T20 WC 2021: Rating wicketkeeper-batsmen of top 8 teams ahead of the tournament

The seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup is set to commence on October 18. The first five days will witness the eight qualifying teams fighting for four spots to make it to the Super 12 round and then the real battle will begin from October 23. The World Cup in the shortest format is being played after a long gap of five years. It was slated to take place last year itself but the pandemic led to the postponement of the tournament.

Though it is just a 40-over game overall, every aspect of each of the 11 players is tested during this period. Wicketkeepers do play an important role and not only behind the stumps, but they also need to bat very well these days. Gone are those days when the wicketkeeper only need their primary skill to make their place safe in the team. Most of them either are the openers or the finishers with the bat for their side but it has become mandatory now for them to shine with the willow.

Needless to say that they will play a crucial role in the upcoming T20 World Cup to be played in the UAE. The top eight teams have some special wicketkeepers who can also change the game with the bat.

Here we rate the wicketkeeper-batsmen of top 8 teams ahead of T20 WC 2021:

8. West Indies – Nicholas Pooran – 6

Nicholas Pooran is a devastating player when it comes to batting. He can win matches single-handedly for West Indies on his day. But on current form, the left-hander gets the lowest rating. He struggled in the Indian Premier League (IPL) while featuring for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and then also didn’t have fruitful outings during the home season.

His scores during the T20I against Australia and Pakistan read – 32, 16, 31, 13 and 62* – while in the other two matches, he didn’t get a chance to bat. In 41 T20Is of his career, Pooran has mustered 634 runs at a strike-rate of 124.07 with three fifties.

As far as his wicketkeeping skills are concerned, Pooran is a safe bet behind the stumps. He has taken 23 catches and affected three stumpings for West Indies and has also taken 98 catches and sent 16 batsmen back with stumping in all 185 T20 matches he has played so far. He will be crucial for the Caribbean side in the World Cup and while batting at five or six, Pooran will need to finish games more often than not.