The ICC T20 World Cup is closer by the minute. The tournament is going to be a tough one. Australia is hosting the tournament for the first time in history. The specialty of Australia is that it has pace and bounce on offer for the fast bowlers and it also has a lot of room available for the spinners. So, both the bowlers and batter are in the game. Some players will be keen to make a lasting impression with their performance. So, who are the X-Factor players from every team? Who are the players that will perform in the crunch situations? Here is an in-depth look:
Wanindu Hasaranga will be X-Factor for the Sri Lanka Team at the ICC T20 World Cup 2022:
Wanindu Hasaranga is the X-Factor for the Sri Lankan national team. The team is rebuilding itself after a crisis period. The transition after the departure of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena was not so smooth. But now the team is looking a bit settled. The team has good characters such as Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka, and Lahiru Kumara. The team can be good contenders at the global level with Hasaranga in the mix. Hasaranga made the batters dance to his tunes in the IPL. Not to forget that the IPL has a standard that is equivalent to the international level. Hasaranga can certainly bat at number 7 and bowl 4 overs tightly. His attacking bowling sets him apart.
Dewald Brevis/David Miller can be X-Factor for South Africa at the ICC T20 World Cup 2022:
The cricket world was excited to see what “BABY AB” has in store. The Mumbai Indians did give a glimpse of his talent to the community in the IPL. It will be great to see if the Cricket Association of South Africa fast-tracks this talent to the national team. He has the talent to make it to the global stage. If he is a part of the team, he can scare the opposition with his presence on the wicket. His 29 run-over of Rahul Chahar can never be forgotten.
David Miller on the other hand has found his lost touch. Miller can finish games for South Africa like he used to do earlier. In my opinion, Miller was one of the top batters in TATA IPL 2022. He was striking at an average of 100+ in the chases. He won the qualifier single-handedly for Gujarat. When Miller is on song one doesn’t see a cleaner striker of the ball.
Hardik Pandya/Umran Malik is the X-Factor for the Indian Cricket Team:
Hardik Pandya is rooting to make a comeback to the national team. What awaits me as an analyst is the role that the Indian national team gives him. The team can ask Hardik to finish the games at number 6 or 5 or they can even ask him to float throughout the innings. He can also bat number 4 and solve the number 4 conundrum in absence of Suryakumar Yadav. Apart from all this he surely has to bowl 2 to 3 overs a game. His fielding needs no introduction as that is top-notch every single time he steps on the field.
Pace Sensation Umran Malik is expected to be drafted to the national team as a surprise package. He has been ruling the IPL by sheer pace. Imagine him clocking 150 clicks on Indian wickets. His pace can rise to 155 on the Australian tough wickets that offer bounce. Umran is a national team commodity as claimed by Ravi Shastri. If the management backs him well, he can turn out to be a genuine asset to the team.
Nicholas Pooran is the X-Factor for the West Indies Cricket Team:
Nicholas Pooran is an X-Factor for the West Indies national team. He is also expected to lead the team at the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. On any other day, I would have said that the entire West Indies team is an X-Factor but the current form of a few players is concerning. The teams have figured out ways to deal with Dre Russ, DJ Bravo has retired, and so has the Universe Boss. The West Indies team is in a transition phase and they have great fresher faces.
Shimron Hetmyer, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, and Akeal Hossein are all exciting prospects. Nicholas can lead this team to another triumph if his bat fires. He bats left-handed and can shift gears whenever he wants. He had a decent season with the Sunrisers in the recently concluded IPL.
Glenn Maxwell is the X-Factor for the Australian National Team at the ICC T20 World Cup 2022:
“The Big Show” can do big damage at the ICC T20 World Cup in October. “The way to manage players like Glenn Maxwell is to make them feel like they are the best player in the world.” These are the words of Michael Clarke after he led Maxwell in the 2015 ICC ODI World Cup. Maxwell on his day is the most dominant and clean striker of the ball. He has also started contributing with the ball a lot more. He deals with the left-handers very well. With an off-spinner in the mix, the opposition always considers left-handers while making a strategy.
Liam Livingstone is the X-Factor for the England Cricket Team at the ICC T20 World Cup 2022:
Liam Livingstone is a true definition of a “New-Age Cricketer”. My man can hit sixes at will, can bowl leg-spin, can bowl off-spin, and can field like a cat on the field. He does everything possible on the cricket field for an outfielder. He has taken range hitting to a new level. His power and timing are an amazing composition. Livingstone is an X-Factor player in the England team. It will be great to see if Eoin Morgan can make the best use of his talent. Liam has been ruling the freelance cricketing circuit.
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Read more at the official website of the BCCI.