Best T20 XI of 2019

It wasn't a year for T20s in international cricket. With all the teams focusing on the World Cup, the shortest format of the game took a back-seat. While some of the teams played second-string sides in the T20s, the others avoided playing them altogether.

However, once the World Cup was done and dusted, the teams shifted their focus back to T20s - partly in order to prepare for next year's T20 World Cup.

With less than a year remaining for the mega event, the teams would want to put their best foot forward and play as many T20s as possible.

In the year 2019, a lot of fresh faces got a chance to grab the limelight. On that note, here is our best T20 XI of the year.

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Note: Only players from the top 10 T20 teams have been considered.

Openers

Rohit Sharma (Matches - 14, Runs - 396, Average - 28.29, Strike-rate - 138.62)

Rohit Sharma had a memorable 2019 as he performed brilliantly in all three formats. His performance in T20s was once again pretty good.

Rohit scored 396 runs in 14 games at a decent average of 28.29. As his high strike-rate of 138.62 suggests, he took the attack to the opposition and gave the team rapid starts - which allowed the batsmen to follow to play themselves in and help the team reach big totals.

The Indian vice-captain hit 4 half-centuries in the year too.

KL Rahul (Matches - 9, Runs - 356, Average - 44.50, Strike-rate - 142.40)

Even though KL Rahul's year was marked with a few off-field controversies and his axe from the Test side amidst huge criticism about his approach to the game, his performance in T20s was exceptional.

Rahul, who at times was asked to bat in the middle-order as Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were the team's first-choice openers, didn't let anything affect his game as he scored 356 runs at an average of 44.50 and strike-rate of 142.40.

Rahul has been in top form in T20s and could well become India's first-choice opener soon.

Middle-order, wicket-keeper

Virat Kohli (c) (Matches - 10, Runs - 466, Average - 77.67, Strike-rate - 147.94)

Virat Kohli missed a majority of the T20 games in the first half of the year as the entire focus was on the World Cup. However, once the World Cup was over, Kohli shifted his focus back to T20s and returned to the side with a bang.

Kohli ended the year as India's leading run-scorer of the year in T20I with 466 runs at a spectacular average of 77.67. He will want to continue the good run in T20 cricket as India eye next year's T20 World Cup.

Babar Azam (Matches - 10, Runs - 374, Average - 41.56, Strike-rate - 137)

Pakistan's Babar Azam also had a productive year in T20 cricket as he scored 374 runs at an impressive average of 41.56. With the extra responsibility of captaincy on his shoulders, Babar will know that he will have to continue scoring big runs.

Tim Seifert (wk) (Matches - 12, Runs - 276, Average - 23, Strike-rate - 138.69)

New Zealand have shown immense faith in the ability of Tim Seifert, who has emerged as New Zealand's first-choice wicket-keeper. Seifert played some blazing innings in the top-order, scoring 276 runs at an average of 23 and a strike-rate of 138.69.

All-rounders, spinners

Kieron Pollard (Matches - 9, Runs - 270, Average - 45, Wickets - 4)

The surprise decision of handing over the T20 captaincy to Kieron Pollard has done a world of good for him. Pollard has shown quite a bit of character and led the side well.

His individual performances have also been brilliant as he scored 270 runs in 2019, his highest ever in a calendar year in T20Is. He also took 4 wickets.

Mitchell Santner (Matches - 12, Runs - 93, Wickets - 20, Average - 15.40)

Mitchell Santner, who made a comeback this year after a long injury layoff, had a fruitful 2019. Even though he didn't get many chances with the bat in the lower-order, Santner was mighty effective with the ball.

The left-arm spinner took 20 scalps in just 12 games at a phenomenal average of 15.40.

Rashid Khan (Matches - 10, Wickets - 20, Average - 12.90, Economy - 6.62)

Even though he had a disappointing World Cup campaign, Rashid Khan's sensational run in T20 cricket continued in 2019. The ace Afghanistan spinner picked up 20 wickets in 10 games at a staggering average of 12.90.

Fast bowlers

Chris Jordan (Matches - 8, Wickets - 14, Average - 12.86, Economy - 7.55)

Chris Jordan has made a strong case for himself for a place in England's T20 World Cup squad.

Jordan bowled exceptionally at the death with his pinpoint yorkers, and he kept chipping away with crucial wickets. Jordan took 14 wickets in 8 games at a superb average of 12.86.

Deepak Chahar (Matches - 9, Wickets - 16, Average - 14.76, Economy - 7)

Deepak Chahar made the most of the absence of premier T20 pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, as he impressed everyone with his immaculate line and length and variations.

Chahar took 16 wickets in the year, which included the 6 wickets that he took in a single match against Bangladesh.

Lasith Malinga (Matches - 10, Wickets - 14, Average - 17.93, Economy - 6.44)

Lasith Malinga was once again amongst the wickets for Sri Lanka in the shortest format of the game. Malinga, who is also the captain of the T20 side, took 14 wickets in 10 games in the year. His economy of 6.44 is testimony of the fact that the opposition batsmen still find it difficult to score off him.

Malinga's 4 wickets off 4 balls against New Zealand will be etched in every Sri Lankan fan's memory for years to come.