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

Yuzvendra Chahal

Before the start of the year, if someone had told me leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who has been impressing everyone in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore over the last few seasons would not only end up as India's highest T20I wicket-taker but also the highest among any T20I team in the world, I would have laughed it off.

But, the Indian selectors kept their faith in the 27-year-old and the move paid dividends as he ran through the opposition on a consistent basis and cemented his place in the limited-overs side.

He picked up 23 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 14.13 and an economy of 7.83, numbers that are too good for a spinner in the format. What made him stand out among the other bowlers is that the rate at which he picked his wickets as he picked up one every 10.8 balls, the best for any bowler this year with at least 10 wickets.

He also became the first bowler to take three four-wicket hauls in T20Is in a calendar year including 6/23 against England in Bengaluru, the best T20I figures by an Indian bowler.