T20 cricket is a lot about impact. Sometimes, the impact of a player scoring 30 runs in a crucial situation is as much as a player scoring a fifty. Similarly, a player bowling economically, but not taking a lot of wickets is still important because he is building pressure. However, the players who don’t crunch numbers don’t always get a lot of recognition.
Here are the most underrated players in T20I cricket –
Manish Pandey (India)
Manish Pandey is often in and out of the Indian team and whenever he gets his opportunity, he has to bat out of position. He is a top-order batsman but often plays as a finisher for India. His performances have still been decent. However, whenever India loses, Manish is the first one to be picked out for criticism. He is the most underrated T20I player in India.
Imad Wasim (Pakistan)
Imad Wasim is often used in the power-play by Pakistan which is not an easy job for a spinner because only two fielders are out of the 30-yard circle. However, Imad not only manages to contain the batsmen most of the time, but he also gives Pakistan breakthroughs as well with the new ball. But, he often gets criticized for his inability to spin the ball. He is the most underrated T20I player in Pakistan.
Shai Hope (West Indies)
Shai Hope is not one of the big, strong power-hitters of West Indies, but he plays a very important role as an opener. He plays through the innings and holds the innings together. However, because of the lack of power-hitting ability, he doesn’t have the superstar status that the other West Indies players have. He is the most underrated T20I player in the West Indies.
Alex Carey (Australia)
Alex Carey is also someone who doesn’t get to bat at his preferred position in the Australian set-up. He is an opener but has to bat in the middle order for Australia. Carey, however, has made some significant contributions with the bat for Australia, from time to time. He is excellent with the gloves too. He is the most underrated T20I player in Australia.
Colin de Grandhomme (New Zealand)
Colin de Grandhomme is probably one of the most powerful strikers in the world at the moment and has the ability to win games single-handedly when he is in form. However, because of his inconsistency, he isn’t talked about in the same breath as some of the other power-hitters like Glenn Maxwell and Kieron Pollard. He is the most underrated T20I player in New Zealand.
Chris Woakes (England)
England has got some really flashy players who have got extraordinary skills and hence, they get most of the limelight. Woakes does his job quietly, but he still makes a big difference for England, both with bat and ball. While he swings the new ball early on, he is probably the best tail-ender in the world in terms of his abilities with the bat. He is the most underrated T20I player in England.
David Miller (South Africa)
David Miller’s ability to hit sixes against the fast bowlers can be matched by very few players around the world. He has got an incredibly strong base which helps him while playing the big shots. He has been a match-winner for South Africa over the years, but still gets criticized a lot by the South African fans whenever he has a poor run of form. He is the most underrated T20I player in South Africa.
Liton Das (Bangladesh)
People often talk about Tamim Iqbal who is a fine player himself, but Liton Das has been equally good for Bangladesh at the top of the order with Tamim in recent times. Liton is probably the best timer of the ball in the Bangladeshi team, which is why he manages to hit huge sixes despite not being a power player. Liton, however, hasn’t managed to catch the eyes of a lot of people. He is the most underrated T20I player in Bangladesh.
