Super 12 teams Group 2 preview: The ICC T20 World Cup 2021 is going to be the first bigger tournament since the COVID outbreak across the globe. All participants have unveiled, and if required, changed their teams submitting to the International Cricket Council (ICC) before the deadline, 10th October.

The event kick-starts by 17th October with Round 1, Group stage and will commence with the Super 12 Round from 23rd October. Despite the fact that India owns the hosting rights, all of the games will be embraced by Oman, UAE stadiums. Amidst the pandemic and severe crisis in men in blue’s realm, the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) had no option but to drag the event out of their homes unwillingly.

Even though they are unable to host the T20 World Cup 2021 in their backyard, they are thoroughly cheered up to step in and make it big this time. 

This article is a one-shop-stop for all the cricket devotees where they can read the schedule, squad, analysis of four of the qualified Super 12 teams Group 2. Let’s begin with the most favorites:

ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Super 12 teams Group 2 Super 12 Preview

INDIA

T20I rankings: 2nd

Best result in T20 WC: ICC T20 World Cup 2007 Winners

What can we expect? Finalists

Overview

What makes the synopsis India-favored this time is Virat Kohli. The veteran cricketer, leader, has announced his retirement as a T20 captain. Including the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) and the T20 World Cup, Kohli visibly is and will be rendering his best to at least clinch his maiden IPL, ICC trophy before bidding farewell to T20 cricket, respectively.

Notably, he is yet to win an ICC trophy despite reaching playoffs, semi-finals, finals many times since his captainship. Topic aside, the Kohli-led IPL team, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), are in the playoffs once again. The showdown win looks certain, so it might be in the World Cup – utilizing the final opportunity before hanging up T20I leadership boots. 

It is pertinent to mention that India are placed in Super 12 teams Group 2 alongside Pakistan, New Zealand, and Afghanistan, anticipating two more contestants from Round 1.

Undeniably, Dhoni’s mentorship is what makes India one inch closer to victory. The most successful captain in cricket history is the only one to win all ICC trophies. Let’s analyze the toppers now:

Top Ranked Batter

Virat Kohli – 4th

Unquestionably, Kohli is the greatest T20 batter of all time with certainty in his knock. Although he is clashing to score a ton for two years in any format, his certitude with the bat in the T20Is is considerable. He has 3159 runs in the format at an average of 52.6. He will take over the front position with being the foremost base of his team in the event.

Top Ranked Bowler

Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 11th

As compared to his other teammates, Bhuvneshwar Kumar hasn’t made much of an impact since the start of 2020. He has played only eight games, picking only 9 wickets. However, his average (18.55) and economy (6.07) suggests that the seam bowler has a lot to offer to his side. Leading with Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar will have to work well to give India early wickets. 

The men in blue will initiate their journey versus the arch-rivals, Pakistan. Here is India’s schedule for the T20 World Cup 2021:

Schedule

October 24th – vs Pakistan

October 31st – vs New Zealand

November 3rd – vs Afghanistan

November 5th – vs B1

November 1st – vs A2

PAKISTAN

T20I rankings: 3rd

Best result in T20 WC: ICC T20 World Cup 2009 Winners

What can we expect? Semi Finalists

Overview

The unpredictability of the Pakistan Cricket Team is what makes it the most and least favourites at the same time. Nasser Hussain’s statement, Pakistan Cricket at its best, one minute down, next minute up, clearly elaborates the insights of men in green.

ICC T20 World Cup 2021 is going to be the big test for Babar Azam and chaps. Babar will undergo the first-ever World Cup as a captain. The matters could have been unpredictable and dubious if Pakistan had confirmed the initial Wt20 squad PCB unveiled. The average age of the squad was below 24 that time. But after immense criticism and Ramiz Raja’s take over, PCB was pushed to make some quick changes in the crew.

Fakhar Zaman, who was placed in the reserved player panel, was swapped to the main squad. Whereas Khushdil Shah, who was added to the main team as the front middle-order player, has been moved to the reserved players’ list. Azam Khan and Mohammad Hasnain have been eliminated as the board wisely has opted for Sarfaraz Ahmed and Haris Rauf with big stats instead.

Moreover, a day later, injured Sohaib Maqsood got unlucky enough to be pulled out of the T20 World Cup squad. Shoaib Malik, the most veteran player among all sixteen participants, will now be adding an experience of over 42 years alongside Mohammad Hafeez.

It is appropriate to mention here that Pakistan are placed in Super 12 teams Group 2 alongside India, New Zealand, and Afghanistan, contemplating two more candidates from Round 1, Group Stage.

Top Ranked Batter

Babar Azam – 2nd

Undeniably, Pakistan’s Babar Azam can turn out as the top-ranked batter from the team’s end. Second on the ICC T20I batsmen rankings, Azam has 2204 runs in the formats in 61 games at an average of 46.9 striking at 130.6. Azam reached the milestone of surpassing 2000 run-mark in the fewest innings, 52, the least taken by any player. Also, only Kohli and Malan have better T20I batting averages than him (minimum 20 innings).

Top Ranked Bowler

Shaheen Shah Afridi – 23rd

Shaheen Shah Afridi, the tall seamer with quick tactics with a boosted understanding of when to bowl which length, will be an asset for Pakistan’s bowling line-up in the event. He can be a frightening proposition to any batter with an ability to deliver the ball in the air and move it off the pitch.

Schedule

October 24th – vs India

October 26th – New Zealand

October 29th- Afghanistan

November 2nd – A2

November 7th – B1

NEW ZEALAND

T20I rankings: 4th

Best result in T20 WC: ICC T20 World Cup 2007, 2016 semifinalists

What can we expect? Will not qualify

Overview

The fourth-ranked T20I team, to be led by Kane Williamson, composing of nice guys, might or might not always finish first. They have been staying strong across all the formats. Recently, Williamson lifted the ICC World Test Championship trophy alongside mates beating India. This time, the next ICC trophy may belong to another skipper striving to win big. 

They had beat India in the longest format, but we ought to mention their 0-5 defeat in the recent T20I series versus Kohli and co.

It is pertinent to mention that the Black Caps are yet to win a T20 World Cup despite reaching the semifinals twice. They may have equal or better potent than their group’s team, but Pakistan now pop up as their arch-rivals alongside India.

It is pertinent to mention that New Zealand are placed in Super 12 teams Group 2 alongside Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, anticipating two more contestants from Round 1.

Top Ranked Batter

Devon Conway – 5th

Devon Conway may have entered late in the Twenty-Twenty Internationals, but his stats place him fifth on the ICC T20I Batsmen Rankings. The left-handed batter, crucial for his team’s batting line-up, has accumulated 473 runs in 14 games at an SR of 151.1.

Top Ranked Bowler

Tim Southee – 10th

Currently, Tim Southee enjoys the 10th spot on ICC T20I bowlers rankings. He can simply be irresistible for the Kiwis. In a 13-years-long career, Southee has gathered 99 wickets as he just got 83 T20I games to don Black jersey in.

Schedule

October 26th – vs Pakistan

October 31st – vs India

November 3rd – B1

November 5th – A2

November 7th – Afghanistan

AFGHANISTAN

T20I rankings: 8th

Best result in T20 WC: Super 10s, ICC T20 World Cup 2016

What can we expect? Will not qualify

Overview

Mohammad Nabi and co, however, have not won T20Is versus India and Pakistan yet, but they look stable with their power hitters and the ball turners. Given every reason they are placed in the Super 12s without extra efforts required, Afghanistan are looking to clinch big this time. Notably, from their WT20 group, they have not faced New Zealand in T20Is yet. 

It is related to mention that Afghanistan are placed in Super 12 teams Group 2 alongside Pakistan, New Zealand, and India, awaiting two more competitors from Round 1.

Top Ranked Batter

Hazratullah Zazai – 10th

Unquestionably, anyone will be naming Hazratullah Zazai in the top-ranked batter portion of Afghanistan for the T20 World Cup 2021. Zazai’s strength was clearly witnessed during the Pakistan Super League (PSL 2021) that can be progressed in the big event too. Although he is the 12th best batsman momentarily but excelling his top-notched and smokey knocks, he got as high as 9th best batsman on ICC T20I rankings for the batsmen. 

Top Ranked Bowler

Rashid Khan – 3rd

Rashid Khan, the renowned name among the world-class spinners operating in the era, has a lot to inspire the watchers and overpower the opponents with his magnificent bowling. Rashid was named captain of the team. Following his disagreement and powerlessness whilst finalizing Afghanistan’s squad, he stepped down from his duties, choosing to don the nation’s jersey as an ordinary player. 

The young bowler is currently the ranked number third T20I bowler and even has occupied the first spot in recent times too. His name alone can be a nightmare to many opponents’ batters.

Schedule

October 26th – vs B1

October 30th – vs Pakistan

October 31st – vs A2

November 4th – vs India

November 7th – vs New Zealand

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