The year 2021 is drawing to a close. The year saw some memorable as well forgettable performances by top teams and players. India began the year in brilliant fashion, registering their second consecutive Test series triumph in Australia with a famous win at the Gabba. They also secured a 2-1 lead in England before the fifth Test was cancelled. On the other hand, India went down in the World Test Championship final and crashed out of the T20 World Cup early. Australia lifted their maiden men’s T20 World Cup title while Pakistan had a memorable year but faltered in the T20 World Cup semis. New Zealand lifted the WTC title but were runners-up in the T20 World Cup. In our year-end recap, we look at the top five cricketers of 2021.
1. Mohammad Rizwan: Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter had an unforgettable 2021. He is the leading run-getter in international cricket in the year. Mohammad Rizwan smashed a total of 1915 runs in 44 matches (all formats combined) at an average of 56.32. The 29-year-old played nine Tests in 2021 and scored 455 runs at an average of 45.50 with one hundred and two fifties.
It was in the T20 format that Rizwan was outstanding. He became the first player to notch up over 1000 T20I runs in a calendar year. The keeper-batter amassed 1326 runs in 29 matches, smashing one hundred and as many as 12 fifties. Rizwan scored his runs at a strike rate of 134.89 and an average of 73.66. The Pakistan batter also featured in six ODIs and scored 134 runs with a best of 74.
2. Rohit Sharma: The experienced opener, who recently took over as India’s limited-overs captain from Virat Kohli, had a memorable year with the bat. There were doubts over his Test ability away from home. However, Rohit Sharma answered his critics in emphatic style. He ended the year with 1420 international runs in 25 matches at an average of 43.03 with two hundreds and nine fifties.
Having been ruled out of the South Africa Tests with a hamstring injury, the 34-year-old will end 2021 with 906 runs in 11 Tests at an average of 47.68 with two hundreds and four fifties. Rohit’s first Test hundred of the year came in Chennai on a challenging surface, while his second came at The Oval, establishing his credentials as an overseas opener. Rohit also notched up 424 runs in 11 T20Is and 90 runs in three ODIs.
#3 Babar Azam: Pakistan captain Babar Azam seems to be getting better with each passing year. He had a prolific 2021 as well. The right-handed batter amassed 1760 international runs in 43 matches at an average of 40.93 with three centuries and 14 fifties. Azam ends 2021 as the second leading run-getter in T20Is. He hammered 939 runs in 29 games at a strike rate of 127.58, hitting one hundred and nine fifties. Azam was also the top run-getter in the T20 World Cup, with 303 runs with an average of 60.60.
The Pakistan captain registered two hundreds in six ODIs and ended with an average of 67.50. He was slightly below par in Tests but still had decent numbers – 416 runs in eight matches at an average of 34.66.
#4 Shaheen Shah Afridi: Three Pakistanis in a list of top five players seems too much. However, Pakistan played more matches in 2021, and their players also performed well. Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed 78 international scalps in 36 games at an average of 22.20. He was quick and incisive as well.
Afridi claimed 47 wickets in nine Tests at a brilliant average of 17.06 with three five-fors. Except for the semis against Australia, he was in roaring form in the T20 World Cup as well, and his spell against India will never be forgotten. The left-arm seamer claimed 23 scalps in 21 T20Is at a strike rate of under 20. In ODIs, the youngster finished with eight wickets in six games.
#5 Anrich Nortje: 2021 was the making of South Africa’s Anrich Nortje as an all-format pacer. The tearaway fast bowler finished the year with 48 international wickets in 21 matches at an average of 21.70 with two five-fors.
Nortje played five Tests and claimed 25 wickets at a brilliant average of 20.76. He was exceptional in the T20 format, including the World Cup. The 28-year-old claimed 15 T20I scalps while maintaining an economy rate of 6.07. Nortje also picked up eight ODI scalps at an economy rate of just over 6.