Batters win you games and bowlers win you tournaments but at the end of the day, the team combination is what helps a particular team win a major tournament. Especially in T20 cricket, when the entire complexion of a match can change in just six deliveries. For example, despite having a star-studded team, India didn’t win a single ICC trophy in the last nine years and on the other hand, South Africa being one of the best teams of the last decade, failed to win any major trophy. This proves that somewhere down the line, they didn’t have the right balance among players.

As the 2022 T20 World Cup will begin in exactly a month's time, here’s a perfect time to look at all the teams to check how they are shaping up before the global tournament. Currently, Australia the host nation have qualified for the super twelve along with India, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and New Zealand. Who among these nations is looking the strongest on paper and who need to shift gears is what this article will comprise. Without further ado, let’s jump -

Strongest XI of top 8 teams in the tournament

After retiring from ODI cricket, this can very well be captain Aaron Finch’s last dance in international cricket. Despite having a very substandard tournament the last time around, the 35-year-old managed to help Australia win their first world title in the shortest format of the game. His opening partner, however, had a tremendous season and will once again be Australia’s poster boy in the T20 World Cup. David Warner was also adjudged as the Player of the Tournament in 2021 and since the tournament will be played on his home turf, one can expect a similar kind of damage from the T20 specialist.

Just like the opening order, the entire team is more or less sorted but it’s the injuries that keep on tickling the Kangaroos from time to time. Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Starc were recently ruled out of the India tour following their injuries as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/australia-are-favorites-to-win-the-upcoming-t20-world-cup-2022-saba-karim/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia</a> will hope for them to return back sooner than later to begin their preparation for the global tournament. Marsh at number three is a very important player from Australia’s point of view as he along with Stoinis and Maxwell provide the much-needed support that the bowlers need.

However, Steve Smith’s form can be a matter of concern in the Australian dressing room. Just like they have fiery options up front, their bowling line-up is also one of the best of the tournament. A fit Starc along with Jos Hazlewood and Pat Cummins in Australian conditions is going to be a nightmare for many batters and that is one of Australia’s strengths. Adam Zampa, the leg-spinner has also done well to feature in the playing XI.

Australia’s Probable Playing XI - Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

The Kiwis have played some exceptional cricket in 2022 as they lost just one of their nine T20Is in the season. However, they didn’t play against any of the top eight T20I sides of the T20 World Cup and defeated the likes of Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands and West Indies in the meantime. Thus, it is tough to assess their squad before the T20 World Cup.

Captain Kane Williamson was the 8th leading run-scorer of the 2021 T20 World Cup but a lot has changed over a period of one year. After having a very poor IPL, Kane failed to live up to the expectations in international cricket as well and going to the mega tournament, New Zealand has a big reason to worry. His captaincy skill however is one of New Zealand’s biggest assets and that will once again help the Blackcaps in Australia.

Along with Williamson, Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips will lead the batting unit of the Kiwis while their <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/with-this-indian-bowling-line-up-hopes-of-winning-the-t20-world-cup-are-less-aakash-chopra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bowling</a> unit is one of the best in the business. The trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson can demolish any batting unit and that’s one of the reasons why the opposing teams can have sleepless nights. Ish Sodhi, the leg-spinner has also done well and overall, the Kiwis are once again looking to dominate in an ICC tournament.&nbsp;

New Zealand’s Probable Playing XI - Martin Guptill, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Jimmy Neesham, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee.

Temba Bavuma, the captain of the side has some unfinished business as the top order batter is looking to prove a point. After not being picked for the inaugural SA20 tournament, Bavuma expressed his disappointment and now it needs to be seen how he channelises his anger into a positive result and what better place to do it than the upcoming T20 World Cup?

The captain will, however, need support from his fellow teammates who are looking to win their maiden world cup trophy. They have done well recently against England and Ireland, where they won the series on both occasions and thus, will be eyeing to do well in the mega tournament as well. Quinton De Kock, one of the most destructive players of T20 <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/if-my-daughter-wants-to-play-cricket-i-would-suggest-her-to-follow-jhulan-goswami-sourav-ganguly/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cricket</a> will once again be in focus in the mega tournament while Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klassen and David Miller will accompany him to put a huge total on board. Young Tristan Stubbs, who was the costliest player in the SA20 auction will also be one of the players to watch out for if he gets his opportunity.

When it comes to bowling, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje will bowl the tough overs and given the conditions in Australia, expect some fiery spells from the duo. Wayne Parnell will provide the much-needed experience in the middle but his spot in the playing XI is not guaranteed. Tabraiz Shamsi will also play a vital role in the squad.

South Africa’s Probable Playing XI - Reeza Hendricks, Quinton De Kock, Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klassen, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.

After being knocked out of the T20 World Cup with zero wins in the Super 12 stage, Bangladesh has changed quite a few things before they fight for glory in <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/crictracker-roped-in-as-digital-live-scoring-partner-for-legends-league-cricket-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022</a>. Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahm, two of their modern-day legends announced their retirement from the format while the Bangla Tigers excluded former captain Mahmudulah from the 15-member squad.

Shakib Al Hasan was given the captaincy just before the Asia Cup but the veteran couldn’t really do anything in a short period of time. The team has called up a lot of young talents and that’s a good sign for their cricket going forward. However, the over-dependence on Shakib is what needs to slow down to get favourable results in Australia.

The top order needs to deliver in order to let the inexperienced middle order settle down. Mosaddek Hossain, one of their brightest young talent may have poor stats to prove his worth but when the going got tough, he became one of the most dependable players in the Bangladesh squad during the Asia Cup. Liton Das’ return to the squad is a huge positive from Bangladesh’s point of view. When it comes to bowling, Mustafizur will be leading the attack but it’s high time for Ebadot Hossain and Taskin Ahmed to step up and deliver in the biggest stage.

Bangladesh’s probable playing XI - Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Nurul Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman.

Even though their captain Eoin Morgan retired just months before the T20 World Cup, the team remains unfazed and still is one of the favourites to win the competition. After winning the 2019 ODI World Cup, the team is eyeing their second T20 World Cup and the way they approach the game, is what makes them very different from any other team in the world.

If Ricky Ponting’s Australia taught aggression to the cricketing world, this England bunch is the perfect heir to that. Jos Buttler, the captain of the ship can hammer any opponent at any given ground and that can be said for all his troops. Alex Hales, one of the pioneers of T20 cricket will be making his return to the T20 set-up after three long years and is ready to light up the tournament.

Liam Livingstone and Ben Stokes will be in charge of finishing games and with that, their batting looks more than sorted. The Three Lions will miss Jonny Bairstow in the middle after the 32-year-old injured himself while playing golf.

Bowling can be their problem in the tournament but they have a proper mix of youth and experience. Mark Wood has been in very good form lately while Chris Jordan is known as the death-over specialist. He however will have to keep himself fit as he is very much injury prone. Adil Rashid will be in charge of the bowling unit along with the veteran <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/i-genuinely-feel-my-over-lost-the-game-for-us-moeen-ali/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moeen Ali</a>.

England’s probable playing XI - Jos Buttler (c), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Ben Stokes, Sam Curran, David Willey, Chris Jordan, Reece Topley, Adil Rashid.

Mohammad Nabi and company will be the dark horse of the T20 World Cup. In the recently concluded Asia Cup, the team showed their worth and even after they lost all their three super four matches, they played some good cricket and that’s going to be a threat for a lot of opponents in the upcoming event in Australia.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was one of the best players in the squad and gave Afghanistan a good start in the majority of the matches. He along with Hazratullah Zazai will be responsible to give the Afghans a fiery start as the middle order can stumble. The strike rate of the players in the middle order is a major problem for the Afghanistan team but Ibrahim Zadran’s form will be a massive boost for the team in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-analysis/t20-world-cup2022-5-issues-india-need-to-address-ahead-of-mega-event/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">T20 World Cup</a>. At the same time, Mohammad Nabi will be very concerned about his own form.

When it comes to bowling, they have Rashid Khan, one of the most dominating bowlers in the cricketing world. He along with Mujeeb Ur Rahman will be crucial from Afghanistan’s point of view as the duo is known to pick important wickets for the team. Their pacers are inexperienced but under Umar Gul, they are learning new tricks. Even though they are yet to be at their absolute best, the pacers still are a threat to batters.

Afghanistan’s probable playing XI - Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmed Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

After a blistering start to the 2021 T20 World Cup, the Men in Green were the favourites to win the tournament but a defeat in the semi-finals derailed their dream. However, Babar Azam and the company will look forward to finishing their unfinished business to finally lift their second T20 World Cup in history.

The captain along with Mohammad Rizwan was brutally trolled for their slow strike rate during the Asia Cup. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-analysis/pakistan-vs-england-2nd-t20i-stats-review-babar-azams-feat-opening-partnership-record-and-other-stats/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Babar Azam’s</a> form was also a matter of discussion but in the second T20I against England, all the critics were silenced as they chased 200 down without losing a single wicket. Babar Azam showed a lot of intent and that is something that will help the Pakistan team in Australia. Mohammad Rizwan, the leading run-scorer of the Asia Cup is an extremely consistent cricketer and the pair at the top of the order is Pakistan’s biggest strength in the batting order.

In the absence of Fakhar Zaman and Shoaib Malik, the middle order looks pale but they have enough firepower. The hunger for glory is what drives the team and that is one of the most positive things about the team. In bowling, Shaheen Shah Afridi will make his return to the squad and that’s a massive boost for the team. Afridi is considered to be one of the best bowlers in the world and was ruled out of the Asia Cup following an injury in the knee ligament. Along with Shaheen, Naseem Shah and Harris Rauf have been very successful in the recent past.

Pakistan’s probable playing XI - Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Haider Ali, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The Indian team went through a lot of turbulence before announcing their squad for the T20 World Cup. In the middle of so many if and buts, the selectors have gone ahead with a more or less same squad that played in the Asia Cup. However, the exclusion of Mohammad Shami, Sanju Samson and Ravi Bishnoi has caused a lot of drama in the Indian cricket circuit.

Leaving all that out, Rohit Sharma and his boys will once again take the field with the hope of winning an ICC trophy for the first time in nine long years. The top three - Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli are the most experienced batters in the Indian team but in a crucial juncture of a major tournament, all three fail to perform and that has become a problem for the Indian team in the last few years. The middle order looks good on paper but they have failed to take pressure when the going gets tough. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/doesnt-make-any-sense-to-me-whatsoever-matthew-hayden-wants-dinesh-karthik-to-bat-more/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dinesh Karthik’s</a> role is also a matter of discussion as the wicket-keeper batter is not getting enough time in the middle.

Coming to the bowling unit, death overs has been a massive reason to worry. However, with Jasprit Bumrah making his make his return, the team will be much more relaxed in the tournament. Spinner Yuzendra Chahal is also not in great form and overall, the team needs to sort all their problems out before the mega clash. However, despite all these problems, the team is one of the favourites to win the tournament as all the players are capable enough to turn the game in India’s favour on their day.

India’s probable playing XI - Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Batters win you games and bowlers win you tournaments but at the end of the day, the team combination is what helps a particular team win a major tournament. Especially in T20 cricket, when the entire complexion of a match can change in just six deliveries. For example, despite having a star-studded team, India didn’t win a single ICC trophy in the last nine years and on the other hand, South Africa being one of the best teams of the last decade, failed to win any major trophy. This proves that somewhere down the line, they didn’t have the right balance among players.
As the 2022 T20 World Cup will begin in exactly a month's time, here’s a perfect time to look at all the teams to check how they are shaping up before the global tournament. Currently, Australia the host nation have qualified for the super twelve along with India, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and New Zealand. Who among these nations is looking the strongest on paper and who need to shift gears is what this article will comprise. Without further ado, let’s jump -
<h3>Strongest XI of top 8 teams in the tournament</h3>
<h3>1. Australia</h3>
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After retiring from ODI cricket, this can very well be captain Aaron Finch’s last dance in international cricket. Despite having a very substandard tournament the last time around, the 35-year-old managed to help Australia win their first world title in the shortest format of the game. His opening partner, however, had a tremendous season and will once again be Australia’s poster boy in the T20 World Cup. David Warner was also adjudged as the Player of the Tournament in 2021 and since the tournament will be played on his home turf, one can expect a similar kind of damage from the T20 specialist.
Just like the opening order, the entire team is more or less sorted but it’s the injuries that keep on tickling the Kangaroos from time to time. Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Starc were recently ruled out of the India tour following their injuries as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/australia-are-favorites-to-win-the-upcoming-t20-world-cup-2022-saba-karim/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia</a> will hope for them to return back sooner than later to begin their preparation for the global tournament. Marsh at number three is a very important player from Australia’s point of view as he along with Stoinis and Maxwell provide the much-needed support that the bowlers need.
However, Steve Smith’s form can be a matter of concern in the Australian dressing room. Just like they have fiery options up front, their bowling line-up is also one of the best of the tournament. A fit Starc along with Jos Hazlewood and Pat Cummins in Australian conditions is going to be a nightmare for many batters and that is one of Australia’s strengths. Adam Zampa, the leg-spinner has also done well to feature in the playing XI.
Australia’s Probable Playing XI - Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
<h3>2. New Zealand</h3>
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The Kiwis have played some exceptional cricket in 2022 as they lost just one of their nine T20Is in the season. However, they didn’t play against any of the top eight T20I sides of the T20 World Cup and defeated the likes of Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands and West Indies in the meantime. Thus, it is tough to assess their squad before the T20 World Cup.
Captain Kane Williamson was the 8th leading run-scorer of the 2021 T20 World Cup but a lot has changed over a period of one year. After having a very poor IPL, Kane failed to live up to the expectations in international cricket as well and going to the mega tournament, New Zealand has a big reason to worry. His captaincy skill however is one of New Zealand’s biggest assets and that will once again help the Blackcaps in Australia.
Along with Williamson, Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips will lead the batting unit of the Kiwis while their <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/with-this-indian-bowling-line-up-hopes-of-winning-the-t20-world-cup-are-less-aakash-chopra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bowling</a> unit is one of the best in the business. The trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson can demolish any batting unit and that’s one of the reasons why the opposing teams can have sleepless nights. Ish Sodhi, the leg-spinner has also done well and overall, the Kiwis are once again looking to dominate in an ICC tournament.&nbsp;
New Zealand’s Probable Playing XI - Martin Guptill, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Jimmy Neesham, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee.
<h3>3. South Africa</h3>
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Temba Bavuma, the captain of the side has some unfinished business as the top order batter is looking to prove a point. After not being picked for the inaugural SA20 tournament, Bavuma expressed his disappointment and now it needs to be seen how he channelises his anger into a positive result and what better place to do it than the upcoming T20 World Cup?
The captain will, however, need support from his fellow teammates who are looking to win their maiden world cup trophy. They have done well recently against England and Ireland, where they won the series on both occasions and thus, will be eyeing to do well in the mega tournament as well. Quinton De Kock, one of the most destructive players of T20 <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/if-my-daughter-wants-to-play-cricket-i-would-suggest-her-to-follow-jhulan-goswami-sourav-ganguly/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cricket</a> will once again be in focus in the mega tournament while Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klassen and David Miller will accompany him to put a huge total on board. Young Tristan Stubbs, who was the costliest player in the SA20 auction will also be one of the players to watch out for if he gets his opportunity.
When it comes to bowling, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje will bowl the tough overs and given the conditions in Australia, expect some fiery spells from the duo. Wayne Parnell will provide the much-needed experience in the middle but his spot in the playing XI is not guaranteed. Tabraiz Shamsi will also play a vital role in the squad.
South Africa’s Probable Playing XI - Reeza Hendricks, Quinton De Kock, Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klassen, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.
<h3>4. Bangladesh</h3>
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After being knocked out of the T20 World Cup with zero wins in the Super 12 stage, Bangladesh has changed quite a few things before they fight for glory in <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/crictracker-roped-in-as-digital-live-scoring-partner-for-legends-league-cricket-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022</a>. Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahm, two of their modern-day legends announced their retirement from the format while the Bangla Tigers excluded former captain Mahmudulah from the 15-member squad.
Shakib Al Hasan was given the captaincy just before the Asia Cup but the veteran couldn’t really do anything in a short period of time. The team has called up a lot of young talents and that’s a good sign for their cricket going forward. However, the over-dependence on Shakib is what needs to slow down to get favourable results in Australia.
The top order needs to deliver in order to let the inexperienced middle order settle down. Mosaddek Hossain, one of their brightest young talent may have poor stats to prove his worth but when the going got tough, he became one of the most dependable players in the Bangladesh squad during the Asia Cup. Liton Das’ return to the squad is a huge positive from Bangladesh’s point of view. When it comes to bowling, Mustafizur will be leading the attack but it’s high time for Ebadot Hossain and Taskin Ahmed to step up and deliver in the biggest stage.
Bangladesh’s probable playing XI - Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Nurul Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman.
<h3>5. England</h3>
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Even though their captain Eoin Morgan retired just months before the T20 World Cup, the team remains unfazed and still is one of the favourites to win the competition. After winning the 2019 ODI World Cup, the team is eyeing their second T20 World Cup and the way they approach the game, is what makes them very different from any other team in the world.
If Ricky Ponting’s Australia taught aggression to the cricketing world, this England bunch is the perfect heir to that. Jos Buttler, the captain of the ship can hammer any opponent at any given ground and that can be said for all his troops. Alex Hales, one of the pioneers of T20 cricket will be making his return to the T20 set-up after three long years and is ready to light up the tournament.
Liam Livingstone and Ben Stokes will be in charge of finishing games and with that, their batting looks more than sorted. The Three Lions will miss Jonny Bairstow in the middle after the 32-year-old injured himself while playing golf.
Bowling can be their problem in the tournament but they have a proper mix of youth and experience. Mark Wood has been in very good form lately while Chris Jordan is known as the death-over specialist. He however will have to keep himself fit as he is very much injury prone. Adil Rashid will be in charge of the bowling unit along with the veteran <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/i-genuinely-feel-my-over-lost-the-game-for-us-moeen-ali/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moeen Ali</a>.
England’s probable playing XI - Jos Buttler (c), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Ben Stokes, Sam Curran, David Willey, Chris Jordan, Reece Topley, Adil Rashid.
<h3>6. Afghanistan</h3>
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Mohammad Nabi and company will be the dark horse of the T20 World Cup. In the recently concluded Asia Cup, the team showed their worth and even after they lost all their three super four matches, they played some good cricket and that’s going to be a threat for a lot of opponents in the upcoming event in Australia.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz was one of the best players in the squad and gave Afghanistan a good start in the majority of the matches. He along with Hazratullah Zazai will be responsible to give the Afghans a fiery start as the middle order can stumble. The strike rate of the players in the middle order is a major problem for the Afghanistan team but Ibrahim Zadran’s form will be a massive boost for the team in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-analysis/t20-world-cup2022-5-issues-india-need-to-address-ahead-of-mega-event/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">T20 World Cup</a>. At the same time, Mohammad Nabi will be very concerned about his own form.
When it comes to bowling, they have Rashid Khan, one of the most dominating bowlers in the cricketing world. He along with Mujeeb Ur Rahman will be crucial from Afghanistan’s point of view as the duo is known to pick important wickets for the team. Their pacers are inexperienced but under Umar Gul, they are learning new tricks. Even though they are yet to be at their absolute best, the pacers still are a threat to batters.
Afghanistan’s probable playing XI - Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmed Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
<h3>7. Pakistan</h3>
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After a blistering start to the 2021 T20 World Cup, the Men in Green were the favourites to win the tournament but a defeat in the semi-finals derailed their dream. However, Babar Azam and the company will look forward to finishing their unfinished business to finally lift their second T20 World Cup in history.
The captain along with Mohammad Rizwan was brutally trolled for their slow strike rate during the Asia Cup. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-analysis/pakistan-vs-england-2nd-t20i-stats-review-babar-azams-feat-opening-partnership-record-and-other-stats/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Babar Azam’s</a> form was also a matter of discussion but in the second T20I against England, all the critics were silenced as they chased 200 down without losing a single wicket. Babar Azam showed a lot of intent and that is something that will help the Pakistan team in Australia. Mohammad Rizwan, the leading run-scorer of the Asia Cup is an extremely consistent cricketer and the pair at the top of the order is Pakistan’s biggest strength in the batting order.
In the absence of Fakhar Zaman and Shoaib Malik, the middle order looks pale but they have enough firepower. The hunger for glory is what drives the team and that is one of the most positive things about the team. In bowling, Shaheen Shah Afridi will make his return to the squad and that’s a massive boost for the team. Afridi is considered to be one of the best bowlers in the world and was ruled out of the Asia Cup following an injury in the knee ligament. Along with Shaheen, Naseem Shah and Harris Rauf have been very successful in the recent past.
Pakistan’s probable playing XI - Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Haider Ali, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
<h3>8. India</h3>
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The Indian team went through a lot of turbulence before announcing their squad for the T20 World Cup. In the middle of so many if and buts, the selectors have gone ahead with a more or less same squad that played in the Asia Cup. However, the exclusion of Mohammad Shami, Sanju Samson and Ravi Bishnoi has caused a lot of drama in the Indian cricket circuit.
Leaving all that out, Rohit Sharma and his boys will once again take the field with the hope of winning an ICC trophy for the first time in nine long years. The top three - Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli are the most experienced batters in the Indian team but in a crucial juncture of a major tournament, all three fail to perform and that has become a problem for the Indian team in the last few years. The middle order looks good on paper but they have failed to take pressure when the going gets tough. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/doesnt-make-any-sense-to-me-whatsoever-matthew-hayden-wants-dinesh-karthik-to-bat-more/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dinesh Karthik’s</a> role is also a matter of discussion as the wicket-keeper batter is not getting enough time in the middle.
Coming to the bowling unit, death overs has been a massive reason to worry. However, with Jasprit Bumrah making his make his return, the team will be much more relaxed in the tournament. Spinner Yuzendra Chahal is also not in great form and overall, the team needs to sort all their problems out before the mega clash. However, despite all these problems, the team is one of the favourites to win the tournament as all the players are capable enough to turn the game in India’s favour on their day.
India’s probable playing XI - Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Batters win you games and bowlers win you tournaments but at the end of the day, the team combination is what helps a particular team win a major tournament. Especially in T20 cricket, when the entire complexion of a match can change in just six deliveries. For example, despite having a star-studded team, India didn’t win a single ICC trophy in the last nine years and on the other hand, South Africa being one of the best teams of the last decade, failed to win any major trophy. This proves that somewhere down the line, they didn’t have the right balance among players.
As the 2022 T20 World Cup will begin in exactly a month's time, here’s a perfect time to look at all the teams to check how they are shaping up before the global tournament. Currently, Australia the host nation have qualified for the super twelve along with India, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and New Zealand. Who among these nations is looking the strongest on paper and who need to shift gears is what this article will comprise. Without further ado, let’s jump -
<h3>Strongest XI of top 8 teams in the tournament</h3>
<h3>1. Australia</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1663693810162_Australia-Team.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
After retiring from ODI cricket, this can very well be captain Aaron Finch’s last dance in international cricket. Despite having a very substandard tournament the last time around, the 35-year-old managed to help Australia win their first world title in the shortest format of the game. His opening partner, however, had a tremendous season and will once again be Australia’s poster boy in the T20 World Cup. David Warner was also adjudged as the Player of the Tournament in 2021 and since the tournament will be played on his home turf, one can expect a similar kind of damage from the T20 specialist.
Just like the opening order, the entire team is more or less sorted but it’s the injuries that keep on tickling the Kangaroos from time to time. Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Starc were recently ruled out of the India tour following their injuries as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/australia-are-favorites-to-win-the-upcoming-t20-world-cup-2022-saba-karim/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia</a> will hope for them to return back sooner than later to begin their preparation for the global tournament. Marsh at number three is a very important player from Australia’s point of view as he along with Stoinis and Maxwell provide the much-needed support that the bowlers need.
However, Steve Smith’s form can be a matter of concern in the Australian dressing room. Just like they have fiery options up front, their bowling line-up is also one of the best of the tournament. A fit Starc along with Jos Hazlewood and Pat Cummins in Australian conditions is going to be a nightmare for many batters and that is one of Australia’s strengths. Adam Zampa, the leg-spinner has also done well to feature in the playing XI.
Australia’s Probable Playing XI - Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
<h3>2. New Zealand</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Ish-Sodhi-and-Kane-Williamson.jpg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
The Kiwis have played some exceptional cricket in 2022 as they lost just one of their nine T20Is in the season. However, they didn’t play against any of the top eight T20I sides of the T20 World Cup and defeated the likes of Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands and West Indies in the meantime. Thus, it is tough to assess their squad before the T20 World Cup.
Captain Kane Williamson was the 8th leading run-scorer of the 2021 T20 World Cup but a lot has changed over a period of one year. After having a very poor IPL, Kane failed to live up to the expectations in international cricket as well and going to the mega tournament, New Zealand has a big reason to worry. His captaincy skill however is one of New Zealand’s biggest assets and that will once again help the Blackcaps in Australia.
Along with Williamson, Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips will lead the batting unit of the Kiwis while their <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/with-this-indian-bowling-line-up-hopes-of-winning-the-t20-world-cup-are-less-aakash-chopra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bowling</a> unit is one of the best in the business. The trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson can demolish any batting unit and that’s one of the reasons why the opposing teams can have sleepless nights. Ish Sodhi, the leg-spinner has also done well and overall, the Kiwis are once again looking to dominate in an ICC tournament.&nbsp;
New Zealand’s Probable Playing XI - Martin Guptill, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Jimmy Neesham, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee.
<h3>3. South Africa</h3>
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Temba Bavuma, the captain of the side has some unfinished business as the top order batter is looking to prove a point. After not being picked for the inaugural SA20 tournament, Bavuma expressed his disappointment and now it needs to be seen how he channelises his anger into a positive result and what better place to do it than the upcoming T20 World Cup?
The captain will, however, need support from his fellow teammates who are looking to win their maiden world cup trophy. They have done well recently against England and Ireland, where they won the series on both occasions and thus, will be eyeing to do well in the mega tournament as well. Quinton De Kock, one of the most destructive players of T20 <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/if-my-daughter-wants-to-play-cricket-i-would-suggest-her-to-follow-jhulan-goswami-sourav-ganguly/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cricket</a> will once again be in focus in the mega tournament while Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klassen and David Miller will accompany him to put a huge total on board. Young Tristan Stubbs, who was the costliest player in the SA20 auction will also be one of the players to watch out for if he gets his opportunity.
When it comes to bowling, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje will bowl the tough overs and given the conditions in Australia, expect some fiery spells from the duo. Wayne Parnell will provide the much-needed experience in the middle but his spot in the playing XI is not guaranteed. Tabraiz Shamsi will also play a vital role in the squad.
South Africa’s Probable Playing XI - Reeza Hendricks, Quinton De Kock, Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klassen, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.
<h3>4. Bangladesh</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1662054044987_Bangladesh-Team.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
After being knocked out of the T20 World Cup with zero wins in the Super 12 stage, Bangladesh has changed quite a few things before they fight for glory in <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/crictracker-roped-in-as-digital-live-scoring-partner-for-legends-league-cricket-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022</a>. Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahm, two of their modern-day legends announced their retirement from the format while the Bangla Tigers excluded former captain Mahmudulah from the 15-member squad.
Shakib Al Hasan was given the captaincy just before the Asia Cup but the veteran couldn’t really do anything in a short period of time. The team has called up a lot of young talents and that’s a good sign for their cricket going forward. However, the over-dependence on Shakib is what needs to slow down to get favourable results in Australia.
The top order needs to deliver in order to let the inexperienced middle order settle down. Mosaddek Hossain, one of their brightest young talent may have poor stats to prove his worth but when the going got tough, he became one of the most dependable players in the Bangladesh squad during the Asia Cup. Liton Das’ return to the squad is a huge positive from Bangladesh’s point of view. When it comes to bowling, Mustafizur will be leading the attack but it’s high time for Ebadot Hossain and Taskin Ahmed to step up and deliver in the biggest stage.
Bangladesh’s probable playing XI - Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Nurul Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman.
<h3>5. England</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1663917668064_Moeen-Ali.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
Even though their captain Eoin Morgan retired just months before the T20 World Cup, the team remains unfazed and still is one of the favourites to win the competition. After winning the 2019 ODI World Cup, the team is eyeing their second T20 World Cup and the way they approach the game, is what makes them very different from any other team in the world.
If Ricky Ponting’s Australia taught aggression to the cricketing world, this England bunch is the perfect heir to that. Jos Buttler, the captain of the ship can hammer any opponent at any given ground and that can be said for all his troops. Alex Hales, one of the pioneers of T20 cricket will be making his return to the T20 set-up after three long years and is ready to light up the tournament.
Liam Livingstone and Ben Stokes will be in charge of finishing games and with that, their batting looks more than sorted. The Three Lions will miss Jonny Bairstow in the middle after the 32-year-old injured himself while playing golf.
Bowling can be their problem in the tournament but they have a proper mix of youth and experience. Mark Wood has been in very good form lately while Chris Jordan is known as the death-over specialist. He however will have to keep himself fit as he is very much injury prone. Adil Rashid will be in charge of the bowling unit along with the veteran <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/i-genuinely-feel-my-over-lost-the-game-for-us-moeen-ali/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moeen Ali</a>.
England’s probable playing XI - Jos Buttler (c), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Ben Stokes, Sam Curran, David Willey, Chris Jordan, Reece Topley, Adil Rashid.
<h3>6. Afghanistan</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1663232515928_Afghanistan-Team.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
Mohammad Nabi and company will be the dark horse of the T20 World Cup. In the recently concluded Asia Cup, the team showed their worth and even after they lost all their three super four matches, they played some good cricket and that’s going to be a threat for a lot of opponents in the upcoming event in Australia.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz was one of the best players in the squad and gave Afghanistan a good start in the majority of the matches. He along with Hazratullah Zazai will be responsible to give the Afghans a fiery start as the middle order can stumble. The strike rate of the players in the middle order is a major problem for the Afghanistan team but Ibrahim Zadran’s form will be a massive boost for the team in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-analysis/t20-world-cup2022-5-issues-india-need-to-address-ahead-of-mega-event/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">T20 World Cup</a>. At the same time, Mohammad Nabi will be very concerned about his own form.
When it comes to bowling, they have Rashid Khan, one of the most dominating bowlers in the cricketing world. He along with Mujeeb Ur Rahman will be crucial from Afghanistan’s point of view as the duo is known to pick important wickets for the team. Their pacers are inexperienced but under Umar Gul, they are learning new tricks. Even though they are yet to be at their absolute best, the pacers still are a threat to batters.
Afghanistan’s probable playing XI - Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmed Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
<h3>7. Pakistan</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1663869586254_Babar-Azam.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
After a blistering start to the 2021 T20 World Cup, the Men in Green were the favourites to win the tournament but a defeat in the semi-finals derailed their dream. However, Babar Azam and the company will look forward to finishing their unfinished business to finally lift their second T20 World Cup in history.
The captain along with Mohammad Rizwan was brutally trolled for their slow strike rate during the Asia Cup. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-analysis/pakistan-vs-england-2nd-t20i-stats-review-babar-azams-feat-opening-partnership-record-and-other-stats/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Babar Azam’s</a> form was also a matter of discussion but in the second T20I against England, all the critics were silenced as they chased 200 down without losing a single wicket. Babar Azam showed a lot of intent and that is something that will help the Pakistan team in Australia. Mohammad Rizwan, the leading run-scorer of the Asia Cup is an extremely consistent cricketer and the pair at the top of the order is Pakistan’s biggest strength in the batting order.
In the absence of Fakhar Zaman and Shoaib Malik, the middle order looks pale but they have enough firepower. The hunger for glory is what drives the team and that is one of the most positive things about the team. In bowling, Shaheen Shah Afridi will make his return to the squad and that’s a massive boost for the team. Afridi is considered to be one of the best bowlers in the world and was ruled out of the Asia Cup following an injury in the knee ligament. Along with Shaheen, Naseem Shah and Harris Rauf have been very successful in the recent past.
Pakistan’s probable playing XI - Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Haider Ali, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
<h3>8. India</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1663954420779_Rohit-Sharma-and-Akshar-Patel.jpeg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
The Indian team went through a lot of turbulence before announcing their squad for the T20 World Cup. In the middle of so many if and buts, the selectors have gone ahead with a more or less same squad that played in the Asia Cup. However, the exclusion of Mohammad Shami, Sanju Samson and Ravi Bishnoi has caused a lot of drama in the Indian cricket circuit.
Leaving all that out, Rohit Sharma and his boys will once again take the field with the hope of winning an ICC trophy for the first time in nine long years. The top three - Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli are the most experienced batters in the Indian team but in a crucial juncture of a major tournament, all three fail to perform and that has become a problem for the Indian team in the last few years. The middle order looks good on paper but they have failed to take pressure when the going gets tough. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/doesnt-make-any-sense-to-me-whatsoever-matthew-hayden-wants-dinesh-karthik-to-bat-more/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dinesh Karthik’s</a> role is also a matter of discussion as the wicket-keeper batter is not getting enough time in the middle.
Coming to the bowling unit, death overs has been a massive reason to worry. However, with Jasprit Bumrah making his make his return, the team will be much more relaxed in the tournament. Spinner Yuzendra Chahal is also not in great form and overall, the team needs to sort all their problems out before the mega clash. However, despite all these problems, the team is one of the favourites to win the tournament as all the players are capable enough to turn the game in India’s favour on their day.
India’s probable playing XI - Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Batters win you games and bowlers win you tournaments but at the end of the day, the team combination is what helps a particular team win a major tournament. Especially in T20 cricket, when the entire

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