Top 5 most overrated 'T20 specialists' in cricket

1. Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi

‘Boom Boom’, as he’s lovingly called by his fans, hasn’t really boomed when it comes to the shortest version of the game. He made his T20 international debut in 2006 against England after already having spent 8 years in international cricket. The two fastest hundreds (off 36 and 45 balls respectively) in One-day internationals, then, were registered against Afridi’s name.

However, even after ten years in the ambiance of T20s (debuted for Kent vs Middlesex in 2004), Shahid Afridi the batsman hasn’t made the sort of impact which was expected from him. There have been a few blazing cameos, disappointingly far and wide.

His inconsistency is shone by the fact that he averages a meagre 18.98 with the bat in 70 T20 internationals. His domestic T20 average of 19.71 doesn’t better his resume. Afridi has clearly been guilty of playing rash, irresponsible strokes way too often and perhaps way too early in his innings.

His die-hard fans may argue that more often than not he bats at No.6 or 7 and hence, he doesn’t have the luxury to get himself in. Well, a comparison of statistics with the top finishers of the world who bat at similar spots suffices their argument.

MS Dhoni, the Indian skipper averages 32.16 in 43 T20 internationals and 35.65 in 163 Twenty20 games. Eoin Morgan averages 31.40 in 41 T20 internationals and 26.57 in 127 Twenty20 matches. Both mentioned brag of a strike rate of over 130.

Like most hard-hitting batsmen, he was celebrated as a swashbuckler – when it comes off, there’s no stopping him; when it doesn’t, he appears like an ordinary schoolboy. Of late, we’ve witnessed the latter more often in all formats.

He does strike at 143.01 in T20Is, but since he doesn’t stay at the crease long enough to finish the innings, his short bursts don’t really have an impact. Over the years, he has turned into a quality leg-break bowler, but in the process, Afridi the devastating bat has virtually been lost.