Rating all teams ahead of T20 World Cup 2021

The seventh edition of the shortest format’s biggest glory is all set to take its guard in less than three months now. While the T20 World Cup has taken more than 5 years now to summon itself, the competition looks well stacked with a total of 16 top-class teams indulging themselves in a Round 1 and the final Super 12 format.

Perhaps with the tournament also now getting laid at the venues of UAE and Oman, not only the heavyweights like India and England will become the eye-catching teams but also the other Asian teams alongside West Indies will also certainly rise up as big challengers. Hence, with the tournament already exhibiting itself with the teams that can beat any opponent on any given day, let’s see-

Rating the teams ahead of T20 World Cup 2021

1. India (9/10)

By already being very well equipped before the mega event, undoubtedly the Indian team is one of the very few sides that has enough depth and resources to uplift their second T20I title. Both in terms of their batting and bowling, skipper Virat Kohli has a variety to choose from, however, the team management will also be aiming that both their front-line all-rounders (Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja) are also firing on all cylinders before the start of the tournament.

Now especially coming to the batting department, players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja will be the chief front-line players who will definitely start in the playing XI. But with an everlasting vacancy for the number four slot along with a strangled opening position does eventually brings players like KL Rahul and Suryakumar to the utmost fore.

Overall, the batting line-up certainly looks havoc that can devastate many bowling attacks but especially with the lower-middle order being much acclimatized to through-the-line hitting, possibly some sluggish wickets can pose them a different set of challenges. However in totality even in this scenario players like both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli along with Suryakumar Yadav are well versed to stitch up a triumph.

Further in terms of bowling, both Bhuvi and the death bowling maestro Jasprit Bumrah will be the first latched names into team sheets along with Yuzi Chahal who looks to have reinvigorated himself at the recently concluded Sri Lankan tour. However, both the duo of Rahul Chahar and Shardul Thakur will certainly flash themselves with their renowned penchant of being the hefty scalpers along with T Natarajan who might dwell himself in the playing XI merely because of his left-arm proposition. Overall while the other likes of Mohammad Shami, Deepak Chahar, and Varun Chakravarthy will race amongst themselves for the final fifteen selections, the Indian team at present certainly has a blockbuster contingent to end their drought of the ICC events.

2. England (9/10)

Ever since the 2015 World Cup debacle, the England team has left no stone unturned to play as explosively as possible. With comprising of the batters who can very well place themselves anywhere in the batting order, captain Morgan’s team is chiefly brimmed with oodles of batters rather than escorting themselves in the settled batting order. However, with the opening combination of Buttler and Roy being well intact for a considerable amount of time now, both of them especially on the flatter decks can take any bowling line-up for cleaners.

Further, recently someone like a legendary Shoaib Akbar in a chat show had downsized England in terms of their World Cup chances, merely because of the ranging spin-friendly conditions at different venues. But specifically with players like Buttler, Bairstow, Ben Stokes, and Dawid Malan being the kind of batters who are known to score big by batting deep, England’s overall batting order is certainly well fitted to overcome any kind of constraints.

Perhaps, similar is the case even in their bowling attack where pacers like Mark Wood, Sam Curran, Tom Curran alongside the death over specialist Chris Jordan will get into a wrangle for their playing XI selection. However, the core of their bowling will largely depend upon the appearances of Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid, who also are definitely skipper Morgan’s two premier scalpers. Overall, with England also being a team that has many floating batters and all-rounders, the squad is definitely well-equipped to bag another World Cup glory.

3. Australia (8/10)

The Australian T20I team in recent times has not only become flabby but has also lost each of their last four T20I series. The diminution of wins has also perhaps created a lot of ambiguity in terms of their overall chances, but comprehensively the Kangaroos still look to be strong hounders once their regular players do place themselves back.

The opening combination of Warner and captain Finch still looks promising especially with both being the ones who can demolish spin attacks along with their ability to bat deep. Further, talking about the middle-order then the Aussies have definitely got a lot of options to explore especially with Mitchell Marsh also now coming in as exceptional number three batter. Overall, the entire middle-order pool which comprises players like Glenn Maxwell, Josh Philippe, Matthew Wade, Marcus Stoinis along with Mitchell Marsh is a cluster of batters who can all become floaters which in a general sense is a luxury as well might make the team lack stability if being played recklessly.

However, in terms of their bowling attack, the trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will become a first-choice option along with getting accompanied by the leg-spinner Adam Zampa. All in all, if players like Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell do cast themselves with the above bowling quartet then, in reality even Australians are not a penny less when compared to the other top teams in terms of their overall depth and resources.

4. West Indies (8/10)

Well, all those T20 freelancers who love to party by playing in a realm number of Global T20 Leagues have again formed a hulking summit to muscle out their third T20 title. Especially their premier freelancers like Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, and Dwayne Bravo are all currently brimming with runs and wickets which in general yet again makes them one of the strongest contenders.

In terms of batting, while the lower-middle order will be all about the likes of Andre Russell and the fibrous Kieron Pollard, the opening combination does bring uncertainty where someone like Lendl Simmons is still searching for his other opening partner. While both either Evin Lewis or Andre Fletcher might seal the deal, even the number three, four and five positions look husky because of the brimming presence of the Universal Boss along with Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran being the other company. Overall, as being witnessed in the last two T20I series, the only drawback of this fire-cracking batting lineup is their substantial knack of getting reckless on certain occasions. Also, maybe if the pitches do discourage through the line hitting then this possible batting order can grapple against teams that have quality spinners.

In terms of bowling, while Dwayne Bravo will undoubtedly lead the overall bowling attack but to keep himself in good company, he certainly needs the likes of Fabian Allen and Fidel Edwards to massively step up. Even someone like Jason Holder will bear a strong responsibility of bowling well both at the start as well in the end. Hence to further yield and triumph their third T20 World Cup glory, the bowling needs to extra strong-arm itself.

5. New Zealand (7.5/10)

Yet again just like every ICC tournament, the NZ team will be a dark horse whose overall complete squad is brimmed with many individual match-winners. The emergence of Glenn Phillips and Devon Conway has not only brought in a much-needed zeal to NZ’s batting but also has revolutionized their overall batting template.

However, in terms of the overall batting order, the opening duo of Martin Guptill and Tim Seifert looks like an exuberant option that can definitely lay up a heavy platform for other batters to easily capitalize on. Williamson’s reliability at number three then shapes up the responsibility of batting deep as the next two following batters (Glenn Phillip and Devon Conway) along with the lower middle-order of James Neesham and Santner will collectively get intact to accelerate the innings. However, apart from skipper Williamson probably the entire batting order including the experienced Guptill can blow themselves up if the pitches are slow and spin-friendly including their reckless indulgence.

In terms of the bowling attack, skipper Williamson does have an experienced attack where the likes of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Lockie Ferguson along with the spinning duo of Santner and Sodhi will be helming at the front. Perhaps, maybe bowling at the death might be an issue but with Ferguson and Boult being well versed now because of IPL, the NZ team comprehensively has a solid chance to again soar through the distance. Possibly, if the overall batting does find the conditions unpleasant then again a lot will rely upon how the skipper is performing in the tournament.

6. Pakistan (7.5/10)

With the T20 World Cup happening in their own backyard, Pakistan actually has an amazing chance to again bag their second glory. At present, with Babar Azam helming the side, the team has developed some strong individual characters who can definitely soar high on their given day. Especially with the emergence of players like Mohammad Rizwan the team at least now has a stable opening combination.

However, in terms of the overall batting order, a lot will depend upon how personally Babar Azam plays through the entire World Cup. Especially considering that beyond him there’s barely anyone much experienced than the veteran Mohammad Hafeez, Babar surely has to look forward to batting deep. While even Mohammad Hafeez has definitely reinvigorated himself as a proper middle-order batter, the 40-year old might strenuously struggle when it comes to finishing the high-scoring games. Perhaps then the firepower of Imad Wasim has to join in if Pakistan’s overall batting has to collectively click.

Further moving onto the bowling, the trio of Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan will definitely form the core of the bowling attack, especially with Shaheen also helming the death over duties. Overall, with uncertainly and ambiguity always being Pakistan’s unfortunate identities, possibly the initial one or two wins at the start can build a stronger momentum for them. Also, if the average total scores aren’t that towering then Pakistan can become a big challenger in the tournament.

7. South Africa (7/10)

The South African cricket despite being under a transition had recently trounced the West Indies in their own backyard. Especially the bowling attack along with QDK’s brimming batting form has helped South Africa to bring in a new vitality in their overall T20 World campaign. Even the recent emergence of the 31-year old leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has allowed South Africa to reasonably stack itself in the spin department.

Further to analyze their overall batting, South Africa at present has a developed batting order where the duo of skipper Bavuma and QDK have done adequately well as an opening pair. Even the other two following batters like Aiden Markram and the newbie Janneman Malan have looked into the mixture of runs which also then certainly has cropped up the batting of David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen. Even George Linde seems to be the one who can reasonably apply himself at the required all-rounder’s role. Comprehensively, South Africa does have a fine batting line-up but it’s their collective consistency that desperately needs strong working.

Coming to their bowling, the Proteas do have a very hounding bowling up line especially where the trio of Rabada, Nortje, and Ngidi will make any opposition crumble on their given day. Especially with both Rabada and Nortje also being fine death bowlers, skipper Bavuma can definitely seal up matches while trying to defend reasonable totals. The leg-spinner Shamsi’s current form makes him a crucial wicket-taker who also has the knack to scalp big opposition wickets. Hence, if the batting line-up does strongly upholds itself in the 2021 World T20 then the Proteas can jolt some big upsets and surprises.

8. Afghanistan (6.5/10)

Afghanistan had first played their T20 World Cup in the 2010 edition and after that, they have on the trot qualified for all the other editions to date. In fact in the 2016 World T20 where the West Indians were unbeatable, it was merely the Afghanistan team that had trounced them in the tournament.

Now with regards to the upcoming 2021 World T20, the team doesn’t need to indulge in the Round 1 stage and has also specifically booked their seat in the Group 2 of the Super 12 stage. Further, with currently being placed 7th in the T20I rankings, the team has also clean swept Zimbabwe in the UAE. Perhaps by winning all three T20Is with convincing margins, skipper Rashid Khan’s boys are getting well set for the mega event.

Especially in the batting lineup, the 19-year old wicket-keeper batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz looks an exciting proposition who currently is also averaging around 34 from his 13 T20Is. And to follow him up at number 3 or alongside opening, the right-arm batting of Usman Ghani can look to nudge and bat deep. Further, with the middle-order upholding some experienced candidates like Najibullah Zaran, Asghar Afghan, and the veteran Mohammad Nabi, the overall Afghan batting surely has the potential to jolt some match-winning totals.

However, with the team’s main forte being its multidimensional spin attack, skipper Rashid Khan along with his subservient company will be vigorously aiming to topple the oppositions by distressing them with shocking upsets. Overall, if the pitches do aid the Afghan spinners then maybe there can be upcoming boilover conduct by the Afghan team in the mega event.