All-time World T20 XI

As we are on the verge of the sixth edition of the ICC World T20, let us take a moment to step back and look at the previous tournaments and find out who the best performers have been. While no side has won the tournament twice, there have been plenty who have been consistent throughout the five editions.Here at SportsKeeda we tried to find out who has been the most consistent and who would make it into an all-time World T20 XI. So here are the results purely on the basis of their numbers in the tournament, with an added bonus of importance being taken into consideration if two players have remarkably similar numbers.So here is the all-time World T20 XI

#1 Mahela Jayawardene

When it comes to World T20, Sri Lanka have been one of the most consistent sides. It is no surprise to see that one of the pillars of the Sri Lankan takes his place as the opener in this side. Mahela Jayawardene may not seem like the obvious candidate for the role but his numbers suggest otherwise.

He is the only batsman to score over 1,000 World T20 and is thus the leading run-scorer in the history of the tournament. The incredible thing about this is that he has done all this at an average of 39 and strike rate of almost 135. Much better than his overall career record in the format.

#2 Chris Gayle

If you thought that Jayawardene's numbers as an opener was good, then Chris Gayle's are even better. Not only does he average over 40, but he has a strike rate in excess of 140 as well. So it should come as no surprise that Gayle will be crucial to his side's chances of becoming the first team to win the World T20 twice in the upcoming tournament.

Not only is he one of only seven batsmen to have scored a century in World T20s but he is also the second highest run-scorer in the tournament and a half-decent tournament this time around would catapult him to the top.

But numbers aren't the only reason why the West Indian opener makes the cut, but it is also the impact his sheer presence has on both his team and the opponents.

#3 Virat Kohli

Of all the players on this list, Virat Kohli has played the least amount of matches but such has been his staggering form that he doesn't have the least amount of runs by some margin. In a format where an average of around 30 is considered impressive, Kohli's average of 72 is simply ridiculous. And when you note that those runs have come at a decent strike rate of over 125 you know that you are in the presence of a special player.

Kohli makes it to the list despite only playing in two World T20s because of his importance in both of them. He almost single-handedly won India the World T20 in 2014 and it was in the same tourney that he claimed the record for most runs in a World T20. So he will occupy the No.3 slot in this team.

#4 Kevin Pietersen

For reasons that have little to do with cricket, England decided that Kevin Pietersen, the star of their only ICC tournament success doesn't deserve a spot in their World T20 squad for India. But unlike the English selectors, this side has him, playing at No.4 and his numbers tell you why he should have boarded the flight to India.

It is not only that he has plenty of experience playing in India but also the fact that Pietersen has scored nearly 600 World T20 runs in 15 innings at an average of almost 45 and a strike rate of nearly 150. While he may not have got a hundred, his numbers are so consistent and impressive that he is a shoe-in for this side at No.4

#5 Mike Hussey

The IPL may have seen a lot more of Mike Hussey the opener rather than the middle-order batsman but the southpaw's exploits in the 2010 World T20 showed that he is more than in the middle-order. Which is why he makes it into the side at No.5. Because he batted so low, he didn't always get the chance to bat in the World T20, but he still managed to average 54.6 and score at a strike rate of 140.

His innings against Pakistan in the semi-final is one that few Australians are likely to forget anytime soon as it was one of the finest innings under pressure by any batsman. It is also the reason why despite their strong squad, Australia wouldn't mind having him on the playing staff rather than the coaching staff as he is now.

#6 MS Dhoni (WK & C)

One look at the record books will tell you that MS Dhoni's records in T20Is aren't as impressive as his overall T20 record. True as that might be, at least in terms of strike rate, as a captain, there are few better wicketkeeper batsmen who can smoke the ball from the go and can bat in the middle order and finish an innings are hard to come by so it is MSD who takes the No.6 spot in the side.

Although he has played 28 matches, Dhoni has just scored 440 runs which is more a result of the position he plays rather than a fault of his batting. Testament to that is his average of over 30, even if his strike rate of 123 is lower than that of Virat Kohli. Still, he will be the wicketkeeper and captain of our side.

#7 Dwayne Bravo

Every side needs a batting all-rounder who can just come in from ball one and get hitting. Performing that role in this side is West Indies’ Dwayne Bravo. In his case, it also helps that he is a more than handy bowler, who is used predominantly at the death to curtail the runs and pick up wickets.

While Bravo’s numbers on their own aren’t as impressive as the others on this list, his contribution cannot be measured purely on the basis of overall numbers. Instead, it is through his all-round ability that we should look at him.

As a hitter down the order, there aren’t many better. As an all-rounder who can bowl four overs at all times and pick times, there aren’t many out there. As a fielder, his athletic ability and tendency to take blinders is enough to guarantee him the No.7 spot.

#8 Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi might have entered cricket as a batting all-rounder and a player who can hit sixes at will but towards the latter stages of his career he has transformed himself into not just a captain but a bowling all-rounder who almost deserves to be picked solely based on his efforts with the ball.

The fact that he is the leading wicket-taker in T20Is and is just three behind Lasith Malinga on the list of most World T20 wickets should come as proof that Afridi has transformed into a completely different cricketer to the one he started as. As far as Pakistan are concerned, that is a good thing, as he has been a consistent spinner while several others have come and gone. So he walks into the side at No.8 as the spinner who can also whack the ball out of the park.

#9 Dale Steyn

There were two main contenders for the second seamer slot. It was between Dale Steyn and Umar Gul. Although the Pakistani pacer, who has been impressive in all five previous editions may have looked like the obvious choice, Steyn makes it into the side thanks to his better economy rate when compared with Gul.

While some might have questioned his inclusion into the Proteas World T20 side, his numbers in the tournament suggest that he might not have been such a left-field suggestion after all. 29 wickets in 21 matches at an average of 17, economy rate of 6.6 and strike rate of under 16 suggest that Steyn has been lethal in the tournament and wholeheartedly deserves his place in this side.

#10 Ajantha Mendis

The fight for the leading spinner slot was between two players. Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal and Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis. Both players have had trouble with their actions but both have also been incredible at the World T20. Although the pair are level on wickets, it is Ajantha Mendis who gets the nod and here’s why.

Both players have 35 World T20 wickets but Mendis has taken them in 21 matches compared to Ajmal’s 23 and Mendis also has a better economy rate, strike rate and average. Not only that but Mendis is also the only bowler in the history of World T20s to have taken six wickets and thus holds the record for best bowling figures in the tournament as well. How Sri Lanka could use this spinner who bamboozled batsmen early in his career.

#11 Lasith Malinga

Taking the last spot on the side and leading the bowling attack is none other than the all-time leading T20 and World T20 wicket-taker, Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga. Much like his career record, his numbers in the tournament make one wonder how he does it so consistently all the time.

Although his numbers in the tournament are slightly worse than his T20I record and overall record in the format, in terms of economy rate, he has still picked up more wickets than anyone else. And as he showed on his comeback from injury, he has the tendency to bowl the yorker at will and his slower balls are so deceptive, they are incredibly hard to decipher. No wonder Sri Lanka want him fit and raring to go as they look to salvage something from what has been a miserable year of cricket so far.

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