India's Best-Ever T20 XI announced; shocking captain made

Ahead of the much-awaited Asia Cup 2025, former Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik picked his all-time best T20I playing XI from India, where he picked several veterans but left out the likes of Shubman Gill, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Rishabh Pant.

India has been one of the greatest nations in the shortest format of the game ever since the format was introduced in the sport in 2006. They even won the first ICC World T20 title back in 2007. In recent times, India has been the most highly respected T20I side in the world.

The Asia Cup 2025 will be played this month, with India already coined as the favourites to dominate in the continental championship. India will face the likes of Asian rivals Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the tournament, and DK has picked a playing XI just ahead of the start of the major championship.

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Dinesh Karthik picks a new Opening Pair for India ahead of the Asia Cup 2025

When asked to pick a playing XI comprising only Indian players for the shortest format of the game, Karthik probably had the best response ready for the task, as he picked a squad that looks like the most balanced squad from India.

The opening spots were carved very skillfully by the RCB mentor, as he picked the current rising superstar left-handed batter, Abhishek Sharma, for his team. The SRH opener will be part of India's playing XI in the upcoming Asia Cup. Karthik claimed that the World No. 1-ranked T20I batter will be a very successful T20I batter one day.

He paired him with India's most veteran T20I player, Rohit Sharma. The former World Cup-winning skipper still remains the highest run-getter in T20Is, with Babar Azam only nearing his great records. The duo form a destructive opening pair for India, but not in the Asia Cup 2025, since Rohit has retired from the format.

DK's all-time T20I XI has a decorated middle-order

After settling the score with the top order, he moved towards the middle order and likely picked the most obvious cricketer at no. 3, that is Virat Kohli. The legend who has made a huge impact during India's dominance in T20I cricket.

Karthik next placed India skipper Suryakumar Yadav as his no. 4. Yadav, who will lead India in the Asia Cup 2025, is widely known for his unique shotplay. In at 5, Karthik showed his deep understanding of the game, as he sidelined several big names and picked former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh.

He claimed that when Yuvraj gets going, remember he doesn't only win India bilaterals; he won World Cups for India. In at 6, was probably the greatest T20I all-rounder from India, Hardik Pandya, who has an impact with his finishing big hits and delivers stunningly with the ball at times. MS Dhoni was announced as his no. 7 and the skipper of the Indian side.

Former teammate makes way into DK's bowling deck

Dinesh Karthik further stretched the batting order, placing all-rounder Axar Patel in the no. 8 spot and crediting him for his all-round excellence. He will be a crucial player for India in the Asia Cup 2025.

Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy, two more players from India's 2025 Asia Cup squad, were also named in his XI, crediting them as the finest-ever pack of bowlers produced from India in the format.

Karthik lastly picked Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the former India pacer who once had the most wickets for India in T20Is, leaving out the likes of Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh, who is currently India's highest T20I wicket-taker and chases more in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.

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