The top eight teams will be joined by Stage 1 qualifiers to complete the “Super 12” line-up. Among these 12 teams, there will be many new faces, who will make their T20 World Cup beginning.
TimesofIndia.com here picked out five players in the list of newbies you need to watch out for:
SURYAKUMAR YADAV
India (Medium Order Batter)
(photo by AFP)
One batsman everyone would love to bet on is India’s newest hitter Suryakumar Yadav. At 32, he may not carry the blood considered young for cricket or for that matter the T20 adrenaline of a 22-year-old, but that may be what helped him master the art of hitting against the white ball. Many, including former South African pacer Dale Steyn, consider Surya to be India’s version of a 360-degree AB de Villiers, and it’s not without reason, as the right-handed batsman can hit the light of day. ‘a bowling attack with the most daring. and innovative shots. The latest casualties were South Africa, when Surya hit 61 on just 22 balls in the second T20I in Guwahati. He has a year full of such consistent performances under his belt and the way Surya can switch gears makes him the most feared batsman for bowlers in this T20 World Cup. He is by far the best T20 batsman in India currently and ranked number 2 in the ICC T20I batting rating.
Suryakumar Yadav in numbers:
T20Is: 34
Races: 1045
Medium: 38.70
Strike rate: 176.81
The highest: 117
the 50’s: 9
100s: 1
CAMERON GREEN
Australia (Allrounder)
(IANS Photo)
This World Cup would have missed seeing one of the most gifted talents on the international T20 scene in recent times, but the odds turned in Green’s favor in the eleventh hour. A freak golf injury suffered by Australian reserve wicketkeeper Josh Inglis ruled him out and the hosts brought in the versatile skills of Green as a replacement. His ODI exploits, led by his average pace induced five wickets against Zimbabwe and two measured shots against New Zealand and Colombo, paved the way for his entry into the T20Is. The right-handed impact shot in the shortest format came at Mohali earlier this year when he smoked Indian bowlers for a 30-ball 61 as the Australians chased a mammoth 208 for 6 to beat the hosts. Before that, Green’s best T20 score was 36. Definitely a player to watch in this edition. With the option of being used as an opener or finisher, Green, playing in his first-ever T20 World Cup, could prove to be the X-factor captain Aaron Finch wants in the squad.
Cameron Green in numbers:
T20Is: seven
Races: 136
Medium: 7:42 p.m.
Strike rate: 174.35
The highest: 61
the 50’s: 2
100s: 0
Counters: 5
Best numbers: 2/16
Economy: 9:16 a.m.
NASEEM SHAH
Pakistan (fast thrower)
(photo by AFP)
As recently as August this year, Naseem Shah had not played a single white ball international. From there to being one of the Pakistani players to watch at the T20 World Cup, it’s been a white ball trip in the fast lane. But the 19-year-old has had his ups and downs since making his Test debut aged just 16. The latest sensation in Pakistan’s fast bowling factory line is the youngest bowler to score a five-wicket hit and a hat-trick in Test cricket. But a string of injuries sidelined him for the better part of a year before returning to action earlier this year. He took care of KL Rahul in his maiden T20I win at the Asian Cup earlier this year which opened the doors for him to be selected for Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad.
Naseem Shah in numbers:
T20Is: 9
Counters: 11
Best numbers: 2/7
Economy: 7.89
FINN ALLEN
New Zealand (Wicketkeeper-batsman)
(IANS Photo)
Finn Allen might just be the spark New Zealand wanted in their bid to lift a maiden T20 World Cup trophy. The right-handed wicket-striker may have missed the T20 World Cup last year, but his century against Scotland and his rich form in the T20I tri-series on the threshold of the showpiece event have prepared him for a blitzkrieg Down Under. Bettering his previous record of 71 from just 29 balls against Bangladesh, Allen, 23, smashed a 101 from 56 balls against Bangladesh in Auckland and followed it up with a 62 from 42 balls against Pakistan’s rhythm battery. No bowling offense in the T20 World Cup would want to take such form and stats lightly.
Fin Allen in numbers:
T20Is: 18
Races: 469
Medium: 26.05
Strike rate: 161.72
The highest: 101
the 50’s: 2
100s: 1
ARSHDEEP SINGH
India (Fast Bowler)
(AP picture)
Arshdeep Singh shot to fame with the yorkers and death bowling prowess he showcased for the Punjab Kings in the 2021 Indian Premier League season. The 2018 U-19 World Cup winner’s consistent performances earned him a senior India shirt and the 23-year-old left-arm pacer has never looked back since. The pressure of international cricket has not affected Arshdeep’s calmness which comes naturally to him and has helped him maintain his composure even in difficult situations, as seen in the Asian Cup when he won the heats final consistently and stingily. While some of those performances may not have come in a winning cause, Arshdeep might just be the man India captain Rohit Sharma needed to fix his side’s death bowling woes.
Arshdeep Singh in numbers:
T20Is: 13
Counters: 19
Best numbers: 3/12
Economy: 8.14
