World T20 Dream XI

The ICC World Twenty20, which concluded with Pakistan winning the crown at Lord's on Sunday, was full of surprises.

At the start of the tournament you would have hardly predicted that Pakistan would end up winning the title, especially after they lost their two warm-up matches. Fancied Australia and India failed to even make the semi-finals, while hot favourites South Africa again choked in the last four.

So who were the players who made the difference in the second edition of the Twenty20?

Rediff.com picks the best eleven from the tournament.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, with 317 runs at 52.83, including three half-centuries, is the obvious choice for the opener's slot. He should be partnered by Chris Gayle (193 runs at 48.25), who gets the nod over Jacques Kallis for the unpredictability he brings and his powerful hitting.

A few overs with Dilshan and Gayle at the crease can destroy any bowling attack, a prerequisite for the shortest version of cricket.

Kallis could ideally fit in at number three, where his steady approach can help the team motor along in the middle overs. He continued his good form from the IPL, scoring 238 runs at 59.50, with an impressive strike rate of 126.59.

Younis Khan (172 runs at 57.33) qualifies as captain after leading Pakistan to the title and motivating them after being on the brink of elimination in the group stages.

AB de Villiers was one of South Africa's top performers with the bat, scoring 186 runs at 37.20, and fits perfectly at number five.

Kamran Akmal (188 runs at 26.85) would be ideal at number six, since he can really hit the big shots in the final overs, and his wicketkeeping was also top class in the tournament.

Shahid Afridi and Dwayne Bravo are automatic selections at number seven and eight for their ability to change the course of a match, both with bat and ball.

Afridi was easily the MVP of the tournament after two match-winning half-centuries for an aggregate of 176 runs at 35.20 and 11 wickets, at 13.54 and economy rate of 5.32.

Bravo took 10 wickets in six matches and also scored 154 runs, at 38.50, with two half-centuries to his credit.

More than often it is difficult to outshine Muttiah Muralitharan, but that is what Ajantha Mendis did in the tournament. The Sri Lankan spinner finished as the second highest wicket taker with 12 wickets at an average of 11.91 and gets the nod as the number one spinner.

Umar Gul was the standout performer for Pakistan in the tournament and proved to be one of the toughest bowlers to face with his reverse-swinging yorkers. It was his record haul of five wickets for six runs against New Zealand that turned things around for Pakistan. He finished as the tournament's top bowler with 13 wickets in seven games at 12.15.

Lasith Malinga bowled his heart out for Sri Lanka through the tournament for a haul of 12 wickets at 15.08.

Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal should consider himself unlucky to miss out on selection to this list. The off-spinner was the silent performer for Pakistan in the tournament with an impressive haul of 12 wickets at an average of 13.58 in seven games.

World Twenty20 Dream XI:

1. Tillakaratne Dilshan

2. Chris Gayle

3. Jacques Kallis

4. Younis Khan (captain)

5. AB de Villiers

6. Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper)

7. Shahid Afridi

8. Dwayne Bravo

9. Ajantha Mendis

10. Umar Gul

11. Lasith Malinga

12. Saeed Ajmal