T20 World Cup 2021: Team-wise fittest and laziest player in the tournament

Cricket is a game of great contrasts. There is the five-day format of the game called Test cricket, and at the same time, there is an exhilarating, adrenaline pumping form of the game as well, called T20I cricket.

And, same is the case with the fitness of cricketers. While fitness is considered extremely important in the modern era, there are still some cricketers who are considered lazy and their fitness is not up to the mark. And that is why, for cricketers like Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Australian batsman David Warner who are extremely fit, there are also cricketers like Afghanistan wicket keeper Mohammad Shahzad, who are not up to the mark in terms of fitness.

In this article, let us look at the fittest and laziest cricketers of the Top 8 teams in world cricket ahead of the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Note: The teams will be mentioned in the same order of their ICC T20I rankings and only the top 8 teams have been taken into consideration.

8. Sri Lanka

For Sri Lanka, it is tough to look beyond Kusal Perera as far as fitness is concerned. Even though the Sri Lankan opener is stocky, he is an extremely quick runner between the wickets.

Perera is also the wicket keeper for the Sri Lankan side, and is known for his swift keeping behind the stumps. And, Perera took a sharp reflex catch to dismiss Bangladesh batsman Mosaddek Hossain during the 2nd ODI between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on 25th May 2021. Perera is the lynchpin of the Sri Lankan batting line up. In fact, he is the 4th highest run scorer for Sri Lanka in T20Is, and has plundered 1293 runs at an average of 28.10 and a strike rate of 135.25.

The laziest cricketer in the Sri Lankan side is Lasith Malinga. Even though Malinga played his last T20I for Sri Lanka more than a year ago, it is likely that the curly haired yorker machine might render his services to the Sri Lankan side in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Malinga never took his fitness seriously, and even announced his retirement from Test cricket due to persisting knee injuries. He is also known for his sloppy work on the field. Nevertheless, Malinga can still bamboozle batsmen with the ball in hand. In fact, Malinga is the highest wicket taker for Sri Lanka in T20Is, and has scalped a colossal 107 wickets in his T20I career at an average of just 20.79.

7. Afghanistan

Rashid Khan is Afghanistan’s most valuable player. While his prowess with the ball is well known, Rashid is also one of the fittest players in world cricket as well. In fact, Rashid also displayed his excellent fielding skills on 14th April 2021, during the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the encounter against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) side, he took an excellent running catch at deep square leg to dismiss Shahbaz Ahmed. Rashid is agile, and can save crucial runs for his side.

Rashid is a wizard with the ball in hand, and the numbers that he has generated in T20I cricket are astounding. In just 51 T20Is, the leg spinner has scalped a colossal 95 wickets and has taken his wickets at a strike rate of 12.10.

As far as the laziest cricketer of Afghanistan is concerned, it has to be Hazratullah Zazai. Zazai is an excellent willow wielder and can pulverize bowling attacks, but he is not swift when it comes to fielding. However, Zazai has accumulated incredible numbers in his short T20I career that has lasted only 15 T20Is. The left hander has scored 570 runs, and has scored his runs at an average of 40.71 and a strike rate of 155.31. And, if Zazai can improve his fitness and be more active on the field, he can be more valuable to the Afghanistan side in the days to come.

6. South Africa

The South African side is blessed with a number of fit cricketers. There is Kagiso Rabada who takes his fitness very seriously, and then there is Faf du Plessis who is a livewire on the field. But then, David Miller pips these two, and is arguably the fittest South African cricketer at the moment.

Miller is known for his jaw dropping catches as well as for his insane saves on the boundary. He is also one of the fastest runners with the pads on. The left hander is also the third highest run scorer for the Proteas in T20Is and has amassed 1484 runs at an average of 31.57 and a strike rate of 140.53.

South African cricketers are agile, but if one has to pick the laziest cricketer, it has to be Lungi Ngidi. Even though Ngidi is a pacer who can rattle batsmen, he is not someone who is very quick and agile on the field. Ngidi has featured in 16 T20Is for the Proteas and has scalped 28 wickets at an average of 17.04.

5. Australia

The Australian side too, has a number of fit cricketers in their side. But then, no one is fitter than pacer Pat Cummins. Cummins is like a machine who can run in for hours in a Test match without tiring. Even on the field, the tall Aussie can take blinders as well.

Also, in 2019, Dale Steyn, who himself is an extremely fit cricketer lavished praise on Cummins for his fitness. Steyn stated that Cummins manages his workload well and termed him as a fit and strong cricketer.

“It takes supreme athletes to bowl fast for five days in five Test matches. That is a heavy workload. I think Cummins is amazing. He is so fit and so strong. He is ridiculous. And, he is one of my favorite bowlers right now,” said Steyn to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Mitchell Starc is the laziest cricketer currently in the Australian squad. Even though Starc is known for his yorkers that can rattle the stumps, he is surely not an asset for Australia in the fielding department. Starc’s career has also been plagued by injuries. In fact, the left arm pacer was forced to miss the entire 2016 edition of the IPL due to a stress fracture to his leg.

Nevertheless, Starc is a potent weapon in the armoury of the Australian cricket team. He has scalped 47 wickets for Australia in T20I cricket, and has picked them up at a strike rate of just 16.70. He will play a key role for the kangaroos in the 2021 T20 World Cup. 

4. Pakistan

Sarfaraz Ahmed yawning on the field became a rage in the internet. The sight of Sarfaraz yawning was also used as a meme material as well. Surely, the Pakistan wicket keeper is one of the laziest cricketers in the world at present.

He has also had a torrid time with the willow as well. Sarfaraz Ahmed has not scored a half century in his last 12 T20I innings. In ODI cricket too, he has registered as many as 4 single digit scores in his last 10 ODI innings as well.

Shadab Khan will qualify as the fittest cricketer in the Pakistan side. In fact, Indian fans will remember the sharp catch that Shadab took at point to dismiss Virat Kohli in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy. Another occasion where Shadab showcased his brilliance on the field was during the 2nd T20I between Australia and Pakistan on 26th October 2018. Imad Wasim bowled a good length delivery to which Chris Lynn got a leading edge, and Shadab Khan dived full length to pouch the ball just inches short of the ground.

Shadab Khan has played 46 T20Is for Pakistan and has scalped 53 wickets with the ball at a strike rate of 18.60.

3. New Zealand

Trent Boult is a cricketer who can be seen taking stunners on the field, especially on the boundary. There have been several occasions when the batsman has been dumbfounded by Boult’s brilliance on the field. In fact, Boult showcased his brilliance even in the recently concluded ODI series between Bangladesh and New Zealand.

In the 3rd ODI between the two sides on 26th March 2021, Boult just threw himself to his left at third man to pull off a blinder. Apart from that, he also bowls tirelessly as well and is an asset for the New Zealand side. Boult has featured in 34 T20Is for the Kiwis and has scalped 46 wickets.

The laziest cricketer from the land of the Kiwis is Colin De Grandhomme. The New Zealand all rounder is bulky, and is extremely lethargic as well. He is also a poor runner between the wickets. Colin De Grandhomme has played 36 T20Is for the Black Caps and has scored 485 runs with the willow.

2. India

There is no doubt that Virat Kohli has emerged as the fitness icon in world cricket today. But then, if there is one man in the Indian cricket team who can stake claim to being the fittest cricketer for the ‘Men in Blue’, it has to be Ravindra Jadeja.

In fact, it will surely not be an exaggeration to state that Jadeja is also the best fielder in the Indian side as well. Jadeja seldom drops catches, saves vital runs almost every single time on the field and is extremely quick while running between the wickets as well. The left arm spinner has played 50 T20Is for India and has picked up 39 wickets with the ball.

On the other hand, Yuzvendra Chahal is the laziest cricketer in the current Indian side. In fact, during the 2019 World Cup encounter against Sri Lanka, Chahal was seen lying down outside the boundary in a lazy manner and it led to a truckload of memes on the Indian bowler.

Chahal last played a T20I for India on 16th March 2021 against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. He has scalped 62 wickets in 48 T20Is.

1. England

There are very few players in world cricket who can match the fitness levels of Ben Stokes. The England all rounder plays every single format of the game, renders his services both with the bat as well as with the ball, and is one of the most hardworking cricketers at present.

Also, during a 2019 World Cup league match against South Africa, Stokes took what will arguably go down as one of the greatest catches in World Cup cricket history. Andile Phehlukwayo swept the ball hard, and the ball was travelling at tremendous speed. And Stokes, who was positioned at deep mid-wicket leapt in the air and took a one-handed marvel on the boundary.

Stokes has literally played non-stop cricket for England for almost a decade now. The England cricketing legend has played 71 Tests, 98 ODIs and 34 T20Is at the international level. But he has shown no signs of wear and tear.

Adil Rashid will qualify as a lazy cricketer in the England cricket team. Even though Rashid can fox the batsmen with his leg breaks and his deceptive googlies, the 33-year-old is a slow mover on the field. With Rashid only playing limited overs cricket for England now, he will have to become more proactive as the nature of the format that Rashid plays requires him to do so.

Rashid has played 57 T20Is for England and has dismissed 55 batsmen. He averages 26.62 with the ball in hand.

Note: All the stats have been taken from Cricinfo, Cricbuzz and Howstat cricket and have been updated as on 10th June 2021