Most experienced World T20 2016 XI

In the early part of this century, a new format of cricket immersed as an entertaining package for the spectators. It was a conscious effort from the lawmakers of the game to enhance the credibility of the audiences towards the game as it was constantly losing the crowd support.The shortest format brought back excitement and drama with a sense of extreme swiftness. The first international T20 match was played between Australia and New Zealand in Auckland in 2005. Two years later ICC organized the inaugural World T20 in South Africa.The sixth version of the tournament is currently going on India and a total of 23 players from the top nine nations will play in the tournament who also played in the first World T20 back in 2007. These are the superstars who dominated world cricket for some time now and with tons of experience are the key weapons for their respective teams.Experience is a very important aspect of the game and with experience players in all the positions of the team makes it a very formidable side, keeping aside the factor that they all are superstars. Here is our pick of the most experiencedWorld T20 XI.

#1 Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)

Tilakratne Dilshan — Tillakaratne Dilshan in action for Sri Lanka during the recently concluded Asia Cup T20.

The right-hand opening batsman from Sri Lanka is one of the oldest players in the upcoming World T20 at the age of 39. He is also one of the most dangerous opening acts in world cricket at the moment.

For his country, Dilshan has been a consistent performer in the all the five World T20s he played till date and this time around he also has the additional responsibility of leading the young Lankan batting line up.

The record of this aggressive batsman in World T20s speaks for itself. In 31 matches he has scored 764 runs at an average of 29.38 and with a strike-rate of 124.22 with 96* being his highest score in one innings.

Dilshan is also a quite an effective part time bowler with his slow right-hand off-breaks. He is a brilliant fielder and age haven't affected his athleticism. He has 12 catches to his name in the World T20s.

#2 Chris Gayle (West Indies)

The big the Caribbean will partner the Lankan legend at the top of the order. The big Jamaican is undoubtedly one of the best batsmen of the shortest format. The right and left opening combination can prove to a lethal one considering the quality of the two players.

The 36-year-old has a lot of T20 experience as he plays in the domestic leagues all over the globe. The hard-hitting batsman likes to deal in sixes and doesn’t even bother to run when he strikes a ball from the middle of his willow.

In 23 World T20 appearances till date, the left-hand batsman has scored 807 runs at an average of 40.35 and with a strike-rate of 141.82 with 117 being his highest score. His right-arm off break bowling is also an additional weapon for his side. He has picked up 7 wickets in World T20s.

#3 AB de Villiers (South Africa)

AB is the key man for South Africa in the upcoming World T20 in India

The Proteas superstar is currently one of the best batsmen of the game, who is touted as “MR. 360 degree” by the fans. He can play shots all around the park and is also a clean hitter of the cricket ball.

The 32-year-old is the most dangerous batsman the game has ever seen with his extreme batsmanship and the ability to play in all gears. His fan following is sky high and fans expect to see him perform in each and every match he plays.

In 26 World T20 matches he has scored 607 runs at an average of 28.90 with 79* being his highest score. Apart from his batting abilities, he is also one of the best fielders in the game and can also stand behind the wicket with gloves.

He has 28 catches to his name in World T20s as he played the previous version as a wicketkeeper-batsman. At No. 3 AB can destroy any bowling line up any given day.

#4 Shane Watson (Australia)

The Australian all-rounder comes at No. 4 with his big hitting abilities. Watson is a very experienced T20 player who plays for various franchises all over the world.

The 34-year-old is a strong hitter of the ball and is particularly strong on the leg-side, any ball short of its length he never fails to punish it. In 20 World T20 matches, he has scored 441 runs at an average of 25.94 and with a strike-rate of 139.11 with 81 being his highest score.

Watson is also a decent medium pacer and has a knack of getting curtail wickets. He has picked up 17 wickets with his right-arm fast bowling at an average of 29.70 with 3/26 being his best figures.

His all-round abilities give the team an extra bit of calmness as he is a complete team man.

#5 Yuvraj Singh (India)

Yuvraj is once again the key man for India in the World T20

The “Sixer King” comes at No. 5 with his classy batting. The talented left-hand batsman is a delight to watch when he is in full flow. No cricket fan can forget his six sixes in an over against England’s Stuart Broad in the inaugural World T20 back in 2007.

One of greatest timers of the cricket ball, the 34-year-old has the talent and caliber to take any game away, on his own. In 27 World T20 matches, he has scored 541 runs at an average 25.76 and with a strike-rate of 132.59 with 70 being his highest score.

Yuvraj made a comeback to international cricket after winning his fight with cancer and established himself as an all-rounder with his left-arm slow orthodox bowling. He was adjudged as the player of the tournament in The 2011 World Cup which India went on to win for his all-round performance.

He is also an excellent fielder and has 7 catches to his name in World T20s. He is a genuine match winner who is a valuable asset to any team.

#6 MS Dhoni (India) (Captain & Wicketkeeper)

Dhoni after leading India towards inaugural World T20 title

Arguably the best finisher of the game in limited-overs format comes at No. 6 as a finisher. His big-hitting ability brought him to limelight when he entered international arena.

The 34-year-old is also the quickest behind the wicket to take the bails off apart from a safe catcher. In 28 World T20 matches, he has scored 440 runs at an average of 31.42 and with a strike-rate of 123.24. He also has 17 catches and 7 stumpings to his name.

The captain of the Indian cricket team is currently the most successful international captain playing the game with a World T20 and a World Cup title already under his belt. He is the one whom we chose as the captain of this team.

Dhoni was also the first captain to lift the World T20 trophy back in 2007 after beating Pakistan in the finals. He is the perfect man to lead this team of extraordinary cricketers.

#7 Dwayne Bravo (West Indies)

Bravo will [play his sixth World T20 in India

The Caribbean all-rounder is the next man to follow the captain with his hard-hitting abilities. His all-round aspect to the game makes him a very important player of the side.

With the bat in 23 World T20 matches, he has scored 441 runs with an average of 25.94 and with a strike-rate of 136.11. 66* is his highest individual score in World T20s to date.

With the ball, he has picked up 16 wickets with an average of 28.43 with 4/38 being his best figures. He is also a brilliant fielder and already has 11 catches to his name.

#8 Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)

Shakib is Bangladesh’s highest wicket taker in World T20s

The Bangladesh all-rounder is currently one of the best all-rounders around and he comes at No. 8. The 28-year-old is a definite match winner.

In 21 World T20 matches the left-hand batsman has scored 460 runs with an average of 27.05 and with a strike-rate of 129.94 with 84 being his highest score. His batting ability makes any team very strong.

The left-arm orthodox bowler has picked up 26 wickets in World T20s with an average of 17.84 with 4/15 being his best haul. His economy-rate in the World T20s is an astonishing 6.42 as he is a premium bowler for any side, especially in sub-continental conditions.

#9 Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Afridi will lead Pakistan in the WOrld T20 in India

Another balling all-rounder makes our XI, this time, the Pakistan captain. The 36-year-old is undoubtedly the most exciting cricket around to watch.

The “Boom Boom” man is one of the hardest and the biggest hitters of the cricket ball. In 30 World T20 matches the right-hand batsman has scored 456 runs with an average of 18.24 and with a strike-rate of 149.50 with 54* being his highest score.

With the ball in hand, he is a masterful bowler with his right-arm leg break. He has picked up 35 wickets in World T20s with an average of 22.51 with 4/11 being his best haul. He has also been a very economical bowler with an economy rate of 6.62.

#10 Mashrafe Mortaza (Bangladesh)

Mortaza has been instrumental in Bangladesh’s recent success

The Bangladesh captain is our pick as the one of the two opening fast bowlers. The 32-year-old has been the part of the Bangladeshi team throughout all the World T20s.

His right arm fast-medium bowling is instrumental in Bangladesh’s recent successes. In 19 World T20 matches, he has picked up 12 wickets with an average of 42.33 and a strike-rate of 32.3. He has also been quite economical as his economy-rate is 7.85.

Apart from his bowling, he is a decent batsman to have down the order as he can hit the ball a long way. He has scored 140 runs in World T20s with the highest of 33*.

#11 Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)

Malinga is World T20s highest ever wicket taker

Arguably the best fast bowler of the shortest format is the one who will share the ball with the Bangladesh captain. The 32-year-old has the deadliest Yorker in his armory and is lethal in the death overs.

In 31 World T20 matches, he has picked up 38 wickets with an average of 20.07 and a strike-rate of 16.2. His best performance being 5/31 and his economy-rate being 7.43.

He is the spearhead o the team and is also the main strike bowler to give early breakthroughs. His death bowling is also a key weapon for his team. He is also the highest wicket-taker in the history of World T20s.

12th man: Anyone among this talented group of individuals of Shoaib Malik, JP Duminy, Denesh Ramdin, Harbhajan Singh and Mohammad Hafeez.