Wasim Jaffer picks Best T20I XI with one player from each country, selects Bumrah over Kohli

Former Indian domestic giant Wasim Jaffer has picked the best T20I with a condition of selecting only one player from every country. Jaffer went for India’s death over specialist Jasprit Bumrah over captain Virat Kohli in his team. The former flamboyant right-hander picked David Warner and Babar Azam as his openers in the side.

Warner (who is also picked as the captain by Jaffer) has scored 2207 runs in 79 T20I matches at an average of 31.53 and a blistering strike rate of 140.48. On the other hand, Babar Azam is the number one batsman in ICC T20I rankings and the stylish batsman has scored 1471 runs in 38 T20I matches at an impressive average of 50.72.

New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson bats at one down in Jaffer’s team. Williamson has accumulated 1665 runs in 60 T20I matches at an average of 32.65. South Africa’s former talisman batsman AB de Villiers also makes the cut as he had scored 1672 runs in 78 T20I matches at an average of 26.12 and strike rate of 135.17.

England’s Jos Buttler is the wicket-keeper of the side. Buttler has scored 1334 runs in 69 T20I matches at an average of 26.68 and an impressive strike rate of 139.69.

West Indies’ all-rounder Andre Russell, who is well known for his pyrotechnics, gets into Jaffer’s side. Russell has scored 540 runs in 49 T20I matches at a blistering strike rate of 151.26. Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan is the second all-rounder in the side as the southpaw has amassed 1567 runs in 76 T20I games and has claimed 92 wickets.

Afghanistan’s talisman spinner Rashid Khan who has bamboozled best players in the format bats at number eight for Jaffer. Khan has snared 89 wickets in 48 matches at an average of 12.63. Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichanne who has taken massive strides in the game is the second spinner. The leg-spinner has scalped 27 wickets in 17 T20I matches at an average of 14.44.

Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga, who is regarded as the best bowler of the format and India’s gun pacer Jasprit Bumrah constitute the pace battery. Malinga has taken 107 wickets in 83 T20I matches at an average of 20.79 whereas Bumrah has scalped 59 wickets in 49 T20I matches. Bumrah has conceded his runs at an impressive economy of 6.67.

Written by: Gautam Chauhan