Published: Mar 08, 2016, 09:17 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 08, 2016, 09:17 AM (IST)
The sixth edition of the most entertaining and electrifying ICC T20 World Cup 2016 commences on Tuesday in India. 10 different teams across the globe will battle with each other for glory and eventually embed their name on the trophy. Intensity and passion will be on an all time high as the tournament is going to be played in India, where audience turn will be huge. One can expect many scintillating individual performances, throughout the tournament and there will also be few players who will catch everyone’s attention, with majority of their team’s success depending on how they fare. They can make their opposition pay at blink off an eye and change the course of the game. With the tournament about kick off, Suraj Choudhari points down 9 such cricketers who will be under the spot-light all through the tournament.
Virat Kohli, India: India’s ace batsman Virat Kohli, has been in the form of his life in the recent times. He is currently ranked No.2 in the International (ICC) Top Twenty20 (T20) batsmen ranking and is now reaping fruits for all his hard work. Kohli has been a massive run contributor for India and has been in irresistible form in T20s. He had a prolific outing in the recently wrapped Asia Cup T20 2016 and is now oozing with confidence. With the match being played in home conditions, Kohli will definitely hold the key for India and will be a thorn in every opposition bubble. In last 10 T20I outings, Kohli has scored 396 runs at a staggering average of 79.20 at a dazzling strike rate of 136.55.
AB de Villiers, South Africa: Words won’t be sufficient enough to describe the supremacy of this genius with the bat, he’s is probably the result of a rewarding scientific experiment, and calling him the best would be an understatement. De Villiers has played enough cricket in the sub-continent and his experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL) might come handy for South Africa. He’s well equipped with variety of shots and can make any bowling attack pay. His average of 25.10 in last 10 games may seem to be contradicting but De Villiers is certainly much more that what the numbers suggests. It’s just a matter of few productive outings before these numbers take a massive heap.
Mohammad Aamer, Pakistan: After making his comeback into the side with a bang, Aamer has stunned everyone with his menacing pace and lethal swing. Aamer has the capability and potential to win matches single-handedly, as he famously showed some glimpses of it in the Asia Cup T20 2016. Aamer has picked eight wickets in last seven matches since his return at an average of 22.62 at a decent economy of 6.70. He is growing with every game and regaining his lost pride with every match. His ability to move the new ball at a brutal pace will definitely create trouble for the top-order batsmen of every team he plays against.
Ravichandran Ashwin, India: Ashwin has been unstoppable on pitches, which had some assistance for the spinners. He has spun an alluring web with his abilities to outfox the greats of the game in the past. He has grown as a bowler and knows how to read the game well. He was outstanding in the T20I series against Australia Down Under and was the reason behind Sri Lankan batsmen’s downfall in a series at home. Ashiwn, has been the destructor in chief for India in the recent times. He displayed the art of keeping the batsman under the pump even if the pitch is offering no turn with his immaculate line and length. He has plethora of variations up in his sleeve and with Indian conditions at the disposal, Ashwin’s presence will be of utmost importance from India’s point of view.
Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh: Rahman has been the find for Bangladesh, his canny cutters without any discernible change in action has earned him accolades across the globe. In 10 T20I matches so far, Rahman has chipped 13 wickets at an impressive average of 17.00 and a parched economy of 5.61. Rahman pulled out from the middle of Asia Cup T20 2016, following a mistimed injury but is expected to join the side for T20 World Cup. Rahman has created problems for many batsmen on the crease. One can say that the result of the Asia Cup T20 2016 final, could have been different if Rahman was playing for Bangladesh. Nevertheless, another golden opportunity awaits Rahman, who will be eying to leave a mark on the grandest stage.
Andre Russell, West Indies: West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has made a name for himself with his maverick hitting and effective medium-pace bowling. Russell has played exceptionally well for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL. Though he has done reasonably well with the ball his performance with the bat has been questionable in the recent times. One can expect him to find his form and once that is accomplished, it will be a tough task for his oppositions to contain him.
Ben Stokes, England: Stokes rise in international cricket has been astonishing. His all-round abilities can win his side a game on any given day. His explosive approach with the bat and intimidating mindset with the ball will be pivotal. He kick started the year 2016 by smashing the fastest Test double ton against South Africa which came in just 163 deliveries. He is also tipped to be the next Ian Botham of England and has all the makings of a box-office star in him.
David Warner, Australia: The eccentric left-handed Australian can turn the tide and take on any bowling attack with ease. He was the orange cap holder for being the leading run scorer in IPL, which is a testament to his ability to succeed in sub-continent. Warner has also been in good touch off late and has sculpted an important position for Australia across formats. He averages 33.55 in last 10 games at a striking strike rate of just over 156. Warner can get his team to a flying start if he bats at top, or can even get some quick runs in the middle-order as one noticed in the ongoing T20I series against Australia.
(Suraj Choudhari is a reporter with Criclife and CricketCountry. He is an avid follower of the game, and plays the sport at club level. He has a radical understanding about the subtle nuances and intricacies of cricket, and tries to express it through paper and pen.)
