5 greatest T20I batsmen of all time

T20 as a format is still in its infancy. Since being introduced more than a decade ago, it has seen plenty of superstars. While they may not be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Don Bradman or Viv Richards, they are still legends in their own right.Also read: IPL 2016 Schedule, venue details While they may not have the grace of a forward defensive stroke by Rahul Dravid or a cover drive by Sunil Gavaskar, modern batsmen, especially those who excel in T20s, boast of an incredible amount of skill.While there have been plenty of very good T20 players, like AB de Villiers, there haven't been that many who have dominated the international game. But, those who have will be cherished forever.Also read: ICC T20 World Cup 2016: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan- LIVE streaming, Ball by Ball Commentary, team news, squad, date, timeSo here are the five greatest T20I batsmen of all time.

#5 Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj secured his status as a T20 great in the 2007 World T20

While some credit Yuvraj Singh's performance in the 2014 World T20 final for India's failure to lift their second T20 crown, it was arguably Yuvraj who won India the inaugural World T20 in 2007.

While his performance in the 2011 World Cup is fondly remembered, many forget that his record in T20Is is one of the best in the business.

His six sixes off Stuart Broad in the game against England in the 2007 World T20 brought him immortality in the format and in the process helped him score the fastest fifty in just 12 balls, a record unlikely to be broken anytime soon.

His overall record in the format too are nothing short of impressive. He has scored almost 1,000 runs in 40 matches at an average of 31 and strike rate over 140 and also picked up 23 wickets at an impressive average of just 16 and a miserly economy rate of 7.

#4 Kevin Pietersen

Pietersen’s played a huge part in England’s only world title

A new-look England might not want Kevin Pietersen in their squad for the World T20 in India in a couple of months time, but there can be little doubt that when he did play for England, he was one of the best in the business.

Before Eoin Morgan overtook him last year, Pietersen was England's leading run-scorer in the format. Arguably the main reason for inclusion at No.4 on this list is his remarkable numbers in T20Is, where despite playing just over half as many games as AB de Villiers, he has scored more runs than the South African skipper.

His 1,176 runs came in just 37 matches at an average of almost 38 and a strike rate over 140. All that despite the fact that his highest score was a mere 79. There can be little doubt that if he wasn't dropped by England, he would be much higher in this list.

#3 Virat Kohli

Kohli’s consistency in the shortest format is simply remarkable

While this might seem as a surprise, especially given he is neither particularly destructive nor a winner of a T20 title, Virat Kohli's numbers in the format alone are enough to warrant his inclusion in this list.

In the T20 series against South Africa last year, Kohli became the first Indian to cross the 1000-run mark in the format and in doing so, became the fastest batsman to achieve this milestone, as he did it in just 28 innings.

Despite not scoring a single century yet, he is the only player to have an average in excess of 40, in a format where getting on a purple patch is incredibly difficult. To put that into perspective, AB de Villiers, who is widely considered one of the most destructive batsmen in the world averages 22, while Kohli's is a scarcely believable 44 at an impressive strike rate of over 130.

With age on his side, there is no reason why he couldn't finish as the best T20I of all-time if he keeps up his current form.

#2 Chris Gayle

Despite not playing that many matches, Gayle’s numbers are phenomenal

If this was a list of just the best T20 batsmen, then Chris Gayle would have taken the No.1 spot at a canter. For not only is he the leading run-scorer by a distance, but also the batsman with the most centuries and sixes. But as he has played a lot less T20Is, he has to be content with second on this list.

Still, despite the lack of matches, his numbers are impressive nonetheless. In just 45 matches, Gayle has scored 1,406 runs at an average of 35 and strike rate in excess of 140. Those numbers, especially for an opener, who has to face the only tricky part of a T20 innings are especially impressive.

With the World T20 in India, where he has scored bucketloads of runs in the IPL, the West Indian opener will be hoping to claim another world title for a team that is in disarray in the longest format of the game.

#1 Brendon McCullum

McCullum has almost every T20 batting record in the book

If Sachin Tendulkar has all the records in the book when it comes to ODIs, then Brendon McCullum is the same with T20Is.

Only one player has played more T20I matches than McCullum, who has scored more runs, faced more balls, hit more hundreds, fifties, fours and sixes than any other batsmen. He was the first batsman to score four consecutive fifties (he did it in 2008/09), a record that since been equalled just once and he is the only batsman to have scored two T20I hundreds.

So it is no wonder that New Zealand's chances of claiming their first international trophy took a huge blow when McCullum announced that he wouldn't be taking part in the World T20 in March.

After all, when a legend of the format and without a doubt, the best T20I batsman in history calls it a day, it is sure to have an impact.