Gambhir, Yuvraj & Raina IN, No Jaiswal! India's Left-Handed T20I Dream-11

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-08-13 13:08:41 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-13 14:29:59

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In celebration of International Left-Handers Day, we're building the ultimate left-handed T20I XI. Here are the top names who wield their willow with their dominant left hand. Among the finest to do it was VVS Laxman, who recently celebrated his 45th birthday, is also one of the most elegant left-handed batters India has ever produced. His Test batting average of 45.95 is testament to his quality and class. However, for this left-handed XI, we're looking at their prowess in the shorter format. Don't forget to wish Laxman a happy birthday!

Throughout the years, India has produced a plethora of left-handed batters who have lit up stadiums and dominated bowlers. From legendary cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid to modern-day greats like Shikhar Dhawan andKL Rahul, India has been blessed with some awe-inspiring left-handed talent. This article celebrates these southpaws and picks the best left-handed players for each role in T20s.

Given the expectations on openers to get the team off to a flying start, left-handed openers are particularly valuable with their ability to score square of the wicket on the off side. Let's look at some of the options we have for our ideal left-handed T20I XI.

For the opening slot, Gambhir and Dhawan are the obvious choices. Both openers have been instrumental in India's success in the past and present. Gambhir's match-winning knock of 97 off 51 balls against Pakistan in the 2012 World Cup is still fresh in the minds of many. Dhawan, on the other hand, is the fastest Indian to reach 1000 runs in T20Is and currently holds the second position in the list of India's highest scorers in T20Is. He recently led India to a 3-0 victory against Sri Lanka and looked in good touch throughout the series.

The presence of Yuvraj Singh in the middle order provides both balance and versatility to the team. He has the ability to play aggressive shots and can also play the role of a stabilizer when needed. Raina's performance in the recent Sri Lanka series, where he scored a century and a fifty, ensures he makes the cut. His ability to accelerate towards the end of the innings makes him a suitable candidate for the number five position.

A left-handed batter in the middle order can be a huge advantage for any team as they can play with more freedom and attack the spinners and pacers differently compared to right-handed batters. With more left-handed batters being experimental and innovative with their game, we could see more of them flourish and cement their spots in the T20I side in the future.

Go!