After an exciting group stage with some brilliant cricket played by all
eight sides, things are only going to get even more exciting as the very
biggest names in cricket come together for the Super 10 stages of
#WT20. We’ve picked out the 10 stars to watch throughout the rest of the
tournament:
Having established himself as a batsman for all seasons in the Test
and 50-over formats, Virat Kohli has taken a giant step in the last six
weeks towards T20I greatness too. Since lashing a spectacular unbeaten
90 against Australia in Adelaide on January 26, he has smacked four
half-centuries in seven innings, and two other scores in the 40s.
During that period, he has also masterminded four successful run-chases. In all, he averages a staggering 52.61 in 38 T20Is at an excellent strike-rate of 133.07. Kohli has proved himself to be the king of chases, blessed with the ability to read situations and adjust his game accordingly. From the pivotal No. 3 position, he controls the innings and allows the others to bat around him.
While he is the original Twenty20-player turned Test and One-Day
International operator, David Warner has come a long way since he made
his debut in the shortest format back in January 2009. Established in
all formats, Warner has shown a great degree of adaptability and this
allows the captain to use him in different positions as per the team’s
requirement. When he gets going, Warner is unstoppable, and despite
being explosive he does not suffer from a lack of consistency.
The diminutive wicketkeeper-batsman is a classy bat with strokes all
around the wicket, and can pack a punch when required. Mushfiqur has
consistently been among Bangladesh's most reliable batsmen and the team
will look to him to shepherd the middle order along. Known for his
ability to take on bowlers during crunch situations, Mushfiqur has
delivered goods more often than not. In 49 T20I matches, Mushfiqur has
amassed 655 runs at an impressive strike-rate of 112.93.
Eoin Morgan, who took over as England T20I captain in December 2012
for the series in India, which ended 1-1, has been as well-rounded a
short-format batsman as they come. The emergence of Jos Buttler and
Jason Roy and Ben Stokes has taken some of the attention off Morgan in
recent times, but in his last five T20I innings before the series in
South Africa, he had scores of 71, 74 and 45 not out. And that average
of 30.59 and strike rate of 133.02 puts him up there among the best in
the format. As captain, he is calm and tactically astute, something that
is often glossed over in the haze of fours and sixes in T20s, and in a
team of swashbucklers, Morgan is the expert finisher.
By common consensus – especially among his peers and rivals – AB de
Villiers is the greatest batsman in the modern game. He has hit a
31-ball century in ODIs – and the mind boggles when you watch the
limitless range he brings into play in a T20I. Of late, he has started
to come up the order for South Africa, giving him the most time to make
use of the 20 overs at the team’s disposal. If the elements fall in
place, there is no bowler who will confidently say he can stop a
rampaging de Villiers.
"He's a genius." Brendon McCullum's take on Kane Williamson is a
sentiment shared by most of the cricket fraternity. The late Martin
Crowe went one step further, predicting Williamson to becoming the
greatest run scorer in New Zealand history. Williamson will be leading
the side for the first time since McCullum's retirement. Though
Williamson is not one to bash boundaries at will like his predecessor,
his consistency is impressive -- he's notched up three half-centuries in
his last five T20I games. Since his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in
October 2001, Williamson has played 30 games, hitting 844 runs at 36.69
with a healthy strike-rate of 127.68.
Afridi was the all-round star of Pakistan's title run in 2009 and has
been leading from the front as captain. Not only is he the highest
wicket-taker in T20Is with 93 sticks from 94 matches, but his
strike-rate with the bat is 148.92, the fifth-highest in the world and
second among those who have played at least 50 games. An entertaining
hitter with 66 career sixes and 95 fours, Pakistan knows that they'll
always have a chance when Afridi is at the crease. Afridi, who had said
he'd retire from game after the ICC World T20 2016, indicated he might
change his mind. But if he sticks to the plan, this might be the last
time fans get to see this entertainer in full flow.
It’s difficult to emphasise Mathews’s importance to the Sri Lankan
side, across formats. He is a batsman who can adapt to any situation and
is also one of its frontline bowlers. Apart from his contributions to
both departments, Mathews is also an able leader and is the face of Sri
Lankan cricket’s next generation.
Mathews made his T20I debut in 2009 and has played and has played 62 matches since, scoring 862 runs .
His T20I numbers may be modest – 219 runs at 11.52 and 11 wickets at
48.9 from 35 games – but Russell, now nearly 28, has been a bonafide
star for several T20 franchises around the globe. This year alone, he
has helped inspire Sydney Thunder to the Big Bash League title, and
Islamabad United to the top rung of the inaugural Pakistan Super League.
A canny seam bowler with clever changes of pace, Russell can also belt
the ball a fair distance. This could be the tournament in which he shows
off his qualities on the big stage.
Gulbadin Naib is a crucial all-rounder for Afghanistan. In the
recently concluded One-Day International series against Zimbabwe, Naib
was instrumental, hitting an unbeaten on 82 off just 68 deliveries, when
it chased 249 for victory. Staring down the barrel at 146 for 6, Naib
(with good support from Rashid Khan) helped Afghanistan to seal the
thriller with two balls remaining. Naib’s strike rate looms around the
130s, more than useful in this format. Naib’s contribution down the
order where he can smoke a few and finish off well, will be vital for
Afghanistan’s progress during the World Cup.
source:ICC-Cricket.com
1. Virat Kohli (India)
During that period, he has also masterminded four successful run-chases. In all, he averages a staggering 52.61 in 38 T20Is at an excellent strike-rate of 133.07. Kohli has proved himself to be the king of chases, blessed with the ability to read situations and adjust his game accordingly. From the pivotal No. 3 position, he controls the innings and allows the others to bat around him.
2. David Warner (Australia)
3. Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)
4. Eoin Morgan (England)
5. AB de Villiers (South Africa)
6. Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
7. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)
8. Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)
Mathews made his T20I debut in 2009 and has played and has played 62 matches since, scoring 862 runs .
9. Andre Russell (West Indies)
10. Gulbadin Naib (Afghanistan)
source:ICC-Cricket.com
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