After winning the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, India came close in 2014 and 2016, making it to the final two and final four respectively – here’s a look at their all-time T20 World Cup XI.

Rohit Sharma

Matches: 28, Runs: 673, Average: 39.58, SR: 127.22, 50s: 6

Rohit Sharma’s T20 World Cup batting career began with a Player of the Match award for his unbeaten 50* against South Africa in the crucial group clash of the 2007 event. Since then, Rohit has managed five other half-centuries, all of them from the top of the order.

Gautam Gambhir

Matches: 21, Runs: 524, Average: 26.20, SR: 118.01, 50s: 4

Gambhir is the fifth-highest run getter for India in the T20 World Cup. His most important knock came in the 2007 T20 World Cup final where he made 75 in India’s total of 157. He edges Virender Sehwag and Shikhar Dhawan to the XI based on his record in the ICC event.

 

Virat Kohli

Matches: 16, Runs: 777, Average: 86.3, SR: 133.04, 50s: 9

Kohli had an outstanding run in the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups, finishing as the highest and second-highest run-scorer respectively in the two events. He walks into the XI at No.3 for India.

Suresh Raina

Matches: 26, Runs: 453, Average: 25.16, SR: 130.17, 100s: 1, 50s: 1, Wickets: 5

India’s first and only centurion in the T20 World Cup, Raina has a compelling case to be in India’s all-time T20I XI as well. A strike-rate of over 130 after making over 450 runs in the tournament, Raina is a complete package with his electrifying fielding and part-time off-spin.

Yuvraj Singh

Matches: 31, Runs: 593, Average: 23.72, SR: 128.91, 50s: 4, Wickets: 12

India’s best and worst memories in the T20 World Cup are associated with Yuvraj: if his six sixes in an over off Stuart Broad in 2007 drew Indian fans to the format, his struggle in the 2014 final against Sri Lanka arguably cost India the game. Nevertheless, Yuvraj is one of the first names on this team sheet based on his overall record.

MS Dhoni (C)

Matches: 33, Runs: 529, Average: 35.26, SR: 123.88, Catches: 21, Stumpings: 11

MS Dhoni’s T20 numbers aren’t all that great, but he is the only one to have kept wickets for India in the tournament’s history. With Dhoni in the XI, we might as well use his captaincy too.

Irfan Pathan

Matches: 15, Wickets: 16, Average: 20.06, Economy: 7.46, Runs: 86, Bat SR: 116.21

Irfan Pathan is India’s third-highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup and is a more than handy batsman to have at No.7. He edges out his brother, Yusuf Pathan from the XI and is the best bet to take the new ball in this team.

R Ashwin

Matches: 15, Wickets: 20, Average: 16.7, Economy: 6.18, Best: 4-11

Ashwin is India’s leading wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup and has a stunning economy rate of 6.18 in the event. The off-spinner might not be in India’s limited-overs plans currently, but makes it to this XI fairly easily.

Ashish Nehra

Matches: 10, Wickets: 15, Average: 17.9, Economy: 6.89, Best: 3-19

Nehra took eight wickets in three matches in the 2010 T20 World Cup, including two three-wicket hauls in his first two appearances. He never went wicketless in his 10 T20 World Cup games and has an economy rate of under seven in the tournament.

RP Singh

Matches: 9, Wickets: 14, Average: 13.28, Economy: 6.41, Best: 4-13

RP Singh produced one of India’s best bowling performances in T20 World Cups when he picked up 4-13 in the group game against South Africa in the 2007 T20 World Cup. His overall average and economy rate in the tournament is quite impressive and he makes it to this XI ahead of players like Zaheer Khan, Jasprit Bumrah and S Sreesanth.

Amit Mishra

Matches: 6, Wickets: 10, Average: 14.7, Economy: 6.68, Best: 3-26

The 2014 T20 World Cup was dominated by spinners and Amit Mishra was a standout one for India, picking up 10 wickets in six matches at an economy rate of 6.68. The leg-spinner will complement Ashwin in this XI.

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