T20 World Cup 2021: Fittest XI of the tournament

The T20 World Cup 2021 is all set to commence in the UAE from October 17 wherein teams will fight for the Super 12 stage after fighting in group stages in the beginning. However, there are already eight teams that have made it to the top slots. It is known that fitness is of paramount importance in any given sport and the same is the case with cricket. A player is only able to make a name in the long run if he maintains optimum fitness levels.

Players suffering from poor fitness issues not only keep missing several games but their career is also cut short due to the same. The fitness parameters in the recent few years have gone quite high and they will be taken with the same seriousness in times to come. In the same light, let’s take look at-

Fittest playing XI of T20 World Cup 2021

1. Martin Guptill

Stylish opener and one of the longest-serving players of New Zealand, Guptill, might be playing his last T20 WC with Kiwis and would wish to make it a memorable affair. Though there are various fit players in the New Zealand team, Guptill remains to be fit for years.

His fitness would assist him more in the dry and humid conditions of the UAE. New Zealand have just won the inaugural edition of the WTC finale and they look in good to clinch yet another glory.

Having played 102 T20Is donning the NZ jersey, the classy cricketer has 2939 runs under his belt with a classy average of 32.29. He is the second-highest run-scorer in T20Is just second to India’s Virat Kohli.

2. Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock is celebrated as one of the best cricketers in the history of South Africa. After having led his team successfully for years, the opener stands to be quite experienced and will be trying to get at least one trophy for his nation.

Talking about his fitness levels, he maintains top class fitness and so does some other South African players. It is due to his fitness only that he is extremely quick between wickets and agile behind the wickets.

He is currently playing with MI in IPL 2021 UAE leg and flaunting his sheer class. With an average over 35 in T20Is, he will be a player to look out from South Africa in T20 WC.

3. Virat Kohli

If the credit for taking India’s fitness to another level goes to one man, he can be none other than Virat Kohli. He brought a complete revolution in the way with which the Indian team looked at fitness and results were clearly visible in his game.

He stands to be one of the quickest between wickets, one of the most agile, and most enthusiastic on the field. He already has several records to his name and going in this manner and fitness, he can have a lot more in his career.

As he has already announced his resignation as T20I skipper of Indian post-T20 WC in the UAE, it can be expected that he would try his best to bring at least one ICC trophy for India under his rule.

4. KL Rahul

India’s classy batsman KL Rahul is regarded as one of the best T20I batsmen in the world. Apart from playing a terrific game, he maintains a great and lean physique to flaunt every time he walks on the field.

He is currently plying his trade in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 as PBKS skipper and given that T20 WC will be held in the same conditions, he might have a great run even there as he is placed on 2^nd position in the list of Orange Cap holder in IPL 2021 so far.

He has played 49 T20Is so far with India and averages nearly 40 in the format. With form and fitness by his side, he can do wonders in the time to come and T20 WC especially. He has two centuries in the format too.

5. Glenn Maxwell

Classy Australian all-rounder takes the first spot in the all-rounders’ category in the list of fittest XI of T20 WC. He has been maintaining prime fitness for many years now and this is seen very well in his game.

He is currently up with RCB in the UAE leg of IPL and yet to show his best in the season. However, he has great experience of plying his trade in the Big Bash League where he was called as the most effective fielder in the 2017-18 season.

Having played 72 T20Is with an average of 31.78 and collecting 1780 runs under his belt, it remains to be seen if can bring on his best to the field owing to his great fitness and strength. As Australia is having a poor run of form, it remains to be seen how they do in the UAE

6. Ravindra Jadeja

India’s ace all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has developed himself as one of the sturdy options for the Indian squad across formats. Playing all three formats for India doesn’t come easy especially knowing the robust bench strength of India.

Jadeja is only able to do that due to his immense all-rounds skills and prime fitness. It is due to his great fitness levels that he runs at lightning-fast speed and places a perfect throw. His hands are considered as safest hands when it comes to taking a catch

As he can perform in all the departments of the game well, his role in T20 World Cup will be of paramount importance for India. His social media posts often depict his determination and love for fitness.

7. Chris Woakes

The fast bowling and extremely fit all-rounder of England will be quite an important asset for them in the T20 World Cup which will be held in the UAE from October 17. Though fitness among Englishmen is quite an important asset, Woakes takes it furthermore seriously.

He returned to the English Test side after a long time during India’s Test series in the UK and flaunted a brilliant form owing to his consistent levels of fitness even at the age of 32.

The fast-bowling all-rounder is always a valuable entity for any team and if that player doesn’t manage himself well with fitness and other things, it’s difficult to carry up in the long run but Woakes has done it all his caliber.

8. Shadab Khan

The vice-captain of Pakistan T20 World Cup squad Shadab Khan has to be one of the fittest cricketers of the world and has to take this spot on this list. It is quite known that the catch Khan pulled off in Champions Trophy 2017 to dismiss Virat Kohli became a sight to behold.

On some of the other occasions too, he has displayed great fitness and strength levels to get the best job done on the field. It will be a thing to see how he flaunts class in the T20 WC alongside Pakistan as they will be eager to have a face-off with India.

Pakistan’s first T20 clash will be against India and having played 53 T20Is with 58 wickets in hands, and leg-spin being his strength, he will be of huge importance on the pitches of the UAE.

9. Kagiso Rabada

South Africa’s speedster Kagiso Rabada stands to another one from his country to make to the list of fittest cricketers in the tournament. It is due to his prime fitness only that he is able to keep his pace-making abilities to the best of his potentials.

He has been an integral member of the South African side from the year 2014 and will continue making his name for a long time with age by his side. He also stands to be one of the vital members of the Delhi Capitals.

In fact, in IPL 2020 season, he returned as purple cap holder of the season and had a great role to play in Delhi reaching their first-ever finale in the history of the Indian Premier League.

10. Trent Boult

Boult is one of the strongest and most experienced bowlers of the New Zealand side and there can’t be any doubt that he can rattle the opposition from top to toe on his day. In general days also, he is more than good and a headache for batters.

Boult’s skills and prime level of fitness get lauded often and it is due to the same, he is able to produce pinpoint deliveries at 32 and has a long road ahead of him even now.

Boult is an integral member of the Mumbai Indians franchise and the pace duo of ace Jasprit Bumrah and Boult is always a headache for batter in front. There isn’t any doubt that he will likely land in NZ’s playing XI in the T20 World Cup.

11. Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan is deemed as the torchbearer of Afghanistan cricket and with his impressive skills, he has been ruling various T20 leagues around the world like a King. Almost all the famed T20 leagues in the world consider Khan as one of the most demanded properties.

Having been from a country that doesn’t get much limelight on the global level in terms of cricket particularly, making his place solely on basis of his skills and prime fitness is no easy task and Khan has to be lauded for that.

The Spin King will have a lot to offer in the UAE and being the absolute best in the business, he might do wonders for Afghanistan in the UAE. He is also an integral member of the SRH franchise for years now.