Aakash Chopra picks top 5 T20I batters of 2024, includes Rohit Sharma at No. 1

Former India player Aakash Chopra has picked his top five T20I batters of 2024. He chose two players each from India and England and one from Australia, with the Men in Blue's 2024 T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma in the No. 1 position.

Chopra pointed out that he has kept a criterion of at least 10 innings while making his selections. He added that crucial knocks against stronger oppositions have been valued more.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener chose Rohit Sharma as the numero uno T20I batter of the year.

"We believe in karma, we believe in Sharma, yes Rohit Sharma. He has played 11 innings and scored 378 runs at an average of 42 and a strike rate of 160. He has scored one century and three half-centuries. The conditions were difficult in the World Cup but he gave a start every time and played aggressively. He is my No. 1 T20I batter for 2024," he said.

Chopra picked England's Phil Salt as the second-best T20I batter of 2024.

"At No. 2, I have kept Phil Salt. He has batted extremely well. In 17 matches, he has scored 467 runs, which includes a century and two half-centuries, at an average of nearly 39 and a strike rate of 164. He has struck 25 sixes and 44 fours," he observed.

Sanju Samson's recent century-scoring spree against Bangladesh and South Africa earned him the No. 3 position on the cricketer-turned-commentator's list.

"At No. 3, Sanju Samson. He has scored three centuries and two were consecutive. He first demolished Bangladesh in Hyderabad and then went and thrashed South Africa. He has played only 13 games and scored 436 runs at an average of 43 and a strike rate of 180," Aakash Chopra elaborated.

Samson smashed 111 runs off 47 deliveries in the final T20I of the home series against Bangladesh. He followed it up with a 107-run knock in the first T20I on India's tour of South Africa and an unbeaten 109 in the final game of the same series.

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"Only we don't get hit, he hits others as well" - Aakash Chopra on picking Travis Head at No. 4

Travis Head occupies the top spot in the ICC T20I batting rankings. [P/C: Getty]

Aakash Chopra chose Travis Head as the only Australian among his top five T20I batters of 2024.

"At No. 4, our nemesis and the headmaster who causes us headaches - Travis Head. He has scored 539 runs in 15 games, with a highest of 80, at an average of 38 and a strike rate of 178. Only we don't get hit, he hits others as well," he said in the same video.

The analyst picked Jos Buttler as the second England batter to complete his top five.

"At No. 5, I have kept Jos Buttler. He played 13 innings in 15 matches, remained not out twice, and scored 462 runs with a highest of 84. He has an average of 42 and a strike rate of 164. So I have put Jos the boss' name in this list," Chopra observed.

Aakash Chopra noted that Reeza Hendricks, Ibrahim Zadran, and Pathum Nissanka deserve honorable mentions for their T20I performances in 2024. He added that Finn Allen's name should also be on that list as his 137-run knock was the highest T20I score of the year.