List of the Top 5 T20I matches of the year 2022

As every year passes, the standard of T20 goes higher and higher. The matches become more interesting and the quality gets even better. 2022 has been a great year for cricket, particularly for T20I cricket. With that being said, here are the 

Top 5 T20I matches of the year

5) West Indies tour of India,  2nd T20I 

India's international calendar began with the home series against the West Indies. Batting first, India scored a total of 186/5 in 20 overs. Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant were the picks of the batsmen, scoring 50 each and Venkatesh Iyer provided the finishing touch with the bat, scoring an 18-ball 33.

West Indies had a slow start to their chase but when Rovman Powell came to the crease, the game shifted gears. The Jamaican powerhouse smashed 68 runs in 36 balls, supported by  Nicholas Pooran's innings of 62. West Indies came close, but they were halted by the brilliant death bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel. India won the match by 8 runs and clinched the series 3-0.

4) Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe, T20 World Cup

This was the second heart-stopping match that involved Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup. If they had won this, group 2 would have looked very interesting as every team would have had an equal chance to qualify.

Batting first, Bangladesh scored a target of 150/7. Najmul Shanto was the pick of the batsmen, scoring 71 of 55 deliveries. The Zimbabwean batsman completely dominated the 2nd innings. Sean Williams, looking dangerous on 64, was set to take the game away from Bangladesh. A  stunning run out by Shakib Al Hassan shifted the game toward the tigers. 

With 16 to win from the last over Richard Ngarava was about to pull a Dinesh Karthik. With 5 runs to win in 3 deliveries, Ngarava went for the big shot but was stumped by Nurul Hassan. Zimbabwe were so close yet so far and a win against Bangladesh would have increased the chances of Zimbabwe reaching the semi-finals of an ICC tournament for the first time.

3) Netherlands vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 

There were 3 teams competing against South Africa. The qualification hopes of Bangladesh and Pakistan depended on the Netherlands beating South Africa, but it seemed unlikely that would happen. But you know what they say, never say never.

Batting first, the Dutch set a target of 158-4 in 20 overs. Tom Cooper and Colin Ackermann scored 45 runs in the last 4 overs against a bowling lineup that consisted of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, and Lungi Ngidi.

South Africa succumbed under pressure and couldn't get themselves in a comfortable position. The match was sealed when Roelof van der Merwe took an absolute screamer at the backward square leg, getting the crucial wicket of David Miller. 

2) Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, T20 World Cup

A thriller of a match that will be spoken about for ages to come. No one gave Zimbabwe a chance as they were going to face Pakistan who was fresh from a wounded defeat by India. Zimbabwe batted first and scored a below-par total of just 130 in 20 overs. 

Pakistan took the game deep but they never looked comfortable while batting. Needing 11 from the last over, Pakistan smashed 8 runs in the first three deliveries. With 3 needed from 3, Pakistan failed to handle the pressure and lost the match by one run. The fans of Zimbabwe went absolutely berserk as the World Cup of upsets added another upset to the list.

1) India vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup 

Many fans wanted a close game for an India-Pakistan match on a Sunday, but what we got was a heart-stopping, nail-biting, breathtaking contest between two teams who fought till the end and gave it their all.

Arshdeep Singh started the match on a high, taking the crucial wickets of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. It was almost identical to Shaheen Afridi's opening spell against India at the previous World Cup. 50's from Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed brought Pakistan's total to 159/8 in 20 overs. India needed 160 to chase in 20 overs.

Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah ran through the Indian batting lineup and brought India 30/4 after the powerplay. Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli stood their ground and stitched a crucial partnership of 113 in 78 deliveries, carrying India till the last over. The highlight of the match was Virat Kohli's 2 sixes against HARIS Rauf in the 18th over, lighting the stadium with fireworks and bringing the game closer for India.

Needing 16 runs off the final over, Mohammad Nawaz cracks under pressure, bowls a no ball, and 2 wides, giving the game away to India. Needing 1 in 1 delivery, Ashwin drove it over long on and India celebrated as the world witnessed the one greatest T20I match and the greatest T20I innings ever.

Do you agree with our list? What is your favorite T20I match of 2022? Leave your comments below and follow our social media handles for all the latest news & updates.