In the third T20I, Pakistan chased the 208 total set by West Indies with seven balls to spare. In the process, Pakistan’s hero of 2021 – Mohammad Rizwan, became the first batter to smash 2000 plus runs in a calendar year, etching his name with golden ink in the history books. This piece looks at the year 2021 has been for Rizwan in T20 format.
Most T20I runs in a calendar year
An incredible performance came from Mohammad Rizwan in T20I this year, where he finished the year scoring 1326 runs at a staggering batting average of 73.66. And this form came in the World cup year, no less!
As if to announce what kind of form he would be this year, Rizwan started the year with an unbeaten maiden ton against South Africa, and the man has not stopped once since then. With 12 half-centuries and a ton, Rizwan has topped even the record for the most runs in any calendar year. In the process, he left behind his captain, who himself had his best year in T20I and is second on the most runs on the T20I list, scoring 939 runs at an average of 37.56.
In addition to this, Rizwan has the second-best batting average in a calendar year amongst men who have scored 500 plus runs. The record is topped by India’s Virat Kohli, who had his monster run year in 2016 with a batting average of 106.83.
Babar-Rizwan pair
One reason one might give to Rizwan and Babar’s success this year in T20I can be their perfect understanding of each other’s game. If one goes on the back foot, the other makes sure to attack from his end.
The chemistry between them has made them the only pair with four 150+ stands, all of them coming this year. While the slow start to their innings has created some buzz, one cannot deny its effectiveness in the end part of the game.
Dominance in T20 leagues
It’s as if runs have become unstoppable from Rizwan’s bat; he has even dominated PSL this year. Playing for Multan Sultans, he grabbed the first PSL title for the franchise. With 500 runs at an average of 45.45, he was second only to Babar Azam (554 runs at 69.25 batting average) in the top scorer’s spot.
Conclusion
In the form of Rizwan, Pakistan have found a clear answer to Babar Azam’s alternative. His ability to change the strike rate as per the game’s requirement and the grit he showcased to rise to the occasion make him the batting face for Pakistan in the white ball format alongside Babar. As evident during the World Cup, too, the man knows how to handle the pressure and breezes through it.