Sportskeeda Cricket Awards 2017: Top 10 T20I batsmen of the year

Evin Lewis

Lewis was in astonishing form in 2017

With Chris Gayle's stocks falling fast, West Indies needed someone in his mould capable of filling the void left by the big Jamaican at the top of the order. In Evin Lewis, they have found the perfect replacement. Under Gayle's tutelage, Lewis is on his way to T20 stardom.

He broke onto the scene last year by scoring a century in his second T20I match, against India at Lauderhill, Florida. 'Lightning doesn't strick twice,' they say, but that doesn't apply to Lewis, as he scored his second T20I century against the same opposition, at Kingston earlier this year. Chasing 191, Lewis made mincemeat of the Indian bowling attack, notching his second T20I century in fine fashion. Riding on the back of his unbeaten 125 off just 62 balls, West Indies cruised to a nine-wicket victory, thereby clinching the series.

He followed it up with a brilliant performance against England at Chester-le-Street, blasting his way to 51 off just 28 deliveries.

In nine innings in 2017, Lewis compiled 357 runs at a stunning average of 44 and a strike rate of 154, easily propelling him to the top of this list.