Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has revealed his all-time T20I XI for India, surprising fans with some bold inclusions and notable omissions. The veteran, who was part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning squad, has combined legendary names with some of the new-age T20 specialists, creating a balanced XI that he believes is India’s strongest-ever lineup in the shortest format.
Opening Pair: Abhishek Sharma & Rohit Sharma
Karthik surprised many by picking Abhishek Sharma as his opener alongside India’s T20I run-machine Rohit Sharma, leaving out legendary openers like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, and Sachin Tendulkar.
“Abhishek Sharma is a fearless cricketer and an ‘intent monster’. He gives you quick starts and even chips in with the ball when needed,” Karthik said while explaining his choice. Rohit Sharma, who has scored over 4,200 T20I runs and holds the record for most centuries in the format, was an easy choice for the other opener’s slot.
Middle Order
At No. 3, Karthik picked Virat Kohli, calling him “the King of T20 cricket” and praising his ability to anchor innings under pressure. Suryakumar Yadav was Karthik’s pick for No. 4, thanks to his 360-degree stroke play and consistency at a high strike rate.
The legendary Yuvraj Singh was slotted at No. 5, remembered for his iconic six sixes in the 2007 T20 World Cup and his ability to turn big games in India’s favour.
All-Rounders & Leadership
At No. 6, Karthik selected Hardik Pandya, calling him “India’s most valuable asset in T20 cricket right now” because of his ability to finish games with the bat and bowl crucial overs.
MS Dhoni not only takes the wicketkeeper slot but also leads Karthik’s XI. “There is no better captain for T20 cricket than Dhoni. He has mastered the art of finishing games and leading under pressure,” Karthik explained.
Spin & Pace Attack
For the bowling department, Karthik opted for Axar Patel as the all-round spin option, praising him for his contributions in crunch games, especially in the 2024 T20 World Cup final.
In a bold move, Karthik included Varun Chakaravarthy as the lead spinner over India highest T20I wicket-taker, Yuzvendra Chahal. “Varun is one of the most talented mystery spinners India has ever had. He delivers under pressure and has done well in different conditions,” he said.
The pace attack features Jasprit Bumrah, hailed by Karthik as “the greatest bowler across formats,” and swing king Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose ability to strike early made him Karthik’s choice over Arshdeep Singh despite Arshdeep being India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is.
Dinesh Karthik’s All-Time India T20I XI
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Opener 1 | Abhishek Sharma |
| Opener 2 | Rohit Sharma |
| No. 3 | Virat Kohli |
| No. 4 | Suryakumar Yadav |
| No. 5 | Yuvraj Singh |
| No. 6 | Hardik Pandya |
| No. 7 (C & WK) | MS Dhoni |
| No. 8 | Axar Patel |
| No. 9 | Varun Chakaravarthy |
| No. 10 | Jasprit Bumrah |
| No. 11 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar |
