Poll: Who will be the crowned champions of the World T20?

The World T20 in India is expected to be closely contested. Such is the nature of the T20 format that any team can topple a seemingly stronger opposition on a given day. The Indian pitches will offer turn however generally remain good for batting. Some of the world’s finest cricketers will look to light up the event in front of passionate Indian and overseas fans. No team has won the tournament twice and can claim to have mastered the art of winning in T20s at the international level. India won the inaugural edition in 2007 in South Africa while Pakistan took top honours in the following edition in England in 2010. England finally bagged an ICC event by winning the tourney in 2010 in the Carribean and was followed by the West Indies who were crowned the champions in Sri Lanka in 2012. Sri Lanka had lost 2 World T20 finals however ended their drought by defeating India in the final in Bangladesh in 2014.

India is the team to beat largely due to current form and home advantage. A strong batting line-up with the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja make India a formidable side.  The emergence of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya and the comeback of Mohammad Shami and Ashish Nehra has given the team plenty of options in the pace bowling department.

South Africa has a brilliant all-around team which will be eager to end the country’s world cup jinx. The form of Quinton de Kock, Ab De Villiers, Hashim Amla, David Miller and skipper Faf du Plessis gives the team a strong contender. Dale Steyn is fit, Imran Tahir is an all-important spin wizard and Chris Morris, with bat or ball, is stellar. If the team can handle crunch situations in a calm manner, the Proteas will be difficult to beat in the World T20.

Australia has an embarrassment of riches in the opening slot with the likes of Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja and Shane Watson. In Steve Smith and the remodelled David Warner, they have two fine middle-order players. Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner can hit the ball miles and will also be important members of the bowling unit. This looks Australia’s best chance to win a trophy that has thus far eluded them.

England is a transformed team since the last World T20 and they will provide some entertaining cricket in the tournament. In Alex Hales, skipper Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler, they have got some serious big-hitters, besides quality all-rounders like Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali. England has included an uncapped spinning all-rounder Liam Dawson. The slow left-armer from Hampshire has been termed as the ‘mystery spinner’ by English media. Leg-spinner Adil Rashid though will be the key to England’s chances in the competition.

New Zealand will be without their fearless leader and most dynamic batsman who has bid adieu to international cricket. The 2016 ICC World T20 signals the dawn of a new era for New Zealand cricket after the retirement of beloved captain Brendon McCullum. New Zealand’s batting line-up with skipper Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Corey Anderson and wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi is capable of hammering any bowling attack. In Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Mitchell McClenaghan and Adam Milne they have a potent fast bowling lineup.

West Indies have a lot of T20 franchise specialists in the squad. Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Samuel Badree, the finest T20 spinner, and Darren Sammy are all in demand by sides around the world. So they have a good balance. Jerome Taylor though will need to rediscover his mojo and lead the pace attack. The likes of Carlos Braithwaite and Johnson Charles may also have a huge say if the team is to do well and repeat the 2012 heroics.

Pakistan have possibly the most fearsome bowling line-up in the tournament. Not all from Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Sami will get a game. Amir’s return from ignominy has been a long process but he is almost back to his best. Shahid Afridi will be as dangerous as ever with the ball. Pakistan has had a poor one year in limited overs cricket and will look to bounce back in style in India. Their batting has been a major worry and the likes of Ahmed Shehzad and Shoaib Malik will need to take major responsibility. Umar Akmal though will need to be at his best if Pakistan were to go all the way in the competition.

Sri Lanka, the defending champions, have a core of solid performers. Tillakaratne Dilshan will be charged with fast starts, Dinesh Chandimal and captain Angelo Mathews are reliable with the bat while Nuwan Kulasekara and Rangana Herath are wily with swing and spin receptively. Lasith Malinga, if fit, is still a match-winning bowler. The team has had a bad run recently and will want to prove a point or two in the global event.

Cricket is expected to be of the highest class and the tournament may well witness some seasoned campaigners saying goodbye to international cricket. World T20 is the ultimate event in the shortest format of the game and the next edition will be held directly in the year 2020. This is due to the ICC Champions Trophy and the World Cup, both –over competitions that are scheduled for the years 2017 and 2019 respectively. We let the fans cast their vote for the potential winners in India.

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