Is this the quintessential T20 dream team?

When T20 cricket was introduced at the international level in 2005, there was a lot of skepticism surrounding the format, not just among cricket ‘purists’ but among players themselves. Just like ODI cricket when it was first introduced in 1971, players found it difficult to adapt to the shortest version of the game.However, over time, players have become used to the different demands that T20 cricket brings and are now extremely adept at playing the slam-bang format of the game.Here is my current dream team for T20 cricket:This article has been contributed by a member of the SK Featured Bloggers Club. It was originally published on ‘Cricket Reviews by Maanav’ blog here.

#1 Brendon McCullum (C & WK)

There’s no doubt about how destructive Brendon McCullum can be on his day. His unbelievable knock in the first ever IPL match, where he smashed an unbeaten 158 for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), is evidence for that.

And the responsibility of leading a side of such pedigree can be justified by the recent marvelous results that New Zealand has managed, much due to McCullum’s thorough planning.

#2 Chris Gayle

The opening batsman that would partner Brendon McCullum in my T20 dream team is Chris Gayle. Need I say more? A name that would enter any dream team in the sport. His unmatched power and relentless attitude give nightmares to the best bowlers in the world.

Stated simply, Gayle can change a cricket match in less than 20 minutes. His ability to turn over his arm for a few overs is the icing on the cake.

#3 Virat Kohli

We all knew that he had big shoes to fill when Sachin Tendulkar retired, but boy has he filled them well! Virat Kohli’s purple patch of form seems to be continuing forever. Kohli has the unique ability to adjust his game to any situation of a cricket match, and his is the first name you would include when there is a stiff run chase.

#4 Mohammad Hafeez

Mr. Professor has the unique distinction of being in the top 20 of each of ICC’s T20 rankings- batting, bowling and all-rounder. You give him the ball in any situation and you know that Hafeez can strangle the batsmen with his impeccable control of line and length. The same dependency can also be applied to his batting, and his invaluable experience having been captain of Pakistan for a short while comes as an added advantage.

#5 Suresh Raina

A perfect T20 batsman if you were ever to find one. When in form, Raina doesn’t need an invitation to free his arms right from ball one. He is often not given credit for his immense enthusiasm for the sport, and it can easily be argued that a large part of the Chennai Super Kings’ success over the years in the IPL has been due to Raina’s prowess in the death overs.

His ever improving bowling skills allow him to provide that much-needed balance to any T20 side in the world.

#6 Kusal Perera

The brightest star on the horizon, Kusal Perera has so far been instrumental in continuing Sri Lanka’s tradition of tearing apart bowlers at the start of an innings. A left-right combination can be invaluable in T20s though, and thus due to competition with Chris Gayle, Perera misses out on the opener’s slot in my team. He has shown though that he can be as damaging at the back end of an innings, and the No. 6 slot should suit him well.

#7 Corey Anderson

Corey Anderson burst onto the scene with a 36-ball hundred on New Year’s day, 2014, against the West Indies, and he hasn’t looked back since. On his day, he is more than capable of tearing the leather of a cricket ball with the minimum amount of fuss. The ability to bowl line and length seamers at a decent pace power him into my starting XI. A short cameo from him in this form of the game can be as valuable as a run-a-ball fifty at the top of the order.

#8 Lasith Malinga

Many thought that T20 cricket would make bowling an insignificant part of cricket, but Lasith Malinga had other ideas in mind. This individual has mastered the art of bowling yorkers so much so that if you wake him up at three in the morning and give him a ball in hand; he’ll pretty much get his length spot on and probably end up crushing the toes of the batsman. You can rest assured that Malinga will come up with the goods whenever the team needs him to.

#9 Saeed Ajmal

The doosra was a revelation, but few would have thought that there would be something called a ‘teesra’. Even the best players of spin bowling in the world resort to guesswork when it comes to deciding which way the ball is turning off Saeed Ajmal. Maintaining a healthy economy rate is bread and butter for him, and his inherent knack of breaking key partnerships is something that every team hunts for.

#10 Dale Steyn

Undoubtedly the best fast bowler in the world in swinging conditions, Dale Steyn can make even the best batsmen in the world look like jokers. He is one of a few fast bowlers in the world today who knows exactly how a batsman is thinking and can terrorise the calmest of batsmen with his deadly short bowling.

#11 Sunil Narine

Tailor-made for T20 cricket, Sunil Narine’s mystery spin has yet to be deciphered by many. In friendly conditions, he can be as lethal as any, but his USP lies in being able to replicate his success on pitches that don’t offer the slightest of turn. Just the thought of him operating in tandem with Saeed Ajmal will haunt batsmen the world over.

#12 Shahid Afridi (12th Man)

The man who shares the record of hitting the fastest hundred along with Corey Anderson has admittedly transformed into more of a bowler than batsman in recent years, but every now and then, Shahid Afridi shows glimpses of his belligerent self with the willow in hand. Immense experience and quality in the spin department make him a stand-out, but his lack of consistency means that he will have to sit out of my playing XI.