These athletes are capable of making their respective teams’ rosters for the major event.
Even though the recently concluded Twenty20 International series between Australia and India lacked star power—many of the game’s top players, including Steve Smith, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, and Rohit Sharma—it was still a great opportunity for a number of fringe players to gain valuable experience and prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in the USA and the West Indies the following year.
Here are a few athletes who could be included in their teams’ rosters for the main event:
Ravi Bishnoi (India)
In white-ball cricket, the youthful right-arm spinner is maintaining his stellar international career. With India, he was exceptional. In five matches, he claimed nine wickets at an economy rate of just 8.20, three more than any other player.
Following a thumping of the pacers in the first three overs of the powerplay, Bishnoi became India’s go-to guy for a breakthrough, and he picked up wickets with relative ease. He was named “Player of the Series” for his efforts.
In the 21 T20Is that have been played thus far, Ravi Ashwin has sufficiently proven his ability to contend with players like Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravi Ashwin for a couple of slow bowling spots. Ravi has taken 34 wickets at an average of 17.38 and an economy rate of little over seven.
Jason Behrendorff (Australia)
The existence of the big three pacers—Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc—has made it difficult for Behrendorff to maintain a regular spot in the team since his debut on the international scene in 2017. But once again during this series, he submitted his name for consideration to be chosen for a major competition.
He got six wickets in four games, with his best total of 2/32 in the fourth Twenty20 International. Behrendorff’s economical economy rate of just 6.68, the lowest of all Australian bowlers, was his most striking bowling feature this season. Behrendorff was tremendously effective in the powerplay of the fourth Twenty20 International, restricting the run flow of India.
Behrendorff, who has played in 14 T20 Internationals so far, may still be a great addition to the team for the T20 World Cup next year, even though Australia has enough bowling depth.
Rinku Singh (India)
The five matches that Rinku has played have not changed much in face value despite his 105 runs, but those who have followed the matches are aware of the growing left-hander’s true potential as a finisher. He was the only batter with an astounding 175, strike rate. His last-over fours and sixes proved to be very helpful for India, providing them with an extra 15-20 runs to contend with a strong Australian team.His greatest innings in this series came in the second match when he hit 31* off of just nine balls, leading India to 235/4. Selectors will undoubtedly keep an eye on Rinku as they hunt for a finisher. He might be the one to call off the search.
Tanveer Sangha (Australia)
Despite his young age and just nine international games, the Australian spinner has already built a name for himself and seems to be a useful asset going forward.
Having played in all five of the Indian matches, Sangha finished with five wickets overall, his best coming in the fourth game of the series with a full spell of 2/30.
Only two of Australia’s wicket-takers bowled at a more economical economy rate during the series, and if Sangha is chosen, he has enough weapons in his toolbox to make life difficult for opposing batters in the West Indies and the USA.
Even though Sangha is likely to behind Australia’s top spinner Adam Zampa in the spinner rankings, he seems like the most prudent pick to travel as a backup for the T20 World Cup.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (India)
India boasts many of top-order batting options in the game’s shortest format, and when given the chance to compete internationally, Gaikwad never fails to wow.
The left-hander scored an astounding 123* in the third match of the series, and with 223 runs in total—by far the highest of any player throughout the five games—he became India’s only century-scorer in the Twenty20 International series.
At the 2019 T20 World Cup, Gaikwad may easily partner skipper Rohit Sharma at the top of India’s batting order if the selectors decide to go that route. Gaikwad was also ranked among the top ten scorers in the previous Indian Premier League season.
