The seventh edition of the T20 World Cup was postponed for a year due to the coronavirus. India was slated to host the event, but because of a massive outbreak of covid-19 in India, it will now be hosted by the UAE and Oman. The ICC has already announced the fixtures of the tournament. Interestingly, India and Pakistan are both placed in the same group of Super 12 round. The arch-rivals will go head-to-head in their Opening Encounter in Dubai on 24th October. The possibilities of India and Pakistan winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 have been discussed in this article.
What are the chances of India winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2021?
India are one of the favorite teams to win the seventh edition of the Twenty20 World Cup, which will begin in mid-October. India now have some good Twenty20 players by virtue of the IPL (franchise based T20 league). So, we should expect a well-balanced squad from India for the next mega event.
India have one of the finest batting lineups in the world. Led by flamboyant skipper Virat Kohli, India have power hitters Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Rishab Pant, and Hardik Pandya in their lineup. They are capable of scoring swiftly against any opponent in the world. So, India will have no problem scoring runs in this tournament.
Read Mushfiqur, Liton return as Bangladesh announce squad for NZ T20Is
India have a diverse bowling attack that can unsettle any batting lineup in the world. Bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Yuzvendra Chahal are all good in the T20 format. You may expect them to flourish for India in the competition.
India would be a difficult team to beat if they can establish their groove early in the tournament. India have failed to reach the final of any ICC limited-overs event since 2011. Can India win a limited-overs World Cup for the first time in ten years?
Five important players of India
Virat Kohli (batsman), Rohit Sharma (batsman), Hardik Pandya (All-rounder), Yuzvendra Chahal (Spinner), Jasprit Bumrah (medium-pacer)
Probable Squad of India
Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan (Wicket-Keeper), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (Wicket-Keeper), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
Read ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021: Who Are Favourites?
What are the chances of Pakistan winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2021?
Pakistan are one of the world's best limited-overs national teams. They have some talented players in the Twenty20 format. We should expect them to go all out for the big tournament. Pakistan may be one of the top contenders to win the ICC T20 World Cup this year if they can maintain consistency throughout the tournament.
Pakistan's premier batsman Captain Babar Azam is ranked among the best batters in the ICC rankings across all formats. Pakistan's batting lineup also includes Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafiz, and Shoaib Malik. These players have a lot of experience on the international stage and they know how to win big trophies.
Read BAN vs. NZ 2021: Notable T20I Records Between Bangladesh and New Zealand
Pakistan have always produced great fast bowlers, and the current side has a few dangerous pacers as well. Shaheen Shah Afridi has established himself as Pakistan's premier strike bowler over the last two years. Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Nawaz are all capable of upsetting the batting lineups of the opponent.
Pakistan will be a deadly side in the upcoming tournament if they can find their best form. Pakistan's lone T20 World Cup triumph came in 2009. Will Pakistan win its second Twenty20 World Cup in November?
Five important players of Pakistan
Babar Azam (batsman), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicket-keeper & batsman), Mohammad Hafeez (all-rounder), Shoaib Malik (all-rounder), Hasan Ali(medium-pacer)
Read ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh Cricket Team’s Full Schedule
Probable Squad of Pakistan
Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicket-Keeper), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sharjeel Khan, Haider Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Qadir, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Danish Aziz, Arshad Iqbal
Verdict
After assessing both sides' squad depths, it is clear that India and Pakistan are the two strong contenders for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. The two teams will meet in the Super 12 stage's opening match of Group 2 on October 24. In that match, we will be able to see how competitive they are with one another. Whoever win their first match will have a greater belief in their own capabilities. Both India and Pakistan's players are expected to give it their all in this blockbuster contest.
Read T20 World Cup: Bangladesh to take on Scotland on opening day