Who is the Best All Rounder in T20 Cricket Format?

T20 cricket has taken the world by storm and all-rounders are the most important players in any team in the shortest format of the game. Having an all rounder in the team in this format is like having a bonus player who can do the job of 2 players together. They can bat and score valuable runs for the team in the death overs and come in as a bowler to pick important wickets at any moment. There are so many players who can be stated as the greatest all rounders in cricket in T20I format history like Hardik Pandya, Andre Russel, Keiron Pollard, Rashid Khan, Shadab Khan and many more. But there are some players who have been more valuable than others, both with the bat and the ball.

Here are the top 5 best all rounders in the T20I cricket format history:

1) Shane Watson:

Credit: The Statesman

Shane Watson: The former Australian cricket player easily deserves being on the top spot on the list of the best T20I all-rounders of all-time.  In the T20 format, his explosive batting, efficient medium-pace bowling, and superb fielding abilities make him a complete package and was a key component of Australia's T20I sides. He also showed his worth in the shortest format of the game with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, winning the tournament in 2018 as the man of the match in the finals. In his prime, he could also be considered one of the best all rounders in IPL history playing for the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings.

2) Shakib Al Hasan:

Credit: CricTracker

Shakib Al Hasan from Bangladesh is one of the most underrated cricket players in the world. He has silently made a name for himself as one of the best all-rounders in both the ODI and T20 format. Leaving the fact that he is infamous for on field antics, his contributions with both the bat and ball on the field cannot be understated. Shakib has a great bat and bowling combination and has regularly produced game-winning performances. In addition to his impressive strike rate and batting average, he can take wickets with his left-arm spin when it matters most. He also is the current No. 1 All rounder in the ICC T20I Rankings.

3) Ravindra Jadeja:

Credit: Cricket Addictor

Arguably one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of Twenty20 and IPL cricket is Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja has put in a ton of effort to demonstrate his ability to compete on an international level. Ravindra Jadeja is a left-handed batter with a left-arm orthodox bowling technique. More than his bowling and power hitting abilities, he is praised for his exceptional fielding. He has played 64 T20 internationals for India and has 457 runs with the bat and 51 wickets with the ball. 

Also in the IPL, he has incredible stats, scoring 2692 runs and picking up 152 wickets in the 226 matches played and is surely one of the greatest all rounders in IPL history. 

4) Glenn Maxwell:

Credit: NDTV Sports

Glenn Maxwell is widely regarded as one of the most versatile and entertaining all-rounders in T20 cricket. His explosive batting, effective off-spin bowling, and acrobatic fielding make him a valuable asset to any team. Maxwell is known for his aggressive and unorthodox batting style, capable of hitting boundaries all over the ground. He possesses a wide range of shots, including his trademark reverse sweeps, switch hits, and scoops, making it difficult for bowlers to set fielding positions against him. Maxwell's bowling skills are often underestimated, but he is a more than handy off-spinner. His ability to control the flight and spin the ball makes him a threat to batsmen, especially in the middle overs. In the Indian Premier League as well, he has shown his worth as an all rounder playing for the Punjab Kings and the Royal Challengers Bangalore and can be considered one of the most dangerous all rounders in IPL. 

5) Dwayne Bravo:

Credit: West Indies Cricket

Dwayne Bravo was one of the main players of the West Indies Team and the Chennai Super Kings. He won 2 ICC T20 World Cup Trophy with his nation and his all round ability, both as a bowler, batter and fielder is what every team would crave for. He was a master of deception and fast bowling variation, possessing a lethal combination of pace, accuracy, and control. His ability to bowl yorkers, slower balls, and cutters makes him a difficult bowler to read and score off. He was particularly effective in the death overs, where his ability to restrict runs and take wickets has been crucial for his teams' victories. Though his bowling overshadowed his batting, he could come in and hit sixes whenever his team required. He is a hard-hitter who can accelerate the scoring rate in the middle overs and finish innings with a flurry of boundaries.

He is also one of the highest wicket takers in the Indian Premier League and has also won the IPL Purple Cap twice in his career. This also cements his legacy as one of the best all rounders in the IPL. 

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