Strongest T20I XI featuring 11 captains

Since the inception of cricket, the sport has undergone innumerable changes over the years and the introduction of T20 format was arguably the biggest of all.

Following its advent, there has been a remarkable turnaround in the game of cricket. Not only has the format revolutionized the game for the better, but it has also led to the introduction of many mega-money T20 leagues including the IPL, BBL, CPL, PSL and BPL.

As such, it has witnessed some of the most prestigious cricketing legends grace the field in the past decade or so. Needless to say, in such a fast-moving format, the role of a captain is always instrumental in a team's success.

Having said that, let us take a look at a world T20I XI featuring 11 distinguished captains.

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#1 Chris Gayle (West Indies)

As far as T20 is concerned, few can rival Chris Gayle's prowess in the format. Probably the most explosive opener in world cricket, Gayle was the first batsman to register a century in T20 internationals. Besides, The Universal Boss was the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in T20 cricket and also holds the record for the highest individual score as an opener in Twenty20 cricket.

In 346 T20 matches, Gayle has accumulated 11737 runs at an average of 40.19 and strike rate of 147.74. With 21 centuries and 71 half-centuries, he is simply a legend of this format.

He has also skippered his national cricket team from 2007-2010 in 17 matches and ended up on the winning side on 6 occasions with a result percentage of 38.23.

#2 Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

Known for his aggressive style of batting, Brendon McCullum is another opener who easily makes the cut for this lineup. Having made 348 outings in T20s, McCullum has notched up 9462 runs at an average of 30.52 and strike rate of 137.9.

His highest score of 158 came in the Indian Premier League for Kolkata Knight Riders as he got the tournament to an electrifying start in its opening match. McCullum was also the captain of the Black Caps from 2008-2015 in 28 matches, winning 13 and managing a win percentage of 48.14.

#3 Virat Kohli (India)

Virat Kohli is the perfect fit for the No.3 slot owing to his ability to bat well under pressure and pace an innings seamlessly. In 2014, he became the top-ranked T20I batsman in the ICC rankings and held the status for three successive years until 2017.

Kohli was also awarded the captaincy for the T20 format in 2017 and has captained the Men in Blue on 17 occasions since then, racking up 11 wins with a result percentage of 64.70.

As for his individual performances, Kohli has made 247 T20 appearances and has scored a total of 7744 runs with an average of 40.75.

#4 AB de Villiers (South Africa)

Affectionately known as Mr 360 by virtue of his ability to play all shots and dispatch them to all parts of the ground, AB de Villiers was one of the finest and well-rounded cricketers the game has ever witnessed.

In his T20 career, de Villiers has scored 6649 runs at an average of 35.36 and an amazing strike rate of 147.91 with three centuries and 45 fifties. His unanticipated announcement a few months back with regard to his retirement in international retirement came as a shocker for many.

#5 Paul Collingwood (England)

Paul Collingwood was the first England captain to ever deliver a global tournament when England beat Australia to win the 2010 World Twenty20.

In total, he skippered The Three Lions in 30 matches and led the team to a win 17 times, managing a result percentage of 60.71. In his T20 career, Collingwood played 131 innings to score 2478 runs at an average of 21.54 and a strike rate of 121.47.

Even though the stats do not speak so highly of the Englishman, his presence on the pitch always played a vital role in England's success.

#6 Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Shahid Afridi will be remembered as one of the most elegant all-rounders well known for his hard-hitting skills.

In T20 international cricket, Boom Boom currently holds the record of taking most wickets (98) and most Player-of-the Match awards, which speaks volumes about his phenomenal skill set. Moreover, Afridi was the first person to receive the Player of the Tournament award in T20 World Cup history.

The 38-year-old has chalked up 3904 runs in T20s at an astonishing strike rate of 156.03. He has also been excellent with the ball having claimed 301 scalps.

#7 MS Dhoni (India) (Captain & Wicket-Keeper)

It almost goes without saying that MS Dhoni will have his name etched in the cricketing folklore as one of the most successful captains to have ever played the game of cricket.

In the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, the Indian veteran became the second Indian captain to have won a World Cup in any form of cricket, after Kapil Dev. As a skipper, Dhoni has played the most matches (72) in the T20 format, accomplishing a result percentage of 59.28.

His individual showings have also been impressive, having managed 6075 runs in 297 matches at a strike rate of 136.18.

#8 Darren Sammy (West Indies)

The first international cricketer to emerge from St Lucia, Darren Sammy is the only two-time T20 World Cup winning captain, having inspired West Indies to World Cup glories in 2012 and 2016.

As a captain, Sammy boasts of one of the best result percentages of 61.11 as a consequence of 27 wins in 47 matches. Speaking of his individual showings in T20s, Sammy has claimed 157 wickets in 281 matches.

#9 Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)

Daniel Vettori has been an integral part of New Zealand's national cricket team. He was the youngest man to play Test cricket for New Zealand, at the age of 18.

Not only did he feature for the Black Caps in all formats but even went on to captain them in all formats. In T20s, he had a result percentage of 50, as a result of 13 wins and 13 losses.

He announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket following the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

#10 Stuart Broad (England)

One of the fiercest bowlers in England's cricket history, Stuart Broad has been James Anderson's long-term partner in dismantling many oppositions with world-class swing and seam bowling.

Even though he is mostly recognized and admired for his exploits in Test format, Broad has also been impressive in the T20 cricket, having claimed 100 wickets in 85 matches.

From 2011-2014, he captained the English cricket team in T20s and managed a result percentage of 42.3.

#11 Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)

Lasith Malinga became the first Sri Lankan captain to win the ICC World Twenty20 when he led The Lions to win the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.

One of the deadliest quicks in international cricket, Malinga is arguably the best bowler when it comes to the T20 format. He has mastered the art of bowling toe-crushing yorkers, slower balls, bouncers and many more.

Consequently, he is the one who completes our legendary lineup.