ICC T20 World Cup: Five debutants to watch out for in the tournament
Tim David in action (PC: Twitter)
The biggest cricket carnival, the T20 World Cup 2022, is only a few days away from us. The tournament spanning for almost a month, will witness sixteen top teams battling it out for the decorated trophy.
Several players will play their first T20 World Cup this time. However, only some of them have the potential to impress the masses and win matches for their respective teams. So, as we gear up for the World Cup, let's analyse which five debutants could come up with impactful performances in the mega event.
5. Harry Brook
The promising batter is regarded as one of England's finest batting talents. An exceptional pace hitter, Harry Brook burst onto the scene during the home series against India, playing two impactful cameos towards the backend of the innings.
Going further, the stylish right-hander took all Pakistani bowlers to the cleaners during his breathtaking 35-ball 81* in Karachi. He finished the series as England's highest run-scorer with 278 runs at a magnificent average of 79.33 and a fabulous strike rate of 163.01. His 360-degree strokeplay is what makes him unique in the English lineup. Considering his range, we expect Brook to emerge as an X-factor for England in the tournament.
4. Tim David
After what we saw from Tim David in the T20 leagues around the world, we all wanted him to be a part of Australia's World Cup squad; such has been his impact in the shortest format.
After rising through the ranks in the BBL and PSL, David had a breakthrough season with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2022. The swashbuckling batter executed some tricky run-chases with distinction, which eventually paved the way for his inclusion in the World Cup squad.
With Maxwell not firing, the onus will be on David to guide Australia in the slog overs. And from what I have seen from him, I bet he will set the stage on fire with his game awareness and incredible hitting prowess.
3. Arshdeep Singh
Since debuting, Arshdeep Singh has been an integral part of India's T20I setup. Besides being a death-bowling specialist, the left-arm seamer is a proven performer with the new ball. He exhibited a sensational spell of swing bowling to dismantle South Africa's top order in the first match of the recently concluded T20I series between the two teams.
In the absence of Bumrah, India would like Arshdeep to fetch them wickets in both the initial and final phases of the game. And looking at his potential, we believe he will finish as one of the leading wicket-takers in the tournament.
2. Finn Allen
The poor form of Martin Guptill forced New Zealand to replace him with Finn Allen in their playing XI in the ongoing tri-series. And the way Allen has grabbed his chance, it seems to be the end of the road for Guptill at the moment.
The tall right-handed batter showcased his power-hitting skills to perfection, hammering a fabulous 42-ball 62 in the fourth match against Pakistan. His brutal knock involved six humongous sixes. Such an impressive outing against a formidable bowling attack speaks volumes for his immense calibre.
As it stands, Allen will probably open the innings with Devon Conway in the World Cup. Considering how he capitalises on the field restrictions, I think he will have a fruitful tournament.
1. Dilshan Madushanka
The spell that a young Dilshan Madushanka delivered against mighty India is still fresh in my memory. He swung the ball at a decent pace, troubled the bests in business and scalped three crucial wickets, including that of the legendary Virat Kohli.
His booming inswingers can bamboozle any right-handed batter. He can take the ball away from the RHBs as well.
Given his talent, I expect Madushanka to be Sri Lanka's go-to man with the ball in the powerplay. Also, the 22-year-old showcased his death-bowling skills in the Asia Cup 2022, picking four wickets for 43 runs in five overs. So, he will be a player to watch out for from the island nation in the World Cup.
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