less heralded of the Afghan spinners, but is an elite performer.

19. Rishabh Pant (India)

Batter – left hand

Rishabh Pant is one of the most exciting T20 hitters in the world, with a penchant for off balance, one-handed sixes making him an extremely watchable young batter. A strong lefthander, Pant is a key member of India’s explosive middle order.

20. Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)

Bowler – right-arm leg break

Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lankan all-rounder, fits the mould of the modern T20 player. A leg spinner with a real emphasis on bowling googlies, Hasaranga has an outstanding record with the ball, and backs it up with aggressive middle order hitting with the bat.

How the Power Rankings work:

CricViz’s Power Rankings are based on their Match Impact model. The model is built on their world-leading database, which includes more than 1 million deliveries with detailed data for each and every one, and seeks to calculate the true value of a player’s runs and wickets in white ball cricket. By comparing a player’s output compared to what we’d expect the average player to deliver in any given match or game situation, CricViz can calculate whether a player is having a Positive or Negative Impact on their team’s performance - and the extent of that Impact, be it good or bad.

Originally published as T20 World Cup: Best Twenty20 players in the world ranked by CricViz