The T20 format is intense, fast-paced and enthralling. It’s about scoring runs on almost every delivery, making superhuman fielding efforts and intelligent bowling.
The 1980s era was a special period in Indian cricket. India’s world cup victory in 1983 brought about a paradigm shift in the way India played the game — aggressive and fearless. Consequently, fresh new faces with the same flamboyance came into the side and the experienced players adapted to the new approach.
The current ‘quarantine’ situation gives me the liberty to let my mind wander a bit and think of a situation wherein I had to select a ‘Dream T20 XI of the 1980s’.
The Openers:
#1 Kris Srikkanth (Batsman)
Three words that apply to ‘Chika’ — entertainment, entertainment and entertainment. He was a bubble of energy both on and off the field. Well before the T20 format and powerplays came into the picture, Srikkanth thrashed the bowlers out of the park from ball one and was a source of pure enjoyment for the audience.
He will naturally be the first choice as an opener in the 80s T20 XI.
#2 Navjot Singh Sidhu (Batsman)
As a batsman, Sidhu had dual personalities — he was as aggressive as a ravenous tiger in the initial overs and as patient as a monk in the middle overs or when the situation demanded. He scored 33 half-centuries and 6 centuries in his ODI career and always helped the team get off to a solid start.
Sidhu and Srikkanth will be a perfect opening combo for the T20 format.
The all-important №.3 position
#3 Dilip Vengsarkar (Batsman)
Irrespective of the format of the game, there is always a top-order batsman who is entrusted with the role of meticulously building the innings ball-by-ball and Dilip Vengsarkar was that player in the 80s. Vengsarkar scored some big centuries. Six of them came against the mighty West Indies and three at the Lord’s, on its spiteful pitches, batting at the crucial no.3 position.
Vengsarkar could play an attacking game and had all the shots in the book. Thus, he will be our №.3 in the dream team.
The Middle-order
#4 Mohammad Azharuddin (Batsman & Vice-captain)
It is indeed disappointing that the cricket fans couldn’t watch one of wristiest batsmen, Mohammad Azharuddin bat in the T20 format. Azharuddin played in the middle-order. He was known for his attacking batting style and captivating wrist-work. He scored over 9000 runs in ODI cricket at an average of above 36 and strike rate of close to 75.
Azharuddin was also one of the finest fielders India had ever produced. Given his leadership skills and success as a captain, he will be the vice-captain in the imaginary T20 team.
#5 Ravi Shastri (All-rounder)
Ravi Shastri’s inclusion in the ‘Dream 80s T20 XI’ may leave a few readers goggle-eyed given his ultra-defensive and orthodox batting style. But he could easily clear the boundary. The Bombay-boy smashed six sixes in an over in a Ranji game against Baroda. He also ended up scoring the fastest double-century off just 123 balls.
In addition to this big-hitting prowess, Shastri was an astute left-arm spinner as well. His true all-round capabilities make him a justified choice into the T20 side.
#6 Kapil Dev (All-rounder and Captain)
Kapil Dev was a true legend in every sense. A World Cup-winning captain and the pioneer of modern-day cricket in India. His amazing all-round capabilities, superlative leadership skills and incredible fitness make him perhaps the most important player in our T20 XI. The Haryana Hurricane scored over 3700 runs and picked up 253 wickets in 225 ODIs.
His skillset is apt for any format of the game. Without a doubt, Kapil Dev will be the skipper of this team.
The Lower Middle-order
#7 Sandeep Patil (All-rounder)
A №.7 player in the T20 format should be a swashbuckling batsman who can hit boundaries at metronomic consistency. Sandeep Patil fits perfectly for this role. His innings of 50 off just 32 balls against England in the semis of 1983 World cup was indeed sensational. He had a career strike rate of over 82 in ODIs and an average of close to 25.
Patil’s pyrotechnics can help the team finish the innings on a high. This, combined with his effective medium-pace bowling make him our X-factor in the T20 team.
#8 Syed Kirmani (Wicket-keeper)
Off the two wicket-keeping choices — Syed Kirmani and Kiran More, Kirmani comes across as a natural choice given his terrific wicket-keeping skills. He was swift, flexible and smart with his keeping. Kirmani kept equally well against the spinners and the pacers.
His batting stats too are better than More and thus wins the coveted job in the dream side.
#9 Manoj Prabhakar (All-rounder)
Manoj Prabhakar was a genuine wicket-taker. The swing was his key weapon and he picked up an impressive 157 wickets employing it in the 130 ODIs that he played. His tight lines and lengths also ensured a good economy rate of 4.28.
Prabhakar will open the bowling for the T20 XI.
The Tail Enders
#10 Roger Binny (Bowler)
Roger Binny picked up 18 wickets at an average of 18.66 in the victorious 1983 World Cup campaign with some awe-inspiring swing bowling. He was the highest wicket-taker in the 1983 World Cup. He was able to swing the ball both ways and also generate good bounce off the pitch. Binny was a decent batsman as well and has five Test half-centuries against his name.
Binny and Prabhakar pair will open the bowling for the T20 XI unless the skipper Kapil Dev gets himself in.
#11 Dilip Doshi (Bowler)
An Indian T20 team without a specialist spinner is like separating the soul from the body. Dilip Doshi was the successor of the maestro Bishen Singh Bedi and like him, he too was a master of flight. Doshi had exceptional control over flight and spin. He picked-up a mind-boggling 114 wickets in 33 Tests.
In the T20 XI, his role will be that off an attacking spinner — a spinner who gives it some air, a lot of revolutions on the ball and is always hunting for wickets.
Well, do you’ll agree? If not, you can post a comment with your Dream XI! Would love to see that.
