Retired best World XI in T20Is

Since the invention of the Twenty20 format, the world of cricket has been taken by storm. While the shortest format preferred by many players, the Test cricket is on the verge of losing its value. The players are rarely using drives and fine cuts in the T20 format.

In the shortest format of the game, the batsmen love to swing the bat at each and every ball. In order to tackle the batting ability, the bowlers come-up with counter-attacking strategies.

The players like Brendon McCullum, Shahid Afridi, Kevin Pietersen, who were pillars of their team, have retired from T20 Internationals. The retired players could make a team and beat any team in the world. Here we take a look at retired best World XI in T20 Internationals.

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#1 Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

Brendon McCullum was New Zealand's best T20 player

The former New Zealand skipper, Brendon McCullum was one of the powerful hitters in the history of cricket. With his hard-hitting skills, he destroyed many bowling line-ups in his career.

During his last International game, McCullum registered the fastest hundred in the history of Test cricket. He has made a name for himself by scoring quick runs as an opener in the limited overs format.

McCullum, who made his T20 International debut in 2005, announced his retirement from cricket in 2016. However, he continues to play Twenty20 leagues across the world.

The former opener has good records in the T20 Internationals. He has scored 2140 runs in 71 games that he played at an average of 35.67. McCullum had scored two centuries in his T20 International career.

#2 Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)

Tilkaratne Dilshan was famous for his Dilscoop

The former Sri Lankan cricketer, Tillakaratne Dilshan was an important member for Sri Lanka across all formats. He had an ability to play big shots once he got going.

After the retirement of Sanath Jayasuriya, the now 41-year-old grabbed the opportunity to open the innings for his national team. He was one of the main reason behind Sri Lanka's supreme run in T20 World Cup, 2009.

Dilshan made his T20 International debut way back in 2006 against England and played his last T20I game against Australia in 2016. He was the one who invented 'Dilscoop' in the cricket.

He played 80 games and scored 1889 runs in T20 Internationals. Dilshan, who has a decent average of around 30 with a strike-rate of 120.47 in T20Is, has the best knock of 104 in the T20 Internationals.

#3 Kevin Pietersen (England)

Kevin Pietersen was instrumental in England's T20 WC triumph in 2010

The former England cricketer, Kevin Pietersen was one of the most dynamic cricketers ever produced by England. Along with the ability to hit the ball over the park, his fantastic efforts on the field made him one of the best fielders.

Pietersen made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2004 and in the following year made his T20 appearance in England colors against Australia. He also captained the England team for a brief period after the retirement of Michael Vaughan.

KP, who made his T20 International debut in 2005, played 37 games for England. He has scored 1176 runs at an average of 37.94 with a strike-rate of 141.52. His highest knock of 79 came against Zimbabwe.

#4 AB de Villiers (South Africa)

AB de Villiers is the most dynamic T20 cricketer

AB de Villiers, who was one of the finest batsmen going around in International cricket, has remained consistent in all three formats. He is one of the greatest cricketers South Africa have ever produced.

De Villiers, who can smash any bowline line-up, had an ability to play according to the situations. During his career, the right-hand cricketer has fit into every position perfectly.

He made his T20I debut in 2006, since then, he played 78 T20I games for his country before quitting International cricket in 2018. AB scored 1672 runs at an average of 26.12 with a strike-rate of 135.17.

#5 Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) - Captain and Wicket-keeper

Sangakkara was a Sri Lankan legend

The former Sri Lankan skipper, Kumar Sangakkara will act as captain and wicket-keeper for the team. He was one of the few batsmen who used to score runs in T20 formats with the help of contemporary cricketing shots.

Apart from batting, he also was a skilled wicket-keeper and an even more skillful captain. Sangakkara, who made his T20 International debut in 2006, has a decent records in T20Is.

He has scored 1382 runs in 58 T20I games at an average of 31.40 with a strike-rate of around 120.

#6 Mike Hussey

Mumbai Sports And Fitness

Mike Hussey was one of the pillars of Australia's batting during their transition phase post Waugh era. He was one of the very few batsmen who used to score without playing big shots.

The elder among Hussey brothers was aggressive in ODI format and converted the same form to Tests as well. He acted as a finisher for Australian team after the retirement of Michael Bevan.

When everyone was thinking how Hussey would fare in T20 games, Mike Hussey smashed Saeed Ajmal 18 runs in the final over to take Australia into the finals of T20 WC, 2010.

Hussey played 38 T20 Internationals and scored 721 runs at an average of 37.95 with a healthy strike-rate of 136.29. His last T20I game was against West Indies in October 2012.

#7 Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi helped Pakistan lift 2010 T20 WC with his all-round performance

The former Pakistan all-rounder, Shahid Afridi has tremendous records in the shortest form of the International game. With over ten years of experience in the T20 format, he built a wonderful career for himself.

The right-handed batsman, who usually used to come late down the order and hit the big shots with the bat, also troubled many batsmen with his leg spin. With a plenty of tricks under his sleeve, he managed to bamboozle several batsmen in T20Is.

In his 99 T20 Internationals, Shahid Afridi scored 1416 runs with a great strike-rate of 150. He also bagged 98 wickets with an economy of 6.63 in the shortest version of the game.

#8 Mitchell Johnson

At his menacing best, Jhonshon was a treat to watch

The former Australian bowler, Mitchell Johnson was one of the most fearsome bowlers in cricket for a long time. He made a name for himself as one of the best bowlers in cricket history.

Highly capable of delivering fast and accurate bouncers, Johnson often portrayed himself to be an aggressive fast bowler. He made his Twenty20 International debut against Zimbabwe in 2017 and became an important member in Australia's setup.

The left-handed pacer has 38 wickets to his name in 30 T20I matches. He has an economy of 7.29 with the best bowling figure of 3 for 15. Johnson, who played his last T20I match against England in 2013, was also a quick runs accumulator down the order.

#9 Shaun Tait

Shaun Tait could never reach his full potential

The former Australian pacer, Shaun Tait had all the chances to be one of the most fearsome bowlers of his generation. But, he could not make an impact due to regular injuries. However, he used to trouble the batsmen with his pace and toe-crushing yorkers.

He decided to quit Tests in 2009 and ODIs in 2011 to keep himself fit for the shortest format of the game. Tait has played a major role with every team he has represented since his debut.

Tait has played 21 games and picked up 28 wickets at an economy of around 7 in the T20 Internationals. He has an average of 21.04 with the best bowling figure of 3 for 13 in T20Is. His last T20I game was against India during the T20 World Cup in 2016 and announced his retirement in 2017.

#10 Saeed Ajmal

India v Pakistan

The Pakistan spinner had a fantastic career in T20Is. As a mystery spinner, with his bag of tricks, he managed to trouble several batsmen. He was an important member for his national team in all formats of the game.

With his mesmerizing doosra, he troubled many batsmen across all versions of the game. He came into limelight when impressed everyone with his spin during the Asia Cup in 2008. His brilliant performances earned a place in the Test squad.

Ajmal, who made his T20I debut in 2009, played 64 games and picked up 85 wickets at an economy of just 6.36. He had an impressive average of 17.84 with the best bowling figure of 4 for 19 in T20 Internationals.

#11 Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra developed into a T20 specialist in the fag end of his care

The former Delhi pacer, Ashish Nehra is one of the best fast bowlers India have produced in cricket. He had a lovely side on action, with a fine wrist position that enabled the ball to land on the seam.

Nehra, who made his Test debut in 1999, had a career constantly plagued by injuries. He made his T20I debut in 2009 against Sri Lanka.

He is one of the retired players who have good numbers in the shortest version of the International game. He played 27 games and picked up 34 wickets in T20Is. An economy of around 7.5 with a best figure of 3/19 speaks about his prowess as a T20I specialist.