T20 World Cup: India's all-time best XI

The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup will be played in the West Indies. India, who won the inaugural T20 World Cup held in South Africa, will look to clinch the coveted trophy and quench their thirst for the title. After 2007, the Men in Blue came close to winning the trophy again in 2014, qualifying for the final. However, Sri Lanka held their nerves on the big day and shattered India’s dreams. In 2024, their endeavours will be to showcase their best under Rohit Sharma and lift the trophy again. Indian cricket team supporters witnessed a lot of spectacular performances in eight editions of the ICC tournament and now, it’s essential to handpick the best players and prepare India’s best XI of all time. Here's India’s all-time best XI in T20I World Cup history: 1. Rohit Sharma Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: BCCI) Rohit Sharma will be seen captaining the side in the 2024 World Cup. The stylish right-handed batter has been a part of India’s every T20 World Cup campaign. In the 2022 edition of the tournament, he captained the team and under his leadership, India ended their journey in the semi-final. Rohit has played the most games for India in the marquee T20 tournament and is also the second-leading run-getter for the nation. The veteran has played 39 matches and has scored 963 runs in 36 innings at a strike rate of 127.88. Back in 2007, when India beat Pakistan in the final by five runs, Rohit contributed to the team with his valuable unbeaten innings of 30 runs off just 16 deliveries. Also check: Rohit Sharma's T20I century list 2. Gautam Gambhir Gautam Gambhir. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Gautam Gambhir appeared in the first four editions of the T20 World Cup. He scored 524 runs in 21 matches of the tournament at a strike rate of 118.01. In the famous 2007 victory, the southpaw played an instrumental role with his bat. Racking up 227 runs with three fifties in six innings of seven matches, he ended up as the second-leading run-scorer in the competition. In the huge final against the arch-rivals Pakistan, he held his nerves and played a 75-run knock off 54 deliveries. Riding on his spunky innings, India put up a fighting total of 157 on the board. He is also considered the unsung hero of India’s remarkable title win. 3. Suresh Raina Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina. (Photo Source: AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images) Suresh Raina played for India from 2005 to 2018 and during those 13 years, he showed up in five T20 World Cup editions and amassed 453 runs in 21 innings of 26 matches at a strike rate of 130.17. In the 2010 installment of the tournament in the West Indies, he became the first Indian and the third international player to smash a ton in cricket’s shortest format. Playing the group match against South Africa in St Lucia, he played an incredible 101-run knock off just 60 deliveries and broke into record books. He also received the Player of the Match award after the game for guiding the team to a 14-run win with his innings. It was a forgettable competition for Team India as they failed to reach the knockouts but Raina looked decent with his bat. With 219 runs in five games at a strike rate of 146.00, he was the highest run-scorer for the team. 4. Virat Kohli Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Along with Rohit, Virat Kohli will also feature in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad. The batting maestro has featured in five T20 World Cup editions, thus far and is the highest run-getter in this distinguished T20 tournament. The veteran has chalked up 1141 runs with 14 fifties in 27 matches. In 2014, India couldn’t win the trophy, losing to Sri Lanka in the final but Virat brought cheers to the faces of Team India supporters with his scintillating batting performances. With 319 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 129.14, he ended up as the leading run-scorer in the competition and became the recipient of the Player of the Series award. Also check: Virat Kohli's T20I century list 5. Yuvraj Singh Yuvraj Singh. (Photo Source: ICC) Yuvraj Singh made a vital contribution to India’s triumph in the maiden T20 World Cup edition in 2007. In the do-or-die game against England in Durban, he helped India register an 18-run win with his 12-ball half-century. Yuvraj’s audacious fifty was the fastest T20I half-century until 2023. He continued his brilliant form with the bat against Australia in the semi-final at the same ground. This time, he took Australia’s formidable bowling unit to the cleaners. Taking on the Aussie bowling line-up that consisted of Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, and Andrew Symonds, he scored 70 off just 30. His knock guided the Men in Blue to a 15-run victory in the end. 6. MS Dhoni (Captain & Wicketkeeper) 2007 World Cup Jersey. (Photo Source: Twitter) MS Dhoni-led India for six T20 World Cup editions. Back in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, the first-time captain Dhoni guided India to a trophy win and proved his leadership skills. Following this massive achievement, Dhoni’s leadership qualities were hailed and he was also appointed India’s captain in white-ball cricket. Talking about his overall T20 World Cup record, the star player scored 529 runs in 29 innings of 33 matches at a strike rate of 123.88. Dhoni is given credit for some of his excellent decisions made for the side in the 2007 T20 World Cup. His fans often appreciate him for handing the ball to Joginder Sharma in the last over of the competition’s final against Pakistan. 7. Irfan Pathan Irfan Pathan. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images) Irfan Pathan was a key bowler for India in the maiden T20 World Cup. In the final against Pakistan, Irfan’s bowling efforts helped India snatch the game from the Men in Green by five runs. In his four-over spell, he grabbed the prized scalps of Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi with his disciplined fast bowling and became the Player of the Match. The speedster recorded exceptional numbers at the end of the competition, picking up 10 wickets in seven matches at a thrifty economy of 6.77. From 2007 to 2012, Irfan featured in three installments of the T20I tournament and took 16 wickets in 15 matches at a fine economy of 7.46. 8. Ravichandran Ashwin Ravi Ashwin. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) In the 2014 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, Virat Kohli looked sensational and reinforced India’s batting department while Ravichandran Ashwin bolstered India’s spin-bowling unit. Taking advantage of spin-friendly conditions, he bagged 11 wickets in six games at a frugal economy of 5.35. Appearing in the knockout contest against South Africa at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium, he made the Protea batters dance to his tunes. He picked up Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, and AB de Villiers, splurging only 22 runs in his four overs. Ashwin hasn’t announced his retirement from T20Is but he might not feature in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad as selectors haven’t given him a chance in T20Is after his 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final match against England. Discussing the veteran’s overall record in the illustrious T20I tournament, he is the highest wicket-taker for the Men in Blue with 32 scalps in 24 matches at an economy of 6.49. 9. Amit Mishra Amit Mishra. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Amit Mishra played in the 2014 T20 World Cup for India and he displayed his efficiency with the ball. The leg-break bowler complemented Ashwin in the competition and delivered effective numbers to the team. He racked up 10 wickets in six games at an economy of 6.68 and ended up as the third-leading wicket-taker. Against quality sides Pakistan, Australia, and the West Indies, he bowled economical and wicket-taking spells to help the team hammer the opponents comfortably. The leggie’s best came in the group match against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium. His bowling effort (3/26 in four overs) helped the Men in Blue thump the hosts with eight wickets in hand. 10. RP Singh RP Singh. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) RP Singh is remembered for his bowling mettle in the 2007 T20 World Cup. In India’s impressive trophy triumph, the paceman put up impressive shows with the ball. Notching up 12 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 6.33, he ended up as the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the competition, along with Australia’s Stuart Clark. He exhibited his courageous side with the ball against South Africa in Durban. In the do-or-die contest, India were required to save their total of 153 and also restrict the Proteas before 126. RP stepped up with the ball and took match-winning 4/13 figures in his four overs. The pacer also held his nerves against Pakistan in the final. Along with Irfan Pathan, he also took a three-wicket haul to guide India to a close five-run win over Shoaib Malik and his men. 11. Ashish Nehra Ashish Nehra. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Ashish Nehra played his maiden T20 World Cup edition in 2010 played in West Indies. Along with Zaheer Khan, Nehra’s experience was crucial for India in the competition. The Men in Blue couldn't live up to the expectations but Nehra looked confident with the ball. In India’s 14-run win against the Proteas in the group round, the speedster delivered an economical spell (1/27 in four overs) to the team Against Australia, India faced an embarrassing 49-run defeat but Nehra looked superb with the ball, picking up 2/32 figures in four overs. After the 2010 T20 World Cup, he represented India again in the 2016 edition of the tournament. Nehra added 15 wickets to his profile in 10 matches of the T20 World Cup.

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T20 World Cup: India's all-time best XI

Indian team supporters witnessed a lot of quality performances in the eight editions of the tournament and now it’s essential to handpick the best players and prepare India’s best XI of all-time.

11. Ashish Nehra

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