Team India’s All-Time Playing XI In T20 World Cups

Team India won its first T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007. Since then the men in blue have performed relatively well in the shorter format. Team India has had a reputation for producing match-winners in T20 World Cups. In this piece, we discuss eleven players who have produced some brilliant performances in T20 World Cup history. These players possessed different skill sets depending on their technique and temperament but they stepped up for the team when required. We take a look at India’s all-time playing XI in T20 World Cup history.

1 Rohit Sharma-

The India skipper is known for his effortless and elegant strokeplay. The 36-year-old’s batting is all about timing and placement. The right hander has scored 963 runs in 36 innings scoring 9 half centuries with a highest score of an unbeaten 79 and a strike rate of 127.88. He played a crucial knock of 30 in 16 balls against Pakistan in the final of the 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa helping India beat Pakistan by 5 runs.

2 Gautam Gambhir-

The former left-hander was a fine-timer and batted with aggression. The 42 year old scored 524 runs in 21 T20 World Cup games with a strike rate of 118.01. He scored 227 runs in 7 games during the 2007 edition and also played a fine knock of 75 in 54 balls against Pakistan in the final.

3 Suresh Raina-

Suresh Raina has been a part of five T20 World Cup editions. The former left-hander scored 453 runs in 26 T20 World Cup matches with a strike rate of 130.17. One of his best knocks in a T20 World Cup came against South Africa in West Indies when he scored 101 in 60 balls helping India win the game by 14 runs and became only the third international player to score a T20 century.. Raina could accelerate the scoring when needed.

4 Virat Kohli-

“King Kohli” as he is fondly called is arguably one of the best batters who can adapt to any format. The right-hander has so far played in five T20 World Cup editions scoring 1141 runs in 27 matches registering 14 half centuries with a highest score of an unbeaten 89. He scored 319 runs during the 2014 edition in Bangladesh with a strike rate of 129.14.

5 Yuvraj Singh-

Arguably one of the best T20 & limited overs batters India has ever produced, Yuvraj Singh will be remembered for his match-winning performances for team India during the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 limited overs World Cup. The former left-hander’s six sixes off Stuart Broad during the 2007 World Cup was simply amazing. His 70 off 30 balls against Australia in the semi-final of the 2007 T20 World Cup was another brilliant inning. He scored 593 runs in 28 T20 World Cup innings.

6 MS Dhoni-

Arguably India’s most successful skippers and finishers in ODI & T20I formats. The former India wicketkeeper batter played some sensational knocks in T20 World Cup history. The 42-year-old scored 529 runs in 33 T20 World Cup games with a strike rate of 123.88. Under his captaincy, India won the 2007 T20 World Cup.

7 Irfan Pathan-

The former India left-arm pacer could swing the ball both ways and outfoxed the batters with his slower ones. The 39-year-old played a key role in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup win as he claimed 10 wickets in 7 games in that tournament claiming crucial wickets of Shahid Afridi, and Shoaib Malik in the final. He played in three World Cup editions claiming 16 wickets in 15 games in his T20 World Cup career.

8 Ravichandran Ashwin-

Ashwin will be remembered as one of the best Indian spinners in all three formats. The 37-year-old can outfox the batters with his clever length, flight and variations. During the 2014 T20 World Cup, he took 11 wickets in 6 games. He has claimed 32 wickets in 24 T20 World Cup matches with an economy rate of 6.49.

9 Ravindra Jadeja-

“Sir Jadeja” as he is fondly called has showcased his wicket-taking abilities during crunch situations. He can surprise the batters with his faster ones and clever arm balls. The 36 year old has claimed 21 wickets in 22 World Cup games with best figures of 3/15 and an economy rate of 7.15.

10 Ashish Nehra-

The 46-year-old former India pacer could swing the ball both ways and could surprise the batters with his quick yorker-length deliveries. He bowled decently during the 2010 T20 World Cup but India couldn’t make it to the semi-finals. Nehra claimed 15 wickets in 10 games in his T20 World Cup career with an economy rate of 6.90 and best bowling figures of 3/19.

11 Harbhajan Singh-

The 43-year-old former India off-spinner has produced some of the finest bowling performances in all three formats. Harbhajan played his part during India’s 2007 T20 World Cup win. He played in three T20 World Cup editions claiming 16 wickets with best bowling figures of 4/12 with an economy rate of 6.78.