2017 T20I round-up: India's 5 most valuable players of the year

KL Rahul

When India toured Sri Lanka earlier this year, the team management confirmed that KL Rahul would bat at number 4 in the ODIs and the Karnataka got to bat at that position just twice in the whole series before he was dropped for the subsequent ODI series against Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

But, he was persisted with in the T20I side and sent a message to the selectors with his consistent performances in the format. Even though he finished the year as the third highest run-getter for India in the format, the impact he had in the team's victories was immense.

With 279 runs in seven innings, Rahul averaged 40 and scored his runs at a rate of over 140 runs every 100 balls. With his performances, he has cemented his place in the T20I side as an opener.