India’s all-time best T20I XI

There’s no doubt that when T20Is was just born, team India had ultimately nixed the format and its idea of zealous play. For the 2007 World T20, the senior pros of the Indian team had perceived the format as slapdash and had decided to move out of the T20 context. However, when MS Dhoni’s young brigade brought the inaugural T20 World Cup home, the shortest format of the game became the fascination of Indian cricket. Promptly, the BCCI then unveiled the world’s biggest T20 league (IPL) which ultimately is not just a big cash cow for the board, but also an integral assembly line that recognizes and transforms the brimming talents of Indian cricket. It’s mainly because of the IPL that team India is now a world-class side in the T20Is and even when it comes to selecting its all-time XI, majorly the list will be comprised of the current IPL greats. Hence with a time span of the last 16 years to pick and choose from, let’s check out – India’s all-time greats in T20I cricket 1. Rohit Sharma Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: BCCI) It’s a no-brainer that Rohit Sharma is currently one of the best opening batters in the white-ball format and will be unanimously picked whether it’s all-time Indian T20I XI or the current best T20I XI. The hitman has been a bona fide run-machine for team India in T20Is and is best known for scoring most centuries in the format. Currently, by playing a brimming tally of 111 T20I matches, Rohit has scored a total of 2864 runs from 103 innings and has an average of 32.54. His overall strike of 138.96 is impregnably on par with other best top-order batters of the world and also has a distinction of 22 half-centuries under his name. Comprehensively, he is at present the third-highest runs-scorer of the T20I format and second-highest run-getter for the Indian team. Also, despite the Indian team now undergoing a mini revamp of their overall playing style, Rohit Sharma’s opening position still remains solidly intact and will be the squad’s biggest match-winner for the upcoming World T20 in October. 2. KL Rahul KL Rahul. (Photo Source: Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Although the number two opening position might derive some ambiguity, KL Rahul’s overall match-winning package might seal the deal for him. Rahul’s batting possibly has every gear to combat any kind of bowling in T20Is in all sorts of conditions. Normally, he is the aggregator on the top when it comes to soaring the team’s innings but also can be a cautious reliable batter who can finish games as well. Statistically, his presence might even become more alluring as, after skipper Virat Kohli, Rahul’s overall batting prowess makes him the second-best consistent run-scorer of the team especially when his current average is still intact on 40. Also, not to forget that after Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul has the next best tally in terms of attaining the three-digit scores(2). Overall, from his 48 T20Is, Rahul has scored 1557 runs at a jazzy strike rate of 142.19. Even after attaining some commendable stats, some might still prefer to squabble but in general, Rahul’s enterprising batting has always been an x-factor entity for team India especially when in 2020 he had emerged as the team’s highest run-getter in the calendar year. 3. Virat Kohli Virat Kohli against England. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images) Again picking someone at number three is a no-brainer, as our Indian chase master is one of the best batters in the realm of T20Is. Unanimously, the current Indian skipper will be an easy go-to choice even if it’s about making the current best T20I XI. In just a decade-long career, King Kohli has not only smashed more than three thousand runs, but also is one of the elusive batters, who constantly averages more than 50. In terms of his overall stats, Virat has played 90 T20I games and has scored 3159 runs which also makes him the highest run-scorer of the format. His strike rate of 139.04 is also on par with the other best top-order batters of the world and has yielded him 28 half-centuries. Undeniably, by being team India’s biggest match-winner in this format, Virat has also won two back-to-back player of the tournament titles in the previous two ICC World T20 tournaments. Hence, no doubt today’s T20 cricket might demand some exuberance and swankiness but when Virat Kohli’s batting is in vigorous action, there’s a very different zing in his overall gameplay. 4. Suresh Raina Suresh Raina. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Just like Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina was indeed team India’s first T20 envoy and also a genuine specialist who could turn around the game with his eventful batting. His exciting gameplay always made him occupy any position in the batting order perhaps also sometimes batting at number three. In terms of his overall stats, the southpaw has played 78 T20I games and has scored 1604 runs at an average of 29.16. His strike rate of 134.79 might sound grim in today’s times but was actually a massive catalyst that used to boost team India’s totals into winning causes. Also, especially in big games, Suresh Raina often adored playing boldly for team India. With big games being talked about, easily his 101 against Graeme Smith’s invulnerable South Africa in the 2010 World T20 will be the hallmark innings of Raina’s overall T20I career. 5. Yuvraj Singh Yuvraj Singh. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images) Irrefutably, there cannot be any Indian all-time XI without the presence of Yuvraj Singh in the white-ball format. The all-rounder was a once-in-a-generation player for team India and arguably the best batsman of the team during their triumphing campaign of 2007 World T20. By mainly positioning himself at number four, the Sixer King has scored the most runs (791) for team India in that position. In his 58 T20I appearances, Yuvi has smacked 1177 runs at an average of 28.02 along with having a strike rate of 136.38. His overall all-around skills have also made him bag 7 players of the match awards in his illustrious career. However, when it comes to his true explosiveness, barely there are few better sights in World Cricket than witnessing a free-flowing Yuvraj Singh bat. Overall, picking his greatest T20I knock is a perplexing affair as it’s very difficult to distinguish between his barbaric 58-run knock against England in 2007 World T20 or his semi-final trouncing against Australia at the same event. 6. MS Dhoni (C & WK) MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Getty Images) It was the Dhoni phenomenon that had mingled the nation with T20 cricket back in 2007 perhaps also being the same marvel that will sovereign the team in this fantasy list. Whether it is about finishing games or about controlling the nerve-racking situations or maybe about bringing the best from spinners, MS Dhoni’s overall package as a cricketer makes him an impregnable wit in any of India’s white-ball XIs. Statistically, captain cool owns a very unique record in T20Is, especially something that immaculately highlights his everlasting reliability. Since majorly the former Indian captain has batted at number 5, 6 or 7, in each of these positions Dhoni has been the highest runs-scorer for team India. To be even more precise, MS has scored about 624 runs at an average of 34.66 priorly at number five. Overall, out of 98 T20I games, MSD has amassed a total of 1617 runs at an average of 37.6 and has a slightly low strike of 126.13. However, when it comes to hitting towering sixes, Dhoni has collectively hit 52 of them. 7. Hardik Pandya Hardik Pandya. (Photo Source: Twitter) There’s no doubt that the junior Pandya is still in the work-in-progress mode to fully blaze for team India, but as far as his IPL performances are concerned, he’s a proven match-winner for MI. Specifically known for his firepower batting and for finishing games, Hardik Pandya is at present team India’s most exuberant whacker of the ball. With all sorts of shots in his peppy batting, the all-rounder can tonk the ball anywhere on the park and also has a distinct knack of taking the spinners for cleaners. Overall in his T20I career, Hardik has in total played 48 T20Is and has scored 474 runs at a strike rate of 147.66. However, in terms of whacking sixes, Hardik has smashed 30 of them. The junior Pandya’s fitness in terms of his bowling has recently become a mystery, but the all-rounder with his genuine medium pace bowling has scalped 41 wickets at an economy of 8.17. All in all, an utterly fit Hardik Pandya at any day would be the fitting candidate for the number seven spot otherwise his selection might make some people feel dubious. 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar Bhuvneshwar Kumar. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images) It was only after the 2015 World Cup that Bhuveshwar Kumar had transformed his bowling as an ace pacer in T20 cricket and had started to scalp immense wickets for his IPL side SRH. Besides increasing his pace, Bhuvi’s overall variation not only made him an effective bowler in power plays but also someone who could shrewdly bowl in the death overs of play. Hence, from 2016 onwards both Bhuveshwar along with Bumrah was tagged as the prime spearhead of team India in the T20I format. In terms of his stats, Bhuvi has in total played 48 T20Is and has only scalped modest 45 wickets. Although his economy rate still impressively consists of 6.98, the pacer, in general, has got drenched by some reasonable numbers merely because of his constant injury woes. However, Bhuvi’s true worth as a chief spearhead must also get lensed from his commendable IPL performances especially the twin seasons of 2016 & 2017 where Bhuvi had won two back-to-back Purple caps. 9. Yuzvendra Chahal Rohit Sharma and Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo Source: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) With team India prioritizing leg-spin since 2017, someone like Yuzi Chahal has been brimming wickets for the men in blue since his inception. Although in the recent past his place in the side might have become dubious, the leg-spinner despite that, still will remain a prime choice for the front-line spin option. By currently playing a total of 48 T20I games, Yuzi has remarkably picked 62 wickets which by all means clearly justifies his role as a leg-spinner. His overall economy rate of 8.4 might be slightly on the expensive side but the leg-spinner is also seen bowling on different passages of play especially in the power plays or maybe even sometimes at the death. Overall, even in the IPL for RCB, Yuzi has been a consistent scalper of wickets and often finds himself in the contenting list of the highest wicket-takers at the end of each season. No doubt on some days he might go for cleaners but his immense fortitude has often helped him to continue to ascend his spot as India’s premier white-ball spinner. 10. Jasprit Bumrah Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Undoubtedly, Jasprit Bumrah will walk in as a premier pacer not only in team India’s all-time XI but also in any of T20s all-time XI. His mastery in the shortest format is world-renowned and has made him the best in business when it comes to ceasing any batsman’s firepower. Specifically for team India, Bumrah has played 49 matches and has scalped 59 blazing wickets. The speedster’s economy of 6.67 is a sublime luxury for any captain who can wholeheartedly discard any havoc caused by any of the batting line-ups. Even whether it’s his average of 20.25 or his strike rate of 18.22, truly there’s no one as auspicious as Jasprit Bumrah in the realm of T20 cricket. The pacer also has a commendable record when it comes to shining in top-tier games for team India and definitely will be a paramount asset for India’s chances in the upcoming World T20. 11. Ravichandran Ashwin Ravi Ashwin. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images) While some might fully wrangle about his selection since he has been nixed from the T20Is, but there’s certainly no point in writing the veteran off. We all know that even at present in the IPL, Ashwin plays as a premier front-line spinner for his franchise and still has a realm to offer in the shortest format. On spinning tracks, Ashwin has a profusion of tricks and variations to play with eventually making himself equally effective as any leg-spinner in today’s game. Statistically, Ashwin’s presence can be more alluring as from his 46 T20I games, the off-spinner has picked 52 wickets and has a remarkable economy of 6.98. His strike of 19.73 is even more impressive and has also yielded him a 4-wicket haul. At present in the IPL, Ashwin also has a reputation of being a partnership breaker or an ace scalper who produces important breakthroughs for his franchise. Overall, although team India might be now transiting by banking on the new spinning faces from the realm of IPL, still Ravi Ashwin convincingly walks off in the current all-time T20I XI of the country.

India’s all-time best T20I XI

The list features some big names of T20I cricket.

8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar