India-Pakistan Combined T20I XI

Not long ago, about 71 years back, the now neighboring country of Pakistan was part of India. However, the partition in 1947 meant the nation was divided into two. The team would have looked different if the partition had not happened.

While India is renowned to have produced some extraordinary talent with the bat, Pakistan is blessed with top class bowlers. Both occupy the top two spots in the T20 International rankings with Pakistan edging India to take the top honor.

Recently, both have shown their class in the T20 events. While India beat England in the three-match series, Pakistan won the tri-nation series in Zimbabwe. As both teams have been in great form, which players will make the cut in a combined XI?

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#1 Fakhar Zaman

Fakhar Zaman, who is currently at the second spot in T20 International batsman rankings, has been in tremendous form. In the recently concluded tri-nation series in Zimbabwe, which also featured Australia, the left-hander scored 278 runs in five matches and was adjudged as 'Player of the Series'.

He has played 22 T20 International games and scored 646 runs at an average of 30.76. He has a strike-rate of 143.56, thus the left-hander can be banked upon to provide the starts which teams look for in the powerplay overs.

#2 Rohit Sharma

Undoubtedly, Rohit Sharma is currently one of the best openers in the limited-overs format. He can destroy any bowling line-up once he gets settled. Rohit has scored 2086 runs in 86 T20I games at an average of 32.59. Rohit has three centuries to his name in T20s. This opening duo, right-left combination, could form a lethal opening partnership and could lay the platform for the middle-order.

#3 Babar Azam

Babar Azam has fantastic records in the T20 Internationals. He is one of the best batsmen for Pakistan at the moment, especially in the limited-overs format. He has an average of over 50 in the shortest format of the game. So far, in 20 T20 International matches, he has scored 742 runs at a brilliant average of 53. Babar has a decent strike-rate of 127 and registered his best knock of 97 against West Indies.

#4 Virat Kohli (Captain)

Virat Kohli is the best in business across all formats. He is the first Indian male cricketer to score 2000 runs in the T20 Internationals. He has played 62 games and scored 2102 runs at an average of 48.88. He can accelerate the innings from the very first ball once the top-order provide a flying start. Virat is also clever in using his tactics as a captain.

#5 Shoaib Malik

A veteran, Shoaib Malik, occupies the number five spot. He remains to be a stalwart of their limited-overs lineup having racked up a significant amount of runs. In the recently concluded tri-series, Malik scored 132 runs in five matches at an average of 66. He has scored 2121 runs in 103 T20I games that he played at an average of 32.14 with a decent strike-rate of 122.89.

#6 MS Dhoni (Wicket-keeper)

The former Indian skipper, MS Dhoni, has been in terrific form lately. Arguably, he is one of the best wicket-keeper in the history of cricket. Dhoni, who has scored 1487 runs in 93 T20I games, still has the ability to finish the games in the limited-overs format. He became the first keeper to take five catches in a T20I match.

#7 Hardik Pandya

The 24-year-old, Hardik Pandya occupies the all-rounder's spot. The fast bowling all-rounder can be effective with both bat and ball. Pandya, who can provide crucial breakthroughs, can destroy any bowling attack. In his 35 T20I games, he has scored 271 runs and picked up 33 wickets.

#8 Shadab Khan

The leggie from Pakistan, Shadab Khan, is at number 8 as the bowling all-rounder. He can trouble the batsmen with his leg-break deliveries. He is the best all-rounder for Pakistan across all formats in the recent days. Being a wrist-spinner, his responsibility is to keep the batsmen in check. In T20Is, he has played 23 wickets and picked up 32 wickets with the best bowling figure of 14/4.

#9 Kuldeep Yadav

The left-arm chinaman bowler, Kuldeep Yadav has been the match-winner for the Indian team in the recent times. Kuldeep Yadav, who has a hat-trick in ODIs, also has a fifer in the T20 Internationals. He has played 12 T20 Internationals and bagged 24 wickets at an economy of 7.29.

#10 Hasan Ali

Hasan Ali has played 22 T20Is and picked up 27 wickets with the best bowling figure of 23/3. Hasan has been on top of the world rankings ever since he forayed into international cricket last year. He has several variations in his bowling and can trouble any batting line-up. He is one of the reasons why Pakistan topped the T20I rankings.

#11 Jasprit Bumrah

The fast bowler from India, Jasprit Bumrah, occupies the number 11 position. He can tear apart any batting line-up with his pace and toe-crushing yorkers. Bumrah has played 35 T20I so far and picked up 43 wickets at a decent economy of 6.79. He is one of the best death over specialist in the limited-overs format.