15 Cricketers you would want to catch if they were Pokemon

The Pokemon Go trend has spread like wildfire across the globe. The company Niantic that developed the game just launched it in the United Stated of America, Australia, New Zealand and a list of other countries but users from across the globe are already playing the game.

I don’t think we actually need to tell you ‘apk’ how to get it on your phones even if you are not from the countries where the game is officially launched. Most of us, Pokemon fans from the 90s have already fallen for the game and are absolutely in love with it.

With the world going head over heels for Pokemon Go how can the cricketing universe fall behind? So, we decided to give you this list of cricketers and the Pokemon who match them best, some for their qualities, some for the love they enjoy and a few for their demeanor. Here are the Cricketers you would want to catch if they were Pokemon.

(The first part tells you about the Pokemon, second about the player and the third is why they are equated)

1. Virat Kohli – Pikachu:

Pikachu is an electric type Pokemon whenever he comes across something he is not comfortable with uses the thunderbolt. Pikachu was Ash’s first Pokemon and once they got to know each other became best of friends. He never lived in the Pokeball and didn’t evolve either.

Virat Kohli has in 2016 been at his best. Has not just been among the runs but has also won his teams matches almost singlehanded. Virat had a great start to the year with the Australia tour, followed by the Asia Cup T20 and the World T20 2016; he then led his side RCB to the final of the IPL with great charm and character.

Pikachu is without a doubt the most loved Pokemon and one close to the heart of most fans. If ever we were to be a Pokemon master Pikachu has to be in our team. Virat Kohli at this point in his career is the heartthrob of cricket fans around the world and given an option everybody would pick him in their teams. Pikachu thunder bolts and Virat is as fast as the thunder between wickets, on the field and loves to attack when in a situation of uncertainty.

2. Sarah Taylor – Butterfree:

One of the cutest Pokemon’s Butterfree searches for delicious honey from flowers. It has the ability to trace, extract, and carry honey from flowers. It is believed that Butterfree has the skill to search for honey in flowers blooming at a distance over six miles from its nest.

Sarah Taylor is one of the most talented wicketkeeper batsman produced by England. She is not just known for his batting but is incredibly good and quick behind the wickets as well. Taylor is swift on the field and scores her runs at some pace. Considered one of the cutest female cricketers she has a lot of fans around the globe.

Both Butterfree and Sarah are cute but at the same time, not someone to mess around with. They are quick, know their stuff really well and of course have flowers around them most times.

3. Joe Root – Squirtle:

Squirtle is a water type Pokemon. Squirtle is one of the few basic Pokemon that were introduced right at the start of the show. It has a shell that is not just protection but helps it swim. Squirtle was also very close to Ash and later evolved into Wartortle and Blastoise.

Joe Root at the moment is the most promising English cricketer. One of the most technically sound batsmen in the English lineup is also considered among the best in the world at the moment. He has scored his runs with class and consistency. Root has the ability to bat against both pacers and spinners and is seen as a successor of Alastair Cook.

Squirtle and Root both have rock solid defense. Can attack when challenged and when they take the offensive route it isn’t the easiest to tackle them off. Squirtle is baby-faced and so is our Root boy.

4. Chris Gayle – Charmander:

Charmander is a fire Pokemon. A flame burns at the tip of its tail which indicates its emotions. The flame wavers when Charmander is happy and in a good mood. When it is enraged, the flame grows intense.

Chris Gayle we all know is one of the most dangerous batsmen when it comes to the shortest format of the game. He has time and again right through his career demolished the opponents. On his day Gayle can just run away with the game and the opponents well they won’t even realize how quickly the game goes against them.

Both these have flair and fire. When Charmander turns into Charizard it isn’t for anybody to control him. That is exactly what happens when Gayle gets going. He likes to have fun and at the same time is full of fire just like Charizard.

5. Mustafizur Rahman – Pidgeotto:

Pidgeotto is the evolved version of Pidgie. It is a flying type Pokemon. It flies around, patrolling its area. If someone dares to trespass into its territory Pidgeotto shows no mercy.

Mustafizur Rahman has been a sensation of sorts in his rise in international cricket. He is quick, can swing the ball and has a superb off-cutter which only a few have managed to negotiate successfully. He is a hard working fast bowler and deliveries his balls at some pace. Mustafizur is definitely a future prospect to watch out for.

Pidgeotto and Mustafizur both are tough for the opponent when he enters their area. Both are quick, love to move around and are very competitive by nature.

6. Trent Boult – Electrode:

Electrode is an electric type Pokemon. It eats electricity from the atmosphere and stores it within. It sometimes gets carried away and eats too much electricity; usually when its lightning. Electrode just explodes after the overdose.

Trent Boult is one of the best swing bowlers in the world at the moment. A conventional swing bowler he isn’t one of the fastest but with conditions suiting his style of bowling can make the best batsmen dance to his tunes. He has had a great partnership with Tim Southee and the duo has been the backbone of New Zealand bowling in the last few years.

Boult’s last name is the huge influence to be equated with an electric Pokemon. Electrode attacks with thunder boults and Boult does the same. When the conditions assist his ball is as tough as the electric wave to negotiate with and that makes them pretty similar.

7. David Warner – Machamp:

Machamp is the best form of Machop. It’s a fighting type Pokemon. Machamp can hit his opponent or anybody who comes in way out it. It has great power and can hurl anything aside. It doesn’t think much before acting and tends to get into action before thinking of the outcome.

David Warner is the pocket size dynamo. He is a compact power bomb. The Australian opener is one of the most attacking and aggressive batsmen the game has seen. He has developed himself from being the shorter format specialist to a stable Test batsman and that shows how committed he is towards his game.

I don’t want to tell you why Warner would be a fighting Pokemon. He loves to punch and challenge his opponents not just in the ball game. Warner is aggressive and charges at the one standing in the opposite corner.

8. Mitchell McClenaghan – Electabuzz:

Electrabuzz is an electric type Pokemon. They prefer to take the lightning bolts and charge themselves with it. In the series a few towns used Electabuzz in place of lightning rods. It has huge current carrying potential and more than the basic electric type Pokemon.

Mitchell McClenaghan is probably at his best level in the ongoing season. He is a supercharged bowler, the one who runs in charging each ball and delivers his 100%. McClenaghan is quick and touches the higher 140 kmph mark. He has a good bouncer and also knows the best use of the fuller delivery to fox the batsmen and not to forget the slower ones.

McClenaghan is lightning quick and Electabuzz is all about lightning and electricity. His speed makes him easily equitable to the electric type Pokemon and so does his energy reserve.

9. Kieron Pollard – Psyduck:

Psyduck is one of the most underrated Pokemon. It has special abilities but doesn’t use it that often. But Psyduck has a mysterious power.

Kieron Pollard is the big, strong West Indian cricketer. Pollard is all about brute power. Easily one of the strongest cricketers we have seen on the international arena he has over the years played some of the most destructive knocks for the national team as well as T20 leagues around the world.

Both these fellas have immense power. They don’t use it very often. But when they do, there is nobody who has the antidote or knows the string to control them. When unleashed Psyduck and Pollard are tough to be withheld.

10. Ellyse Perry – Ninetales:

Ninetales is one of the most elegant Pokemon. It’s beautiful. But Ninetales casts a menacing light from its eyes and that is enough to get it complete control over the enemies mind. It’s an ancient Pokemon and is believed to have lived for a thousand years.

Ellyse Perry is one of the most elegant cricketers. She is stunning. Perry the youngest debutant for Australia in the international arena has over the years taken over the role of the pace spearhead of the team. She has won Australia numerous games with her timely wickets and smart bowling. Is one of the best in the business.

Ellyse and Ninetales have similar personalities. They are both elegant, beautiful and stunning. Both of them like to play on the opponent’s mind to gain complete control over the situation and then just cease it.

11. Ahmed Shehzad – Ditto:

Ditto is a normal type Pokemon. It has a special ability to rearranges its cell structure and transform into any other Pokemon that it wishes it. It is also worth noting that Ditto isn’t blessed with a good memory and gets details wrong when transforms relying on its memory.

Ahmed Shehzad is a young, aggressive top order batsman from Pakistan. He rose in the ranks following his impressive performances for the Pakistan U19 team. He is a representative of the new generation of Pakistan cricketers who are flamboyant and want the balance of the country’s cricket to also shift towards batting.

Well! we all know Shehzad let’s say unintentionally has on several occasions imitated another popular cricketer (I chose not to name him). The hairstyle, the body language and the selfies, there are quite a few things he has managed to replicate quite well. But like Ditto the memorizing part hasn’t backed him that well and that is why he hasn’t quite managed to bat as well as the one who he intends to be.

12. Rohit Sharma – Snorlax:

Snorlax is a normal type Pokemon and has a special ability to sleep. A normal day is all about eating and sleeping. But mind you, once on the battle ground Snorlax is super competitive and you just cannot dodge its Hyper Beam or one of his super punches or kicks.

Indian opener Rohit Sharma is termed lazy. While at the best of his flows, Rohit plays some really elegant shot and they look ridiculously easy when coming out of his bat and that is where the term ‘lazy elegance’ got attached to him. He is the only batsman with two double tons in ODI cricket and has improved his consistency over the years.

Rohit is famous among his teammates for his ability to sleep anywhere, on the chair, on the couch, in an uncomfortable position. He just needs some space to put things down and Rohit can sleep there. Snorlax also obviously loves to sleep, comes across as a lazy Pokemon but has the ability to surprise his opponent and be really good with his attacks. Enough reasons for them to be on the same page.

13. AB de Villiers – Mewtow:

Mewtwo is a Pokémon that was created by genetic manipulation. It has acted as the balance maker and controlled things when they tend to get out of hand. Mewtwo doesn’t carry emotions and does what seems right.

So much has been written about AB de Villiers that its quite tricky to sum him up. He is one of the best batsmen in the game. Has the super ability to produce unbelievable shots and has played some crazy knocks. Be it Test, ODI or T20 his game and effectiveness remains the same. The team that he represents always relies on him and he is the balancing act in the side.

The two are hugely respected in their circles. Use their logical mind and brain power to get out of tangles. Are brutal when attacked and have the role of maintaining the balance.

14. Misbah-ul-Haq – Jigglypuff:

Jigglypuff is a normal fairy type Pokemon. It has special vocal cords that can freely adjust the wavelength of its voice. Jigglypuff has this ability to sing at the exact wavelength to make its opponent drowsy and put them all to sleep.

Misbah-ul-Haq is undoubtedly the best thing that happened to Pakistan cricket in the last decade. He has always been the rescuer. Has over the years bailed out the team out of numerous troubles and has even helped them to victories. The most successful Pakistan skipper is an amazingly talented batsman and can drop anchors under testing conditions and take the charge to the opposition when it matters.

Jigglypuff sings at the perfect wavelength to put everyone to sleep and when Misbah is at his defensive best every block takes us closer to sleep. He reminds us of the batsmen from the previous generation who absolutely loved their defense and believed in tiring the bowlers. Taking nothing away from these two characters its super effective for them and what works is what counts.

15. MS Dhoni – Articuno:

Articuno is a legendary bird Pokémon. It is the legend that can control the element ice. The flapping of Articuno’s wings chills the atmosphere. It is said that whichever region it flies over experiences snowfall. It isn’t seen very often and comes out only when things go out of hand.

Indian limited overs skipper MS Dhoni is the only captain in international cricket to have won all the three titles, the World T20, 50-overs World Cup and the Champions Trophy. He started off as a fearless batsman with a thrashing approach but shaped his game exquisitely into a finisher. Dhoni is a legend and is known for his ice-cool attitude and calming presence.

MS Dhoni’s tag of being captain cool makes him quite similar to Articuno. Both these are legends. While Articuno chills the air when it flies and Dhoni has been successful in maintaining a pretty cool atmosphere in the dressing room and the team and that is one of the secrets behind his success.