The T20 format routinely subverts stereotypes that followers of this sport have historically lumped upon national teams. The game and the teams need a fresh look as the T20 World Cup moves out of conventional cricketing boundaries. With the USA playing and hosting cricket, not baseball, change is in the air. A disclaimer before the June 2-29 event: When it comes to describing a team, the usual adjectives just don’t apply.
When it comes to T20 cricket, the England team is not only respected for its bowling innovations and big-hitting accelerations, but are also reasonably well-behaved and a non-cribbing side. That is why, unlike in the game’s older formats, no one quite grudges their big wins. They also don’t bottle up in this format.
South Africa: Chokers who?
South Africa haven’t won a T20 World Cup, not even made a final, but are spared the chokers’ tag by never looking good enough to win, making just two semis until now. The country has a steady stream of outrageous talent like Heinrich Klaasen, but is not quite expected to go the distance. So South Africa, for now, will remain underdogs.
New Zealand: Chokers
The true bottlers have been New Zealand, who have reached three semifinals and one final, without ever winning. It ties in with their 50-over history of anti-climactic finishes, but they have out-South Africa-ed the Proteas in T20s. In the one final they made, they did well to post the highest score of 172 in all T20 World Cup finals. But then predictably lost to Australia, who cantered to a win by 8 wickets.
India: Unpredictable
India too choke routinely since Dhoni’s first Cup, and will land in the Americas resembling the infamous squabbling Pakistan sides of yore. But the core of this team did play gorgeous cricket during last year’s 50-overs ICC event. With coach Rahul Dravid getting the opportunity to erase memories of 2007 in the Caribbean, non-favourites India will hope to land a Pakistanesque win despite the extra ego baggage they carry.
Pakistan: Not unpredictable
Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan during a 2023 ODI World Cup game. (FILE)
Pakistan too have lost three semifinals and two finals. But in what can be a spectacular rebranding statistic in their favour, they can be called the most consistent of all T20 teams, making the last-4 six times in eight editions. The ‘unpredictable’ tag can fly out of the window because of this record. Faction-ridden and combustible, Pakistan remains a formidable T20 side on paper.
Bangladesh: Sparkless
Speaking of combustion, Bangladesh have strangely shown no spark whatsoever at T20 World Cups, never making the knockouts. They lost to the USA recently, and their usual mix of unrealistic chest-thumping chatter has never translated to big wins in this format.
Australia: Slow to take off
This generation of cricket-watchers, who might only consume T20, will scarcely comprehend why the rampaging yellow brigade was feared in Tests and ODIs. They have just one T20 title, which is less than England’s tally, compared to owning 6 off 12 editions of the ODI World Cup. David Warner and Glenn Maxwell have a title, but haven’t set the T20 World Cup on fire. It’s taken Messrs Starc, Cummins and Head time to come to grips with the cadence of this format and truly ace it.
Lanka-Windies: Also-rans
Former champions Sri Lanka have waned over the years, and are no longer preceded by headlines of their latest ‘mystery’ find. And West Indies have in their ranks Shamar Joseph, known far more for his Test-sealing spell against Australia at the start of this year, than any franchise-exploits.
