![[JUGRAJ SINGH]](https://www.unp.me/data/avatars/m/123/123038.jpg?1591210006){kind=avatar}
Thirty five matches, twelve teams and one winner. The party men from the Caribbean Islands, a team full of Indian Premier League (IPL) stars, have created history - becoming the only team to win the World T20 twice. Although not outright favourites, they've always the team to beat; they thrive on Indian conditions, the format allowed them to express themselves, they had a leader who had united them and finally, they had a combination that left the opponents ragged and shell shocked. In short, West Indies, despite their low ranking in Tests and One day internationals, were one of the favourites.
Their opponents in the final, England, proved themselves worthy finalists - and only a cruel slip-up in the final over of the match, denied them the ultimate prize. They have come a long way since being dismantled - during the 2015 World Cup. The 'new England' played a brand of cricket that was both 'fearless and entertaining'. They thrived under pressure, twice, during the 'Super Ten' stage; they flirted with elimination, only to bounce back in supreme fashion. The cup seemed to be theirs - at least until the beginning of the 20th over of West Indies chase. Then, Carlos Brathwaite happened.
Picking the best XI after a T20 mega even can be a tough job. What can be the criterion for choosing the best XI? Is it the amount of runs scored or the number of wickets taken? Or should it be the sheer impact performances? We have tried to amalgamate all the three and come to the best possible combination.
These were the players who just didn't impress, their performances also made the difference for their team.
Kane Williamson (captain)
Kane Williamson had an average time with the bat. But he makes our team for his sheer leadership abilities. The New Zealand captain was a revelation on the field, innovative and daring. On pitches that favoured slower bowlers, Williamson pulled off the 'three-card spin formula', leaving the opponents flummoxed. Trent Boult and Tim Southee, their two premier pacers did nothing other than warm the benches. Williamson's confidence wasn't misplaced as his spinners took out India, Australia, Pakistan and Bangladesh with precision. The dream run was brought to a grinding halt in the semifinal against England, but Williamson had lit up the tournament with his dignified leadership.
Jason Roy
If England were in the final of a major tournament, a lot of credit goes to Jason Roy. His fast and whirlwind starts helped them trump South Africa in the 229 plays 230 match, his 44-ball 78 ripped New Zealand and their spinners apart in the semifinal. Roy registered a duck in the final, but it can't gloss over his contributions until then. Roy wasn't the highest run-getter in the tournament, he wasn't even England's highest run-scorer, but without his knocks at the top of the order, England might have well made a sorry exit in the Super 10s.
Virat Kohli
The best-ever chaser? Virat Kohli was India's one-man demolition army. He did everything he could, scored 273 runs at an average of 136.50 and at a stellar strike rate of 146.77, fielded like a man possessed and even rolled his arm over and provided the team a vital breakthrough.
If his unbeaten 53 against Pakistan was memorable, his unbeaten 51-ball 82 on a tricky Mohali pitch against Australia was, arguably, the innings of the tournament. His thirst for runs didn't end there, he clattered a 47-ball unbeaten 89 in the semi-final in Mumbai, an innings that deserved greater appreciation than just be a passing note. Kohli singlehandedly took India all the way to the knock-out stages, it was a pity that one man could do only that much. He was eventually named Player of the tournament, for the second consecutive World T20, a small consolation for a man who deserved a lot more.
Joe Root
Having established his credentials in the longer format of the game, it is no surprise that Joe Root lead England's resurgence. With 249 runs at an average of 49.80, Root controlled Engand's middle-order. He was no slouch in scoring as well, his strike rate of 146.47 does justice to that. The third highest run-scorer, Root's magnificent 83 against South Africa at the Wankhede Stadium, has been rated as one of the best knocks of the tournament. His 54 in the final was another remarkable innings, full of poise and grit. For once though, his nerves failed as wickets fell around him - and he ended up playing a very-unlike-Root shot to get dismissed, taking away England's hopes of a big total as well. His work wasn't over for the day, he was a surprise opening bowler and responded with the wickets of Johnson Charles and Chris Gayle. It should have been enough to secure England victory, but Marlon Samuels and Carlos Brathwaite had other ideas.
Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper)
England wicket-keeper batsman, Jos Buttler, walks into the team ahead of India's MS Dhoni, solely on his ability to hit big towards the end overs. There wasn't much to choose between the two, both kept tidily and were more than useful with the bat. But Buttler wins our vote for his superb match winning knocks. His unbeaten 66* turned out to be the difference in the match against Sri Lanka while his unbeaten 32 sealed victory against New Zealand in the semis.
Buttler has been earmarked as one of England's future greats. He combines power with precision and is often called out in crisis situations. With England tottering at 23/3 in the final, he raised hopes of a comeback, with a cracking 36. A few more overs of him with the bat and the match might have turned completely in England's favour. His catching was excellent, although he may feel he could have done better during the reprieve of Samuels, when the batsman was on 27, in the final.
Andre Russell
In a team of massive power-hitters, Andre Russell has shone the brightest. The all-rounder has been in great form, chipping in with useful runs and handy wickets. Add his acrobatic catching and outstanding ground fielding, and he's been one complete package for the West Indies. He took the place of Kieron Pollard in the batting line-up and made sure that his team didn't miss the big hitting all-rounder. By his own high standards, he had a relatively quiet final (with the bat), but he had left his mark by then. A future star? West Indies and their supporters would certainly hope so.
Dwayne Bravo
Bravo didn't light up the tournament as he does so often, but the charismatic all-rounder was one of the major influences as the Caribbean nation became the first team to win the tournament twice. He often struggled with the bat, but his knock of 25 in the final was significant as it lifted his team from a precarious 11/3 to a decent 86/4, a position from where they could shift gears. He was his usual self in the field and often provided crucial wickets, although he was on the expensive side.
Mitchell Santner
The New Zealand bowling all-rounder has emerged as the newest kid on the block and has taken to international cricket with ease. Mooted as the successor to Daniel Vettoi, Santner was the fulcrum on which New Zealand rode their way to success in the Super 10s. He registered his best figures against India and was very impressive in the rest of the group games. Santner failed to get going in the semifinal but he's already proven to be a worthy successor of one of New Zealand's greats, Dan Vettori.
Chris Jordan
Jordan is another off-the-cuff selection in our best team of the tournament. He took just six wickets, but it was his death bowling, particularly, his execution of pin-point yorkers that stood out amongst the rest. The designated bowler in the end overs - it was his performances against Sri Lanka and New Zealand that lifted England into the final. Sri Lanka's fightback in the must-win encounter was halted and New Zealand's launch pad was spectacularly thwarted in the semis.
Jordan followed a similar pattern in the final, a listless opening spell was followed by pin-point accuracy in the death overs. His yorkers were on song as he conceded just 15 runs from his two overs (17th and 19th). He had done enough to secure the title for England, or so - they thought. If not for that final meltdown, England would have long cherished Jordan and his death bowling. Has Jordan come of age? One would be tempted to think so.
Ish Sodhi
His inconsistency led to frustration, but no one in New Zealand's team management had any doubts about his obvious talent. Ish Sodhi, the leg-spinner, seems to have finally turned a corner. Born in India, the leg-spinner enjoyed a fruitful homecoming as he thrived on pitches that assisted his kind of bowling. With wickets in every match, he soon turned out to be the go-to bowler for Williamson. He was little at fault during the semifinal loss to England, but the lessons learnt should hold him in good stead, particularly when New Zealand return for the Test tour to India, later this year.
Samuel Badree
He's rated as the number one bowler in ICC T20I rankings, he looks innocous at times, but he's got that calmness during big games. Samuel Badree turned the final upside down in a matter of a few overs. He had a hand in all the first three dismissals and his figures of 2/16 played a huge role in securing victory for West Indies. Badree didn't return with a bagful of wickets, but his economy rate was next to none. Perched in as West Indies' leading spinner - in the absence of Sunil Narine, Badree did a good, economical job, having bowled most of his overs during the powerplay. Giving the batsmen little to play with, Badree's accuracy often put the batsmen under pressure. It wasn't that he was utterly incapable of taking wickets, his 3/12 stymied Sri Lanka's progress in the crucial group game in Bengaluru, while his wicket of Rohit Sharma in the semifinal against India turned out to be crucial. His heroics in the final left him as the undisputed spin king in T20Is.
Their opponents in the final, England, proved themselves worthy finalists - and only a cruel slip-up in the final over of the match, denied them the ultimate prize. They have come a long way since being dismantled - during the 2015 World Cup. The 'new England' played a brand of cricket that was both 'fearless and entertaining'. They thrived under pressure, twice, during the 'Super Ten' stage; they flirted with elimination, only to bounce back in supreme fashion. The cup seemed to be theirs - at least until the beginning of the 20th over of West Indies chase. Then, Carlos Brathwaite happened.
Picking the best XI after a T20 mega even can be a tough job. What can be the criterion for choosing the best XI? Is it the amount of runs scored or the number of wickets taken? Or should it be the sheer impact performances? We have tried to amalgamate all the three and come to the best possible combination.
These were the players who just didn't impress, their performances also made the difference for their team.
Kane Williamson (captain)
Kane Williamson had an average time with the bat. But he makes our team for his sheer leadership abilities. The New Zealand captain was a revelation on the field, innovative and daring. On pitches that favoured slower bowlers, Williamson pulled off the 'three-card spin formula', leaving the opponents flummoxed. Trent Boult and Tim Southee, their two premier pacers did nothing other than warm the benches. Williamson's confidence wasn't misplaced as his spinners took out India, Australia, Pakistan and Bangladesh with precision. The dream run was brought to a grinding halt in the semifinal against England, but Williamson had lit up the tournament with his dignified leadership.
Jason Roy
If England were in the final of a major tournament, a lot of credit goes to Jason Roy. His fast and whirlwind starts helped them trump South Africa in the 229 plays 230 match, his 44-ball 78 ripped New Zealand and their spinners apart in the semifinal. Roy registered a duck in the final, but it can't gloss over his contributions until then. Roy wasn't the highest run-getter in the tournament, he wasn't even England's highest run-scorer, but without his knocks at the top of the order, England might have well made a sorry exit in the Super 10s.
Virat Kohli
The best-ever chaser? Virat Kohli was India's one-man demolition army. He did everything he could, scored 273 runs at an average of 136.50 and at a stellar strike rate of 146.77, fielded like a man possessed and even rolled his arm over and provided the team a vital breakthrough.
If his unbeaten 53 against Pakistan was memorable, his unbeaten 51-ball 82 on a tricky Mohali pitch against Australia was, arguably, the innings of the tournament. His thirst for runs didn't end there, he clattered a 47-ball unbeaten 89 in the semi-final in Mumbai, an innings that deserved greater appreciation than just be a passing note. Kohli singlehandedly took India all the way to the knock-out stages, it was a pity that one man could do only that much. He was eventually named Player of the tournament, for the second consecutive World T20, a small consolation for a man who deserved a lot more.
Joe Root
Having established his credentials in the longer format of the game, it is no surprise that Joe Root lead England's resurgence. With 249 runs at an average of 49.80, Root controlled Engand's middle-order. He was no slouch in scoring as well, his strike rate of 146.47 does justice to that. The third highest run-scorer, Root's magnificent 83 against South Africa at the Wankhede Stadium, has been rated as one of the best knocks of the tournament. His 54 in the final was another remarkable innings, full of poise and grit. For once though, his nerves failed as wickets fell around him - and he ended up playing a very-unlike-Root shot to get dismissed, taking away England's hopes of a big total as well. His work wasn't over for the day, he was a surprise opening bowler and responded with the wickets of Johnson Charles and Chris Gayle. It should have been enough to secure England victory, but Marlon Samuels and Carlos Brathwaite had other ideas.
Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper)
England wicket-keeper batsman, Jos Buttler, walks into the team ahead of India's MS Dhoni, solely on his ability to hit big towards the end overs. There wasn't much to choose between the two, both kept tidily and were more than useful with the bat. But Buttler wins our vote for his superb match winning knocks. His unbeaten 66* turned out to be the difference in the match against Sri Lanka while his unbeaten 32 sealed victory against New Zealand in the semis.
Buttler has been earmarked as one of England's future greats. He combines power with precision and is often called out in crisis situations. With England tottering at 23/3 in the final, he raised hopes of a comeback, with a cracking 36. A few more overs of him with the bat and the match might have turned completely in England's favour. His catching was excellent, although he may feel he could have done better during the reprieve of Samuels, when the batsman was on 27, in the final.
Andre Russell
In a team of massive power-hitters, Andre Russell has shone the brightest. The all-rounder has been in great form, chipping in with useful runs and handy wickets. Add his acrobatic catching and outstanding ground fielding, and he's been one complete package for the West Indies. He took the place of Kieron Pollard in the batting line-up and made sure that his team didn't miss the big hitting all-rounder. By his own high standards, he had a relatively quiet final (with the bat), but he had left his mark by then. A future star? West Indies and their supporters would certainly hope so.
Dwayne Bravo
Bravo didn't light up the tournament as he does so often, but the charismatic all-rounder was one of the major influences as the Caribbean nation became the first team to win the tournament twice. He often struggled with the bat, but his knock of 25 in the final was significant as it lifted his team from a precarious 11/3 to a decent 86/4, a position from where they could shift gears. He was his usual self in the field and often provided crucial wickets, although he was on the expensive side.
Mitchell Santner
The New Zealand bowling all-rounder has emerged as the newest kid on the block and has taken to international cricket with ease. Mooted as the successor to Daniel Vettoi, Santner was the fulcrum on which New Zealand rode their way to success in the Super 10s. He registered his best figures against India and was very impressive in the rest of the group games. Santner failed to get going in the semifinal but he's already proven to be a worthy successor of one of New Zealand's greats, Dan Vettori.
Chris Jordan
Jordan is another off-the-cuff selection in our best team of the tournament. He took just six wickets, but it was his death bowling, particularly, his execution of pin-point yorkers that stood out amongst the rest. The designated bowler in the end overs - it was his performances against Sri Lanka and New Zealand that lifted England into the final. Sri Lanka's fightback in the must-win encounter was halted and New Zealand's launch pad was spectacularly thwarted in the semis.
Jordan followed a similar pattern in the final, a listless opening spell was followed by pin-point accuracy in the death overs. His yorkers were on song as he conceded just 15 runs from his two overs (17th and 19th). He had done enough to secure the title for England, or so - they thought. If not for that final meltdown, England would have long cherished Jordan and his death bowling. Has Jordan come of age? One would be tempted to think so.
Ish Sodhi
His inconsistency led to frustration, but no one in New Zealand's team management had any doubts about his obvious talent. Ish Sodhi, the leg-spinner, seems to have finally turned a corner. Born in India, the leg-spinner enjoyed a fruitful homecoming as he thrived on pitches that assisted his kind of bowling. With wickets in every match, he soon turned out to be the go-to bowler for Williamson. He was little at fault during the semifinal loss to England, but the lessons learnt should hold him in good stead, particularly when New Zealand return for the Test tour to India, later this year.
Samuel Badree
He's rated as the number one bowler in ICC T20I rankings, he looks innocous at times, but he's got that calmness during big games. Samuel Badree turned the final upside down in a matter of a few overs. He had a hand in all the first three dismissals and his figures of 2/16 played a huge role in securing victory for West Indies. Badree didn't return with a bagful of wickets, but his economy rate was next to none. Perched in as West Indies' leading spinner - in the absence of Sunil Narine, Badree did a good, economical job, having bowled most of his overs during the powerplay. Giving the batsmen little to play with, Badree's accuracy often put the batsmen under pressure. It wasn't that he was utterly incapable of taking wickets, his 3/12 stymied Sri Lanka's progress in the crucial group game in Bengaluru, while his wicket of Rohit Sharma in the semifinal against India turned out to be crucial. His heroics in the final left him as the undisputed spin king in T20Is.
![[JUGRAJ SINGH]](https://www.unp.me/data/avatars/s/123/123038.jpg?1591210006){kind=avatar}
