The ICC T20 World Cup 2022, the place the crème de la crème of 20-over specialists will collect as much as placed on a grand present for the followers of massive hits and even larger wickets, is now just some months away.It makes this nearly the appropriate time to make clear the highest groups that will likely be contending for the title in addition to the gamers who’re anticipated to wrap themselves in glory.
ICC T20 World Cup 2022: High Groups
India
Due to their IPL, the trendy Indian cricket crew is sort of at all times chock-full of expertise and will be relied upon to subject a aggressive aspect at any given time.
They’ve received the T20 World Cup simply as soon as, which was means again in 2007 within the inaugural version, though they have been additionally among the many finalists in 2014.
Within the 2021 event, that they had a horrible begin the place they have been outclassed by arch-rivals Pakistan, and so they by no means recovered from that setback. On the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, they may have a brand new chief within the type of Rohit Sharma and so it stays to be seen how the Males in Blue fare underneath him
Australia
A T20 World Cup was the one factor lacking from Australia’s trophy cupboard, and so they plugged that hole as effectively by profitable the event in 2021. It means they may now be the defending champions for the 2022 version of the event on dwelling soil.
Other than being the champions and having fun with the house benefit, the Aussies’ huge event pedigree tells us that they will by no means be counted out in ICC tournaments. In spite of everything, they’ve received the larger, 50-over World Cup an astonishing 5 instances. Thus, irrespective of which 11 guys take the sector for the hosts, they are going to be champions at greatest and competent at worst.
They clearly have a dominant T20 document on dwelling turf, having received 31 of their 51 matches and dropping simply 17.
England
Australia might have received the 2021 World Cup but it surely was the English who have been red-hot favorites within the buildup to the event. In actual fact, for a big a part of the event itself, they have been essentially the most devastating crew and had posted a dominant win over eventual champions Australia earlier than being upset by the Kiwis within the semis.
England possesses among the most devastating hitters in world cricket, and arguably essentially the most harmful batsman within the sport right now within the type of Jos Buttler (extra on him later). Their T20 document in Australia isn’t very flattering (1 win, 7 defeats) however nonetheless, they may nonetheless be one of many frontrunners for the title.
Pakistan
Like the 2 above them, Pakistan too is a one-time champion (2009) and one-time runners-up. They’re recognized for his or her volatility – particularly in huge tournaments – however over the previous few years, with just a few secure characters in cost, they seem to have turned the nook.
They’d began the 2021 World Cup with the most important of bangs – a win over India – and continued to dazzle till they bumped into Australia within the semis and received their hearts damaged.They’ve two of one of the best and most dependable batters in T20 cricket within the type of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, whereas their tempo spearhead Shaheen Afridi is without doubt one of the most devastating bowlers round.
Their sole 50-over World Cup win again in 1992 additionally got here on Australian soil, so that they have fond recollections of taking part in huge tourneys Down Beneath.
ICC T20 World Cup 2022: High Gamers
Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler is just not among the many high 10 ranked T20 gamers on ICC rankings however some issues don’t have to be quantified, listed, or ranked. Buttler, who was not too long ago named the England white-ball captain, is arguably the toughest batsman to bowl to when he’s within the zone – which will be very often.
He lit up the IPL this yr with three centuries and over the previous 12 months, he has additionally been his nation’s greatest T20 batter.
In the course of the 2021 World Cup, he averaged an unimaginable 89.66 runs per innings, and regardless that his crew crashed out, he was named within the event’s greatest 11.
Babar Azam
Babar Azam is the quantity one-ranked T20 batter on the earth and is arguably essentially the most naturally gifted participant within the sport right now. His magnificence, class, and consistency are second to none.
Earlier in his profession, he was criticized for taking his time to get going however he’s eradicated that one closing chink in his armor too. He was the very best scorer at World Cup 2021 and regardless that the 2022 version will likely be performed in numerous situations, nobody expects him NOT to seek out runs.
He might now be within the twilight of his profession however David Warner can nonetheless hit – particularly when the battle is on his personal turf.
The diminutive lefty is the second-highest scorer of T20 runs for Australia in Australia and scores his runs at a mean of 45.11 there. Whereas his type in IPL throughout 2021 had seen a dip and he was prematurely and undeservedly deemed a spent power by his critics, his type for Australia has by no means had this downside.
On his day, he may very well be for Australia what Buttler is to England.
Hardik Pandya
After a tough few years, Hardik Pandya is now again to his greatest. He is ready to bat, bowl, subject, lead and do the whole lot else that makes him such an necessary participant for India.
He was his franchise Gujarat Titans’ greatest participant throughout their title-winning marketing campaign this yr and has proven all of the indicators that he’s able to take the middle stage for India within the World Cup.
Wanindu Hasaranga
Regardless of Sri Lankan cricket’s issues over time, Wanindu Hasaranga has quietly emerged on the scene and grow to be the most effective all-rounders within the shortest format.
He was the main wicket-taker within the 2021 World Cup and sits within the high 10 of ICC’s T20 rating for all-rounders.
His deliveries are very arduous to choose off the floor and that makes him so profitable in T20 cricket. If Sri Lanka has to do one thing impactful on the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, it goes with out saying that Hasaranga would be the supplier of a lot of their highlights.