All-time men’s T20 World Cup XI

Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

2007-16

T20Is 34 | Runs 546 | HS 54* | Ave 18.82 | SR 154.2 |

Wickets 39 | BB 4/11 | Ave 23.25 | Econ 6.71

Invaluable to this format, Shahid Afridi was the Player of the Tournament in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Two years later, he slammed back-to-back fifties to help Pakistan win the tournament. A game-changer with the bat and the highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cups, the former Pakistani all-rounder is the easiest pick in the illustrious side.

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Darren Sammy (West Indies) – Captain

2009-16

T20Is 25 | Runs 215 | HS 42* | Ave 17.91 | SR 164.1 |

Wickets 11 | BB 3/8 | Ave 28 | Econ 6.89

Darren Sammy is the only leader with two T20 World Cup titles to his name.

A choice that may surprise many, but Darren Sammy isn’t just there in the side because he’s the only captain with two T20 World Cup titles. There’s more to the St Lucian in terms of cricketing abilities.

Apart from being a fantastic leader, he’s the bits and pieces all-rounder a T20 side needs. He had a good tournament with the ball in the 2010 edition in the West Indies, picking up six wickets at an average of 12 and an economy rate of 5.26. He’s the third pacer and sixth bowling option this illustrious side needs.

Taking a cut-off of 200 runs, his strike rate of 164.1 is the highest for all batters in all T20 World Cups. Of course, Darren Sammy also leads the side.

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Umar Gul (Pakistan)

2007-14

T20Is 24 | Wickets 35 | BB 5/6 | Ave 17.25 | Econ 7.3 | 5w 1

Umar Gul’s heroics with the ball helped Pakistan finish runners-up in 2007 and champions in 2009. Although he didn’t have a good 2010 edition with the ball, he won Pakistan a game against South Africa with the bat, slamming a 17-ball 32. In 2014, he went for over nine an over, but was still the team’s highest wicket-taker.

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Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)

2007-14

T20Is 31 | Wickets 38 | BB 5/31 | Ave 20.07 | Econ 7.43 | 5w 1

It was a very close call between Lasith Malinga and Dale Steyn, with the former just managing to make the cut because he was more consistent in all the editions he played in. The South African has better overall numbers and was phenomenal in all the editions except for 2016.

Lasith Malinga’s brilliance helped Sri Lanka finish runners-up in 2009 and 2012. In 2014, he had another good tournament and led the nation to their maiden T20 World Cup triumph.

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Samuel Badree (West Indies)

2012-16

T20Is 15 | Wickets 24 | BB 4/15 | Ave 13.58 | Econ 5.52

Samuel Badree and Darren Sammy celebrate Jason Roy's wicket in the 2016 World Cup final.

Despite making a late entry into international cricket, Samuel Badree made an everlasting impact by becoming one of West Indies’ key players to help them lift the World Cups in 2012 and 2016. Listed as a leg-spinner, his strength lies in his accuracy, and he opened the bowling for the West Indies regularly. He hasn’t gone over six an over in all of the three editions that he played.

Samuel Badree was the unsung hero of the 2016 World Cup final against England, returning with figures of 4-0-16-2 and claiming the key wickets of Jason Roy and Eoin Morgan.

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Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan)

2009-14

T20Is 23 | Wickets 36 | BB 4/19 | Ave 16.86 | Econ 6.79

Saeed Ajmal celebrates the wicket of Kumar Sangakkara during the T20 World Cup in 2009.

Saeed Ajmal edged out Ajantha Mendis and Ravichandran Ashwin for the off-spinner's place in the side. He remains the second-most prolific spinner in the tournament history and claimed a four-wicket haul in each of the three editions between 2009 and 2012.

Saeed Ajmal starred in Pakistan’s victorious campaign in 2009 and was the joint-most successful spinner in the tournament alongside Ajantha Mendis with 12 wickets.

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All-time men’s T20 World Cup XI: Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Kevin Pietersen, AB de Villiers (wk), Mike Hussey, Shahid Afridi, Darren Sammy (c), Umar Gul, Lasith Malinga, Saeed Ajmal, Samuel Badree

12th man: Dale Steyn