Best Men's T20 playing 11 of 2024 ft. Hardik Pandya and Travis Head

The year 2024 was an exhilarating and action-packed one for T20 cricket, with standout performances from players across the globe. As the shortest format of the game continues to enthrall fans worldwide, cricketers have been striving to deliver their best on the field.

From India’s triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup to the fierce competition in domestic leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL), Big Bash League (BBL), and other T20 tournaments, the battle for titles has been intense.

The year 2024 saw some of the world’s finest players rise to the occasion, displaying exceptional skill and consistency. From seasoned veterans to emerging stars, many impressed with their ability to deliver match-winning performances.

As the year came to a close, this article highlights our selection of the best T20 Men’s XI, featuring the standout players of 2024.

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Top order: Reeza Hendricks, Travis Head and Tilak Varma

South Africa's Reeza Hendricks was the second-highest run-scorer in T20s in 2024. The 35-year-old amassed 1,970 runs in 71 matches, averaging 32.29, with 17 fifties and one century. He was part of the South African team that reached the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, the right-hander scored his maiden T20I century against Pakistan, making 117 runs at Centurion.

Australia's Travis Head has been a standout performer for several years, regardless of where he plays. The left-hander was in excellent form throughout 2024, accumulating 1,442 runs in 39 T20 matches at an average of 41.20 and a strike rate of 182.07.

Despite Australia's disappointing campaign in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Head was the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament, with 255 runs from seven innings.

The 31-year-old also played a key role in Sunrisers Hyderabad's success in the IPL 2024, where they finished as runners-up. He scored 567 runs in 15 games, including one century and four half-centuries. Additionally, Head was part of the Washington Freedom squad that triumphed in the 2024 Major League Cricket, contributing 336 runs in nine matches.

India’s Tilak Varma displayed solid form in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, scoring 416 runs in 13 matches, including three fifties. He further impressed later in the year during India’s four-match T20I series against South Africa, where he scored back-to-back centuries (107* and 120*) to help India clinch the series 3-1.

The left-hander then smashed 151 off 67 balls for Hyderabad against Meghalaya in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, becoming the first Indian cricketer to hit three consecutive centuries in T20 cricket. Overall, Tilak accumulated 1,166 runs in 29 games at an average of 55.52, with three centuries and five fifties.

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Middle-order and all-rounders: Nicholas Pooran, Hardik Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, and Andre Russell

In 2024, West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran was the top performer with the bat in T20 cricket, finishing as the highest run-scorer with 2,331 runs in 76 matches, including 15 fifties and one century. The 29-year-old also led MI Emirates to victory in the International League T20.

Pooran enjoyed a stellar IPL 2024 campaign with Lucknow Super Giants, scoring 499 runs in 14 games, including three fifties. Additionally, he topped the scoring charts in the 2024 CPL, amassing 504 runs, with three fifties and one century.

India’s Hardik Pandya didn’t have the best start in T20 cricket, struggling with a below-par IPL campaign while leading Mumbai Indians. However, he turned things around, playing a crucial role in India’s success at the 2024 T20 World Cup. He scored 814 runs in 38 matches and took 33 wickets. 2024 also saw him reach the No. 1 spot among all-rounders in T20I cricket.

Marcus Stoinis is another key all-rounder in the playing XI. The explosive batter accumulated 1,080 runs in 52 matches, including five fifties and one century.

Stoinis played one of the best innings of the IPL, scoring an unbeaten 124 for Lucknow Super Giants against Chennai Super Kings. This knock remains the highest individual score in a chase in IPL history. In addition to his batting feats, he also claimed 45 wickets.

No list would be complete without the mighty West Indian all-rounder, Andre Russell. The 36-year-old amassed 1,075 runs in 61 matches at an explosive strike rate of 185.34, with two fifties to his name. He also claimed 49 wickets over the course of the year. Russell played a key role in the Kolkata Knight Riders’ triumph, helping them secure their third IPL title.

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Bowlers: Akeal Hosein, Arshdeep Singh, Matheesha Pathirana, and Fazalhaq Farooqi

Another West Indian on the list is left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein. The 31-year-old was the top wicket-taker in T20 cricket in 2024, with 79 scalps in 69 matches, including one five-wicket haul and three four-wicket hauls. He also claimed 23 wickets in 23 games for the West Indies, a performance that propelled him to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men's T20I bowling rankings.

India’s left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh delivered a stellar performance for the Men in Blue, playing a crucial role in their victory at the 2024 T20 World Cup. The 25-year-old was joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, alongside Fazalhaq Farooqi, with 17 wickets. Overall, Arshdeep took 61 wickets in 37 matches, including two four-wicket hauls.

Matheesha Pathirana has quickly made a name for himself in T20 cricket, showcasing brilliant bowling and deadly yorkers reminiscent of his country's legend, Lasith Malinga. The 24-year-old delivered outstanding performances, taking 71 wickets in 43 matches, including five four-wicket hauls.

The final player on the list is Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi. The 24-year-old was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the 2024 T20 World Cup, alongside Arshdeep Singh, with 17 wickets.

Farooqi played a key role in Afghanistan’s historic achievement, as they reached the semi-finals of an ICC event for the first time. Overall, the left-arm seamer featured in 46 T20 matches, claiming 68 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls.