T20 WC 2021: Rating the best all-rounder of top 8 teams ahead of the tournament

The T20 World Cup is knocking on the door. With the IPL scheduled just before the mega tournament, the players will get a decent outing while playing the shortest format of the game. Adding on, this World Cup is the first one to be conducted since the pandemic started. 

As the upcoming T20 World Cup is special in its way, there is a buzz among the fans about which team is the best. Well, only time will tell as this is the most unpredictable format where the minnows beat the giants. Remember 2016? When Afghanistan defeated the eventual champions. 

The most important factor of any T20 squad is its primary all-rounder. These players play a major role in the outcome of the game. When on song, they can bowl 4 crucial overs and score runs with ease. Hence, let us have a look at the rating of the top 8 teams ahead of the tournament:

8. South Africa: George Linde (6.5/10)

George Linde is a part of a South African team that is undergoing a transition. Currently, he is trying to fill up the place which has been vacant since JP Duminy’s retirement. But, this World Cup might bring the best out of him. There is no doubt that he has to bowl his full quota of 4 overs in the World Cup on regular occasions. 

Linde has played 14 T20Is and has scored 111 runs so far. Even though he averages just 11.1 in the shortest format, it rarely matters if he strikes the ball at a strike rate of 130.59. Adding on, he can smash the ball out of the park with ease. 

Talking about his bowling, Linde has picked up 15 wickets. He has an excellent economy rate of 7.08 and the best bowling figures of 3/23. Linde has so much to prove in the upcoming tournament. Hence, he needs to step up to ensure that South Africa becomes a dark horse in the T20 World Cup. 

7. Pakistan: Imad Wasim (7/10)

Imad Wasim holds the key to choke the batsmen during the powerplay overs for Pakistan. The spinning all-rounder has been Pakistan’s most valuable asset. He can bowl, bat, and most importantly, is an excellent fielder. In a team that has a decent proportion of experience and youth, Wasim brings life to the squad. 

Wasim has played 52 T20I games so far. With the highest score of 47 and an average of 13.12, he is a good lower-order batsman. Adding on, he has an excellent strike rate of 146.43. 

Talking about his bowling, Wasim has an excellent economy rate of 6.4 so far. With 51 wickets to his name, he is a wicket-taker in every measure. Apart from that, he has a five-wicket haul in T20Is as well. With the conditions in UAE and Oman suitable for spinners, Wasim has a major role to play. 

6. Sri Lanka: Wanindu Hasaranga (8/10)

Wanindu Hasaranga is a product of the U19 cricket circuit. Even though he was a well-known aggressive middle-order batsman, he is handier with the ball. He has been so effective recently that he has been drafted into the RCB squad. 

Wanindu has played 21 T20Is so far. With the highest score of 44, he is an asset to a weak Sri Lankan squad. He has a strike rate of 110.98 in the T20 format and continues to be the most valuable asset for his team.

His bowling figures are way more impressive. He has picked 33 wickets in the T20Is. Adding on, the best bowling figures of 4/9 is impressive in every measure. Wanindu has been bowling with an economy rate of 6.56 and is key to Sri Lanka’s chances in the T20 World Cup. 

5. Australia: Glenn Maxwell (8/10)

Glenn Maxwell is an all-rounder who has been in the limited-overs circuit for over 9 years. Maxwell is a beast when on song and can tear apart any bowling lineup for fun. Adding on, he is a bowler who can chip in with a couple of overs when required. Talking about fielding, the Big Show is one of the finest fielders in the world. 

Maxwell has played 72 T20Is and has scored 1780 runs with a huge strike rate of 158.93. He has scored 3 centuries in T20Is as well. In this format, he has the highest score of 145 against Sri Lanka. 

Talking about his bowling, he has picked 31 wickets with an economy rate of 7.51. These figures are decent given the fact that spinners are taken to the cleaners in this format. Adding on, he can bat in any position, which makes him a dangerous customer. 

4. England: Moeen Ali (8/10)

The current English side is one of the strongest in this tournament. They have won the ODI World Cup, and the next thing they are aiming for is the upcoming T20 World Cup. And the man who has to play a big role for them is Moeen Ali. 

Ali has played 38 T20Is for England. He has the highest score of 72 and a strike rate of 136.14. For most of the time, he bats lower down the order, but for CSK, he was an effective batsman at number 3. Moeen can easily clear the ropes for fun. This makes him a dangerous batsman. 

Talking about his bowling, he has picked 21 wickets so far. With an economy rate of 8.43, Moeen has been bowling during the middle overs. As the wickets will be slow, he could bowl match-winning spells for his team. 

3. Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (8/10)

Rashid Khan will go down as the most impactful player for Afghanistan in their cricketing history. Coming from a war-torn country, the spinner managed to become the T20 player of the decade. Currently, he is one of the highly-rated players in the format. 

He has a batting strike rate of 147.17 in the IPL. A player who plays all over the world, he adds experience to the team. Talking about his international record, he has a batting strike rate of 128.77 in the format. 

Khan’s bowling is what makes him the biggest threat. He can bowl four tight and quick overs at any stage of the game. He has picked 95 wickets in the T20Is and 384 in the T20 format, over the world. Adding on, he is an excellent fielder as well.

2. West Indies: Andre Russell (9/10)

Andre Russell is one of the most brutal strikers of the ball. He can clear the ground even if he misses the ball. Russell has been part of the Windies squad since 2010 and continues to be an asset for his team. In the upcoming World Cup, he will be a part of a strong West Indies side.

Russell has played 62 T20I games and has scored 716 runs for his team. The most lucrative part about his batting is his strike rate. In T20Is, he smashes the ball with a strike rate of 156.33, and in IPL, he has a strike rate of 179.3. He has the highest score of 88 in the toughest T20 league, which means he can score big in less time.

His economy rate is a bit on the higher side. But, he can cover up when a bowler is having an off day. This makes him an asset with the ball too. Russell is an excellent fielder as well.

1. India: Ravindra Jadeja (9/10)

Arguably, the most improved cricketer since the last decade, Jadeja is now Virat Kohli’s main man. Even though he has a strike rate of 112.44 in T20Is, he is a much-improved cricketer with the bat and this makes him one of the best all-rounders in the world. Jadeja is a complete package that can turn the game within a few minutes. 

In 50 T20Is, he has scored 217 runs with the highest score of 44. Yes, he has not played many international T20 games, but the way he demolished RCB in a league game of IPL 2021 showcases his ball-striking ability. Jadeja can easily add 20-30 quick runs down the order. 

His bowling figures are outstanding. With an economy rate of 7.1 in T20Is, Jadeja has picked 39 wickets. Adding on, he has a five-wicket haul in the IPL too. He can control the middle overs with his tight lines and decent varieties. Apart from that, there is no doubt that he is the best fielder in the world.