Best Combined India-Pakistan XI Of The ICC T20 World Cup History

ICC T20 World Cup 2021 is set to be played in October-November later this year. 16 teams will compete against each other in the tournament which will be played in UAE and Oman from October 17 to November 14, 2021. The tournament will be hosted by BCCI. Since the tournament will be played in the Asian subcontinent, current top Asian teams like India and Pakistan will have a good advantage in the tournament.

India and Pakistan have been two strong teams in ICC T20 World Cup history. India won the title in the tournament’s first edition in 2007 while Pakistan won the 2nd edition in 2009. Moreover, India finished as runners-up in the 2014 edition and reached the semi-final in the last edition in 2016.

On the other hand, Pakistan finished as runners-up in the 2007 edition and reached the semi-finals in the 2010 and 2012 editions. The credits for India and Pakistan’s success in ICC T20 World Cups go to few players who have executed magnificent performances during these tournaments in the past. Here we take a look at the best combined India-Pakistan XI of ICC T20 World Cup history.

Best Combined India-Pakistan XI Of The ICC T20 World Cup History

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma should be the opener of the combined India-Pakistan XI of ICC T20 World Cup history. The India cricketer has played for India in every edition of the T20I World Cup since 2007. The right-handed batsman has smashed 673 runs in 25 innings at an average of 39.58.

He is also the 2nd highest run-scorer for India in T20 WC tournaments. Sharma has also smacked 6 half-centuries with the highest knock of unbeaten 79 runs. The 34-year-old player has batted at a strike rate of 127+ in the tournament so far.

Ahmed Shehzad

Ahmed Shehzad should be the other opener in this team. Since ICC T20 World Cup 2009, the Pakistani cricketer has smashed 250 runs in 9 innings at an average of 31.25. The right-handed batsman has also hit 1 century and 1 half-century in T20I World Cups and owns a strike rate of 126+ while batting.  His highest knock in T20I World Cup is unbeaten 111 runs.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli should be the no.3 batsman in this team. The Indian skipper is the highest run-getter for India in ICC T20 World Cup tournaments so far. He has played the tournament since the 2012 edition.

The right-handed batsman has piled up 777 runs in 16 innings at an outstanding average of 86.53. Kohli has also shattered 9 half-centuries in T20 World Cups with the highest knock of unbeaten 89 runs. The 32-year-old also owns a strike rate of 133+ while batting in T20 WC tournaments.

Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh should be one of the middle-order batsmen in this team. The former Indian cricketer was the Man of the series during ICC T20 World Cup 2007. The left-handed batsman has mustered 593 runs in 28 innings during 6 editions of the tournament since 2007. He also smacked 4 fifties with a highest knock of 70.

The former Indian player owns a strike rate of 128+ while batting in T20 WC tournaments. Moreover, Yuvraj Singh has been also a useful occasional bowler. The left-arm spinner has picked 12 wickets in 14 innings during the tournament at an average of 19.16 and an economy rate of 7.26.

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi will be a good choice for an all-rounder in the team. The former Pakistani skipper is the 2^nd highest run-scorer as well as highest wicket-taker for the Pakistan team in ICC T20 World Cups. The right-handed batsman has accumulated 546 runs in 32 innings at an average of 18.82. He has hit 2 fifties with a highest knock of unbeaten 54 runs.

The right-arm spinner has also picked 39 wickets in 34 innings at an average of 23.25. He has also bowled at a great economy of 6.71 and accounts for 2 four-wicket hauls.

MS Dhoni (Wicketkeeper & Captain)

MS Dhoni should be the wicketkeeper and captain of this team. MS Dhoni has been a very successful captain for India who also led India to title in ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and final of 2014 edition. With the bat, the former Indian cricketer has smashed 529 runs in 29 innings at an average of 35.26 and a strike rate of 123+.

As a skipper, MS Dhoni has won most matches in ICC T20 World Cup with 21 victories and 11 losses out of 33 games. The wicketkeeper accounts for most 32 dismissals in the tournament’s history, which includes 21 catches and 11 stumpings.

Irfan Pathan

For a pace bowling all-rounder in this team, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan should be picked. The left-handed batsman played in ICC T20 World Cup tournaments from 2007 to 2012. He has scored 86 runs in 10 innings at an average of 17.20 and strike rate of 116+.

While bowling, the left-arm pacer picked 16 wickets in 14 innings at an average of 20.06. Pathan is also the 2nd highest wicket-taker for India in T20 World Cups so far. He has bowled at an economy of 7.46 with the best bowling figures of 3/16 in a match.

Saeed Ajmal

For the primary spin bowler, former Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal should be picked. The right-arm spinner played 2 matches for Pakistan during the tournaments from 2009 to 2014. The off-spinner is the highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in ICC T20 World Cup tournaments with 36 wickets in 23 innings.

He has bowled at an average of 16.86 and an economy rate of 6.79; and also accounts for 3 four-wicket hauls in the tournament. Ajmal’s best bowling figures in T20 WC is 4/19.

Mohammad Amir

Mohammad Amir should the first pacer in this team. The former Pakistani cricketer has played in the 2009, 2010, and 2016 editions of the tournament. The left-arm pacer has scalped 17 wickets in 17 innings and is the 4th highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in the tournament’s history. Amir has bowled at an average of 26.17 and an economy rate of 7.17. His best bowling figures is 3/23.

Umar Gul

Umar Gul should be another pace bowler in this team. The former Pakistan cricketer represented Pakistan in T20 World Cups from 2007 to 2014 editions. The right-arm pace bowler has picked 35 wickets in 24 innings at an average of 17.25.

Gul is also the 3rd highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in ICC T20 World Cups and accounts for an economy of 7.30. He has also picked one five-wicket haul. His best bowling figures in a match during the tournament is 5/6.

Ashish Nehra

Former Indian cricketer Ashish Nehra should be another pacer in this team. The left-arm pacer represented the Indian team in ICC T20 World Cup tournaments from 2010 to 2016.

Nehra picked 15 wickets in 10 innings at an average of 17.93. He accounts for a brilliant economy of 6.89 while bowling in T20 WC tournaments with the best bowling figures of 3/19.