T20 World Cup 2021: Best fielder from each team

In the modern-day times of T20 cricket, the skill of fielding has taken an utmost prominence. Since the ball is been constantly whacked or attacked, the personnel guarding the fences are always seen on their toes. While earlier when a full-stretch dive to save a particular boundary used to be considered a luxury, now it’s just become mere normalcy.  

Plucking the balls from inside the boundary ropes or just above the fences has also now become a new stereotype perhaps with some even seizing the ball in pairs. Overall, just like the skill of batting, T20 cricket has also wholeheartedly revolutionized the skill of guarding as the fielders are now not less than any extravagant forces present on the park. 

Hence, with regards to the shortest format now presenting itself in the form of the ICC 2021 World T20, let’s check out each team’s premier fielder. 

1. Australia- Glenn Maxwell

For Australia to have a robust day onto the field, the side has a group of 4-6 solid gun fielders. The likes of Warner and Steve Smith can equally guard any region of the park alongside Mitchell Starc, who has a missile-like throwing arm. Even captain Finch himself can pluck some remarkable catches inside the ring but then someone who even further elevates this skill for the Aussies is the flashing presence of Glenn Maxwell. 

As a ductile fielder, Maxwell can place himself anywhere inside the ground. In the powerplays, his full-length dives assure a boundary save from the backward point region along with sometimes a seal at the covers. The cricketer can also become a very effective hunter as he barely misses when it comes to taking a shy at the stumps. Also during the business phases of the game, Maxwell becomes that promising entity who regularly likes grabbing unimaginable catches. 

Overall, in his 300-plus game T20 career, Maxwell has picked 161 catches along with 35 catches in the T20Is. All in all, whether it’s batting, bowling or fielding, the 32-year old seems to be a glory card for Australia in the mega event.

2. India – Ravindra Jadeja

For team India there’s a sufficient plenitude of fielders who can meticulously guard all areas of the park. The likes of captain Kohli and Hardik Pandya can easily keep the long-on and long-off region well-latched along with Rohit Sharma, who is a hindrance dwelling himself at the covers inside the 30-yard ring. Even the other regular batters like KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav can be made to field anywhere but amidst all of them, there’s someone like a dart called Ravindra Jadeja.

With often now being termed as the game’s best fielder, the all-rounder can be called a sharp small pointed missile that can be simply left anywhere towards the ball. By possessing a similar radar, frequently you will find Jadeja present at an area that requires quick covering of the ground. Eventually, that’s why we seldom see a batting pair taking a chance of bagging a two or a three against Jadeja’s rocket arm. 

Besides all this, the cricketer also owns an innate ability of accurately taking a shy at the stumps from any region of the ground along with having a penchant for upholding the full-stretch dive catches. Overall, in 262 T20 matches, the southpaw has seized more than 100 catches.

3. New Zealand – Martin Guptill

If there is one team that can be constantly associated with the art of strong fielding, then it is New Zealand. Their former batting legend Brendon McCullum often used to be an epitome of this skill especially during his reign that in many ways also allowed the other players to embody the same adroitness. Very rarely you will see an NZ player dropping a catch as for them it’s often the case of a run saved is a run scored. 

With regards to picking their best current fielder for the World T20, though there are a few solid names, no one comes closest to the finesse of Martin Guptill. Whether it was the runout of MS Dhoni in the 2019 WC semi-final or about frequently taking the jugging catches at the small home venues, Guptill has an inexplicable knack of endeavoring into some miraculous events. 

The 34-year old is also one of those lightning fielders who can easily snare any catch which is centimeters off the turf. Overall, by coming out as one of the best T20 freelancers from NZ, Guptill has in total grasped a pile of 165 catches from his 277 T20 games. 

4. South Africa – David Miller

For South Africa, there’s barely any fielder in the squad who exhibits any kind of weakness in their fielding. Even their express pace bowlers like Rabada, Nortje and Ngidi are commendable fielders along with their skipper Temba Bavuma whose a top-notch gunman inside the ring. However, still to pick someone that is a class apart, David Miller’s name comes to the fore.

Certainly, for years now, Miller has frequently proved that he is one of the safest outfielders in the world to grab any kind of catches. Especially bagging the sky-high catches has been his forte along with being someone who aggressively guards the business ends. His fabulous anticipation has also eventually summoned him to become the best when it comes to swiftly saving the boundaries. All in all, with close to 350 T20 matches, the southpaw has fetched 223 catches.

5. England – Chris Jordan

There’s no doubt that after the 2015 World Cup debacle, the England team has commendably improved its overall fielding. The skipper Morgan himself now is one of the safest pair of hands in the 30-yard circle along with the likes of Ben Stokes, who heavily guards the scoring ends. However, if there’s someone who further uplifts and galvanizes the fielding, then it’s none other than Chris Jordan.

Although pacers in today’s day and age can become electrifying fielders, someone like Chris Jordan has entirely redefined the fielding manuals of a fast-bowler. He is one of the elusive individuals who gets counted to even catch a flying bird if not a cricket ball from any distance. Especially as a catcher who likes diving to any extent, Jordan exhibits a very courageous sight of an outfielder. 

He’s even famous to pluck some of the best unthinkable catches at the boundary ropes that in many ways even a capable fielder might hesitate to attempt. All in all, by emerging as the highest wicket-taker for England, the pacer has also in total bagged 36 catches from his 65 T20I games. 

6. West Indies – Kieron Pollard

By carrying a nucleus of the best T20 freelancers, the West Indies team is also one of the favorites to defend their title. Possibly all of their T20 greats are back for the mega event that in many ways also improves their fielding. The team also already possesses the presence of Dwayne Bravo and Fabian Allen as their two best fielders but still, none is safest on the field than Kieron Pollard.

For years now he’s been like a 10-feet tall wall guarding the long-on and long-off region. The big man is an excellent proponent of plucking the towering catches off the fence along with occasionally grabbing some unbelievable takes in the ring. Also, often the cricket purist comment that Pollard out of nowhere makes a complex catch look utterly easy and soothing. 

Besides all this, the fibrous man can also missile a very accurate throw no matter from any part of the turf. Overall, the all-rounder in total has 311 caught dismissals under his name.

7. Pakistan – Shadab Khan

Just like their batting, even Pakistan’s fielding is unpredictable. Sometimes their best of fielders will drop simple sitters whereas on a given day they will latch onto something unbelievable. In recent times, the below-par effort on the field has massively cost them a few games. However, amidst all this, their leg-spinner Shadab Khan continuous to impress the cricketing world with his consistent set of flexible fielding.

As a versatile fielder, Shadab can grab any position inside the ground. Sometimes you may even see him as a lone fielder who is covering a very big area of the park or maybe inside the ring to bag a flashing catch. Even when it comes to having a go at the stumps, the leg-spinner frequently strikes the ball. Also, he is one of the very few individuals who have a strong throwing arm along with the ability to attempt diving catches and boundary saves.

Overall, with also being one of the youngest to play in the Pakistan team, undoubtedly he does fulfill the responsibility of pressing hard than most others onto the field. Hence, even in the mega event, Shadab will carry an additional responsibility of emerging as a gun fielder especially at the larger venues.

8. Afghanistan – Rashid Khan

For Afghanistan, the infusion of some young cricketers will elevate their overall fielding in the 2021 World T20. Also generally the players who are T20 freelancers do further make the fielding well intact in the side. However, their ace bowler (Rashid Khan) is certainly a class above any of the other individuals especially when it comes to making athletic saves.

Precisely much like his vigorous bowling, even Rashid’s fielding all-around park is very energetic and lively. Often while attempting to make a save, the leg-spinner’s efforts are found to be very peppy and buoyant. Normally, Rashid also likes to dwell himself at the biggest boundary of the ground but he can even field at the straight high scoring ends. In fact, with regards to covering a larger area, the 23-year old also has a solid throw to effectuate many run-outs. 

Overall, the world’s best T20 spinner, this Afghan legend has taken a total of 87 catches from 280 T20 games.