Cricket enthusiasts adore a little drama, but nothing gets you pumping like a combined all-rounder performance. Managing a fifty in T20 cricket is tough enough, but doing both with two wickets? Recently, Oman’s Aamir Kaleem has joined that club with a performance that made the whole cricketing world wake up. But let’s backtrack a second and talk about four players who checked the two boxes against India in T20Is, and how they raised eyebrows.
Bravo Shows India His All-Round Swagger
If T20 cricket had a dictionary, Dwayne Bravo would be the definition of all-rounder. It was the 2009 T20 World Cup at Lord’s. India posted a below-par 153/7, and Bravo was not going to let them get away with it. He started by running through the batting line-up with figures of 4/38, and then batted just as coolly, finishing with 66 runs off 36 balls. West Indies won the match quite comfortably with 8 balls remaining, and Bravo confirmed his place as one of the premier entertainers of T20 cricket.
Watson’s Power Show in Colombo
Jump ahead to the 2012 T20 World Cup in Colombo, and Shane Watson was pretty much a one-man army. India batted first and crawled to a pathetic 140/7, with Watson largely responsible for the damage, taking 3/34. Then, it was time for India to see the part they feared the most – his batting. Watson opened up and scored a savage 72 off 42 balls that included just 2 fours and 7 massive sixes. With David Warner firing along with an unbeaten 63, Australia cruised to victory with 31 deliveries remaining.
Shanaka’s Blazing Finish in Pune
January 2023 also brought us another spectacle, this time from Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka, who built a strong start alongside Kusal Mendis before providing fans with the kind of cameo you get goosebumps from. With Shanaka hitting 56 off 22 balls and hitting sixes that silenced the Pune crowd. But that was not all, as he contributed with the ball too, picking up 2/4 off 1 over and proving there was nothing wrong with his destructive ability limited amount of playing time. India were brave in their chase thanks to Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel, but the Lankans held on to win by 16 runs.
Kaleem’s Age-Defying Heroics Against India
Finally, allow me to introduce the latest member — Aamir Kaleem, the hero from Oman, who is 43 years old. In the group stage, in Abu Dhabi, of the Asia Cup 2025, Kaleem turned back the clock when he played the role of an all-around player. He bowled first, with the 2 wickets (2 for 31), and Kaleem made life tough for the Indian batting. Then chasing a total of 189, Kaleem led Oman with a valiant 64 off 46 balls — that included 7 fours and 2 sixes. With Hammad Mirza scoring a 51, Kaleem and Mirza almost gave India a scare. But Oman fell short by 21 runs.
FAQs
- How many players have scored a fifty and taken two wickets in the same T20I against India?
Only four players have achieved this rare feat—Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson, Dasun Shanaka, and Aamir Kaleem.
- Who was the first player to score a fifty and take multiple wickets against India in T20Is?
Dwayne Bravo was the first, pulling it off during the 2009 T20 World Cup at Lord’s.
- Why is Aamir Kaleem’s performance against India in 2025 considered special?
Because at 43, he not only took two wickets but also scored 64 runs, proving that age is no barrier in T20 cricket.
