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Ever since making their International Twenty-20 debut against South Africa in 2006, Indian cricket team's performance in the smallest format of the game has been a roller coaster ride. Winning the inaugural edition of the ICC T-20 World Cup in 2007, India has been a runner-up and a semi-finalist in the last two editions respectively. With the introduction of Indian Premier League in 2008, Twenty-20 Cricket reached a new level in India and produced a new generations of stars in the shortest format of the game. India has produced some of the finest players of T-20 cricket in the history of game.
With India taking on South Africa in the series decider in Cape Town on February 24, we take a look at an all time XI of the best players that have played T-20 cricket for India at International Level.
Openers
Gautam Gambhir
India's MVP during their victorious 2007 World Cup campaign, Gautam Gambhir had a more than successful international career in the shortest format. Although he was not flamboyant and aggressive as his longtime opening partner Virender Sehwag, his steady and clinical style of batting always came in handy for the Indian Cricket Team. His 75 in the final of the 2007 T20 World Cup against Pakistan is still regarded as one of the finest innings in the history of T20 cricket.
Stats :-
Matches:- 37 ; Runs :- 932 ; Strike Rate :- 119.02 ; Average :- 27.41
100s/50s :- 0/7 ; Highest :- 75
Rohit Sharma
Easily the best limited overs batsman in the world right now, Rohit Sharma has been an integral part of India's squad in the shortest format since 2007. Initially playing as a middle-order batsman, his transition as a top-order batsman in limited overs format has been one of India's biggest success stories in the last 10 years. A perfect blend of aggressive batting and firm strokeplay, The Hitman is the only Indian batsman to have two 100+ scores in T20I. His presence at the top of the order provides the perfect balance to the Indian batting lineup.
Stats :-
Matches :- 73 ; Runs :- 1668 ; Strike Rate :- 135.72 ; Average :- 30.88
100s/50s :- 2/12 ; Highest :- 118
Other Candidates :- Virender Sehwag
Middle Order
Virat Kohli
It is just impossible to have an all time XI of India's Limited Overs Squad and not include the current Indian Skipper in that lineup. Undoubtedly the best player of the shortest format in the world, Virat Kohli's exploits against all the bowling lineups in the world are well documented. He is the only player in the history of the game to have a batting average of more than 50 simultaneously in all the formats of the game and, hence, is a vital part of any batting lineup in the world.
Stats :-
Matches :- 57 ; Runs :- 1983 ; Strike Rate :- 137.32 ; Average :- 50.84
100s/50s :- 0/18 ; Highest :- 90*
Yuvraj Singh
Arguably the best ever middle order batsman for India in limited over cricket, Yuvraj Singh has had a huge impact in the shortest format of the game. A destructive middle-order batsman throughtout his career, the southpaw from Punjab was a revelation for the team in the shortest format during the team's early years. His match winning performances in the 2007 and 2014 T20 World Cup are still fresh in the minds of Indian Cricket fans. An integral part of the Indian team for over 10 years, he will bat at number 4 in this all time T20 XI.
Stats :-
Matches :- 58 ; Runs :- 1177 ; Strike Rate :- 136.38 ; Average:- 28.02
100s/50s :- 0/8 ; Highest :- 77*
Suresh Raina
Along with Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina was the backbone of India's middle order in both ODIs and T20Is for almost 10 years. His powerful batting, along with his ability to hit the ball from the word go, has won many a number of matches for the Indian team. The southpaw, who recently made his return to the T20I side, was the first Indian to score a hundred in T20Is and is a valuable asset for any T20 side.
Stats :-
Matches :- 67 ; Runs :- 1353 ; Strike Rate :- 133.43 ; Average :- 29.41
100s/50s :- 1/4 ; Highest :- 101
Other Candidates :- Manish Pandey
Lower Order
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C & WK)
Easily the most successful wicket keeper-batsman India has ever produced, MS Dhoni is an automatic choice for this slot in any all time India XI across all the formats. In his first assignment as the captain of the team, Dhoni took India to a memorable victory in the inaugural T20 World Cup, which makes him the perfect choice for the role of the leader of this team. His powerful batting style, along with his ability to provide a strong finish, add more depth to the batting lineup.
Stats :-
Matches :- 88 ; Runs :- 1432 ; Strike Rate :- 126.72 ; Average :- 37.68
100s/50s :- 0/2 ; Highest :- 56 ; Catches :- 49 ; Stumpings :- 29
Irfan Pathan
Probably the best fast bowling all-rounder for India after Kapil Dev, Irfan Pathan was one of India's most promising talent during his early days. Pathan was India's most impressive performer during the 2007 victorious campaign in South Africa, where his figures of 3/16 in the finals made the actual difference. Even though he last played a T20I for India in 2012, his spectacular performances during his career were enough to earn him a spot in this all time T20I XI.
Stats :-
Batting :-
Matches :- 24 ; Runs :- 172 ; Strike Rate :- 119.44 ; Average :- 24.57
100s/50s :- 0/0 ; Highest :- 33*
Bowling :-
Innings :- 23 ; Wickets :- 28 ; Strike Rate :- 16.5 ; Average :- 22.07
Economy :- 8.07 ; BBI :- 3/16
Other Candidates :- Hardik Pandya
Bowlers
Ravichandran Ashwin
The highest wicket taker among Indian bowlers, Ashwin was MS Dhoni's go-to bowler during his tenure as the Indian skipper. Along with fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja, Ashwin was instrumental in winning a number of matches for India with his tight and economical spin bowling during the post-powerplay period. Ashwin might have lost his place in the T20I side due to the spin twins in Chahal and Yadav, though his performances over the years have ensured his place as India's greatest spinner in T20 cricket.
Stats :-
Innings :- 46 ; Wickets :- 52 ; Strike Rate :- 19.7 ; Average :- 22.94
Economy :- 6.97 ; BBI :- 4/8
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
India's premier fast bowler across all formats, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has evolved a lot as a T20 bowler from his early days of International cricket. Once famous for his seam and swing deliveries during the early parts of the innings, Bhuvi now has the most dangerous weapon - the knuckle ball - into his arsenal that has turned him into one of the most efficient death overs bowler in the world. His 5/24 against South Africa is the only five-wicket haul by an Indian Fast Bowler, which gives him an edge over Ashish Nehra in this all time XI
Stats :-
Innings :- 25 ; Wickets :- 26 ; Strike Rate :- 20.2 ; Average :- 22.84
Economy :- 6.77 ; BBI :- 5/24
Yuzvendra Chahal
In just over a year after his debut, Yuzvendra Chahal has made an unbeliveable transition into India's first choice spinner in both limited overs format. The lanky wrist spinner has one of the best bowling strike rate among the bowlers today and, along with fellow spinners Ish Sodhi and Rashid Khan, ushered a new era of wrist spin in T20 cricket. Effective in bowling both the conventional leg spin as well as the wrong ones, Chahal hold the record of the best bowling figures by an Indian in T20I.
Stats :-
Matches :- 16 ; Wickets :- 27 ; Strike Rate :- 13.6 ; Average :- 19.14
Economy :- 8.40 ; BBI :- 6/25
Jasprit Bumrah
India's highest wicket taker among the fast bowlers in T20I, Jasprit Bumrah has been the best bowler for India in this format ever since his debut in 2016. From his toe crushing yorkers to his deadly slower ones, Bumrah has almost every bowling weapon in his arsenal and has troubled batsman all over the world with his spectacular bowling. His ability to take wickets both during the initial as well as the later stages of the inning ensure an automatic entry to this all time T20I XI.
Stats :-
Innings :- 33 ; Wickets :- 40 ; Strike Rate :- 17.7 ; Average :- 19.97
Economy :- 6.76 ; BBI :- 3/11
Other Candidate :- Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra
All Time T20 XI :- Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(c&wk), Irfan Pathan, R.Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
Bench :- Virender Sehwag, Manish Pandey, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra
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