Top 5 wicket-takers in T20I in 2017
T20I, the shortest format of international cricket, is the most exciting edition. The 20-over game never fail to amuse the spectators as the players have to be in their finest form to plan and act quickly in order to win the contest.
T20 is challenging for the batsman, but demands more from the bowlers. The bowling attack has to be majestic to crush the batting line-up of the opponents. Each bowler has to be extremely resilient to face the enormous amount of pressure this format offers.
2017 has been a good year for the bowlers as a good number of them scalped more than 10 wickets in T20I. Here are the top wicket takers in T20Is this year:
#5 Shadab Khan ― 14 wickets
Pakistani leg spinner Shadab Khan took 14 wickets with an average of 16.64 in 2017. His career best performance also came this year against West Indies when he had taken 4 wickets conceding 14 runs.
This 19-year-old caught the eye of selectors in the U-19 World Cup in 2016 and has not looked back since.
With an economy rate of 6.50, Shadab was splendid throughout the year and will definitely look to make giant trides in 2018.
#4 Carlos Brathwaite ― 14 wickets
Being one of the two pacers in this list, Carlos Brathwaite picked up 14 wickets in 10 T20Is this year. The all-rounder maintained an economy rate of 7.18 with an average of 15.14.
Brathwaite's career best performance also came this year when he took 3 wickets allowing 11 runs only.
The 29-year-old took the T20 fans by storm after hitting four successive sixes to finish off England in the last over of the 2016 World T20 final.
#3 Rashid Khan ― 17 wickets
Rashid Khan is the only bowler in this list who is also one of the 5 leading wicket-takers in ODIs. He has scalped 17 wickets this year and took a wicket for every 9.41 runs given.
The batsmen get bamboozled by his googly. He does not just take wickets but also makes sure that the run rate is not very high. Rashid's economy rate of 4.57 is the least among the leading wicket-takers.
The leg spinner performed his best against Ireland. He took a five-wicket haul in just 2 overs and became the only bowler to have done so. Rashid allowed only 3 runs in that match and made it his career best performance.
Afghanistan will be reaching new heights with the contrbution of this bowler in the coming years as they have now got a Test status.
#2 Kesrick Williams ― 18 wickets
Kesrick Williams played 10 T20Is for the current World T20 champions. The caribbean took 18 wickets with an average of 14.13.
With an economy rate of 7.63, the fast bowler stroke a wicket at every 11.8 balls. He is the only pace bowler among the top 3. He has been an integral part of the Windies team since CPL 2016.
Williams will be looking to take more wickets with his effective bowling in the next year as well.
#1 Yuzvendra Chahal ― 23 wickets
Yuzvendra Chahal has been an important part of the Indian team for his ability to produce magical spells and take quick wickets to trigger a batting collapse in the opponent's batting order.
The 27-year-old picked up 23 wickets in 11 matches with an average of 14.13. The attacking leg spinner also achieved his career best bowling figures this year in a 75-run win against England in Bangalore.
The fans will surely expect more of the same display from this young man in years to come.
