T20 World Cup 2021: Predicting the opening pairs of all teams in the tournament

The COVID-19 pandemic had forced the ICC to postpone the T20 World Cup to 2021. This was a blow to the cricket fans as they were waiting for this lucrative mega nation tournament to bring some joy in times of adversity. However, the BCCI managed to pull off the IPL in 2020 behind closed doors. This proved that there was a chance for the ICC to conduct the tournament in 2021. 

After the coronavirus pandemic was brought under control to some extent, the various cricket bodies of different nations managed to bring in spectators for live matches. This was a way to bring back normalcy into the sport. And this also helps the board to generate some income. The world of cricket is incomplete without its fans.

Cricket as a sport has gained popularity because of the rise of T20 cricket. After a successful inaugural edition in 2007, there was a series of T20 World cups which were conducted within two years. The main factor for a team in T20 cricket is its openers.

Therefore, here are the predicted openers from every team that is participating in the T20 World Cup:

1. Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das

The Bangladeshi tigers will be looking forward to making some name for themselves in the upcoming edition of the T20 world cup. After a series of strong performances during recent years, they are no longer considered as the underdogs. To be fair, they are stronger than the Sri Lankan side. Bangladesh team can defeat any opposition on their day. Well, it is just a matter of their core group to get back in form.

Talking about the core group, the Bangladesh squad has a veteran in their top order in the form of Tamim Iqbal. The 32-year-old has been with the Bangladesh squad for a long time. A T20I experience of 78 games will help the team to start cautiously and later on, go for the big shots. Adding on, Iqbal has a strike rate of 117.2, which is decent for an opener. 

To compliment him, the Bangladesh management can try out Liton Das. The wicketkeeper-batsman has played in 29 T20I matches so far. A healthy strike-rate of 135.03 will be enough to give Iqbal some time to settle down. If the opening pair does its work to perfection, we might see them in the knockout stages of the tournament. 

2. Sri Lanka: Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella

The present Sri Lankan team is completely different from the one in the 2000s. This is mainly because the management had never thought of the future of the team. Every victory is now termed as an upset. Well, it is time for the Sri Lankans to pull up their socks and make a statement on the biggest stage. 

The most important part of a T20 batting lineup is the opening pair. Luckily, the Sri Lankans have two attacking batsmen in the form of Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella. Gunathilaka is an attacking batsman who can bowl in a couple of overs when required. Danushka has represented the Sri Lankan team in 26 T20I matches so far. And talking about his performances, he has a decent strike-rate of 121.8. His performances are destined to increase in the future.

The best batsman to open up with Danushka Gunathilaka is Niroshan Dickwella. He is the first-choice wicketkeeper for the team and he is the only batsman who can tee off from the start. A healthy strike rate of 135.47 will help Danushka to take his time to attack the bowlers. Adding on, Dickwella is well known for his cheeky shots that can unsettle the bowlers. 

3. Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Karim Janat

The Afghanistan cricket team is the new dark horse in the cricketing world. They are no longer the minnows who accept defeat easily. Currently, they are capable enough to defeat some Test-playing nations easily. Adding on, the rise of many players in the IPL has helped the management to pick up the prodigies.

The management needs to pick the best opening combination. Currently, they have an all-rounder in form of Karim Janat and Rahmanullah Gurbaz to open in the shortest format. Talking about Janat, he can attack from the front. With a decent strike rate of 113.08, he has the scope to improve his stats and work on his batting. In the shortest format, an opener who can slog in the powerplay is an asset. And in the upcoming tournament, Janat, who has a half-century to his name, can become the next big thing in Afghan cricket. 

On the other side, we have a teenager in the form of Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The prodigy has been in stellar form for the national side. A strike rate of 143.87 and 446 runs in 13 T20I matches is sufficient enough to showcase his talent. If these two manage to give a great start to their team, the Afghan bowlers are skillful enough to trouble any batting lineup. 

4. West Indies: Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis

The first name that comes to anyone’s mind when they hear the word T20 cricket is The West Indies. Even after a series of criticism that they have been unable to live up to the expectations in the longer formats, they have performed exceptionally well in the T20Is. The Windies are a bunch of brutal strikers of the cricket ball and exceptional bowlers. This year too, they are the favorites to clinch the trophy.

If we look at the options available for the opening slot, the best combination available to them is the duo of Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis. Well, Gayle is the biggest name in this format and he deserves to open up for the Windies this year too. A strike rate of 140.82 and 1656 runs in 61 T20I matches are priceless for any player. Adding on, his highest score of 175 in T20 cricket still brings back the brutality of Gayle. 

On the other side, we have Evin Lewis. The stylish attacking batsman has an impressive strike rate of 155.75 in T20Is. Apart from that, he has a couple of centuries to his name which makes him the best partner for Gayle. Indeed, Gayle is not the best runner in between the wickets. So, Lewis, who deals in sixes can complement him effectively. 

5. New Zealand: Martin Guptill and Colin Munro

The New Zealand cricket team is the most complete right now. Under the leadership of Kane Williamson, they have been able to shed off the bad memories of the World Cup final. They have the strongest middle order and bowling lineup in the cricketing world. Therefore, the Kiwis need to have a formidable opening attack. And fortunately, they do not depend on someone like Kane Williamson to change his batting position for them. 

The best opening combination for the Kiwis is the duo of Martin Guptill and Colin Munro. Talking about Munro, he is a batting all-rounder who can bowl in a couple of overs when required. But the most fascinating part about his skills is his ability to destroy any bowling attack for fun. Munro has a strike rate of 156.44 in T20Is. Adding on, he has three centuries to his name. 

On the other side, we have Martin Guptill, who has been with the side for a long period. Guptill is one of the most experienced players in the circuit with 99 T20I games. With a healthy strike-rate of 136.23 and a couple of centuries to his name, he can stay at the crease and play attacking shots. In 99 matches, he has accumulated 2893 runs with an average of 32.26. Well, it looks like the Kiwis will manage to make it to the playoffs again. 

6. South Africa: Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock

The South African cricket team is going through a rough phase right now. After the retirement of megastars, they have been unable to find the perfect replacements. Well, as every time goes through a rough patch, the fans are expecting them to overcome this obstacle too. The upcoming world cup brings an opportunity for the South African team to make a name for themselves.

The opening combination for the Proteas should be of Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock. Malan made his T20I debut in 2019 against Pakistan. But, he has been unable to make an impact. Of the 5 T20I matches, he has scored 110 runs. With the best score of 44, he has been trying to contribute to the team’s cause. However, a decent strike rate of 129.41 might help him to sustain his place in the shortest format. 

For a team that is undergoing a transition, the presence of a batsman like de Kock is priceless. The swashbuckling wicket-keeper batsman has been in the circuit for quite some time. An experience of 47 T20I games might help him to give the South Africans a solid start. Adding on, his strike rate of 136.58 is a healthy one for any batsman who opens in T20 cricket.

7. England: Jason Roy and Jos Buttler

The English team is the strongest of them all. Under the leadership of Eoin Morgan, the management has established a team that has quality ball-strikers, all-rounders, and bowlers. Even after a batting collapse, their all-rounders are skillful enough to drag the team to a formidable position. The World Cup holders are looking forward to clinching the T20 titles too. 

For the Englishmen, the best opening pair is Jason Roy and Jos Buttler. On his day, Roy can destroy any bowling attack in the world. An experience of 43 T20I games and a strike rate of 142.33 is sufficient enough to prove his worth to the English team. Roy can provide quick starts to his team. Adding on, he can play the cheeky shots to unsettle the bowler. 

Talking about Jos Buttler, he is England’s most complete limited-overs batsman. In 79 T20I matches, he has scored 1723 runs with a strike rate of 141.0. Apart from his ruthless batting, he can play the role of the anchor. Jos can also keep the wickets which gives captain Morgan an extra cushion as he can strengthen the bowling attack as per his wish. 

8. Pakistan: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan

The Pakistan team has been unsuccessful to win the T20 world cup since 2009. During the initial editions of the tournament, they were a formidable force. But after the retirement of veterans, they have been unable to find the perfect replacement. The management is looking forward to making a statement in the upcoming edition.

Mohammad Rizwan is one of the highly-rated wicket-keeper batsmen in the world. Adding on, his batting skills have impressed everybody and he is one of the core members of the Pakistan team right now. During the recently concluded series against South Africa, Rizwan scored a brilliant century while opening the innings. A strike rate of 120.57 also makes him a decent ball striker. 

On the other side, we have Babar Azam, the captain of the Pakistan cricket team. He has been in stellar form since last year. And he belongs to that group of players who average over 40 in every format of the game. An average of 48.08 is spectacular for someone well known to depend on his orthodox style to score valuable runs. Babar also has a decent strike of 130.27, which is healthy in this format. 

9. Australia: David Warner and Aaron Finch

The Australians are one of the strongest teams in the world. With a world-class bowling attack, they can trouble any batting lineup. Apart from that, they have some brutal power hitters in their squad. This means that they have a bright chance to reach the finals of this edition of the T20 world cup. 

It is of no doubt that Finch and Warner will open up the innings this time. Finch, the Aussie captain is well known to play aggressively and occupy the crease for long periods. A run tally of 2346 in 71 matches is quite exceptional. Adding on, he has the highest score of 172 runs. Finch also has a healthy strike rate of 152.14 in T20Is. 

His partner is none other than David Warner, the swashbuckling opener who has matured over the years. With an experience of 81 T20I matches, he has been Australia’s go-to man in the format. Warner has scored 2265 runs in 81 matches so far. When he is in form, Warner can decimate any bowling attack for fun. And with Finch on the other end, the Australians might get off to awesome starts in the upcoming World Cup.

10. India: Rohit Sharma and K.L. Rahul

The home team is looking forward to winning the T20 World Cup for the second time. Although they managed to reach the knockout stages in 2014 and 2016, they were unable to cash in during crucial moments. This time, they have a determined leader in the form of Virat Kohli, who is looking forward to winning his first major ICC title. This time, India has the strongest and most formidable batting lineup. 

As we are discussing the opening pairs, the first and the most obvious name that pops up is Rohit Sharma. Sharma is a modern-day giant who continues to break the limits of limited-overs format records. He is the only batsman who has scored four centuries in T20I cricket. Rohit can play complex shots with ease and his ball-striking ability is well known to everyone.

Well, to compliment Rohit, India have KL Rahul. The stylish batsman was in poor form during the T20I series against England. But it is a matter of time that he finds his form. Rahul has played in 48 T20I matches so far. A strike rate of 142.19 is a healthy one in this format. Apart from that, a couple of centuries in this format makes him a strong contender to open for team India in the upcoming T20 World Cup.