Picking an Elite International T20 XI of Players Operating Right Now
Picking an elite Twenty20 side is far more difficult than you might think, but we've taken a stab at it anyway. We considered a number of different factors, including "impact" players—those players who can show up and take the game away from the opposition—performances at the World T20 and performances over the last year.
This XI is by no means perfect, no XI picked on subjectivity will ever be so, please, do add your thoughts in the comments.
Chris Gayle
1 of 11
Chris Gayle remains one of the most intimidating batsmen on the world stage. Sure, he's prone to getting out before he reaches 20, but when he pitches up and has a good day, you don't want to be a bowler.
He did it against England in the World T20 during the group stages, and although he failed to really perform in any of the other matches, Gayle is the kind of "impact player" that can single-handedly win you matches.
Rohit Sharma
2 of 11
Rohit Sharma has become one of the most consistent T20 players for India over the last year. In 18 matches since the start of 2015, he has scored 553 runs, the fourth-most of all T20 players.
His ability to pace an innings is unparalleled, making him an incredibly useful player to have at the top of the order to help set the foundation for any side.
Virat Kohli
3 of 11
No other player has a better T20 average since the start of 2015 than Virat Kohli. In 15 matches he has scored 669 runs at an eye-watering average of 95.57.
Aggressive, destructive and the kind of player who would give absolutely everything for his team, Kohli is simply mesmerizing.
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Joe Root
4 of 11
Joe Root is on his way to becoming the best batsman in the world. Some might say he is already.
Whatever you might think, Root showed how versatile he is in the recent World T20 with 249 runs in six matches at an average of 49.80. Root's ability to adapt his game according to the situation makes him a solid option in the middle order.
JP Duminy
5 of 11
JP Duminy might not be the first player people think of when talking about an "elite XI," but he is one of the most experienced T20 players in world cricket.
Were it not for an injury, Duminy might have saved South Africa some embarrassment at the World T20.
Duminy also offers plenty of versatility, not just with where in the order he can bat, but also with being able to turn his arm over for a few overs.
Quinton De Kock (wk)
6 of 11
Quinton de Kock is one of the brightest young stars in world cricket. While he usually opens the batting, he slots in lower down the order in this particular XI.
As South Africa's leading run-scorer in the World T20 and a very skillful gloveman, De Kock seems set for a long and illustrious career.
James Faulkner
7 of 11
Arguably the best T20 all-rounder going, James "The Finisher" Faulkner brings aggressive bowling and batting to any team. Although he can be a tad expensive with the ball, he almost always makes an impact.
Shakib Al Hasan
8 of 11
Shakib Al Hasan had a pretty decent World T20. He finished with 10 wickets at an average of 16.60 and chipped in 129 runs at an average of 32.25.
Al Hasan is on course to become Bangladesh's top run-scorer in T20s (he's currently second with 1,103 runs, just behind Tamim Iqbal with 1,154) and is the leading wicket-taker with 65 wickets at an average of 20.33.
It's fair to say he could very well become Bangladesh's greatest ever player.
Kagiso Rabada
9 of 11
Kagiso Rabada comes from a country that produces fast bowlers for fun, but the youngster has already set the world alight with his exceptional skills.
While he still has plenty to learn, the fact that he can almost always land a yorker without fault and can bowl at over 140 kmh makes him an exceptional player.
Samuel Badree
10 of 11
Unassuming and subtle, Samuel Badree has proven that you don't have to be a great turner of the ball to be successful in T20s.
One of the key cogs in the West Indies bowling lineup during the World T20, Badree's ability to build pressure—and strike when it matters—makes him a useful bowler for all conditions.
Imran Tahir
11 of 11
T20 is all about the spinners and who knows how much more South Africa could have achieved in the World T20 had they used their key spinner a bit more effectively.
Imran Tahir rarely bowled in the powerplay during the World T20, but he was always effective when he did.
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