The world’s greatest athletes often choose the grandest occasions to leave their mark on sport.
When the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 begins on Saturday, cricket fans will be eager to see their favorite stars shine and lead their countries to glory at the end of the nearly month-long tournament on June 29.
The biggest-ever edition of the T20 World Cup, with 20 nations competing, is set to bring out the biggest names, but only a few make our list of players to watch. Here they are:
Virat Kohli: India
There isn’t much to be said about Kohli, arguably the biggest name in world cricket, but his recent form speaks volumes. India’s talisman finished at the top of the points table in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL).
Kohli was player of the tournament at the 2023 50-year-old Cricket World Cup. At 35, the T20 World Cup could mark his final attempt to add another trophy to a glittering career, and the man often known as “King Kohli ”Not one to miss many chances.
Babar Azam: Pakistan
The Pakistan captain is considered one of the best batsmen in world cricket across all formats. His role at the top of his team’s order is so crucial that if Pakistan are to reach the final, it will largely depend on Babar’s participation in the tournament.
The 29-year-old has played 287 international matches across all formats for his country and heads into the World Cup in good form.
Jofra Archer: England
The right-hand seamer bowled the Super Over for England in their 2019 Cricket World Cup final victory against New Zealand, but has been plagued by injuries since then.
Born in Barbados to an English father and Bajan mother, the 29-year-old’s blistering pace and awareness of the conditions in the West Indies will be crucial in England’s quest for a record third T20 World Cup title.
Rashid Khan: Afghanistan
Rashid Khan is a man who wears many hats in Afghanistan and does so with a smile. For Afghanistan to have a great World Cup, Rashid, who is arguably their biggest star and most important player, must shine as a bowler, lower order batsman and captain.
The wily leg spinner is capable of stopping the attack of some of the world’s greatest batsmen and setting the opposition’s bowling on fire with his great hitting.
Andre Russell: West Indies
Andre Russel is a veteran with two T20 World Cup victories in 2012 and 2016 and an important cog in Kolkata Knight Rider’s title win in the recently concluded IPL. The 36-year-old’s form with bat and ball, right up until the final, was crucial to Kolkata’s third IPL title.
West Indies fans hope that the powerful all-rounder replicates for their country and brings them a third title as well.
Adam Zampa: Australia
Adam Zampa, a 32-year-old wrist spinner, had a mixed cricket campaign in the 2023 World Cup during which he was predicted to shine for Australia. However, he appeared at a crucial moment and played his part in dragging the Australians from a slow start to winning the trophy. An economy rate of 7.5 in T20Is is a fraction high, but his average of 22 cannot be discounted. In the absence of another specialist spinner, Zampa will carry the burden of the spin department.
Finn Allen: New Zealand
New Zealand’s opener hit Pakistan in their T20 series this year with an astonishing six-hitting display. If Allen reaches his full potential, his raw power will be nearly unstoppable against any team.
The 25-year-old has a strike rate of just under 170 in T20 internationals, and with his 137 in the series against Pakistan, he replaced Brendan McCullum at the top of the Kiwis’ highest individual run-scorers in T20.
Wanindu Hasaranga: Sri Lanka
After an injury in 2023, Wanindu Hasarnga has returned to lead Sri Lanka from the front in their recent limited-overs matches.
The 26-year-old all-rounder’s powerful middle-order presence – with a strike rate of 130 – cannot be ignored. Then comes the leg turn. In 63 T20 international innings, he claimed 104 wickets at an average of 15.
Gerald Coetzee: South Africa
The fast bowler is quickly establishing himself as a key player in the South African team. Alongside youngster Marco Jansen, the 23-year-old is part of a bright future for the Proteas attack.
Shakib Al Hasan: Bangladesh
Ranked second only to Hasaranga in the ICC all-rounders list, Shakib Al Hasan is uprooting trees even at the age of 37.
A veteran of 122 T20 internationals and often ranked as the best all-rounder across formats, the left-hander has 12 fifties with a strike rate of 122, while he averages 20 with his slow left-handers for his 146 wickets.
Shakib is one of the few players to have played in all eight editions of the T20 World Cup.
Notable mentions
Jasprit Bumrah: India
Shaheen Shah Afridi: Pakistan
Jos Buttler: England
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
