Strongest T20 XI Of All Time
The evolution of T20 cricket has helped players adapt the game in a short time. The T20 cricket has come into existence in the early 2000's with English board proposing it in the domestic circuit. The first International T20 game was between New Zealand and England's women team in 2004.
The first men's T20I match held in 2005 was a huge success and led to many such international games. Its charisma, however, was known after the inaugural ICC World cup held in 2007. Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led young Indian side won the first ever ICC T20 World Cup.
The success of the first ever T20 World cup led to the invention of the franchise leagues like Big Bash and IPL. West Indies is the country to have mostly benefitted from the T20 cricket as they produced some great T20 players to the World cricket. West Indies won the ICC T20 World cup twice in 2012 and 2016 and are the only team to do so.
Some players like Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, and Chris Lynn have excelled in the T20s and play most of the franchise leagues. Let us look at Unbeatable T20 XI of all time.
#1 Chris Gayle: ( West Indies ).
The Universal boss who made his T20 debut against New Zealand in 2006 is one of the greatest legends T20 cricket has ever seen. Gayle is the only player to score more than 10,000 in this form of the game. Chris Gayle currently holds the record for the highest individual score in T20s scoring 175 runs against Pune Warriors India in 2013. His presence will make the opponents scary as he is known to play some destructive innings at the top.
The Universal Boss who made his T20 debut against New Zealand in 2006 is one of the greatest legends T20 cricket has ever seen. Gayle was the recipient of the Orange Cap in 2011 and 2012, scoring 608 and 733 runs respectively.
Matches- 56, Runs- 1607, Average- 33.48, Highest Score- 117
#2 Brendon McCullum: ( New Zealand ).
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The New Zealand batsman, who is known for his aggressive batting, has scored 2140 runs at an average of 35.67. The former skipper made his T20 debut against Australia in 2005. He was also a part of 5 franchises in the Indian Premier League. Mccullum has scored 2880 runs in his IPL career and is still a part of the IPL. His presence along with Chris Gayle at the top will be a treat to watch.
Matches- 71, Runs- 2140, Average- 35.67, Highest Score- 123.
#3 Suresh Raina: ( Indiia
The left-handed batsman who made his T20I debut against South Africa in 2006 has represented India in 78 games. Raina is the highest scorer in the IPL scoring runs consistently.
Raina is fondly known as Chinna Thala and is known for his brilliance with the bat in the lavish league. In his 78 T20Is, Raina scored 1604 runs at an average of 29.16. Suresh Raina at No.3 is the best option a team can have with the experience he brings in.
Matches- 78, Runs- 1604, Average- 29.16, Highest Score- 101.
#4 Virat Kohli: ( India ).
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The Indian Skipper who made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in 2010 has represented India in 62 T20I games. He is part of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League and is currently the second highest scorer scoring 4948 runs in his 163 IPL games. Virat Kohli is known for scoring runs at a good pace converting his starts to big scores.
Matches- 62, Runs- 2102, Average- 48.88, Highest Score- 90.
#5 AB De Villiers: ( South Africa )
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The South African batsman who made his T20 International debut against Australia in 2006 has represented South Africa in 78 T20I games. In the 78 T20I games, Devilliers scored 1672 runs at an average of 26.12. At No.5 Devilliers provides the extra power to the middle order and can be a great finisher to the team.
Matches- 78, Runs-1672, Average- 26.12, Highest score- 79.
#6 M.S.Dhoni ( Captain and Wicket-Keeper )
The former Indian skipper who made his T20 International debut against South Africa in 2006 has represented India in 93 games. Dhoni has scored 4016 runs in his 175 games and is one of the best batsmen in the IPL.
In the 93 T20I games, Dhoni has scored 1487 runs at an average of 37.17. At No.6 he and Devilliers would be a dream come true for many cricket fans. Owing to his great captaincy skills, he would be the skipper of this unbeatable team.
Matches- 93, Runs- 1487, Average- 37.17, Best Score- 56.
#7 Shahid Afridi: ( Pakistan )
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Afridi is one of the best all-rounders in the history of World Cricket representing Pakistan in 99 T20I games. He has scored 1416 runs in this form of the game and is one of the best Pakistan has ever seen. Owing to his hard-hitting skills and bowling skills he makes to the team as a spinning all-rounder.
Matches- 99, Runs- 1416, Average- 17.92, Wickets- 98, Economy- 6.63.
#8 Dwayne Bravo ( West Indies )
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Dwayne Bravo is one of the best all-rounders when it comes to this form taking many wickets. He has also been a part of the Chennai based franchise in the Indian Premier League. His ability to bowl slower balls in the death made him one of the best death bowlers in the World Cricket. Bravo can also be handy with the bat scoring plenty of runs in this form.
Matches- 66, Runs- 1142, Wickets- 52, Best Figures- 4/28.
#9 Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
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Rashid who made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in 2015 has represented Afghanistan in 33 T20I games. He is currently part of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. In his 31 IPL matches, Rashid scalped 38 wickets at an average of 21.47. His variations in bowling make him one of the best in one of the best spinners in world cricket. In his 33 T20I games, Rashid scalped 57 wickets at an average of 13.02.
#10 Lasith Malinga ( Sri Lanka )
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The legendary bowler who made his T20I debut against England in 2006 has represented Sri Lanka in 68 T20I games. Malinga is the bowling mentor of Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. In his 110 IPL matches, Malinga scalped 154 wickets and is the highest wicket-taker in the history of IPL.
His different bowling style and the slower balls at the death makes him one of the best death bowlers in world cricket. In his 68 T20I games, Malinga scalped 90 wickets at an average of 19.77. He was the recipient of the purple cap in the 2011 season scalping 28 wickets.
#11 Umar Gul ( Pakistan )
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The legendary bowler who made his T20I debut against Kenya in 2007 has represented Pakistan in 60 T20I games. In his 60 T20I games, Gul scalped 85 wickets at an average of 16.96. His back of length deliveries makes him one of the best death bowlers in world cricket. Umar Gul was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Matches- 60, Wickets- 85, Average- 16.96, Best Figures- 5/6.
Matches- 33, Wickets- 57, Average- 13.02, Economy- 5.94, Best Figures- 5/3.