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When you read this question a single cricketer would never suffice as an answer. Having developed in the first decade of the 21st century, this format has changed the dynamics of the game to a great extent. The evolution of power hitters and death bowlers is credited to this format. Also, now the cricket boards organize cash-rich leagues only with the help of T20 cricket. Debating on the greatest T20 player will make one prejudiced against the bowlers if we name a batter and vice versa. So, in a recent interview organized by Betway, the Sports giants, Kevin Pietersen, the brand ambassador of Betway, Ian Bishop, Aakash Chopra, and two South African stars Rassie Van Der Dussen and Lungi Nigidi reveal their favourite T20 players of all time across five categories. The five categories were broadly divided into:
Most Consistent Run Scorer:
The first classification is based on run-scoring, here the analysts debate it out to one name, former India captain, the run machine, and probably the most complete batsman of our times Virat Kohli. He challenged the critics who said T20 cricket doesn't rely on batting techniques of test cricket and is all about a power game. Virat blended the batting techniques with power hitting, making him inevitably a run machine precisely. Aakash Chopra said, "Virat actually changed the perception completely that 30 is the new 50 in t20 cricket, he was averaging 50 for a very long time." Kohli is the highest IPL run-scorer making over 6300 runs and the third-highest t20 international run maker overall.
Read Also: Quickest to 15 hundred in ODI cricket
Biggest Six Hitter:
The second category is "Six hitters", talking of clearing the boundary how could one not name a player who did it as a no-brainer, the Universe boss aka Christopher Henry Gayle. Gayle liked to stand and deliver. He has hit the highest number of sixes in international cricket taking his tally to 551. Gayle has also hit the highest number of sixes in the IPL, hitting 357 sixes, the second player on that list has hit more than a hundred sixes below him. Ian bishop said, "he changed and helped to evolve t20 batting was and that's why he is the GOAT of t20 batting."
Read Also: Most Runs in T20 Cricket History
Best Mystery Spinner:
The third category is "Spin bowlers." The game of T20 Cricket was not considered the right format for slow bowlers. However, this myth was shattered by the then greats of Shane Warne and Anil Kumble in the first season itself when they emerged as the champions of bowling. The spinners have evolved in ways unimaginable and have turned a corner for them. However, one name which has proven to be the best of our age is the Caribbean maestro, Sunil Narine. He debuted for Kolkata Knight Riders when the team was an unknown entity in IPL and turned them into a force to be reckoned with. The Trinidad-born is still proving his mettle in the tournament.
Best Death Over Specialist:
The fourth category is "Death Bowler" when you bowl a slower yorker as the final ball of the inning on the night of the IPL final no one can question your mastery over death. Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga tops this category, Malinga's major arsenal was his Yorkers and he collaborated it with speed variations making them absolutely unplayable. Proteas pacer Lungi Ngidi fanboying over his style said "those Yorkers are crucial and deadly."
Most Effective Fielder:
The fifth and final category is "Fielder", fielders in the shorter format of the game plays a crucial role in building pressure over the opposition batters. Some players become experts in a particular of field but when you are a master of every area of the field that's when you become Mr 360°, yes we are talking about Ab De Villiers. Questioning his Human identity with his acrobatic fielding he really raised the bar. Lungi Nigidi says about De Villiers "the presence he had on the field and just what he bought to a team as well, automatically we all raised our game."
