Cricket like any other sport has been evolving with time. There is a lot of processes involved to see the cricket we have now. The past two decades have seen some major developments. Cricket has not always been this high-scoring. Batsmen have not always been this tracking. Fielding standards also have exponentially increased. India had won some important tournaments during this time. Winning the 2007 T20 and 2011 world cups were major milestones for the country. Some great players have helped India become one of the top cricketing countries. Several cricketers claim their place in this list. However, we will try our best to include the best, most successful, highest-rated players. On that note, let us pick the best India playing 11 of the 21st century.
Best India 11 of 21st century
While picking up the India 11 we will be having 4 batsmen, 2 all-rounders, 1 wicketkeeper, 2 spinners, and 2 fast bowlers. Without further ado, let us look at who all can make it to the team.
Openers
1. Rohit Sharma
However, he was tested in the middle overs early in his career. There is no other opener like him. With ease, he scores double centuries in ODI, back-to-back centuries in T20I. No one else can do that. The opening role was given to him only a decade ago. But he has set numerous records in the given time. Rohit has the ability to hit lofty shots and play long innings. This ability makes people start anticipating a double-century every time he crosses a score of 100.
Batting Statistics
| Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike rate | 100s | 50s |
| 389 | 15449 | 264 | 44.26 | 85.23 | 41 | 53 |
Also read: 5 Best Innings Of Rohit Sharma Of All Time.
2. Virender Sehwag
The most destructive batsman, as he is widely known, Sehwag is a must on the list. He is also the first Indian ever to be conferred with Wisden leading Cricketer of the Year in 2008. Sehwag has the highest number of test triple-hundreds. His aggressive game helps team India to have a good run rate from the early overs itself.
Batting Statistics
| Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike rate | 100s | 50s |
| 374 | 17253 | 319 | 40.31 | 92.55 | 38 | 72 |
Middle-order
3. Sachin Tendulkar
Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer to exist in many people’s opinion globally. Which is definitely true. No person before him had managed to stay in excellent form for more than 2 decades. He was the first person to hit a double century in ODI cricket. This was just one of his many records. His great batting skills were accompanied by a sharp tactical understanding of the game.
Batting Statistics
| Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | 100s | 50s |
| 664 | 34357 | 248* | 48.52 | 100 | 164 |
4. Virat Kohli
King Kohli is an unstoppable run-scorer. Kohli is breaking legendary records by scoring runs in fewer innings. He has an average of 62 in ODI cricket. Kohli scores centuries in test cricket like it’s a piece of cake. Virat is one of the fittest athletes, leave alone cricketers. Because of his dedication and hard work he became India’s most successful test captain. He has been one of the most consistent performers.
Batting Statistics
| Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike rate | 100s | 50s |
| 451 | 23474 | 254* | 54.71 | 78.63 | 70 | 121 |
All rounder
5. Yuvraj Singh
The batting all-rounder was behind India’s 2011 WC win. He is not just effortless with the bat. But can also be brutal to the opponents. He was an integral part of India’s ODI team since his early days in international cricket. In addition, his bowling statistics are impressive too. However, it was difficult for him to come back to his form after battling cancer.
Batting Statistics
| Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike rate | 100s | 50s |
| 402 | 11778 | 169 | 35.05 | 83.74 | 17 | 71 |
Bowling Statistics
| Matches | Overs | Wickets | Maidens | Economy | 5W | 10W |
| 402 | 1067.1 | 148 | 32 | 5 | 1 | – |
6. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin has been an integral part of India’s test team. And it seems that he will continue to be. It is rare that a bowling all-rounder has single-handedly continued India’s innings, and has led the team to a win. With 30 five-wicket hauls in his career, he also has scored 5 centuries. The spinner has been a must on the Indian squad in ICC events. His intelligent and tactical bowling always gets India a wicket, when other bowlers cannot. He does not just play good cricket but also has the ability to prevent other batsmen from hitting.
Batting Statistics
| Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike rate | 100s | 50s |
| 248 | 3674 | 124 | 24.01 | 59.72 | 5 | 12 |
Bowling Statistics
| Matches | Overs | Wickets | Maidens | Economy | 5W | 10W |
| 248 | 4993.2 | 642 | 816 | 3.37 | 30 | 7 |
Wicket-keeper
7. Mahendra Singh Dhoni
It is impossible to have the best India 11 of the 21st century without MSD. He is India’s most successful captain. Dhoni is the one name that everyone relied on when a match seemed to be slipping off India’s palms. The 2011 WC made MS Dhoni a national hero. That helicopter shot will never be forgotten in Indian Cricket’s history. We know that he is talked among the likes of Gilchrist and Sangakara in terms of wicket-keeping. Many also believe him to be the best finisher ever.
Batting Statistics
| Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike rate | 100s | 50s |
| 538 | 17266 | 224 | 44.96 | 79.07 | 16 | 108 |
Wicket-keeping Statistics
| Matches | Dismissals | Catches | Stumpings | Max dismissals inns |
| 538 | 829 | 634 | 195 | 6 |
Also read: 5 Best Indian Captains Of All Time
Bowlers
8. Harbhajan Singh
He has dominated the 2000s. Bhajji had the ability to transition his game according to the changing conditions and demands of the game. The way Harbhajan contained runs made him very crucial in the Indian team. He has taken the highest wickets by an Indian spinner, this century. Batsmen found it really difficult to read his balls. He had progressed a lot throughout his career.
Bowling Statistics
| Matches | Overs | Wickets | Maidens | Economy | 5W | 10W |
| 367 | 6945.1 | 711 | 959 | 3.33 | 28 | 5 |
9. Anil Kumble
Kumble is the legend who delivered a stirring spell with a fractured jaw in 2002. Kumble has won so many test matches for India, that no bowler even stands close to him. Once, he took the whole Pakistan team down in 1999. He was the first Indian spinner to take 300 test wickets. Kumble continues to be the only second Indian with more than 300 wickets in ODIs. However, Kumble also scored a test century. Obviously, facing Kumble was the worst nightmare for many batsmen. All this makes it impossible to pick the best India 11 of the 21st century without this legend.
Bowling Statistics(Test/ODI)
| Matches | Overs | Wickets | Maidens | Economy | 5W | 10W |
| 132/271 | 6808.2/2416 | 619/337 | 1576/109 | 2.69/4.30 | 35/2 | 8/- |
10. Zaheer Khan
Zaheer dominated India’s pace department for most of the 2000s. He was one of the finest Indian white-ball exponents. However, he lost his pace owing to an injury. That didn’t affect his game. He adapted and evolved. Zaheer then incorporated variations with precision and control. He was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2011 World Cup.
Bowling Statistics
| Matches | Overs | Wickets | Maidens | Economy | 5W | 10W |
| 309 | 4897.2 | 610 | 741 | 3.89 | 12 | 1 |
11. Jasprit Bumrah
In just 6 years of playing International cricket, Jasprit had made an unmatchable mark for himself. He has already reached great levels in his career. Indian bowling is cannot be completed without Bumrah in the playing-11. He has become the most reliable bowler, both with the new ball and in the death overs. His precise yorkers can deceive any batsman. Bumrah’s peculiar action and release point make it difficult for batsmen to read.
Bowling Statistics
| Matches | Overs | Wickets | Maidens | Economy | 5W | 10W |
| 152 | 1786.4 | 292 | 285 | 3.77 | 8 | – |
The 12th man
If we are talking about the playing 11, it is a must to include the 12th man. And it must be none other than Ravindra Jadeja. He has shown exceptional performance. Be it bowling, batting, and specifically his fielding. These brilliant skills make him the must pick, in case there’s some injury 😉
