ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 is just around the corner. The marquee event will kick off in historic fashion with first time co-hosts the United States of America locking horns against their northern rivals Canada on June 1. The USA will share the hosting duties with the Caribbean.
As only few sides have had all of their first-choice XIs available to them for the upcoming edition of the mega event due to injury issues because of tight international calendar since the last edition, favourites for the tournament are hard to identify. However, based on individual performances and that of sides cobbled together, let’s have a prediction about the favourite teams…
Frontrunners to win the marquee event
England
Reigning champions England will be once again the main contender to retain the title. Their batting lineup will be packed with big hitters with Will Jacks and Jonny Bairstow both hitting IPL centuries in last week and Jos Buttler and Phil Salt also both with over 300 runs in the tournament so far.
With Jofra Archer’s return and Mark Wood’s availability, it will form a fearsome pace attack. Moreover, Adil Rashid is currently ranked top T20I bowler in the World. With many utility all-rounders in their ranks, there will also be depth in their batting and bowling line-ups as well.
South Africa
With power hitters like Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs in their ranks, South Africa will be one of the favourites for the shortest form of the World Cup. Aiden Markram has also emerged as a white-ball powerhouse over the last 12 months. The familiar pace lineup of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi is also packed with firepower. Spin options like Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj will also be quite handy for the Proteas on the slow wickets of West Indies and USA.
India
With their tired and tested star line-ups in the batting and bowling departments, India are a powerhouse to reckon with in the T20 World Cup. Mr 360 degree batter Suryakumar Yadav and unorthodox pacer Jasprit Bumrah will be triumph cards for India in the T20 World Cup. Besides, spin all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel will be pretty effective in USA and West Indies. Under the shrewd captaincy of veteran batsman Rohit Sharma, India are quite capable to win the trophy for the second time.
Australia
With several Australian players performing splendidly in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), their chances in the T20 World Cup have been bolstered. Travis Head has formed half of a lethal opening partnership for SRH. Moreover, Jake Fraser-McGurk has forced himself into contention with a string of powerful knocks. With a lethal T20 bowling line-up in their disposal, Australia are also among the favourites to lift the trophy this time.