India’s All-Time T20 XI: The Dream Team

Picking all time XIs are fun aren’t they? India’s all-time T20 XI is no different.

Though the term all time sounds much too exaggerated, considering that it has been just 14 years since the first T20I match was played.

The Indian team were the winners of the inaugural T20I World Cup held in 2007 under the iconic captain MS Dhoni. Though India couldn’t win any World T20 titles thereafter, for sure India has produced some exciting T20I talents to be proud about.

So let’s take a look at some of the best players that India has ever produced in T20Is. Who makes it into India’s all-time greatest T20 XI?

Openers

Indias Rohit Sharma (R) bats watched by New Zealands Tim Seifert (L) during the fifth Twenty20 cricket match between New Zealand and India at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on February 2, 2020. (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP via Getty Images)

1) Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma is a T20I legend for sure. He is the second highest run scorer in T20I history just behind his fellow captain Kohli.

In the shortest format, Rohit has amassed 2773 runs at an average of 33 and a SR of 139. While opening, he has scored 2313 runs at an average of 33 and a SR of 141.

Rohit has the record of 4 T20I centuries to his name, which is the highest by any player in T20I history. In multinational tournaments, he averages 37 with a SR of 128.

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2) KL Rahul

KL Rahul may be a surprising choice, but he has done exceptionally well to be featured in this list. Actually, he’s the only batsman to maintain an average of 40+ as well as a SR of 140+ in T20I history. (Amongst players batting at least 30 innings)

Rahul has scored over 1500 runs in T20Is at an average of 44 with a Strike Rate of 145, he also has 2 centuries to his credit and both have come outside Asia while batting second.

In opening, Rahul has scored 1103 runs at an average of 44 with a SR of 143.

Middle-Order

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 08: Virat Kohli of India plays a shot during the Dettol T20 Series cricket match between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on December 08, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

3) Virat Kohli (captain)

Virat in this list, is a no brainer. He’s arguably the best T20I batsman ever in the history of cricket.

Virat has scored close to 3000 runs at an average of over 50 with a SR of 138. He’s the highest run scorer in this format, and has also won Man of The Tournament Awards in 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups.

At No.3 he has scored 2256 runs at an average of 58 and a SR of 137. In multinational tournaments, he averages 85 with a SR of 129.

He’s also the captain of this XI. In the 40 T20I matches he has captained, he has a win% of 66% with series wins in all SENA countries.

4) Suresh Raina

Though Raina didn’t achieve much success batting at No.4 like he got at playing on the No.3 spot, but he’s a legend for sure, and leaving a player of his caliber out of this XI wouldn’t be correct.

Suresh Raina has scored 1605 runs at an average of 29 and a SR of 135. He also has a century to his name in the shortest format of the game, and was the first Indian to do so. In multinational tournaments, he averages 23 with a SR of 126.

In the middle order, Raina has scored 814 runs at an average of 26 with a SR of 130.

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5) Yuvraj Singh

Arguably the best all rounder in T20Is, India has ever produced, Yuvraj will play at No.5 in this XI.

Yuvraj has been exceptional with the bat as well as quite handy with the ball for India. Yuvi has scored 1177 runs in T20I at an average of 28 and a SR of 136. In multinational tournaments, he averages 25 with a SR of 126.

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Yuvraj has also picked 28 wickets in 31 innings, averaging an excellent 17.8 with an economy of 7.06.

6) MS Dhoni (wicket keeper)

MS Dhoni will be the keeper of this hypothetical XI. Dhoni has scored over 1600 runs at an average of 38 with a Strike Rate of 126.

He’s an excellent keeper, and he has more than 90 dismissals in the shortest format of the game. In multinational tournaments, he averages 38 with a SR of 129.

Argubaly the most important player in India’s all-time T20 XI because of his captaincy and calmness.

All-Rounders

Hardik Pandya is the key Indian all-rounder in the all-time T20 XI. — India’s Hardik Pandya (R) celebrates after dismissing England’s Eoin Morgan during the international Twenty20 cricket match between England and India at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, south Wales, on July 6, 2018. (Photo by Anthony DEVLIN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB (Photo credit should read ANTHONY DEVLIN/AFP via Getty Images)

7) Hardik Pandya

Hardik ‘hard hitting’ Pandya is going to play at No.7 in this hypothetical XI.

Hardik has been a huge impact player for India with the bat, and has been decent with the ball as well. In the 39 innings he has bowled, he has picked 38 wickets, averaging 26 at an economy of 8.3. In multinational tournaments, he averages 21, conceding 7.8 RPO, and has picked 12 wickets in 10 games.

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With the bat, he averages 18 with a SR of 149 in 39 innings.

8) R. Ashwin

Ashwin has been surely the best spinner for India across formats in the last 10 years or so, and with his decent exploits in batting, that makes him take the No.8 spot in this XI.

Ravi Ashwin has played 46 T20I matches, and averages 23 with the ball at an exceptional economy of under 7. He has 52 wickets to his name. Besides, he averages 31 with the bat at a Strike Rate of 107.

In multination tournaments, he averages 17 with the ball conceding just above 6 runs per over, he has picked 24 wickets in 19 innings.

Perhaps underrated but he makes it into India’s all-time T20 XI.

Bowlers

Indias Jasprit Bumrah (L) celebrates after taking the wicket of New Zealands Daryl Mitchell (R) during the fifth Twenty20 cricket match between New Zealand and India at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on February 2, 2020. (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP via Getty Images)

9) Kuldeep Yadav

When it comes to the T20I format, Kuldeep Yadav is criminally underrated. He averages an exceptional 14 with an excellent economy of 7.11 in the 20 innings he has bowled in.

Kuldeep has taken 39 wickets in 20 matches, but didn’t get chances after that, maybe due to his poor run in the IPL 2020. He would partner Ashwin in the spin department.

10) Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar-Bumrah has been a lethal pair in bowling. While Bhuvneshwar isn’t a great wicket taker, he’s crucial in restricting the run flow, and has a huge impact on the game.

He has picked 41 wickets in 43 games, with an economy of 7.05. In multinational tournaments, he averages 19 with the ball with an astonishing economy of 4.82, picking 6 wickets in 7 matches.

11) Jasprit Bumrah

Without a doubt, Bumrah is the best pacer India ever had in the shortest format of the game. He’s the highest wicket taker for India in T20Is as well.

“Jasprit Bumrah one of the best, if not the best T20 bowler.” says James Pattinson

In the 49 innings he has bowled, he has picked 59 wickets at an average of 20 and an exceptional economy of 6.66. In multinational tournaments, he averages 25 with an economy of 6.5 and has picked 10 wickets in as many matches.

Key: (Multinational tournaments = 5+ Team tournaments)

We hope you enjoyed reading about India’s all-time greatest T20 XI.

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