We take a look at their efforts in 2023.

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Suryakumar Yadav (India)

17 innings, 733 runs at 48.86, Strike Rate 155.95

The year that was

Looking to go back-to-back after winning the accolade in 2022, Suryakumar Yadav did not fall foul to second-year syndrome, dominating again in the shortest format.

Yadav’s first innings of just 7 to start the year against Sri Lanka was a mere speed bump in another prolific year, making scores of 51 (36) and 112* (51) in the next two matches. Consistent scoring in 20s to 40s continued, before an innings of 83 (44) against the West Indies in Providence proved his class. He ended the series against the West Indies with a knock of 61 (45) in Florida.

Yadav flourished despite the burden of captaincy, taking the reins of a young side towards the end of the year.

Suryakumar made half-centuries against Australia (80 off 42 balls) and South Africa (56 from 36 balls), before posting an even 100 against the Proteas off just 56 balls in their final T20I of the year in Johannesburg.

Memorable performance

With a range of his inside-out drives and clever play behind the wicket, Suryakumar’s knock of 112 off 51 balls included nine sixes and seven fours, equating to almost a boundary every three deliveries.

His first boundary came off just the fourth ball of his innings, and it took just 45 balls to reach three figures. The effort was the second-fastest hundred for India in men’s T20Is behind Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball effort against the same opponent in 2017, and India were clear 91-run winners.

Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe)

11 innings, 515 runs at 51.50, Strike Rate 150.14

17 wickets at 14.88, economy 6.57

The year that was

Another nominee to be in the running last year, Raza again builds a strong case against Suryakumar Yadav and the rest of the field, irrespective of Zimbabwe falling short of T20 World Cup qualification.

The all-rounder was consistent with bat in hand across the year in the T20I format, making at least 20 in nine of his 11 innings across the year. He began with two fifties in his first three T20 innings of his year, making 82* (35) and 52 (36) against Namibia away from home. During the series, Raza also claimed 4/24 (4) in the final match of the series.

Attention turned to the Africa Qualifier, where Raza shone in spite of Zimbabwe’s plight at the tournament. His lowest score came making 48 (39) in a defeat to Uganda, passing the half-century mark in his other three knocks, most notably a score of 82 (48).

Raza also claimed multiple wickets in all but one of the Africa Qualifier matches, also claiming 3/28 (4) in a meeting with Ireland in their bilateral series meeting at the end of the year.

Memorable performance

Raza’s all-round effort in their Africa Qualifier meeting with Kenya, adding 2/21 with the 82 (48) he made opening the batting to begin the day.

Of his nine boundaries, Raza hit eight sixes to help Zimbabwe to 217/4, falling in the 14th over. With the ball, Raza entered the fold late as the fifth bowler but was miserly in the middle over to stifle his opponents. He bowled 10 dot balls in his stint as the Kenyans fell well short.

Alpesh Ramjani (Uganda)

55 wickets at 8.98, Economy 4.77

The year that was

2023 was a storming year for Ugandan cricket, which was helped in no small part by Ramjani, who was both stellar with the ball and valuable with the bat.

Ramjani was a nightmare for batters with his left-arm orthodox, taking 55 wickets in his 30 outings, the most among men’s players in the format across the year. Ramjani struck every 11 balls for Uganda and only went wicketless on four occasions across the year.

With the bat, Ramjani was more than capable, deployed in different positions in the order across the year. His knock of 40 from 26 against Zimbabwe at the Qualifier was the most crucial of his and arguably Uganda’s year, leading to a shock victory on their path to T20 World Cup Qualification.

Memorable performance

On their way to qualification, Ramjani produced a rock-solid performance in a crucial meeting with Kenya, chipping in with both bat and ball.

Ramjani was selfless with the bat, chiming in with 19 (11) with the bat in a tricky middle-over stage to ensure the score ticked over, which enabled teammate Dinesh Nakrani to rocket at the backend.

With the ball, Ramjani was his reliable best, claiming 2/12 across three overs. He claimed the big scalp of Collins Obuya to continue Uganda’s press, as well as bowling all-rounder Shem Ngoche in the same over to all but seal Uganda’s win.

Mark Chapman (New Zealand)

19 innings, 576 runs at 44.3, Strike Rate 141.87

The year that was

Joining a long list of Kiwi players in recent times to step up when thinking they may find themselves in a decline.

Chapman in particular was swashbuckling with the bat, striking at 145.54, at an admirable average of 50.54 batting predominantly at No.4 and No.5 in the order.

Coming back from a barren three-match stretch to begin the year, Chapman kicked into gear on New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan. The left-hander made 290 runs in five matches to claim Player of the Series accolades in the shared 2-2 series, making an unbeaten hundred to win the final match.

Chapman backed up the efforts with two half-centuries against the UAE in Dubai, also making headlines with a 40* effort from just 25 balls in a successful chase against England in Nottingham later in the year.

Memorable performance

An unbeaten hundred at a strike rate of 182.45 away from home and batting No.5 to level a series makes Chapman’s 104* (57) one of the finest knocks across the international year in any format.

Chapman walked out in the fourth over at 26/3 with his side still needing 168, also losing partner Daryl Mitchell soon after in the pursuit.

Chapman blazed 11 fours and four sixes in the knock, putting on 121 with James Neesham (45*), to ensure the Black Caps snuck home in the final over.