T20 World Cup 2021: West Indies’ strongest predicted playing XI for the tournament

The West Indies have been the most successful team in the history of the tournament. Talk about coming back from desperate positions, the team has been able to impress everyone with their game. Even though they have not been that impressive in the 50 over format, they have done exceedingly well in the shorter format. 

This success is because of the experience their players have gained in the franchise tournaments. Adding on, they have the license to go big and play free no matter what. This makes their playing style impressive. 

With the upcoming T20 World Cup knocking on the doors, the batsmen are in fine form. There are so many names in the lineup, all they have to do is play their natural game in every match. Without any doubt, they are one of the favorites to lift the trophy.

Here is the predicted playing XI for the West Indies: 

1. Lendl Simmons 

Lendl Simmons has been in the international circuit for quite some time now. At 36 years of age, he still has some cricket left in him. For the West Indies, he has been a regular member of their squad. 

With the upcoming tournament, he has a major role to play. With 65 T20I games to his name, he has scored 1508 runs. A decent strike rate of 123.30 makes him a decent opener for the West Indies. His numbers might be average but there is a lot hidden behind those numbers.

Simmons has been the match-winner for the Windies over the years. When other batsmen fail, he stands up. Now, with a heavy batting lineup to follow, he has to play the role Samuels used to play during the 2016 T20 World Cup. Simmons is the man for big matches and his performance during the semi-final against India in 2016 is a prime example. 

2. Evin Lewis

Evin Lewis belongs to an elite group of batsmen with more than a single century in the shortest format of the game. He is a powerful left-handed batsman who can smash sixes at will. Adding on, a left-right combination at the top of the order makes it even more effective for the team. 

In his career, he has smashed two centuries against India. During the absence of Chris Gayle, he was the man who stood up and played match-winning knocks for his team. Hence, he takes up the second spot in the lineup. 

With a huge potential to destroy any bowling lineup, Lewis has played 44 T20Is so far. With 1283 runs at an average of 31.29, he has been consistent with the bat. Apart from that, he has a humongous strike rate of 160.71 in the shortest format of the game.

3. Chris Gayle

This list would have been incomplete without the presence of Chris Gayle. Since its introduction, T20 cricket has been characterized by Gayle. Over the years, this man has entertained fans and has given them some wonderful moments to cherish. This time too, he makes it to the T20 World Cup.

Gayle has dominated the Indian Premier League since 2011. Adding on, he has been a destructor for bowling lineups as well in T20Is. We all do remember his destructive innings against Australia in 2009, where he smashed Lee out of the part with ease. Gayle can be the force that will help West Indies to lift their third title. 

He has scored two centuries with a career strike rate of 140.17. Adding on, a plethora of experience makes him even a more dangerous batsman. Even when he is out of touch, he can score at a strike rate of nearly 135. The Universe Boss is the most vital member of this team.

4. Nicholas Pooran (Wicketkeeper)

The most astonishing fact about this West Indies team is its depth. Even if one fails, the next one in the lineup will step up to the occasion. With three big names in the top order, the next big thing in Windies cricket is holding up to the number four position. 

In the last few editions, Denesh Ramdin was guarding the wickets for the West Indies. Although he was a safe keeper, he was too slow for the T20 format. But now, the West Indies have Nicholas Pooran, the swashbuckling batsman who can score runs at a brisk pace. 

Pooran has played 38 T20Is and has not been able to score consistently. But, in the franchise tournaments like the IPL and BBL, Pooran has scored at a strike rate of 157.76. Hence, he can take the game away from the opposition with ease. Because of this, he gets the position ahead of Hetmyer. 

5. Andre Russell 

Andre Russell’s ability with the bat and ball can be measured from the fact that he was the MVP of the 2015 IPL. He can tear apart any bowling lineup for fun and his efforts during the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup semi-final are the prime example. Russell is the key all-rounder in this lineup as he is the one who can create the pace if needed. 

In the first half of the IPL, he had put on a show against CSK, but he was unable to take KKR over the line. But, the way he smashed sixes out of Wankhede, was brutal. Dre Russ is a terrific fielder too, and his presence makes West Indies a strong force. 

In 60 T20Is, Russell has played with a strike rate of 156.33. Talking about his IPL record, his strike rate is as high as 179.3. No doubt, he will be promoted up the order if the team needs someone to add fuel to the fire. 

6. Jason Holder

After seeing so many power hitters, one might wonder if there should be someone who can play the role of an anchor if the batting lineup collapses. To cover this area, Jason Holder is in the lineup. He is cool, calm and composed. And he can accelerate when needed. 

Holder has played 24 T20I games so far. Although he has a mediocre strike rate of 117.54, he can smash the ball out of the park. Holder has a decent economy rate in T20Is as well (8.16). This makes him an important member of the side. 

He has some IPL experience behind him as well. With so many power-hitters and wicket-takers in the side, Holder is a clever bowler who can adapt to the conditions as well. In 19 IPL games, he has picked 22 wickets and he can bowl at any stage of the game.

7. Kieron Pollard (Captain)

Kieron Pollard is a well-known name in the T20 format. Over the years, he has grown as a player along with Mumbai Indians and in the upcoming World Cup, he is the captain of the side. A clever bowler and a terrific fielder, Pollard has this ability to take his time and clear the fence even with a mishit. 

Pollard has played 85 T20Is so far and has been scoring with a strike rate of 138.58. In the IPL, he has managed to score 3191 runs with a strike rate of 150.87. He terrifies the bowlers and has smashed Akila Dhananjaya for six sixes in an over. Well, the bowlers should be aware of the fact that he can hit sixes at will. 

His bowling figures are also decent. He can bowl in the middle overs to cover up for a bowler who is having a bad day. Pollard has been bowling with an economy rate of 8.42 in T20Is and 8.83 in the IPL as well. If he manages to pick a wicket or two, that will be a bonus for the Windies. 

8. Fabian Allen

Fabian Allen made it to the headlines after he took a screamer during the CPL in 2017. During that season, Allen went on to score three half-centuries for his team. Later on, his solid performances in the domestic tournaments enabled him to make it to the squad. And this year too, he made his IPL debut against SRH.

There is no doubt about his talent. With 28 T20I games to his name, Allen has been striking the ball with a strike rate of 138.89. Adding on, he has picked 20 wickets in his T20I career as well. 

He is an economical bowler as he has been bowling at 7.21 runs per over. With the batsman running after the bowler, it is quite exceptional economy rate. Adding on, his fielding makes him an asset for his team. With so many experienced players, Allen can make his opportunities count this time. 

9. Dwayne Bravo

2012, 2016, will the most charismatic all-rounder make it three in 2021? Well, only time will tell about his chances. But, with age affecting his fitness, Bravo has to prove his worth by performing as well as his other teammates. Dwayne Bravo is a street-smart cricketer and everyone expects him to perform exceedingly well. 

In 83 T20Is, he has scored 1229 runs with a strike rate of 115.73. The strike rate is on the lower side only because he rarely gets to bat, thanks to a strong West Indies lineup. Bravo has been decent in the IPL though, with 1510 runs at a strike rate of 129.06.

As said earlier, Bravo is street smart cricket and hence, he can bowl at any stage of the game. Even if he bowls expensive overs, he can make a comeback at the later stages of the game. An economy of 8.12 is excellent for a bowler who bowls at the death. 

10. Hayden Walsh

Hayden Walsh made his CPL debut in 2018 under Chris Gayle. With the game evolving every year, he has adapted to the T20 conditions with ease. Hence, he was successful in the CPL and now is a regular member of the side after his debut in 2019. 

Soon after his introduction to the domestic circuit, he became a threat in the domestic arena. His bowling efforts attracted the attention of the selectors and he is now being given more chances on the national side. Adding on, he is a decent lower-order batsman as well. 

Walsh has played 17 games and has picked 19 wickets so far. His economy rate is 7.85, which is exceptional. Apart from that, his bowling average of 19 in T20 is impressive as well. He has been able to replace  iconic bowlers like Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine in the T20 side so far.

11. Sheldon Cottrell

Sheldon Cottrell has been in and out of the team since his debut in 2014. As the likes of Oshane Thomas, Dre Russ did the job of the fast bowler, his services were not usually required. But, since the past few series, he has been able to make it to the playing eleven regularly. 

This is mainly because of his consistency. Cottrell has played 34 T20Is so far and has been bowling with an impressive economy rate of 7.85. With 42 wickets to his name, he is a proven wicket-taker in the shorter format. 

Cottrell was a part of the Punjab squad last year in the IPL. But, he had a poor season with the Kings. As the T20 World Cup is being conducted in the same place, he needs to improvise if he leaks runs in his first spell. Being a bowler of international standards, fans will be expecting him to perform well.