T20 World Cup 2021: Rating squads of all teams

The T20 World Cup is around the corner. With the mega event spiking the excitement of the fans, it is high time that the fans get to know their teams. Adding on, this year’s World Cup is special. Mainly because it is the first ICC limited-overs event after a gap of two years. 

During the 2007 World Cup, everyone was anxious about the credibility of the format. The teams were young and the format too. However, many memorable moments from the inaugural World Cup sparked joy and excitement all over the world, and hence, subsequent editions followed. 

This year’s T20 World Cup is different. With many background stories coming into play, like Afghanistan’s troubles, and England’s lack of star players, the teams have a different outlook. 

Here are the ratings of the T20 World Cup 2021 squads:

10. Afghanistan: 6/10 

This time, Afghanistan will be led by the number one T20 all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. Apart from him, there are many well-known faces as well. This time, the Afghans will be the dark horses of the tournament.  This is mainly because of the “impact players”. 

In the spin-friendly pitches of UAE, players like Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Rashid Khan will be highly effective. They can look to bowl first in most of the matches to get an idea about what a decent score is on those pitches. However, the problem arises with their batting. There is no doubt that they are one of the weakest teams of the tournament. Adding on, they are over-reliance on Rashid Khan might affect them later on.

9. South Africa: 7/10

South Africa is one of the most inexperienced teams of the tournament. This time, they will be taking the field without their regular players in the form of Chris Morris and Faf du Plessis. They have taken a great risk by opting for younger players and experience plays a big factor in a tournament like the World Cup. 

Temba Bavuma will be leading the side along with Quinton de Kock being the premier batsman. Apart from these two batsmen, David Miller and Aiden Markram will also be occupying the top-order spots. However, the inconsistency of the batting order is something they have to take care of. 

In the bowling department, Keshav Maharaj, Bjorn Fortuin, and Tabraiz Shamsi will be handling the spin department. Talking about the fast bowling options, Rabada and Nortje will be their frontline bowlers. Wiaan Mulder and Dwaine Pretorius are the all-rounders in the squad but as said earlier, this is a relatively young and inconsistent squad. 

8. Sri Lanka: 7/10

Sri Lankan cricket is at its lowest point right now. They have not been able to fill the spots left vacant by the giants of the game. The winners of the 2014 edition have to pull up their socks and prove their worth by performing exceptionally well this time.  

Sri Lanka will be led by Dasun Shanaka and they have included Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara in their updated squad. With their first match beginning on 18th October against Namibia in Abu Dhabi, they are the favorites to go through the second round. 

But, their unpredictability might affect them. With the ever-changing T20 rankings haunting them, they have to play in the first round of the tournament. Adding on, they have talented players who are yet to shine on the big stage. 

7. Bangladesh: 7.5/10

The Bangladesh T20 squad has been able to defeat the Kiwis and the Aussies during the T20 series in their backyard. Even though the pitches were poor and the opposition was playing with their “B” team, they have been impressive. This time, they will be starting their campaign on the 18th of October against Scotland in Group B of Round One. 

Talking about their squad, it has a mix of experienced players and promising young stars/. The names like Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mushfiqur Rahim will be the senior members of the team. Adding on, Tamim Iqbal has opted to sit out of the team, making way for new opening combinations. 

This time, Naim Sheikh and Liton Das will be opening the batting for the Tigers. Apart from the openers, Shamim Hossain and Afif Hossain will also be a part of the squad. Hence, this team has got all the arsenal to make it to the knockout stages of the tournament. 

6. Australia: 7.5/10

The Australians have a star-studded squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. With so many big names, there is no doubt that they are here to make an impact. However, the only factor that is affecting them as a team in the form of the players and injuries. 

Aaron Finch is expected to return to the team after recovering from a knee injury. But, the likes of David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Pat Cummins strengthen their lineup. This team has a mixture of experienced players and a few inexperienced players as well. 

Josh Inglis, who has been a consistent performer has made it to the squad. And with his flexibility and adaptability, he can be a dangerous batsman for the opposition. Along with this, he is undoubtedly the future of Australian cricket. Hence, his selection is justified. 

5. West Indies: 8/10

The defending champions will be without their hero from the 2016 edition of the T20 World Cup. The Windies management has opted for Ravi Rampaul instead of Carlos Brathwaite. However, their squad is still one of the strongest in the tournament. 

Apart from the dangerous batsmen and all-rounders, the team has included Roston Chase in their squad. His presence will bring more stability to the team. Adding on, he might play the role Marlon Samuels used to do for the West Indies. 

Currently, they are placed in Group 1 alongside South Africa, Australia, and two qualifiers from Round 1. Most of the fans are expecting them to make it to the semis. This is mainly because the Windies, only need one batsman to fire on that day. 

4. Pakistan: 8.5/10

The Pakistan national team was a dominant force during the first few World T20s. They had the big hitters, the spin wizards, and the lethal pace bowlers in their squad. However, recently, they have been mediocre performers. 

But this time, they have picked up players who have done well in National T20 Cup. Hence, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Haider Ali have replaced Azam Khan and Mohammad Hasnain respectively. Adding on, the swashbuckling Fakhar Zaman has replaced Khushdil Shah in the main squad. 

With a mixture of talent and experience, this Pakistan side looks a bit dangerous. And hence, they will be a force to reckon with. It will be interesting to see how they play against their arch-rivals India during a group stage match in Dubai. 

3. New Zealand: 8.5/10

New Zealand has always been considered a strong team in every format of the game. This time too, Kane Williamson’s men have world-class bowlers in the form of Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, and Tim Southee. Apart from that, they have the pace of Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Todd Astle. 

This means that they have bowling options that will suit the conditions in UAE. Adding on, with a solid batting lineup, they can destroy any bowling attack. Even in the wicketkeeping section, they have the likes of Tim Seifert, Glenn Philips. 

With the class of Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Devon Conway and Jimmy Neesham, they can be a dangerous batting unit. There is no doubt that if they play as per their expectations, they might lift the trophy this time. This Kiwi squad is one of the favorites to lift the trophy this time.

2. England: 8.5/10 

England was the finalist of the 2016 edition of the T20 World Cup. Although it was a forgettable night for the Englishmen at Kolkata, they went on to win the ODI World Cup in 2019. Now, they are the strongest team at the 2021 T20 World Cup.

This time, they have decided to include Tymal Mills into the 15-man squad for the World Cup. However, they will miss the services of Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. But, to cover up for the loss, Chris Woakes has been included in the side. Adding on, Sam Curran is replaced by his brother Tom. 

With the like-for-like changes, the depth of the English batting is still the same. They have Roy, Morgan, Ali, and Bairstow at the top. Adding on, Livingstone’s provides a boost to their batting. Hence, they are one of the favorites to win this time.

1. India: 9/10

In every edition of the T20 World Cup, Team India is termed as the favorite. This is mainly because of IPL and its competitiveness. This time too is no different. India has a strong squad that includes proven performers. 

The most surprising inclusion is that of Ravi Ashwin. The off-spinner will be making a comeback into the limited-overs team after a gap of four years. Well, the likes of Kuldeep and Yuzvendra have been unable to make it to the national squad. 

With the batting order being occupied by Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav, the middle order looks solid as well. Ravi Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and Hardik Pandya are clean strikers of the ball. Hence, there are a plethora of options for Virat Kohli this time.