The Ten Greatest T20 All-Rounders

As T20 cricket further expands its wings, we are witnessing the rise of many reliable all-rounders who bring a lot to the table. They can bat, bowl, and even pull off some astonishing fielding efforts.

And who doesn’t want such multi-dimensional players on their team? Having an all-rounder is like going with an extra player on the field.

Ever since the inception of T20 cricket, we have seen many notable all-rounders put out impactful performances with the bat and ball.

This article will look at the 10 greatest T20 all-rounders.

#10 Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya burst onto the scene in the IPL while playing for Mumbai Indians. He is a hard-hitting middle-order batter who can swing the momentum of the match with his powerful batting performances.

Pandya’s medium pace also complements well with his batting, fetching wickets at crucial points. He has the potential to climb up the ladder to sit at the top among the legendary all-rounders.

#9 Dan Christian

With his dependable all-round skills, Dan Christian made himself a name in the ever-evolving franchise cricket. The Australian all-rounder could be slotted anywhere in the batting order and provide impactful knocks.

His medium pace was an added bonus that would give him breakthroughs when needed. Christian played the last of his T20s in 2023, scoring 5825 runs and taking 280 wickets in 409 appearances.

#8 Mohammad Nabi

Hailing from a country that has been engulfed in a war-like situation, Mohammad Nabi’s rise to the global level as an all-rounder is phenomenal.

Nabi has been the mainstay of the Afghanistan cricket team for a long time, contributing effectively with both the bat and ball. His efficient off-spin has earned him nearly 350 wickets, and his robust middle-order batting has fetched over 5800 runs.

#7 Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine started his T20 career as a specialist spinner, carrying a lot of mystery deliveries in his arsenal. However, with time, he evolved into a valuable all-rounder, adding the ability to hammer runs at a faster pace.

There’s no doubt, Narine has left batters gobsmacked with his mystery spin, but he has also left the opposition frustrated with his rapid batting outings. The Caribbean spinner is in no mood to stop soon and looks to add more runs and wickets to his tally.

#6 Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi had the knack for bashing the bowlers, scoring quick-fire knocks with the bat. He was also a lethal leg-spinner with various tricks in his bag, like leg-break and variations of googly.

The Pakistani all-rounder was an indispensable member of his teams, providing crucial performances with the bat and ball. In his 329-match T20 career, Afridi scalped 347 wickets and scored 4399 runs.

#5 Shane Watson

Shane Watson was one of the premier all-rounders to establish his name in T20 cricket. The Australian player produced some of the most impactful performances with both the bat and ball.

Watson was a fine batter in the top order, scoring 8821 runs at a strike rate of 138.30. Moreover, his medium-pace bowling created wicket-taking opportunities, and he bagged 216 wickets.

#4 Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan has been a remarkable all-rounder with the temperament to perform on a bigger stage. His astute left-arm spin bowling and reliable batting in the middle-order have proved his worth.

Shakib’s ability to stand tall in pressure situations makes him an asset for any team. The Bangladeshi all-rounder has accumulated 7200+ runs and scalped close to 500 wickets in over 430 T20 appearances.

#3 Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo is one of the talented all-rounders who has established himself as a legend in T20 cricket. The champion all-rounder is an excellent bowler with plenty of variations and a convenient batter.

Bravo has troubled batters with his bowling variations, especially in death overs, bagging over 600 wickets. Moreover, his handy batting down the order has fetched him close to 7000 runs.

#2 Andre Russell

If there is one player whom the opponents fear the most, then it has to be Andre Russell. The Jamaican all-rounder’s power-hitting with the bat puts him among the most destructive cricketers.

Along with that, Russell’s effective bowling has earned him wickets in crucial stages, making him the most sought-after all-rounder in franchise cricket. Russell is still going strong, having played in over 500 T20s, scoring 8400+ runs and picking up 450+ wickets.

#1 Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard, the messiah from the Caribbean Islands, is unarguably the greatest T20 all-rounder of all time. The Trinidadian is a beast with the bat and shrewd with the ball, ready to tear down opponents with his all-round skills.

He has been globe-trotting the world, representing more than 20 teams in major T20 tournaments. Pollard has racked up close to 13000 runs and more than 300 wickets in over 660 T20 matches.

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