T20 World Cup 2021: Predicting team-wise positions at the end of the group stage

The excitement, build-up, and anticipation for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 are palpable among fans, experts, and critics. With less than a month to go for the global event, the teams are sweating it out in the practice games, playing the Indian Premier League (IPL), and working out extra in the gym. The event is set to kick off in Oman on October 17 with the eight teams battling it out in the Qualifiers. The Super 12 stage of the tournament is going to be played in UAE. Earlier the ICC announced the groups for the T20 World Cup with Group A comprising of England, South Africa, Australia. Meanwhile, Group B comprised India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Afghanistan. The top eight teams have played a good amount of T20 cricket and have gotten used to playing on the slow and low surfaces in the sub-continent conditions before the T20 World Cup. For example, South Africa has opted for horses for courses policy and have gone on with playing three spinners for their recent tour of Sri Lanka. Even India included the mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy in their 15-member squad announced for the global event. Australia too have three spinners in their squad in the form of Adam Zampa, Ashton Agar, and Mitchell Swepson. But still, the top four teams India, England, and West Indies look threatening. With the T20 World, it is a good time to look where the teams might finish. Team positions at the end of the group stage in T20 World Cup 2021 8. Afghanistan- group stage Afghanistan team. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images) Although Afghanistan has shown a tremendous rise in just a short time in their cricketing career, there are still plenty of things they need to work on. For starters, the team selection is still not consistent enough with certain players like Mohammad Shahzad, and Hamid Hassan coming and certain youngsters not getting a place in the team. Also, the team is known to handle pressure situations against big teams like India, Pakistan, and New Zealand. So by the looks of it, Afghanistan will end its campaign on the group stage itself. The team will give a tough fight no doubt but the lack of consistency, match winners, and experienced players will come back to haunt them when they will face the tough teams ahead. 7. Pakistan- group stage Pakistan Cricket Team. (Photo by Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images) Although Pakistan have played some phenomenal cricket in the shortest format, they are still the unpredictable team, and one might never know which team might turn up for the day. But such inconsistency in the performance during an ICC event will not be fine for them. Also, teams like India and New Zealand, and Afghanistan are in their group. Also, there was a lot of outside noise when Pakistan announced the squad for the T20 World Cup. Skipper Babar Azam was not happy with few youngsters getting in the team at the expense of some seniors. Although Ramiz Raja cleared that Azam is happy with the team, clearly, such things leading up to the event are not good. With Pakistan’s record not that great against India, it remains to be seen how they perform against other teams in the group. 6. Australia- group stage Australia Cricket Team (Photo Source: Getty Images) This name might surprise a few due to Australia‘s dominance in the ICC events but those following the team know that they are not yet dominating in the shortest format of the game. Six editions of the T20 World Cup have gone by, and the Men in Yellow are yet to win. Although all-rounder Glenn Maxwell said that team has enough match-winners, the team does have some loopholes. For starters, if David Warner and Aaron Finch fail, the batting suddenly looks a bit worrisome. Maxwell has not shown the consistency that the team would have hoped for. Also, Mitchell Starc has not looked as good in T20 cricket of late and that has led to Australia conceding most runs. Also, with teams like South Africa, England, and West Indies in their group, Australia making it to the last four seems a bit tough. 5. South Africa- group stage South Africa Cricket Team. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images) Once considered a mighty force to reckon with, South Africa are now left with virtually no superstar barring Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada. Yes, the team managed to beat Sri Lanka in their den, but it is the consistency that they would be hoping to have. The spin department with Tabraiz Shamsi, Keshav Maharaj, and George Linde looks sorted but, the batting isn’t. It is still heavily reliant on de Kock to provide blazing starts up front and if he fails, the others might stumble. David Miller has experience but, he often fails to deliver whenever the team needs it the most. Aiden Markram looks good but, the team will need more responsibility from him if South Africa stands a chance. But considering they have been placed in the Group of death, the possibility of them making it to the last four stages, for now, looks a bit thin on paper. 4. West Indies- semifinalists West Indies Cricket Team. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images) The defending champions from the 2016 T20 edition, West Indies might have to be satisfied with a possible semifinal finish during this year’s T20 World Cup. England, India, and New Zealand have performed well in the shortest format and have played some fearless brand of cricket. Although West Indies have Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, and Sunil Narine in the team, the conditions in the UAE do not suit their style of play. Historically, West Indies batters prefer the ball coming on to bat, and the pitches in UAE won’t offer that. So West Indies might be outclassed in the semis by a stronger team. 3. New Zealand- semifinalists New Zealand Cricket Team. (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images) The Blackcaps are no more the underdogs of cricket. They are the team to beat now during any ICC events. During the past global events, New Zealand have shown an immense amount of consistency to be one of the top teams in the world. Recently, they also won the WTC final against India, and that must have given them confidence. But the team is yet to win the T20 World Cup. New Zealand are also yet to make it to the finals in this event and by the looks of it, this may not change in the UAE this year. New Zealand have players like Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, and Trent Boult in their team but they still don’t have a designated finisher. And that might bring their downfall during the business end of the tournament. So New Zealand might as well finish in the semis 2. England- runner-up England team. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Undoubtedly the most improved team in the white-ball formats. England have revamped their playing style under their inspiring leader Eoin Morgan. It’s been five years, and England’s juggernaut seems to not stop anytime soon. Even without Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes in the 15-member team, The Three Lions still look threatening. Last time they ended up as runners-up and were outdone by a certain Carlos Brathwaite. But this year too they have a threat awaiting in the form of India. England’s death bowling too looks weak and that bring their downfall during the finals of the global event. 1. India- winners India. (Photo Source: Getty Images) India are looking prim to win the T20 World Cup this time after the inaugural edition in 2007. The BCCI selection panel stunned everyone by announcing MS Dhoni as the mentor for the team. This news was enough to lift the spirits of onlookers of the game. Indeed there is no better tactician of the game than Dhoni currently, and having him in the team will be a huge shot in the arm for youngsters. Also, India skipper Virat Kohli announced his decision to relinquish captaincy after the T20 World Cup, and that might inspire the rest of the team members to give their all. Also, the team looks good with a nice mix of youth and experienced players in it. India also has X factor players in the form of Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Hardik Pandya. So India have a shot at winning their second T20 World Cup in the UAE.

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T20 World Cup 2021: Predicting team-wise positions at the end of the group stage

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