From Khan to Dev: India and Pakistan all-time T20 XI

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • The Radcliffe line that decided the fates of two new nations in 1947 is an object of enormous significance for cricket romantics and philosophers. Sixty-nine years down the line, one still dwells on what could have been had the Partition of India not taken place on that fateful August midnight. Even restricting the discussion to cricket throws up boundless possibilities regarding team composition and combination.

    The pace and guile of Pakistani bowlers have mesmerized many through the ages, as have the temperament and dominance of Indian batsmen. In a feeble attempt to combine the best of the neighboring nations in a fantasy T20 team, quite a few deserving names had to be omitted since position as well as suitability, and not merely overall stats, have been taken into consideration for the XI.

    Do you agree with our team selection? Use #360fans across social media to have your say!

    1. SAEED ANWAR

    The aggressive opener from Pakistan was known for his tendency to drive through the off side and score at a brisk pace. A fine exponent of majestic strokeplay, Anwar made batting look ridiculously easy as he guided every ball wide outside the ropes. At a strike-rate of 80.67, Anwar plundered close to 9000 runs in limited overs cricket. His blistering 194 against India in 1997 remains the highlight of his successful ODI career.

    2. VIRENDER SEHWAG

    Widely regarded as the most destructive opener to have donned the India colors, Virender Sehwag’s nonchalant belligerence spelt doom for opposition bowlers for almost a decade. That his Test strike rate is as high as 82.23 even after playing 104 matches speaks volumes about his cricket.

    With 4061 T20 runs including two hundreds and 24 half-centuries, Sehwag earns a place in any limited overs squad.

     3. VIRAT KOHLI

    A reliable No. 3 across all formats, Kohli’s transformation from an impetuous youngster to a matured Test captain for India has been remarkably quick. While his talent and dedication have never been doubted, his extraordinary form of late has often begged the question: Is Kohli even human?

    An outstanding fielder and a prolific batsman, Kohli’s incredible chasing statistics make him an indispensable part of the team under pressure, especially while batting second.

     4. JAVED MIANDAD

    Pakistan’s youngest captain, Miandad, is frequently referred to as the greatest batsman ever to sport the green jersey. With shots ranging from textbook square cuts to unorthodox reverse sweeps, the right-hander was a match-winner in his own right. His decisive last-ball six against India in the Australasia Cup final at Sharjah in 1986 resulted in years of Pakistani domination over India at the venue.

    5. MS DHONI (C/WK)

    When it comes to captaining the side, none can come close to the Indian T20I skipper who also serves as a glovesman, famous for his lightning-quick work behind the stumps. Intuitive and street-smart, Dhoni is unafraid to gamble with his resources – a practice that has earned rich dividends through the years.

    As a lower middle-order batsman, he averages 35.89 in T20Is with 31 unbeaten knocks in 60 matches – a figure that confirms his role as a finisher for the team.

     

     6. KAPIL DEV

    Such had been Kapil Dev’s greatness that even more than two decades after his retirement, India’s quest for a replacement remains fruitless. Unanimously acclaimed as the finest all-rounder India ever produced, Dev’s ability to swing the ball away from the right-handers made him a dangerous bowler. His ODI strike-rate of 95.07 provides ample evidence to the feats he was capable of.

     7. IMRAN KHAN

    It is unsurprising that a T20 squad will be packed with all-rounders, and with Imran Khan among the options, it is a no-brainer to include him in the eleven. Elegant and imposing, the Pakistani right-hander emerged as an idol for millions in the 1980s with his phenomenal performances with bat and ball.

    Arguably the best all-rounder among his contemporaries, Imran also established his cricketing genius when he led Pakistan to the World Cup title in 1992.

    8. ANIL KUMBLE

    A legspinner in a T20 eleven is not essential, although it definitely increases the variety and incisiveness of the attack by leaps and bounds. India’s most successful bowler, therefore, makes the cut as the most prominent option available for the spot. In spite of the fact that Kumble has never featured in a T20I, he has led the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL with reasonable success. His usefulness with the bat at No. 8 provides depth to the squad that is already packed with international stars.

    9. WASIM AKRAM

    One half of the two W’s in Pakistani cricket, Wasim Akram’s amazing ability to swing the ball both ways coupled with infrequent bouncers and slower ones to surprise the batsman made him the kind of bowler every T20 captain would crave for. It is a pity that he retired long before the inaugural T20 international, for his ODI average of 23.52 at less than 4 runs per over would have made him the ultimate nemesis of T20 batsmen.

     10. WAQAR YOUNIS

    Akram and Waqar Younis complete the most fearsome duo that an India-Pakistan combined squad can ever have. Given his penchant for pitching at full length with the late swing doing the damage, Younis would have amassed huge success in the shortest version of the game. The regularity with which he produced reverse swing troubled even the in-form batsmen who struggled to deal with his pace and swing variations.

     11. BISHAN SINGH BEDI

    A master of deception, Bishan Singh Bedi was one of the craftiest spinners of his time. Unafraid to flight the ball and lure batsmen into strokeplay, Bedi flourished in Test cricket with 266 wickets from 67 matches. Although a consistent performer with the ball, the wily spinner was abominable with the willow, which is precisely why he finds a place at No. 11.

    Recommended