T20 World Cup 2021: India-Pakistan best combined XI

Earlier, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had announced the India-Pakistan match for the upcoming T20 World Cup on October 24. This news was enough for the fans to wait in anticipation for a blockbuster of a clash. Due to political tension between the two nations, they meet only during the ICC events and do not play any bilateral series.

Although India has dominated the Men in Green in the T20 World Cups, they will still be wary of the threat posed by Pakistan. Over the past few years, the team has dominated in the shortest format of the game and has gone on to win games against South Africa, West Indies, England and Australia. Also for a brief while, Pakistan were ranked the number one team in the T20Is and they should have belief in beating India.

The Men in Green have players such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Imad Wasim in their ranks to trouble their arch-rival. Meanwhile, India too have many match-winners in the form of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah. So, the match should be a fascinating contest between bat and ball.

Here is the India-Pakistan combined XI for the T20 World Cup

1. Rohit Sharma

The effortless ease with which Rohit Sharma bats, makes the viewers and critics fall in love with his batting. Also, the lazy elegance with which he plays is extremely soothing to the eyes. Besides that, he also mixes caution with aggression and plays the perfect role of sheet-anchor for team India. His blazing start upfront lays the foundation for the others big-hitters to follow.

Also, when the vice-captain scores runs, India most definitely wins games. Currently, he has scored 2864 runs in 11 games at a healthy average of 32.18. Rohit Sharma’s scintillating record itself warrants a place in any team that he plays. If he gets goings with the bat, then the audience gets their money’s worth, and so does the Indian management.

2. Mohammad Rizwan

Since his comeback to the national team in 2018, Mohammad Rizwan has not looked back. The consistency at which he gets the runs is staggering, to say the least. Be it any format, Rizwan has upped his game to a different level by being fearless at the top.

But it is the T20Is that he has showed an indefatigable appetite to score runs. In the 17 T20Is this year, he has scored a jaw-dropping 752 runs at an incredible average of 94.

His free-stroking style of play will perfectly compliment Rohit Sharma at the top. Also, Rizwan can switch gears effectively in the middle. If the situation demands him to play aggressively he will play. If the team wants him to stay there till the end, he will bat accordingly.

3. Virat Kohli (c)

India skipper Virat Kohli slots in next in the lineup. Due to his vast amount of experience, he will also be the skipper of the combined India-Pakistan team. Kohli’s insane numbers and his love for chasing in the white-ball formats make him one of the best batters of the game.

Although his numbers have gone a bit in the past ten T20I innings or so, the 32-year-old is still India’s most trusted batters going around.

Not to forget he was named the player of the series in two editions of the T20 World Cup. So, Kohli will not only give it his all but also hope to finish his T20I captaincy on a high. Also, he has his good friend MS Dhoni as the mentor for the team for the global event.

4. Babar Azam

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam comes in next. The constant comparison with Kohli can even get the best of the players under pressure. But not for Babar, who goes about his business in a calm and composed manner and gets the job done. Also, he is a good player of spin and pace and tackles the best of bowlers with ease with proper cricketing shots.

The only trouble with the Pakistani skipper is his power-hitting. But with the team having Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, and Shadab Khan in the ranks, Babar can bat according to his own pace give the other hitters a chance. So far, Babar has scored 2204 at an average of 46.89. He will perfectly compliment Kohli and match him stoke to stroke.

5. Rishabh Pant (wk)

The designated wicketkeeper-batter in the team Rishabh Pant comes with the reputation of giving the ball a real whack. Also, he is an X-factor player and can change the complexion of the game in no time.

The southpaw has also evolved into a mature player and does not throw away his starts. Although his T20I numbers are not staggering, his name is enough to send the opposition team into jitters.

The 23-year-old’s audacious strokes coupled with his fearless approach in any given circumstances makes him a hot property in the T20I format. India will be hoping for some consistency from the maverick wicketkeeper-batter. And what better way than to show during the T20 World Cup.

6. Hardik Pandya

India game-changer and their best all-rounder Hardik Pandya comes in next. His unorthodox batting and his four valuable overs in the T20Is make him one of the must-haves in India. Several times Kohli has said in his interviews regarding the all-rounder’s importance in the team due to maintaining the balance.

He can strike at 150 and also provide the team the crucial breakthroughs. Pandya is the game-changer and the designated finisher for India and this combined team. Till the time he is at the crease, India has a chance of winning games from any situation.

7. Ravindra Jadeja

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has completely revamped his game in the T20Is. Once considered only a spin-bowler, Jadeja has also added power-hitting to his batting. He can now hit in the death overs and has given the team an additional option apart from Pandya. Jadeja also is one of the best fielders of the game and can easily save up runs for the team easily.

Jadeja’s four economical overs are also hard to get away from by the teams. So, he is an asset for India during the showpiece event. He has so far played 50 T20Is and picked up 39 wickets. He has only scored 217 runs, but his recent good form with the bat CSK should give India some hope.

8. Shadab Khan

Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan comes in next. Although eight is a too low a position for the leg-spinner, the quality and depth of the team is such that Shadab has come in at this position. He is also a utility player for the team. Like Jadeja, Shadab is also a complete player due to his sharp fielding skills and handy batting.

The only worry that remains is his form of late. He didn’t get wickets for the team during the white-ball series against England, and neither has his batting fired. But still, the Pakistani management has backed him due to his all-around abilities and leadership qualities. Also, the pitches in the UAE should suit his style of play. So far, he has taken 58 wickets in 53 T20Is for Pakistan.

9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

India’s most economical fast bowler and also the Swing King of the team, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the vital cog for the team in the pace bowling department. His less than six runs per over and wickets upfront help India restrict the opposition teams to below-par totals. How much the team missed him while he was injured was evident by his superb performance for India during the limited-overs series against India.

In a format where batters prefer attacking from the word go, Kumar’s four overs allow Kohli to stem the flow of runs. He has also developed himself into a good lower-order batter. If the remaining batters fail to get the team over the line, trust the right-hand bowler to maintain his cool under pressure and get the job done for his team.

10. Jasprit Bumrah

India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is the biggest asset going around for the team. His sheer pace coupled with great control form a deadly combination. Bumrah’s wicket-taking abilities have also allowed Kohli to go in five specialist bowlers in the team. Boom Boom, as he is fondly called has taken 59 wickets at an incredible strike rate of 18.91.

That tells some story and his good economy rate of 6.67 runs per over is also hard for the team to get by. In this team, he can form a potent combination with Kumar and go for wickets in the power play. Also, Kohli can use him in the death overs to limit the damage. If Bumrah takes early wickets, then the task for spinners becomes easier.

11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi is the last player in this hugely talented team. The only left-arm pacer in the team, Afridi, like Bumrah, can bowl with a great pace with good control. In his short span with the Pakistani team, the left-arm pacer has gone on to win games on his own by producing match-winning spells.

Afridi has played any previous editions of the T20 World Cups but yet he is the team as the lead pacer of the team. In 30 T20Is, the 21-year-old has picked 32 wickets at a healthy average of 27.41. The only area where Shaheen can improve on is his economy rate, which is a touch above 8 run runs over.