Former India captain names his all-time right-handed T20 XI, leaves out Virat Kohli

Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane recently revealed his all-time right-handed T20 XI, outlining a team built around impact performers in international T20 cricket. The selection notably excluded Virat Kohli, which sparked widespread debate among fans.

At the top of the order, Rahane picked Rohit Sharma and Jos Buttler. Rohit has amassed 4,231 runs in T20Is at a strike rate of 140.89,  while Buttler, one of England’s most explosive batters, has scored 3976 runs at a strike rate close to 150, making him a proven powerplay enforcer. Rahane revealed his choice in a video for Cricbuzz.

His middle order features Suryakumar Yadav, AB de Villiers, and MS Dhoni. Suryakumar has been one of the most destructive batters in recent years, scoring 3,114 T20I runs at an exceptional strike rate over 165. de Villiers, on the other hand, accumulated 1672 runs in T20Is with a strike rate of 135, offering adaptability across positions. Rahane picked Dhoni as the team's captain and wicketkeeper; he finished his T20I career with 1,617 runs at a strike rate of 126, along with extensive leadership experience who Rahane has also named captain of his team.

Rahane also included two Caribbean all-rounders in Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo. Russell scored 1122 T20I runs at a strike rate above 160 and also picked up 61 wickets, though at a higher economy of 9.42. Bravo contributed 1255 runs at a strike rate of 115 and claimed 78 wickets with an economy close to 8.1, underlining his value as a death-overs specialist.

In the bowling unit, Rahane named Harbhajan Singh as the off-spinner, having taken 25 T20I wickets at an economy of 6.8. The pace attack is led by Jasprit Bumrah, who has picked up 107 wickets at an outstanding economy of 6.5, and Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka’s all-time leading T20I wicket-taker with 107 wickets at an economy of 7.4. Yuzvendra Chahal completes the XI, with 96 wickets in T20Is and an economy of 8.2.

Ajinkya Rahane’s All-Time Right-Handed T20 XI

Rohit Sharma, Jos Buttler, Suryakumar Yadav, AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni (wk), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga, Yuzvendra Chahal