Flop XI of Super 12 of T20 World Cup 2021

Well, the first two weeks of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 have been very interesting. Heavyweight teams like India and WI have prematurely exited whereas the non-Asian giants have again ruled the proceedings.

Sides with strong spin artillery (SRI, BAN & AFG) also have severely malfunctioned and even the associates haven’t caused any big upsets. Overall, the ultimate T30 World Cup story has been the domination of the four semi-finalists who have clinically flopped everyone else. Hence in this list, let’s check out-

Flop XI from the Super 12 stages of T20 World Cup 2021

1. Chris Gayle

Unfortunately for Chris Gayle, the year 2021 has been very mediocre. Right from the first half of the IPL till the ongoing T20 World Cup, the Jamaican’s batting has become very topsy turvy in T20s. In the cash-rich league, while representing PBKS, Gayle heavily faulted from his routine average of 40 and only managed to score 193 runs from his 10 games.

Even in the CPL, all that Universal Boss had managed was a total average of 18.33 from his nine appearances for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots. Eventually, though his franchise won their maiden CPL title, the southpaw’s best contribution in the entire season was the highest score of 42.

However in the mega event, the 42-year old was expected to fire on full cylinders. But sadly again the outcome has been very poor as only a total of 45 runs have come from the veteran’s blade. By dreadfully averaging in single digits (9), Gayle could only register the best score of 15. Overall, one can assuredly say that his horrendous annual T20 form was one of the chief reasons regarding WI’s early exit.

2. Quinton De Kock (C & WK)

Well, for Quinton De Kock, the 2021 World T20 was an absolute abhorrent affair. The cricketer was highly lambasted for his off-field actions and remarks that perhaps could have also affected his overall batting. Although the entire SA team has impressed everyone in the competition, surprisingly De Kock’s failures came out as a revelation.

As a T20 player, the wicket-keeper batter was already having a commendable year in the shortest format. Right from IPL’s first leg till before the World T20, QDK scored runs worldwide. In fact during his last T20I series against Sri Lanka, the 29-year old was stacking runs at an average of 153. Even in his inaugural season of The Hundred Men’s competition, the southpaw scored more than 200 runs at an average of 33.66.

However, in the mega ICC event, De Kock only managed to pile up a mediocre total of 69 runs at an average of 17.25. From his 4 games, the left-handed batter’s best score was mere 34 runs against England. All in all, maybe his substantial contributions at the top could have painted a better picture for SA in the ongoing World T20.

3. Liton Das

For Bangladesh, Liton’s Das recent emergence has been a big boon in their white-ball cricket. The batter because of his flexibility could bat anywhere in the top seven and is also now one of the vital cogs of their side. Possibly in the period of the last two years, the youngster is also very highly praised for his consistency across all formats.

However when it comes to his performances in the mega event, the 27-year old unfortunately didn’t have any blissful outings to remember. From his total of 5 games in the Super 12 stages, the cricketer only managed to score a total of 93 runs at an average of 18.6. His best score of 44 against the WI though was a fine knock under pressure, the batter ultimately had failed to take his team home.

Overall, the Bangladeshis undoubtedly were the biggest disappointments of the tournament but Liton Das’s inconsistency at the top was an unfortunate event to occur. Hopefully, in the next World T20, the youngster can be backed to show his true potential.

4. Avishka Fernando

In recent times, Sri Lankan cricket has heavily invested in the talent of  Avishka Fernando. In the absence of their front-line limited-overs top-order batter Niroshan Dickwella, the youngster has been receiving an ample amount of opportunities. The batter in the mega event was also supposed to play a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s iffy batting order. However, woefully, the 2021 World T20 should be the event that Avishka never remembers.

Perhaps by mostly batting in the top four, the 23-year old dreadfully failed on nearly every occasion. From his 4 outings, the batter only managed to score a total of 20 runs at an average of 5. In fact, only once against England, Avishka was able to get past the single-digit scores.

Overall, while the likes of Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga were keeping SL’s chances alive in the competition, Avishka Fernando emerged out to be the weakest link of the side. Perhaps his batting position in the middle-order can be the biggest cause of his severe default in the mega event.

5. Rahmanullah Gurbaz

For Afghanistan, the UAE conditions were a perfect place to cause big upsets in the mega event. The team was highly expected to at least beat one of the three top teams of their group. Many were confident in their spinners to make their team punch above their weight. But their below-average batting performances were one of the chief reasons regarding their inferiority in the tournament.

Perhaps when it comes to their bleak batting exhibition in the tournament, it was their top order which was very iffy and inconsistent. Especially the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz who was batting at a very crucial number three position scored only 85 runs from his 5 games. Though the batter in his first game against Scotland had started splendidly with a score of 46, eventually, his overall average only turned out to be just 17 in the end.

In fact, the lower middle-order batters of Afghanistan have actually amassed more runs than their top three. Hence possibly if even Gurbaz or their other two top-order batters would have scored big then maybe Afghanistan could have sealed a ticket for the semi-finals.

6. Andre Russell

Well to perform vigorously for the West Indies, Andre Russell had taken a brief hiatus in the second leg of the IPL. The all-rounder also by skipping KKR’s final against CSK had taken utmost caution to eventually fire with full cylinders in the mega event. Perhaps his batting or bowling form before the World T20 was also never under question merely because of his past solid performances for the WI team.

However, woefully with the bat, Russell endured a serious malfunction in the ongoing T20 World Cup. From his all five appearances, the Jamaican registered two ducks and in total scored a poor tally of 25 runs at an average of just 6.25. Only once from all of his outings, Russell went past a spree of single-digit scores.

Overall, even with the ball, the all-rounder picked three wickets from his four games. Eventually, his utterly inferior performances can be one of the focal reasons regarding WI’s horrible exit.

7. Afif Hossain

Just like many Bangladeshi cricketers, even Afif Hossian is a proper all-rounder who can bat as well as bowl spin. The cricketer known for his explosive batting skills was perhaps selected in the World T20 to dwell himself at the number 7 position. Also since the lower middle-order batting of Bangla Tigers is utterly dependent on skipper Mahmudullah, the left-right combination of Afif and his skipper was perceived to be the ultimate right choice.

However, very sadly the youngster was found to endure a very atrocious time in the mega event as only a total of mere 14 runs came from his blade. From all of his five outings, Afif scored two ducks and never went past the score of 7. Even with regards to his bowling, the 22-year old hardly got an opportunity to roll his arm.

Overall, by just averaging less than 4, the cricketer definitely looks much better than his stats. In fact in the Bangladesh Premier League, Afif has a fifer on debut along with a reputation of being an aggressive top-order batter during his U-19 days. Hence hopefully by being in the mix of the national team, Afif Hossain can serve well ahead to his nation.

8. Adam Milne

Well, for Adam Milne, the year 2021 has been highly prosperous and fruitful. Especially in the realm of T20 cricket, the pacer got selected for the IPL and even in the inaugural edition of ‘The Hundred Men’s Competition’. His success in the English league also then bagged him a ticket for the 2021 World T20 in UAE.

Perhaps as Milne in the ‘The Hundred Men’s Competition’ was also the highest wicket-taker (12), the cricketer was easily perceived to replace the injured Lockie Ferguson in the NZ’s World Cup playing XI. In fact, the spearhead also has played 4 games out of five in the Super 12 stages. But sadly Milne has been short of wickets in the mega event.

Overall, although the NZ team still has some cricket to play and exhibit in the T20 World Cup, Adam Milne’s reasonable performances might cause them a flinty day to endure inside the park. Hence maybe now in knockout stages, skipper Williamson might have to contemplate Milne’s place in the playing side as they have already stormed through finals.

9. Dushmantha Chameera

Well, one can undoubtedly say that after the retirement of Lasith Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera is now the chief pacer of the Sri Lankan side. The pacer in the year 2021 has vigorously played a lot of T20Is and has scalped a total of 38 wickets from his 39 T20I appearances. The speedster also seems to be the current quickest pacer of Sri Lanka who also likes playing attacking and quality cricket.

However, in the 2021 World T20, Chameera’s bowling has gone completely off his radar. The 29-year old from his five Super 12 games could only pick a total of 4 wickets that too at a higher economy of 9.8. In fact, thrice Chameera conceded more than 10 runs from his quota of overs and had twice gone wicketless in his overall appearances.

Perhaps with Sri Lanka’s spinners like Wanindu Hasaranga leading the bowling show, the batters of other teams have heavily attacked the pace unit. Hence, maybe in the next edition of the T20 World Cup, the speedster might find some solid success at the Australian pitches.

10. Varun Chakravarthy

For the past two IPL seasons, Varun Chakravarthy has been the leading local spinner of the tournament. The cricketer’s numbers actually were also almost equivalent to the world’s best spinner- Rashid Khan in both IPL 2020 and 2021. Perhaps by emerging as the highest wicket-taker amongst all spinners in IPL 2021, Chakravarthy also ultimately then bagged a big ticket for India’s first-choice spinner in the T20 World Cup.

However, frankly, the 30-year old’s performances in the mega event have been very moderate and average. His mystery element barely troubled the opponent batters and has gone wicketless in the mega event.

Nevertheless, his economy has been still decent, the spinner sadly in general failed to capitalize on picking early wickets and bowl attacking lines.

11. Lahiru Kumara

Well, for Sri Lanka, the ongoing T20 World Cup brought in a lot of individual brilliance. The likes of Wanindu Hasaranga turned out to be the leading wicket-taker of the competition and even someone like Charith Asalanka impressed a ton of global fans. In fact, the team’s overall gameplay, body language, and fortitude were very highly acknowledged by the cricket pundits.

However, in their overall World T20 campaign, another pacer in the form of Lahiru Kumara endured an appalling time during his stay. The pacer from his total of 4 games was completely taken to cleaners and could only scalp a single wicket at a horrific economy of 10.8. In fact, in one of his games, Lahiru bowled more than an economy of 15.

Overall, just like his other partner Dushmantha Chameera, even this 24-year old was aggressively pounced by the elite batters. However, hopefully, in the next T20 World Cup, the pacy Australian wickets might suit their overall pace bowling