What would your T20 XI for 2017 look like?
Pick your T20 XI of the year
Unlike the Test and ODI XIs of the year, ESPNcricinfo's T20 XI goes beyond just the international stage, and includes numbers and performances from domestic and franchise tournaments, where a majority of the games in this format take place. As a result, there is a greater degree of depth and diversity to the contenders in this category. As has been widely observed, cricket's shortest format is also its richest tactics wise, and new trends have meant a slightly different set of categories and player roles.
Keeping these in mind, poll in your T20 team of the year from among our contenders below.
Note: Voting has now been closed. You can view the fans' XI of 2017 here.
The top order
Traditional "opening batsmen" have batted anywhere in the top three or four spots, and were among the biggest run-getters in the format. In fact, eight of the top ten run-getters in the format were openers, and T20 sides have found a way to accommodate more than two of them in their top order. Sunil Narine, who scored 760 runs at a strike rate of 151.31, most of them as an opener, is not part of the nominees below. His contributions with the bat have slotted him right at the top of the the allrounders list for 2017.
You can pick anywhere between two and four batsmen from the list of nominees below for your top order.
The middle order
Four of the eight contenders in this category can keep wickets, while three of them offer an extra bowling option. Just like the top order, you can pick between two and four from this category to fit into your XI, depending on your team combination.
The allrounder(s)
Fingerspinners have had to reinvent themselves in this format, what with the wristspin takeover around the world gobbling up specialist spots down the order. Four of our seven nominees are offies by trade, but have had solid batting years to slot into T20 middle orders. Will you pick them, or go for the pace bowling options instead? You can choose up to three from this category.
The spinner(s)
Rashid Khan's revelatory year means he's all but certain to seal the specialist spinner's spot, like he did in our XI. But, which of his three other legspinning contemporaries have a shot? You can pick up to two of them for your side.
The seamers
Andrew Tye had a triple-hat-trick year, Bhuvneshwar Kumar another excellent IPL, Jasprit Bumrah took his limited-overs game to another level in national colours, while Hasan Ali was pretty much the fast bowling MVP in the shorter formats. Who slots in, who misses out? You can choose up to three of them for your side.