T20 World Cup: One X-Factor player from each team

Cricket has become more popular with the inception of T20 cricket, mainly 2007 T20 WC & the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. The 2007 T20 World Cup held a lot of potentials, and the experts understood that the game would never be the same again. It’s been more than a decade, and the game has undoubtedly evolved from a one-day activity to a three-hour spectacle.

The ICC T20 WC is scheduled from 17th October to 14th November this year held in the UAE, immediately post the second phase of the IPL. It is being held after five years & the fans all across the world can’t wait for the tournament to start. Players can’t hope for a bigger and better platform to showcase their talent to the cricketing world. 

Teams are now on the lookout for X-factor players, who can turn the game around in a few overs. Such players become essential in the most dynamic and shortest format wherein every ball is an event in itself. Let’s take a look at-

One X-Factor Player from each team ahead of T20 World Cup

1. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

An absolute no-brainer for this list, Rashid Khan is considered the best white-ball spinner in today’s time. He is one bowler who can cause some of the biggest upsets in this year’s T20 WC.

He has played 51 T20Is and taken 95 wickets at a bowling economy of 6.22 runs per over and two five-wicket hauls to his name as well. He has started focusing on his big-hitting skills as well and till now has chipped in with 179 runs at a strike rate of 128.78. Even though the opposition knows he is the biggest threat & tries to play him without taking much risk, Khan manages to take crucial wickets in the middle overs to break the momentum of a team.

He spins the ball both ways at over 90 km/h which is his biggest strength as batsmen don’t have enough time to read him and play accordingly. Recently after dropping Afghanistan’s captaincy, he still is the leader of the pack and would like to pave the way for success and bring a bit of joy to the troubled nation. Still only 22 years old, if he continues to work hard and woo batsmen, don’t be surprised if his name comes in the same breath as Shane Warne & Muttiah Muralitharan.