The cricketing fraternity and the on-lookers are all pumped up to watch the action of the T20 World Cup unfold. Ahead of the tournament, as the teams announced their squads, there were few surprises on each side. And thus it further garnered the anticipation of the mega tournament.
In a tournament like World Cup, deciding the playing XI that will walk the field is a herculean task. All the teams would aim to bring up a perfect team balance by taking into consideration the conditions. This factor has made the teams take some tough calls when it came to announcing the squads for the T20 World Cup.
In the shortest format of the game, it is just a matter of a few overs that decide the fate of the game. In this case, the role of game-changers, who can change the fortunes of the game anytime around, becomes extremely pivotal. The players need to hold on to their nerves and perform for the side in crunch moments to do so.
Here is an XI of game-changers from each top team in T20 World Cup 2021:
1. Evin Lewis
The left-handed opening batter has recently turned many heads owing to his heroics with the bat. Evin Lewis possesses the ability to time the ball well and is renowned as one of the best power hitters. With his impressive performances, he has cemented his place in the shortest format.
In the T20I series against Australia, Lewis displayed his repertoire by being one of the architects of the team’s victory in the final T20I. He played a belligerent knock of 79 and fashioned West Indies’ win in the 5th T20I. Lewis top-scored for the team and his innings included as many as 4 fours and 9 sixes.
He further armed his talent better by shining in the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League. In the tournament, he featured for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, who went on to win the CPL 2021 tournament. Evin Lewis was the second-highest run-getter of the tournament. He chipped in 426 runs at an average of 47.33 and strike rate of 163.21. The dominating starts from him would put the team in a commanding position.
2. Mohammad Rizwan
Mohammad Rizwan made it to Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad in place of Sarfaraz Ahmed. It was expected that Rizwan would be the first choice keeper-batter for the Men in Green. The side has pinned a lot of hopes on him and he will be determined to perform well for the side. He has been exceptional with the bat for Pakistan in the T20Is.
The stability and consistency he provides up the order has helped Pakistan get to steady starts. In recent times, he has marched the drum of his talent by fetching in some impressive performances. He scored an unbeaten 104 against South Africa and then carried the momentum further to hit seven half-centuries in the T20 format.
In PSL 2021, he was the second-highest run-getter just behind Pakistan skipper Babar Azam. He also set a new record for most T20I runs in one calendar year. Rizwan chipped in 752 runs from 15 matches at an average of 94. His good form can be a great asset for the team.
3. Virat Kohli
Considered as one of the best batters of modern cricket, a lot of hopes will be pinned on the Indian skipper Virat Kohli in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The energy and passion he brings on the 22 yards make him stand out from others. Kohli recently announced that he would step down as India’s T20 captain post the mega event of the World Cup.
This news came in as a shock for the cricketing fraternity as they came up with mixed reactions to this. Soon after this, the star batter made yet another announcement wherein he stated that he would captain RCB for the last time in this season and then continue as only a player for the franchise. It is known to all that Kohli has staggering numbers when it comes to the IPL.
In T20Is, the Indian skipper has smashed 3159 runs from 90 matches at a healthy average of 52.65. He knows how to run a game and is renowned as the chase master. It is absolutely no-brainer that he will make an impact in the tournament and would stand tall as and when the situation demands so.
4. Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali has emerged as one of the most reliable all-rounders who has performed when the team has needed him. The dashing left-handed batter has the flair to smack the ball miles away and dominate the game. He brings in a certain attacking game on the field which can pose threat to any opposition.
Moeen Ali has also become an important asset of the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He was roped in by the franchise in the IPL 2021 auction. The team promoted him ahead of Suresh Raina and the all-rounder did not fail to make an impact. He has also proven his prowess with the ball, which further makes him an important player in any side.
In the recently-concluded The Hundred tournament, Moeen smashed 225 runs at an average of 32.14. He is currently with his IPL franchise CSK in the UAE and will get a good game practice ahead of the World Cup. From 38 T20I matches, he has scored 437 runs and also picked up 21 wickets.
5. Rishabh Pant
The wicketkeeper-batter has emerged as one of the most promising Indian players across formats. Over the course of time, Rishabh Pant has looked in fine form with the bat and has also impressed everybody with his wicket-keeping skills. He turned many heads with his performances in the Test series against Australia and then against England at home.
The left-handed batter scored two splendid knocks of 70+ runs in the home ODI series against England. He then took the momentum further in the first half of the IPL. He smashed 213 runs in 8 matches at an average of 35.50 for the Delhi Capitals. In the absence of Shreyas Iyer, who went through a shoulder injury, Pant was handed over the captaincy of Delhi and is continuing leading the side for the remainder of the IPL.
Pant has a lot of innovative shots under his sleeves. He possesses an attacking game and can dominate the opposition. When it comes to game-changers who can pull victory from the jaws of defeat, Pant certainly is one name that would strike.
6. Glenn Maxwell
The Australian all-rounder is a good timer of the ball. He has time and again proven his abilities with the bat. Maxwell also has the innovative shots under his belt and can hold the fort of the side in crunch moments. At times, he can also take the charge of the field with the ball and provide the team with much-needed breakthroughs.
The presence of Maxwell allows the team to have an extra spinning option and also manage the balance of the side quite well. In the IPL 2021 auction, RCB got Maxwell to the side. This was followed by a lot of discussions by the cricketing world which brought the disappointing performance of Maxwell over the years in the IPL to the fore. However, the all-rounder shushed all the noise around him as he put up some splendid performances for RCB in 2021.
The swashbuckling all-rounder can strike with both the bat and the ball to pull victory for the team. From 72 T20I matches, Maxwell has scored 1780 runs at an average of 31.78 and picked up 31 wickets. By playing a quickfire cameo in the match, he can change the ramification of the game.
7. Andre Russell
Andre Russell has graced the cricket field with his power-hitting abilities being second to none. He is one of the most lethal players when it comes to T20 cricket. Having featured in various T20 leagues, Russell has exuded talent with the willow. He can send the ball out of the park within no time and can also take up the mantle to anchor the innings for the side.
In the IPL as well, Russell has fanned the fires of his hard-hitting capabilities. Not only this, but he can also take the responsibilities with the ball when needed. From 82 IPL matches, he has scored 1680 runs and also scalped 71 wickets.
His massive hitting and blistering cameos can change the fortunes of the game altogether. In the death overs, he becomes even more dangerous with the willow and that is why his inclusion in the team ticks the box of a perfect finisher. In T20Is, Russell has smashed 716 runs and clinched 36 wickets from 62 matches.
8. Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada is undoubtedly one of the most exciting talents that South Africa has presented to the cricketing fraternity. In a short span, the right-hand pacer has made a name for himself by delivering some enthralling performances. The deadly toe-crushing yorkers make him the captain’s go-to man for getting crucial breakthroughs.
Rabada is capable of running through the strongest of the batting lineups and can disturb the sleeping patterns of the batters. In the T20 format, one good spell can change the scripts of the game. Rabada has the repertoire to do so, he can open the bowling well and also do the job right at the slog overs.
In the IPL as well he displayed his fiefdom by performing for the Delhi Capitals. He was the Purple Cap winner in IPL 2020 wherein the speedster scalped 30 wickets and fashioned the side to the finals of the IPL 2020. From 35 T20I matches, the pacer has picked up 41 wickets.
9. Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan is considered one of the best spinners in white-ball cricket. He grabbed many eyeballs by his bowling in the 2016 T20 World Cup. He can spin the ball both ways and also generate a considerable speed. The batters find it tough to read Rashid’s delivery and this further explains the impact of the spinner.
From 51 T20I matches, Rashid has clinched 95 wickets. Once he gets going, he can prove extremely pivotal for the team with the important wickets he can pick. He keeps bowling tight by maintaining the stump-to-stump line. He also always backs himself with his most reliable weapon – an accurate googly which reaps rewards for him on most occasions.
The Afghanistan spinner has also starred with the ball in the IPL over the years. Playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, he has clinched 85 wickets from 69 matches. He featured for the Trent Rockets in the recently-concluded The Hundred tournament. From nine matches, the spinner picked up 12 wickets in the tournament.
10. Shaheen Afridi
Shaheen Afridi has become one of the rising stars of Pakistan. He is been one of the most reliable pacers for the side and has caught the attention of many with his incredible bowling. The speedster has been Pakistan’s trusted man since his international debut in 2018.
Shaheen Afridi has represented Pakistan in 19 Tests, 28 ODIs and 30 T20I matches. He has picked up 76, 53 and 32 wickets in the formats respectively. He became the youngest pacer at the age of just 20 to scalp 100 T20 wickets. He reached the milestone whilst the PSL 2021 match and surpassed Bumrah’s record who reached this feat at the age of 23 years and 57 days.
The special young talent has the skill set to dominate the opposition with the ball. By striking at the tense moments, he can turn the game by securing quick and important wickets. A lot of hopes will be invested in the youngster ahead of the start of the T20 World Cup.
11. Jasprit Bumrah
The name that has cemented itself in the Indian side across formats is that of Jasprit Bumrah. He has been one of the strongest links of team India’s chain. Bumrah has dominated the proceedings with his deadly yorkers and fashioned many victories for the team. He toiled hard in the domestic circuit which paved his path in the IPL and since then there is no looking back.
He has led the fast bowling unit of India and Mumbai Indians for quite a period now. Bumrah recently scripted his name into the history books by becoming the fastest Indian pacer to scalp 100 Test wickets. In the recent Test match series against England, he picked up the wicket of Ollie Pope to reach this milestone.
His bowling style stands out as it is regarded as unique and unorthodox. He doesn’t have a long run-up but is able to generate the necessary pace to disturb the batters. Whenever the team has needed wickets, Bumrah has stood tall to be the game-changer for the side. Talking about his IPL numbers, he has clinched 117 wickets so far from the 100 matches he has played for the Mumbai Indians. In the T20Is, the speedster has picked up 59 wickets from 50 matches.
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