Best XI from all T20 leagues combined

The boom of T20 cricket in the early 2000s has filled the game with more entertainment. Even as the audience remains glued to their TV sets, anticipating special things, the players are also attracted to the shortest format. Even as the batsmen were expected to dominate, the bowlers also have had their say. There’s been cut throat competition and the world has witnessed some riveting matches. Most countries also kept coming up with their domestic T20 leagues. Even as the Indian Premier League is deemed to be the most popular, the other events aren’t far behind by any means. As the years progressed, the leagues gave birth to some prodigious talents, who have gone on to become some of the biggest names in T20s. While a few has retired, some of them are still carrying on. In the article, let’s take a look at the most prolific XI from T20 leagues: – 1. Chris Gayle- APL, BPL, CPL, MSL, PSL, IPL, BBL, T20 Blast, Zimbabwe T20s Chris Gayle. (Photo Source: Twitter) Chris Gayle’s numbers in the T20 format speak for themselves. Due to his effortless ability of clearing the boundary, the Jamaican left-hander has been a hot prospect in leagues around the globe. Even at the age of 40, oppositions won’t even dare to be complacent against the hulk-like batsman. Having smashed 978 sixes with as many as 22 tons, the ‘Universe Boss’ has mauled bowling attacks for nearly 15 years now. His 175* against Pune Warriors in the 2013 edition of the IPL still remains to be highest individual T20 score. He is also the all-time highest T20 run-scorer with over 13,000 runs. 2. Rohit Sharma (C)- IPL Rohit Sharma. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS) Rohit Sharma may only be playing in the IPL, but the figures he has racked up thus far aren’t meek my any means. Ever since he took over as Mumbai Indians’ skipper, both his and the franchise’s fortunes turned around. From 2013 onwards, the Nagpur-born has led the IPL team to four titles. MI is presently the most successful team in the T20 league. Captaincy hasn’t affected his batting by any means. In 328 matches, Rohit has over 8,600 runs with six tons and 60 half-centuries. It’s been 13 years since he’s plying trade in the format and is expected to wield more magic in the future. 3. Brendon McCullum- BBL, Super Smash, IPL, T20 Blast, APL, PSL, BPL, CPL Brendon McCullum. ( Photo by Subhendu Ghosh/ Hindustan Times via Getty Images) Brendon McCullum would’ve been a tad dejected after ending with 9,922 T20 runs in 370 matches, 78 runs short of the 10,000-run mark. But that doesn’t undermine his achievements for over 14 years. In August 2019, the New Zealander bid adieu to the format and has left a rich legacy behind. Back in 2008, he lit up the IPL, smashing a ton in the inaugural game, representing the Kolkata Knight Riders. Having notched seven fifties and 55 tons, Baz, as he’s known, liked dictating terms. McCullum was a kind of batsmen, who even charged down to fast bowlers and hit them in front of square. 4. AB de Villiers- CPL, BBL, IPL, PSL, T20 Blast, BPL, MSL AB de Villiers of Middlesex. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images) AB de Villiers has been a clinical batter in the middle-order without a doubt. The strike-rate of 149.77 is a testament to his potential of scoring runs in the format at will. Most importantly, he knows how to score runs all around the park, an attribute that earned him the tag of Mr 360 degree. Previously, he mostly used to play in the IPL, but after he retired from the highest level, ABD has been trying his luck out around the world. In 310 matches, the Pretoria-born has 8,657 runs at an average of 37.15. Even at the age of 36 when De Villiers hits his straps, there’s no stopping him. 5. Shoaib Malik- CPL, BPL, IPL, BBL, PSL, MSL Shoaib Malik. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images) Shoaib Malik has been a prudent reader of the game, a quality that has earned him a significant amount of success in T20s. He doesn’t play the booming shots, but manages to accumulate runs without dropping much sweat. Malik has 9,892 runs in 386 games with 61 fifties to his name. Age hasn’t affected his performance on the field. Last year, he led the Guyana Amazon Warriors to 10 wins on the trot before missing out in the final. With his slow off-breaks, the 38-year-old Sialkot-born hasn’t been a pushover either as he has 147 wickets to his credits with a couple of five-wicket hauls. 6. Shakib Al Hasan- BBL, CPL, BPL, PSL, IPL, T20 Blast Shakib Al Hasan. (Photo Source: Twitter) Shakib Al Hasan, statistically Bangladesh’s greatest ever cricketer, has weaved magic around the world. The Magura-born tweaker has 354 wickets in 308 matches with best figures of 6/6, which he got playing for the Barbados Tridents in the CPL. The economy of 6.89 isn’t meek by any means. Shakib’s talent with the bat has given opponents headaches as well. With 4,970 runs under his belt with 19 fifties, he has played a number of knocks at crucial junctures. Though he’s serving a suspension from ICC, it’s a matter of time before he stamps his authority, keeping in mind his class. 7. Kieron Pollard- BBL, CPL, BPL, PSL, IPL, T20 Blast Kieron Pollard of Trinbago Knight Riders. (Photo by Randy Brooks – CPL T20/Getty Images) Kieron Pollard recently became the second after Chris Gayle to notch 10,000 runs in the T20 format. The Trinidadian has also played 501 T20s, the most by any player. He also knows how to see his team through to victory as he has stayed unbeaten in 126 out of the 450 innings he has batted in. Pollard is nearing 33 and is speculated to take down quite a few records. He may also go on and surpass Gayle’s tally of 13,296. The West Indies’ T20 and ODI skipper isn’t the worst of bowlers either. The medium pacer has 279 wickets at an economy of 8.20 with six four-wicket hauls. 8. Shahid Afridi- BPL, IPL, T20 Blast, PSL, BBL, Sri Lanka T20s, CPL Shahid Afridi. (Photo by ARIF ALI/AFP via Getty Images) Shahid Afridi retired from international cricket in May 2018, but has been going great guns in the T20 format. He has turned 40 and recently played in the PSL and the BPL. Afridi’s USP has been his fearless approach and the veteran has garnered loads of success both with the bat and ball in hand. In 317 matches, he managed 4,310 runs with a century and nine fifties. With his leg-breaks, the Khyber Agency-born has picked up 339 wickets at an economy of 6.71. The fact that he bowled 17 maidens in his career shows the level of accuracy he churned out being under severe pressure. 9. Dwayne Bravo- IPL, BPL, T20 Blast, PSL, BBL, MS, CPL Dwayne Bravo of Trinbago Knight Riders. (Photo by Randy Brooks – CPL T20 via Getty Images) Dwayne Bravo is currently the all-time highest wicket-taker in the T20 format with 497 scalps. Recently, he made his comeback in the Caribbean team after initially retiring back in October 2018. Since 2006, the all-rounder has plied his trade across the globe and still remains to be a key player. Though he has an expensive economy of 8.24, that he gets wickets at the death makes him a useful prospect. The 36-year-old hasn’t let his teams down even with the bat in hand. Mostly batting lower down the order, the right-hander has racked up 6,307 runs at an average of 23.89 with 20 fifties. 10. Sunil Narine- BPL, CPL, PSL, BBL, IPL Sunil Narine. (Photo Source: Twitter) Sunil Narine put himself forth as a force to reckon with due to the variations he has. In the first-half of his career, he hardly allowed batters to get under his skin. But then he has been reported for suspect actions many times. However, that hasn’t got him on his knees, as he has continued to bowl well. Having picked 379 wickets in 336 matches, he has bowled the most maidens (23) in the T20 format. The economy rate of 6.02 is outstanding as well. Moreover, in the last three years or so, Narine has developed himself into more than a decent batter. With 2,241 runs, he already has six half-centuries. 11. Lasith Malinga- CPL, Sri Lanka T20s, T20 Blast, BPL, BBL, IPL Lasith Malinga. (Photo: IANS) Lasith Malinga’s deadly yorkers have sent plenty of stumps for a toss over the course of his glorious career. Back in 2019, at the age of 36, the Sri Lankan pacer picked wickets in four consecutive deliveries against New Zealand. His slower deliveries are also deceptive and batters have fallen prey. In 295 T20s from 2004 to 2020, Malinga has 390 wickets with 10 four-wicket hauls and five fifers. It isn’t a surprise that he is a captain’s go-to-bowler in critical situations. Having picked 170 wickets in 122 matches, the Galle-born is also the leading wicket-taker in the cash-rich and prestigious IPL.

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Best XI from all T20 leagues combined

These players are good enough to destroy any opposition single-handedly.

9. Dwayne Bravo- IPL, BPL, T20 Blast, PSL, BBL, MS, CPL

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