The T20 World Cup, the most prominent international event in cricket, is scheduled for October-November. After the pandemic pushed back the 2020 schedule, India is the host for this year’s world cup.
However, as the second wave became intense, there is uncertainty about where the tournament will occur. The most preferred choice is UAE, and other backup options include Oman and Muscat.
Nevertheless, teams are gearing up to compete on the field and looking forward to displaying their full potential.
As fans couldn’t see much of the cricket action for a long time, the T20 world cup brings a refreshing change. The sport resumes in its complete-fledged form, and players are determined to give a headstrong competition.
The 16 teams qualified for the event hosted by Australia in 2020 will play in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. As the world cup prize for this event is in the shortest game format, each team has their eyes on it.
There are many speculations regarding the team’s squad and the players in it. This major event needs the fittest and strongest cricketers to bag away from the trophy. While 2016 was the last time fans witnessed the T20 World Cup, there is an increasing excitement and thrill this year.
With tough teams, which star players will lead their country and emerge victorious in 2021?
Here Are The Top 6 ICC Players That May Stand Out In This Year’s T20 World Cup:
If you are firmly rooting for your favorite team, why not test your intuition and take your experience to the next level. Place your bets through these Canada betting sites and enjoy the World Cup altogether. Find out the players you can put the money on.
1. Virat Kohli
A dynamic player and the captain of team India, Kohli is a batting icon. There is no denying that he is the most critical team member of India’s squad who gives an incredible performance.
While last year was not one of his best as he failed to score a single century in international cricket, he managed to become the fastest player in the game. Kohli reached 12,000 runs in One Day Internationals.
The Indian captain is also one of the leading run-scorers in T20 at an impressive average of 52.65. In his T20 career, he has recorded 28 half-centuries, and it seems he is ready to bounce back. With tough competitors lined up, Kohli can give a challenging battle on the field this year.
2. Babar Azam
Since his debut in 2015, Azam has been on a roll, making and breaking various records. Babar Azam successfully leads the mens ODI ranking and is currently in the 3rd position in the T20 ranking.
The 26-year-old impresses viewers with his talent and caters to the needs of an ideal batsman for Pakistan. However, what makes Azam different is his ability to keep the scoreboard ticketing without taking much risk.
Azam has played enough cricket in almost every pitch and condition during the T20 held in England. The Pakistani captain’s experience combined with his skills can leave a significant impact on the tournament.
3. Dawid Malan
Dawid Malan made a late debut in 2017, but the 33-year-old is a top-tier English cricketer. He currently ranks 1st on the T20I Batting rankings with a stunning average of 50. 2.
In just 19 matches, Malan managed to achieve the number spot in ICC T20 international rankings. He is one of the most agile and striking players, almost as good as any youngster. During the debut, his outstanding performance against the bowlers like Morris and Tahir was awe-inspiring.
Fans even witnessed his perfect form during the 2017-2018 Ashes, when England underperformed, but Malan stood out from others. Dawid Malan specializes in the shortest game format, and the T20 can be his chance to whisk away the trophy for his team.
4. Kane Williamson
The Kiwis are among the strongest contenders in this tournament, considering their competitive squad. Leading the team is the finest batsman in cricket, Kane Williamson. He was renowned for being the tournament player in the last ICC event, the 50-over World Cup. No wonder viewers from all over are anticipating his performance this T20.
The batting legend remains the backbone for New Zealand’s team. He also the 4th highest run-scorer for his country in T20I. Recording 1805 runs at an average of 31.66, Kane is quite a flexible player.
His calm persona positively influences the team, focusing more on the tournament than the pressure.
5. Rashid Khan
Currently, Rashid Khan is one of the biggest names in cricket. The 22-year-old Afgan bowler has never failed to give an incredible performance. Indeed, he has a considerable role to play in Afghanistan’s team.
Khan ranks 2nd in the T20I rankings and is fit to qualify as one of the international bowlers’ best bowlers. In the 51 matches of T20I, Khan has scaled 95 wickets and a strike rate of 12.19.
He also plays for various leagues around the world and has recorded improvement at a fast pace.
According to various tabloids, Khan has denied the responsibility of captainship for the national team. He is instead focusing increasingly on the tournament.
6. Steve Smith
The Australian team is yet to win the T20 World Cup and bring it home. Yet, it may be possible to emerge victorious this year as the team squad has a pretty strong lineup. One player that always stands out from the rest is Steve Smith.
The former captain of the national team is known to be a prodigy in the Test format. His performance in test cricket remains phenomenal.
Although Smith faced a few bumps in his career in the infamous ball-tampering issue, the classic right-hand batsman is back after the ban. Appearing stronger than ever, he ranks 2nd even after playing only three innings in test cricket this year.
Smith has an excellent opportunity to showcase his magnificent performance, lead the team and probably win the trophy for the first time.
The T20 World Cup Tournament of 2021 is going to be full of adrenaline and excitement. While we did not see last year’s tournament, fans can finally enjoy some field action in 2021.
As significant as this tournament is, the charm lies in the players who shape it. We will also see which cricketers may outshine others and those who will give an underwhelming performance.