T20 World Cup 2021: Dinesh Karthik predicts England to win the title

Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has predicted England to win the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021, scheduled to be played in the United Arab Emirates and Oman from October 17. In a chat with cricketer-turned-commentator Isa Guha and West Indies cricketer Darren Sammy, the 36-year-old went on to term England as the potential candidates for lifting the trophy this year.

“If you remove my bias for India because that is where I am from and ask me to something else, I would put England at the top of the run there,” said Dinesh Karthik while he was breaking down the T20 World Cup fixtures.

Lauding the team, Karthik stated that T20 cricket remains to be the strongest suit of England. “The brand of cricket that they have played. They have consistently shown other countries how to play this format right from ball one. They have shown it through 50 overs but more so in T20s. But also, a well-oiled team can do with a solid captain Morgan,” he added.

He further noted that that England skipper Eoin Morgan has not been at his best with the bat. “He [Eoin Morgan] has not got as many runs as he would like with the bat but I am sure when it matters, I am sure he will stand up for them.”

Karthik predicts the top three players to watch out for during T20 World Cup 2021

During the same interaction, the 36-year-old revealed his choice for the top three players to watch out for. “For me, Nicholas Pooran is someone who is special. There’s something called bat swing, and he has probably got the best bat swing cricket. He could hit a cricket ball farther than most have ever done. He is a very, very important player if West Indies want to move forward in the tournament,” said Dinesh Karthik.

“For India, that [character] is Hardik Pandya for me. He is there with the ball, he is there with the bat, and he plays a critical role with the bat, because every time India has floundered a little bit or want to up their run-rate, he is the guy. He can hit most bowlers to most parts of the ground… one of the reasons I really enjoy him. Even [with] his bowling, he is very clever.”

“Mitchell Starc, if he comes good for Australia. He’d be bowling those important overs for Australia, upfront, at the death. He has not been going too well, of late. But in the last series against West Indies, especially in the ODI format, he’s found his rhythm back.