10 greatest T20I performances by an Indian player

Since the time that India won the 2007 ICC World T20, the interest of Indian cricket fans in the shortest format has multiplied by epic proportions, just like it all started for the game when India lifted the 1983 ICC World Cup.

However, India was not able to replicate their success of the 2007 World T20 in any of the following editions. India came close to winning the 2014 World Cup but lost out to eventual winners Sri Lanka. This time, playing at home, India will be looking to go all the way after having valiantly made it to the semi-finals of the tournament.

The year 2016 has begun on a good note for India with respect to limited-overs cricket. India has defeated Australia and Sri Lanka in T20I series and also won the Asia Cup in a comprehensive manner. Along with the recent performances from Indian players in the T20 format, we take a look at ten of the best T20I performances by an Indian:

#10 – Harbhajan Singh's 4/12 against England, 2012

In India's group stage match of the ICC World T20 2012 in Sri Lanka, the men in blue put in one of their best performances in the T20 format to end up with their biggest margin of victory by runs as they defeated the clueless English by 90 runs.

India, who were put into bat, were powered by valuable knocks from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir who scored 55(33), 40(32) and 45(38) respectively and put on a total of 170 on board.

In reply, only England opener Craig Kieswetter showed any sort of fight as England were bowled out for a paltry 80, losing their last eight wickets for just 41 runs. Harbhajan Singh, who was making a comeback to the national side after a year, was the main tormentor as he asked questions of the English batsman and picked up four wickets in four overs with two of those being maiden overs, with even a single maiden over being a rarity in T20 cricket.

#9 – Rohit Sharma's 83(55) against Bangladesh, 2016

After a good performance in the Australian limited-overs tour and a home series win against Sri Lanka, India were looking in red hot form in the T20 format with the top-order having been in top form.

But, after being 22/2 after 4.3 overs, it seemed like India's purple patch was coming to an end on a tricky Mirpur pitch. When Suresh Raina got out in the eighth over, India only a run rate of just over 6.

However, the in-form Rohit Sharma stitched two valuable partnerships, the first with Yuvraj Singh and the second with Hardik Pandya to help India put up a very competitive total of 166 on board. Despite a slow start, Rohit scored 83 off just 55 balls hitting 7 fours and 3 sixes. The Indian bowlers also put in a good show to restrict the home side to just 121.

#8 – Suresh Raina's 101(60) against South Africa, 2010

In the T20 format, a score of anything above 30 is considered good, anything above 50 considered excellent while anything above 100 is a very rare occurrence in the 20-over format.

Since playing their first T20I match in 2006, India had to wait four years before they got their own T20I centurion in the form of Suresh Raina when the men in blue took on South Africa in the 2010 ICC World T20 group stage match at St. Lucia.

After India lost two early wickets, Raina took on the onus of being the key man as he played a masterclass of an innings to score 101 off just 60 balls, hitting 9 fours and 5 sixes to help India score 186. Raina scored more than half of the team's runs and the score was enough to ensure that India won the match by 14 runs.

#7 – Ravichandran Ashwin's 4/11 against Australia, 2014

There are not many spinners who can be termed as world-class in modern-day cricket. However, India's Ravichandran Ashwin is one of them as his intelligent bowling even in unsuitable conditions make him one of the best spinners, especially in limited-overs cricket.

Although Ashwin's performance overseas isn't the best, his impact in sub-continent conditions in second to none as he makes perfect use of the conditions. That is just what he did in the 2014 ICC World T20 group stage against a deflated Australia at Mirpur.

After India put up a fighting score of 159, Ashwin made an impact right from his first over removing dangerous opener, Aaron Finch for just 6. Ashwin went on to pick up three more wickets to help reduce Australia to a score of just 86. Ashwin finished with figures of 4/11 from 3.2 overs, with 15 of the 20 balls he bowled being dot balls.

#6 – Yuvraj Singh's 3/19 and 38(21) against England, 2012

In England's 2012 tour of India, Yuvraj Singh proved why he was such a valuable asset to the Indian side with both bat and ball as he put in one of the best all-round T20 performances.

England seemed to be running away with the match as Alex Hales and Luke Wright helped England score 89 off the first ten overs. After Yuvraj was introduced, he made an immediate impact sending Wright back to the hut. In his next over, Yuvraj picked up the wickets of Hales and captain Eoin Morgan. From looking at a score of close to 200, England finished with just 157.

In reply, all Indian batsmen contributed well getting off to good starts, however, Yuvraj Singh was the top-scorer as he made 38 off 21 balls to set the tone for an easy chase, with India chasing down the target with more than two overs left.

#5 – Virat Kohli's 72*(44) against South Africa, 2014

Over the last few years, Virat Kohli has made a name for himself in limited-overs cricket. Playing good shots and yet getting the results for his team has been his forte. Kohli was quite instrumental in India's run to the final of the 2014 World T20.

In the semi-final match against South Africa, the Proteas batted very well to put up a score of 172 on board. India had to come up with a good batting performance to make it to the final of the tournament.

The Indian openers got India off to a good start and this was built on by the mercurial Virat Kohli as he scored an unbeaten knock of 72 off just 44 balls. He scored only 32 runs off boundaries thus showing his all-round ability while batting, focusing on good running between the wickets.

#4 – Virat Kohli's 90*(55) against Australia, 2016

Virat Kohli makes the list again, unsurprisingly, for another brilliant performance in the T20 format. Having had mixed 2015, Kohli needed to start 2016 on a good note, and in India's tour of Australia, he did just that as he scored four fifties in the five ODIs.

In the first T20I of the series, India needed to make a statement ahead of the World T20 as well as get over the ODI series loss. Kohli, who is known more for his chasing ability, came up with one of his best knocks in T20Is as he scored an unbeaten knock of 90 in only 55 balls to help India post 188 on board.

This was sufficient as the home side fell short of the target by 37 runs. Although he fell short of the three-figure mark by 10 runs, the knock is Kohli's highest ever in T20Is.

#3 – Virat Kohli's 49(51) against Pakistan, 2016

An India-Pakistan fixture is always a thrilling encounter, no matter how small or big the target for one of the teams is. The rivalry between the two sides is something that would add flavour to any of the matches played between them.

When the two sides met for the first time after a year, in the 2016 Asia Cup T20, expectations were high for a feisty contest. After India bowled Pakistan out for a measly 83 with 2.3 overs left.

What seemed like an easy chase was made harder by an excellent bowling spell by Mohammad Amir as he helped reduce India to a scored of 8/3 in 2.4 overs. It needed some patient batting if India was to chase down the mediocre total.

While most batsmen struggled to connect bat with ball, Kohli seemed to be playing on a different pitch as he fought his way to a 51-ball 49 to lead his side out of trouble yet again and avoid an embarrassing loss.

#2 – Yuvraj Singh's 70(30) against Australia, 2007

The 2007 ICC World T20 might be more famously known for the six sixes that Yuvraj Singh hit off the bowling of Stuart Broad. However, on India's road to the first World T20 title, India faced the daunting task of taking on the Australians in the semi-finals.

Choosing to bat first on a good Kingsmead track, India were hoping to put on a good score. However, the openers struggled to get going and India seemed to be in trouble at 41/2 in 8 overs. This is when Yuvraj Singh walked in.

In the next 6.3 overs, India scored 84 runs as Yuvraj took all the Australian bowlers to the cleaners to finish with a score of 70 off just 30 balls. The southpaw's knock helped India post 188. Australia fell short of the target by 15 runs as none of their batsmen could replicate the innings that Yuvraj played.

#1 – Virat Kohli's 82*(51) against Australia, 2016

India's vice-captain and best batsman currently makes the list for the fourth time in the list, another factor exemplifying his impact in the shortest format of the game.

On Sunday's must-win match of the Super 10 Group 2 stage, India needed to come up with a performance that showed they were genuine contenders for the World T20 title. After the Australian openers got off to a great start, it looked the match was set for a high-scoring run-fest.

However, after the Indian bowler pulled things back to restrict the Aussies to 160, it did not seem too hard. The Indian openers failed yet again as India were in trouble once again at 49/3 in 7.4 overs.

But, as long as Kohli was at the crease, nothing seemed impossible. Even when 67 was needed off the last 6 overs, Indian fans were hopeful despite Yuvraj's injury having slowed down the chase.

Kohli's unbeaten 82 off 51 balls was one of the best ever T20I chases, with Kohli himself rating it his best. With his current form, it should only be a surprise if India does not make it to the final of the World T20 and attempt to win their second title.