ICC World T20 2016: India vs Pakistan – Combined T20I XI

India started off their ICC World T20 campaign against New Zealand on 15 March with a loss after winning the Asia Cup T20 2016 on the contrary side, Pakistan have won their first match of ICC World T20 2016 against Bangladesh at Kolkata by 55 runs on March 16, 2016. The match between India and Pakistan will be played at Kolkata on March 16, 2016 and it will be a do or die situation for India and if India loses this match then they will be out of the World T20 2016 and if Pakistan loses this match then it will be tough for them to bounce back so both team would like to win and therefore, this will be a mouth-watering clash. With great players on either side, let us see what the India-Pakistan combined T20 XI might look like. 1. Rohit Sharma Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma. (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images) Rohit Sharma is a player who can play the anchor role as well as provide quick starts if need and he has proved that many times and so that we can call him a big game player for India. He can play a wide range of strokes against any opposition, on any ground and in any condition and can bat with fearless attitude on his day. Over the last few years, Rohit Sharma has turned into one of the finest and most consistent openers in limited overs cricket and his records tell us that. He has scored 342 runs in this year in T20Is and he is one of the four Indians who have scored over 1000 runs in T20Is. Rohit Sharma’s specialty as a player is his consistency in limited overs format and that makes him an important player for India. 2. Ahmed Shehzad Ahmed Shehzad. (Photo Source: AFP) While it is true that Shikhar Dhawan had some highs and lows in the last month or so, especially in the T20 format of the game, his overall record is proof that he still has some way to go before coming close to his opening partner. And that is why Pakistan’s opener Ahmed Shehzad gets the nod over him for the other opening slot after he made a solid fifty against Bangladesh in World T20 in Pakistan’s first match at Kolkata. However, an average of 25.46 and a strike rate of 116.48 doesn’t really reflect what Shehzad is capable of but he has provided Pakistan many times a good start on which they can build their innings. 3. Virat Kohli India’s Virat Kohli. (Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images) Virat Kohli is known as India’s Mr.dependable across all formats of the game and there is no doubt about that. According to the latest rankings, he’s the world’s second best T20I batsman. Kohli’s average of 51.51 is simply ridiculous and when you note that those runs have come at a decent strike rate of over 131 you know that you are in the presence of a special player.Amongst current players, nobody averages more than his 50 in T20I cricket barring Virat Kohli. He scored 375 runs in 8 innings at an average of 93.75 in this year in T20Is. India were runners-up in ICC World T20 2014 This time, he would want to make sure he guides India to the title and win the one trophy he hasn’t won as an Indian player. 4. Mohammad Hafeez Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images) The Professor walks into the India-Pakistan combined T20I XI team without any doubt and on any day. He is currently sixth leading run-scorer in T20Is and second leading run-scorer for Pakistan in T20Is. He does not bowl now-a-days but what he can do with the bat that we have seen from him in the first match against Bangladesh where he made 64 runs from 42 balls at Kolkata. He brings his valuable experience into play whenever he takes guard for Pakistan in any format. He may not have all the big shots in his armory but his ability to find the gap and hit inside-out shots is one thing he has going for him. This might be his last T20 World Cup for Pakistan and he would like to bring it on and help Pakistan to achieve one more T20 World Cup title. 5. Suresh Raina (Photo Source: BCB) Being dropped out of the Indian ODI squad would have disappointed Suresh Raina, however, his inclusion in the T20I squad was just reward for his impressive performances in the format so far and he has proved that by playing match winning against Australia in third T20I on January 31, 2016 when he scored 49 runs from 25 balls but since then his bat is silent but he bowled well in the first game against New Zealand at Nagpur in ICC World T20 2016. He gives depth to Indian bowling and add more stability to Indian top-heavy batting attack and his fielding skills have never been questioned. India will be hoping that Raina will come back into his form in the game against Pakistan at Kolkata to justify his selection in the team and if he does that then it will be good for India. 6. Shoaib Malik Shoaib Malik of Pakistan. (Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP/Getty Images) An experienced all-rounder from Pakistan will make it to combined T20 XI straight away because of his hard-hitting abilities and playing a part as a spinner in a line up. Malik is a very experienced T20 player who plays for various franchises all over the world. He has not scored many runs in 2016 but he can be effective in pressure situations and he has proved himself many time against India by scoring important runs. His all-round abilities give the team an extra bit of calmness as he is a complete team man. With a point to prove, Malik’s determination to perform well and his experience will be beneficial to the Indian side. 7. MS Dhoni (C&WK) India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. (Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images) At No.7, captaining and keeping for the side is none other than MS Dhoni, however, Sarfraz Ahmed is a good keeper, when it comes to T20Is, Dhoni is arguably the best wicketkeeper-batsman there is. If the intent that MS Dhoni showed during Asia Cup T20 with the bat was a sign of his fearless approach in the shorter format, we can expect to see some fireworks from the bat of the 34-year-old from Jharkhand. He attacked every ball trying to score a boundary off it and helped India to win the Asia Cup T20 2016. This T20 World Cup 2016 might be last for him and he will be looking to sign off his international career on a high note leading his side to title if possible. He has not yet scored a fifty in T20I format but his six-hitting ability and his running between the wickets make him an invaluable asset at the death overs, where he more often than not, comes out on top. 8. Shahid Afridi Pakistan’s captain Shahid Afridi. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images) These days, he can be seen as a specialist bowler but he proved in the last match against Bangladesh that he has still left some batting power in him and his 49 runs from 19 balls is a proof of it. He also took two wickets that day. In T20Is, there is not another player who has picked up more wickets than him. With 95 wickets in 93 innings, he is the leading wicket-taker in T20Is, but that is not all because he is a wicket away to become highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup. He is a genuine match winner who is a valuable asset to any team.Afridi played a vital role in Pakistan’s victory in the 2009 edition of the World T20. 9. Ravichandran Ashwin Indian cricketer Ravichandran. (Photo by Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images) If there is one spinner any team should have in their side in subcontinent conditions, it is Ravichandran Ashwin. Ravi Ashwin has picked 18 wickets from 11 T20I matches in 2016. He is one of the biggest threats to opposition batsmen on the slow Indian pitches as he makes very good use of the conditions. He had an average game against New Zealand as he picked up only one wicket and gave away 32 runs from hi 4 overs. If Virat Kohli is the backbone of Indian batting then Ravi Ashwin is the backbone of India’s bowling. He will lead Indian bowling attack and India will be depended on him to win this World T20 of 2016. 10. Mohammad Amir Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images) Mohammad Amir has been sensational for Pakistan cricket since his comeback. He has taken most wickets for Pakistan in T20Is in 2016. He has taken 10 wickets from 8 T20I matches this year. Who can forget his performance against U.A.E. in Asia Cup T20 2016 where he created a record dot balls bowled by a bowler in an innings of a T20I match. Pakistan will hope that he will continue his ability to take wickets at crucial times for Pakistan and it can take Pakistan cricket forward. In T20Is, he has taken 33 wickets from 26 matches under an economy rate of 7 and that shows us his value as a bowler in the Pakistan’s team. 11. Jasprit Bumrah India’s Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images) JapritBumrah has taken at least a wicket in every match that he has played for India since his debut. The 22-year-old from Gujarat an opportunity to show his abilities in the international circuit due to injuries to frontline pacers of India in the ODI series against Australia. And add to that, all the things are setting up nicely for the youngster as he seems set to take on the mantle of becoming one of India’s main bowlers. In conditions that he has been used to, Bumrah will hope to perform well with the ball in this World Cup. His ability to bowl yorkers in the death overs makes him an invaluable asset for the Indian squad, as that is a feature that has been missing in most Indian pace bowlers.

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