Around 10-12% of the world's population is left-handed. However, there is something about this community that fascinates and enchants us. Left-handers are believed to be more creative in their modus operandi than their right-handed counterparts.
Cricket is no exception. Left-handed athletes have always captivated our interests with their elegance. The southpaws also have certain technical advantages over the right-handers. Right arm delivery over the wicket, that's the most common delivery to expect from a right-handed bowler. This potentially eliminates the chance of an LBW dismissal, since, on most of the occasions, the length is outside leg stump.
Similarly, in the case of left-handed seamers, they create an angle across the right hander, which gives an appearance as if the ball is going away from him. The left arm spinners also give a greater edge to their side as against the right arm turners, creating more chances with their turn.
In T20 Internationals, left-handers have always been viewed as hard-hitters of the ball and fiery pacers. However, in addition to the aggression, they also embody elegance, as in the likes of Kumar Sangakkara and Yuvraj Singh.
We compile the all time greatest team of left-handers in T20!s, with a blend of aggressive stroke players, elegant stalwarts, versatile all rounders and lethal seamers.
Selection Criteria - In the case of a specialist batsman or bowler, he has to be left-handed in his area of expertise. However, in the case of all-rounders, they are required to be purely left-handed.
Chris Gayle (West Indies)
Chris Gayle is undoubtedly the best player of the shortest format of the game, with more than 11,000 runs and 21 centuries in T20s. Though he features mostly in domestic T20 leagues of late, Gayle's international feats are also hard to emulate.
Usually taking time to settle, the ' Universe Boss ' can derail the best of the bowlers in the world on any given day with his sheer strength and perfect timing. Gayle is equally adept against pace and spin, something which his counterparts lack, and makes the most of his ability by smashing even the best in the business with great ease.
The southpaw is not satisfied with cameos, and has the perseverance of batting throughout the 20 overs. He has hit 2 centuries in Twenty20 Internationals, including the first international hundred in this format, both of which have come in World T20s.
The 38-year old appears to get better with age, as he continues to shatter records at the international as well as domestic level.
Colin Munro (New Zealand)
Colin Munro has carved a niche for himself in the shortest format in the past two years with his destructive stroke play at the top of the order. A spot which, in the view of many, would have belonged to David Warner, I have opted for Munro on account of his superior average and strike rate.
Munro comes out all guns blazing at the top of the order, dismantling the opposition's bowling line up, and providing crucial starts to his side. Although susceptible to spinners, once he is on song, he continues his exploits against them with his unorthodox shots.
The 31-year old slammed three centuries in T20Is in the previous season, and currently has the joint-highest centuries along with Rohit Sharma.
Kumar Sangakkara (Wicketkeeper - Sri Lanka)
Kumar Sangakkara was the linchpin of the Sri Lankan side for more than a decade. An elegant stroke player in the longer formats, Sangakkara also flourished in the extremely dynamic 20-over format with his technical supremacy.
The legend is just the player that is required to marshall the innings in the middle overs of a match. Sanga has the ability to negotiate and accelerate as per the situation and can apply himself on the field with unerring accuracy.
The experienced stalwart also has a reliable pair of hands behind the stumps, which will prove crucial to converting the chances of the 4 spinners that we have in our squad.
Notably, the best moment of Sangakkara in T20Is came in 2014, when he steered the team to victory in the World T20 in Bangladesh, bagging the Man of the Match honors in the summit clash.
Eoin Morgan (Captain - England)
Eoin Morgan has been one of the most exciting talents in the limited overs setup, with his exploits being especially breathtaking in the shortest format.
Coming in at number 4, Morgan can pace the innings brilliantly, and can give the ball a good whack towards the end. His wide range of shots, including the unorthodox reverse sweeps, provide him the prowess to unleash himself at the opposition.
Morgan shall also be the captain of our side, on account of the commendable job he has done as a leader for the English team and has been one of the driving factors behind the polished brand of cricket played by the side post 2015.
Yuvraj Singh (India)
Yuvraj Singh has been one of the premier players of T20Is. Threatening with the willow, effective with his slow balls and a livewire on the field, Yuvraj is just the game changer that one would want in the team.
Yuvraj has been a name synonymous with class and grit over the years, as his aggression was always backed with maturity. One of the most glamorous stroke players in cricket, Yuvraj's exploits with the willow have mesmerized the world on countless occasions.
The dasher has the profile of a big match player and set the inaugural edition of World T20 blitz with his heroics. He remains the only player to have hit 6 sixes in an over in the format, and also holds the record for the fastest 50 in the same match, having brought it only in 12 balls against a strong English attack.
Jean Paul Duminy (South Africa)
JP Duminy has been at the heart of many South African wins, and is a seasoned campaigner in the 20-over setup. A spot which was vied between him, Suresh Raina and David Miller, the 34-year old has been included due to his consistent exhibits.
Although Duminy never poses a ' visible ' challenge to the opponent, his presence on the field serves as a constant headache to the captain, as it becomes an uphill task to dethrone him once he settles in, ensuring that his team cruises over the victory line more often than not.
His bowling skills have not been considered here, since he is a cross dominant, however he is proficient enough to be included in this squad on his capacity as a batsman , backed by some athletic fielding.
Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
Shakib has been one of the driving elements behind the exponential rise of Bangladesh in limited overs cricket. Able to win the match purely on his batting or bowling, the presence of both the skills in his arsenal makes him a force to reckon.
Being ranked as the No.1 all-rounder some time back, Al Hasan can skillfully target the bowlers down the order, with a penchant to hit the ball out of the ground. He can also extract a prodigious turn from the tract and lure batsmen with his range of deliveries.
The Bangladeshi skipper provides a great balance to the side, filling the shoes of ann expert spinner, and can also finish games with his power-hitting.
Mitchell Starc (Australia)
Mitchell Starc is one of the most feared fast bowlers of this generation, with his ferocious pace, effective swing, and rattling in -swingers, which often makes batsmen feel helpless against him.
Though injuries have forced him to be out of international scenario of late, Starc has made a distinct impact upfront, putting his skills to perfect execution. He has a great range of deliveries and variations under his disposal, firing all of them at lethal pace, making him potentially insurmountable.
He is also a capable lower order batsman, although has not had his opportunity with the willow to showcase his batting skills.
Trent Boult (New Zealand)
Trent Boult has taken the cricketing world by storm with his adventures with the cherry since 2015. A deceptive bowler who can swing the ball both ways, Boult has struck calamity on the opposition batsmen on numerous instances.
He has been one of the most exciting talents to be produced by the New Zealand side of late and has emerged as the spearhead of the Kiwi bowling attack. Boult has produced prodigious performances at the international level.
Albeit his economy being slightly on the higher side, he has delivered consistent break-throughs for his side, something which holds more significance in T20s. The Kiwi also has a high degree of athleticism and has pulled off some hair-raising catches at the boundary line, a rare sight for a pacer.
Mohammad Amir (Pakistan)
Mohammad Amir is the spearhead of the current generation of Pakistani pace attack. Entering into the international scenario as a nonchalant pacer, Amir powered Pakistan to the World T20 Title with his pace and accuracy.
Following his return after a five-year ban due to alleged involvement in spot-fixing, Amir has once again escalated up the ranks and has been a vital cog in transitioning Pakistani cricket. He continues to be savage upfront, capable of swinging the ball both ways and producing deadly yorkers, thus, executing classic fast bowler dismissals.
Amir, along with Starc and Boult forms a lethal pace-bowling trio which can power the side to victory against any line up on any turf, even if one of them gets going.
Kuldeep Yadav (India)
Kuldeep Yadav is the youngest member of the squad, in terms of age as well as experience. Having played just 12 games, Kuldeep has stood out with his talent, boasting of wicket taking abilities irrespective of the opposition or turf.
It is during the spell of the spinners that the match takes a match-changing course, and the case is strengthened in the case of a wrist spinner. Kuldeep, being a left-arm chinaman promises to be a great asset for the team, with the ability to run through the opposition's line up.
Kuldeep has a brilliant temperament for a 23-year old and does not exhibit any nerves on being hit. He has the courage to flight the ball and lure the batsmen to get into his trap. With his useful variations, Kuldeep guarantees to form a vicious trio with the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Yuvraj Singh.
Kuldeep Yadav is the only chinaman bowler to have claimed a five-wicket haul in T20Is.
Check RCB Squad 2024 Details. Follow Sportskeeda for IPL 2024 Live Score, Schedule, Points Table
