MELBOURNE: Tournament’s leading run-getter Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav were on Monday named in the “Most Valuable Team” of ICC 2022 T20 World Cup.
Indian superstar Kohli ended as the tournament’s most prolific batter with 296 runs at a stunning average of 98.66.
Kohli kick-started his campaign with a pivotal 82 not out against arch rivals Pakistan to anchor his side to a heart-thumping final-ball four-wicket victory.
And further knocks of 64 not out against Bangladesh, 62 not out against the Netherlands and 50 against England in the semi-finals helped round off an individual competition to savour for one of the greatest white-ball batters of the modern era.
Fellow Indian Suryakumar finished as the tournament’s third highest run-scorer with 239 runs overall.
Three half centuries — 51 not out against the Netherlands in Sydney, 68 against South Africa in Perth and 61 not out off just 25 balls against Zimbabwe in Melbourne — helped haul his side into the semi-finals as he scored at a staggering strike rate of 189.68 in his six innings.
Another Indian, Hardik Pandya was named as the 12th man of the side.
“Players from six different teams have been named in the Upstox Most Valuable Team of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022,” the ICC said in a statement a day after England won their second world title in the shortest format.
Captain, wicketkeeper and opening batter Jos Buttler, fellow opener Alex Hales and seamer Sam Curran all made the cut for England.
New Zealand star Glenn Phillips and Zimbabwe ace Sikandar Raza occupy the No.5 and 6 positions in the playing eleven. Phillips’ stunning century against Sri Lanka catapulted his team to a comfortable 65-run victory in Sydney.
Another innings of 62 against England helped him reach a total of 201 runs at an average of 40.20.
For Raza, 219 runs and 10 wickets, proved pivotal assets for Zimbabwe with both bat and ball.
He scored a polished 82 off his 48 balls in his country’s opening game against Ireland in Hobart, before further batting contributions against Scotland, Netherland and India — bolstered by a brilliant three for 25 as Zimbabwe stunned Pakistan in Perth — rounded off a tournament to remember.
Completing the middle order is Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan, who grabbed an impressive 11 wickets at an average of just 15.00.
And he was similarly impressive with the bat, striking a solid 92 runs at an average of 24.50 to help fire his side to the final in Melbourne.
—PTI

Press Trust of India