India v Pakistan - ICC Men's T20 World Cup
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 23: Virat Kohli of India celebrates winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 23, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
India v Pakistan - ICC Men's T20 World Cup

2022 has drawn to a close, with a World Cup highlighting the year in the shortest format of the game.

Here is who has taken a spot in Zero Wicket's T20I team of the year.

1. Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
Rizwan may not have had the greatest time of it at the World Cup, but he has otherwise been phenomenal for Pakistan throughout the course of 2022.

In 25 T20s, he has scored the second-most runs of all players in the international game, adding 996 at an average of 45.27, but more than that, he has consistently created a platform at the top of the order for a dominant Pakistan side.

He has kept things ticking over at a constant rate, and has been dangerous with ten half-centuries.

2. Devon Conway (New Zealand)
Conway may still be trying to find his feet in other formats of the game, but that isn't the case in the shortest one.

He has had an enormous 2022 for the Black Caps, cracking 568 runs at 47.33, with a strike rate sitting north of 120 at the top of the order.

A rock for the Black Caps during the T20 World Cup, he has quickly established himself as one of the most important players in the side.

3. Virat Kohli (India)
Virat Kohli's incredible innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to dispatch Pakistan will live long in the memory of cricket fans everywhere.

Labelled the best innings of his career, Kohli continued to prove himself as a T20 cricketer in 2022, scoring the third-most runs of all players.

He finishes the year with 781 runs at 55.78, and a strike rate just under 140, as well as nine innings of 50 ore more from 20 attempts - an impressive strike rate in any format, let alone T20.

4. Glenn Phillips (New Zealand)
New Zealand have sat near enough to the top of the world in the shortest format of the game for the last two years, even without being able to break through for a World Cup victory.

That said, Phillips has been one of their most important players.

The star batsman has added 716 runs in 2022 at an average of 44.75, but his strike rate of 156.33 is what sets him aside from other batsmen near or at the top of this list.

5. Suryakumar Yadav (India)
Yadav's first full year in the India T20I side has quickly seen him turn into one of the most dangerous players on the planet.

The only question is whether he continue his scarcely believable form into 2023.

All up, Yadav has cracked a staggering 1164 runs from 31 matches in India's middle order, but has done it at a strike rate of 187.43 and an average of 46.56. Two centuries, another nine innings over 50 and 68 shots over the boundary rope headline an incredible year.

6. Hardik Pandya (India)
India's third selection in the side comes with hard-hitting all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

He may not have had the best year of his career, particularly with the ball, but he still had some pivotal performances in that discipline for the men in blue.

It's with the bat that Pandya was able to shine though, belting 607 runs at 33.72 to go with a strike rate of 145.91. He finished games strongly for India consistently and deserves his spot purely on that.

7. Jos Buttler (England, wk)
While Mohammad Rizwan can also wear the keeping gloves, Jos Buttler's section in this side had to happen, even if not at the top of the order.

Buttler has taken 1.13 dismissals per innings in T20 cricket this year - that's 17 catches in 15 games - but has also been electric with the bat.

In those 15 games, he has whacked 462 runs at 35.33, but with a strike rate of over 160. His flexibility to open or come in down the order makes him the ultimate team player.

8. Sam Curran (England)
Curran being at eight provides the team with extra batting depth given his ability to club the ball to all parts, but it's his bowling which has him jumping over the line in this side.

The English quick came up with 25 wickets in 19 games this year, but has also gone at just 7.56 runs per over while claiming his scalps at 21.08.

9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India)
When it comes to economical bowling in T20 cricket, there may be none better anywhere in the world than Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

In 32 T20Is, this year, he went at under seven runs per over, averaging 19.56 as he claimed 37 scalps. He was constantly at his best for India, and a key reason the side were able to advance to the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup in Australia.

10. Josh Hazlewood (Australia)
This selection could be looked at in multiple ways, but Hazlewood has been excellent for Australia this year, and is the only player from the country who comes within coo-ee of the side.

The veteran quick played 17 T20Is this year, but was at his best for the majority, picking up 26 wickets at a tick over 18.

That's critical with the new ball, but his economy of just 7.52 is also vital, and when you consider some of the conditions and games he has played in, those numbers jump off the page.

11. Ish Sodhi (New Zealand)
Sodhi has fast become one of the best limited overs spinners in the game.

The New Zealand leg-spinner has taken 28 wickets in 22 games this season at an average of just over 22, but also goes for under 8 runs per over - something that is an excellent result as a spin bowler.