CAPTAIN
M.S. Dhoni (India)
T20 matches: 63
Runs: 952
Catches and stumpings: 35 & 17
AMMO: Captain Cool. Wicketkeeper Wow. Finisher Fantastic. Will the sporting fairy tale of our times end with Dhoni smashing the winning six of this World Cup too? #Bossman
OPENING ACTS
Rohit Sharma (India)
T20 matches: 55
Runs: 1204
AMMO: The sheer beauty of his shots makes him the best man with a bat on his day. The reluctant match-winner.
Chris Gayle (West Indies)
T20 matches: 45
Runs: 1406
AMMO: Raw strength. When he bats, fielders turn into spectators and spectators into fielders. Even his top edges rarely land within the ropes. In the mood, he wins games... Gangnam Style.
ANCHOR
Virat Kohli (India)
T20 matches: 38
Runs: 1368
AMMO: Is there anything the angry young Dilli ka launda cannot do? From stepping out against spinners to hooking a bouncer to playing the waiting game. He can pace his innings perfectly, rotating the strike or ravaging the attack, making him the ideal number three.
MIDDLE ORDER SMASHERS
AB De Villiers (South Africa)
T20 matches: 67
Runs:1258
AMMO: AB can play every shot in the book… and write a whole new novel with the ones he’s invented. Is every bowler’s nightmare, hitting it 360 degrees. An outstanding athlete, who can also don the keeping gloves, if MSD has a niggle in his back. #Superman
Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
T20 matches: 30
Runs: 502
AMMO: Mad Max: Fury Pitch. The word “defence” doesn’t exist in his dictionary. He can hit sixes here, there and everywhere, from ball one. If you don’t get him out fast, he’ll out you super-fast.
ALL-ROUNDER
Ben Stokes (England)
T20 matches: 11
Runs: 86
Wickets: 4
AMMO: We picked the flamboyant ginger lad ahead of some way more established players because we in t2 believe in catching them young and watching them win it for us. The hard-hitting all-rounder smashed 30 fours and 11 sixes to score 258 off 198 against South Africa… in a TEST match! With shades of Andrew Flintoff, don’t be surprised if he makes the difference.
SPINNERS
Adil Rashid (England)
T20 matches: 12
Wickets: 9
AMMO: The leggie plays for us ahead of Imran Tahir and Ravindra Jadeja and come World Twenty20, you will know why. He can spin the ball both ways and he is fresh off a stint under a gent called Shane Warne. Watch out for that googly.
Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
T20 matches: 38
Wickets: 46
Ammo: Variation is his middle name, which is the key in this slam-bang game. He can open the bowling, slip in a doosra, fire in a bouncer and use the long handle too.
NEW-BALL PAIR
Mohammad Amir (Pakistan)
T20 matches: 25
Wickets: 31
AMMO: He can make the best of them hop, skip and jump with his pace (never below 140kmph) and swing (once in, once out). The Comeback Man is back.
Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
T20 matches: 13
Wickets: 17
AMMO: The 20-year-old already has four five-wicket hauls in international cricket. A genuine speedster, who hits the 150kmph mark while purring in like a Holding. A nice slower delivery and accurate yorkers mean that he makes the cut ahead of his boss, Dale Steyn.
COACH
Ravi Shastri
Has brought punch and panache to the Team Director’s tag. Under him, India are now ranked second in Tests, third in ODIs and first in T20s. Says it like he sees it and backs his boys for 40 overs and beyond.
BENCH
Dwayne Bravo
Can win games in the death overs — with slower ’uns with ball in hand and lofty ’uns with bat in hand. And that smile, man.
David Warner
One of the most fearsome batters who believes in, well, battering it. Superb fielder in the deep with lightning-quick throws.
Lasith Malinga
Would’ve jigged into the first XI if fully fit.
Shakib al hasan
Our friendly neighbourhood all-rounder.
