With T20 franchise cricket leagues now taking place across the world, the demand for the best players over the shortest format of the sport is high, know the best players list
Here is a look at who are the top four most wanted players in T20 cricket due to their performances over the last 12 months.
Who are the most sought-after best players in T20 cricket in the world
Sam Curran
All-rounder Sam Curran is now the most expensive player in IPL history after he was purchased by the Punjab Kings for $2.2 million at the IPL Auction ahead of the 2023 season. There were six different teams interested in his services, but it was the franchise from Punjab that secured his signature.
Curran was named the Player of the Tournament at the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup in Australia. He took 13 wickets in the T20 competition for the eventual winners, and he also played his hand with the bat, scoring some valuable runs in England’s middle order.
Next year will be Curran’s third spell in the IPL. He played for the Kings XI Punjab in 2019, while between 2020 and 2021, he was a regular for the Chennai Super Kings. It would be no surprise to see him play in other leagues in 2023 if there is time in his schedule.
Josh Hazelwood
Australian seamer Josh Hazelwood is the number four-ranked bowler in T20I cricket. The 31-year-old has played all three formats of the sport for his country, so he is not short of experience at the highest level.
Hazelwood is one of the best death bowlers in world cricket. He is often asked to bowl by his captain in the final overs of an innings. That is where batters look to attack and pick up runs at a high rate. The Australian does a great job of limiting the runs conceded and taking crucial wickets at an important stage of a match.
With over 500 wickets for Australia, Hazelwood is one of the best bowlers the Baggy Green have ever produced. He has featured for the Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore during the IPL, while in the Big Bash, he plays for the Sydney Sixers.
Jos Buttler
England T20 captain Jos Buttler is one of the best opening batsmen in white-ball cricket. He showed that throughout their tournament success in Australia at the T20 World Cup. He often got his team off to a fast start in the opening powerplay of their matches.
The Rajasthan Royals player was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2022 IPL after an excellent year with the franchise. He also hit more sixes than any other player during that campaign, with 45 maximums going his way in 16 matches.
Buttler has just recently been signed to feature in the inaugural SA20 league. He will play for the Paarl Royals. As of the 24th of December, they are the +350 joint-favorites in the cricket betting to win the trophy in the opening year of the South African competition.
The England star was voted Player of the Month for December by the ICC. He has played a key role in helping his country become the team to beat in T20I and ODI cricket over the last few years.
Hardik Pandya
The Gujarat Titans went all out to get all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the IPL ahead of their opening year in the competition. The Indian showed why that was the case when he led them to the trophy in Ahmedabad, with a big performance not just in the final, but throughout the group stage.
Pandya is a key player for his country, not just with the bat where he is a big hitter, but he plays an important role with the ball. Captain Rohit Sharma often throws the ball to him when he needs a breakthrough.
Not many players in cricket today have played as much T20 as Pandya over the last five years. He is used to featuring in high-pressure situations in the IPL and for India. Those are qualities that put him at the top end of any shortlist when it comes to compiling a T20 team.
All four of the above players will be looking to showcase their talents in domestic and international cricket in 2023.