The T20 World Cup is the pinnacle of international cricket, and teams from around the world have been preparing for months to claim the coveted title. But which squads have the right mix of talent, experience, and strategy to take home the trophy?
In this article, we’ll rank the top 10 T20 World Cup squads from best to worst, based on their recent performances, team dynamics, and player statistics.
1. Australia T20 WC squad (9/10)
Let’s talk about the 2021 T20 World Cup champions, Australia. Australia is known for its strong performances in big tournaments. This time, they’ve chosen players based on performance rather than just big names. Their 15-man squad doesn’t include Steve Smith or Jason Behrendorff. Instead, they’ve picked players like Tim David and Cameron Green.
Looking at their squad, they have powerful batsmen like David Warner and Travis Head, along with experienced bowlers like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh. The team seems well-rounded, with Jake Fraser-McGurk also in reserve.
Squad: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
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2. India T20 WC squad (8.5/10)
The Indian team has many star players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah. Critics say they lack specialist bowlers for the final overs, despite Bumrah being there. Overall, the team looks strong with batters such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and a strong middle order and spin department. Insidesport rated the Indian lineup 8 out of 10.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya (Vice-Captain), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
3. England T20 WC squad (8/10)
England, the current champions, will be on the field again despite a tough time in last year’s ODI matches. They excel in shorter games. Their batting lineup, led by Jos Buttler, Will Jacks, and Phil Salt, is strong and can trouble any bowlers.
They also have fast bowlers. However, their spin department seems weak with only Adil Rashid as a major wicket-taker. West Indies pitches favor spinners, which could challenge England.
Squad: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood.
4. Pakistan T20 WC squad (7/10)
Pakistan’s team is focused on fast bowlers like Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. However, their batting might be a concern. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are key players known for their endurance. Besides them, others don’t usually stay at the crease for long. It’s a tough situation with a strong bowling lineup but a weaker batting squad.
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan.
5. New Zealand T20 WC squad (7/10)
The Kiwi squad is filled with experienced players like Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, and Mitchell Santner. They also have many all-rounders such as Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jimmy Neesham, and Rachin Ravindra. The team has a good balance of players who can bat and bowl.
However, they might face challenges in the middle overs due to a lack of big hitters. Players like Daryl Mitchell and Devon Conway could help solve this issue. It will be interesting to see if New Zealand can win the T20 World Cup.
Squad: Kane Williamson (captain), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.
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6. South Africa T20 WC squad (6/10)
The Proteas team seems balanced overall. They have strong hitters like Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller who can score well in the middle overs. Their pace bowling is led by Kagiso Rabada. However, their lack of spinners, with only Keshav Maharaj as a spin option, could be problematic. Spinners are crucial in the USA and West Indies conditions, and relying on just one spinner might be risky.
Squad: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs.
7. Afghanistan T20 WC squad (6/10)
Afghanistan is known for its spin bowling strength and aims to make an impact in the T20 World Cup. They have impressed with their cricket skills.
Their squad focuses heavily on spin bowling, led by Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Despite having strong, aggressive batsmen, the team appears inexperienced, especially in the middle order, which could be a concern for them.
Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik
8. West Indies T20 WC squad (5/10)
They have won the championship twice and are now starting to improve again. Lately, they’ve been performing well in shorter cricket matches. With the World Cup happening in their country soon, there’s a lot of hope.
Their squad for the T20 World Cup includes several spinners, chosen because they know the conditions well. On paper, the team looks strong, but they might face problems without a consistent long-term batsman.
Squad: Rovman Powell (captain), Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hossain, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd
9. Sri Lanka T20 WC squad (5/10)
The Lions have a strong bowling team with experienced spinners and fast bowlers. However, their batting has been weak in the past, especially from the top to the middle order.
While players like Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama are reliable in the first 10 overs, overall, the team lacks aggressive batting strength.
Squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (Captain), Charith Asalanka (Vice-Captain), Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka
10. Bangladesh T20 WC squad (3/10)
The Bangladesh Tigers are facing challenges after losing a series to the USA. Their T20 World Cup team looks okay, but there are noticeable weaknesses, especially in batting.
Their batsmen struggle to start well and score big runs consistently. There are also issues with their spin bowling. Mustafizur Rahman is in good form, but overall, the team seems unstable right now, which could affect their World Cup chances.
Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Taskin Ahmed, Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanvir Islam, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
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