In T20 World Cup, keeping a good strike rate is more important than scoring a lot of runs. Playing fewer balls and scoring as many runs as possible should be the goal. It is the duty of the lower middle-order batters to provide the club with a proper finish, while the middle-order and top-order players primarily strive to establish stability and anchor the innings.
Those big hitters who are designated as finishers only get a few deliveries in which to leave a lasting impression. Finishers in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which gets underway on June 2, will be crucial to their team’s success. Now let’s see which teams, based on their current play, have the finest finishers.
Based on their performance prior to the 2024 T20 World Cup, the following 10 teams have been ranked as designated finishers:
10. Bangladesh
When it comes to bowling, Bangladesh is formidable, particularly when it comes to spin. But their finishing and batting lineup appeared a little lacklustre. Veteran players Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah, along with all-rounder Mahedi Hasan, will contribute to ensuring their innings end well.
9. Pakistan
Pakistan has a well-rounded side with a mix of young and old. To provide a thrilling finish to their innings, they will rely on veterans Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Imad Wasim. Two bottom order batsmen who can also assist are leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed and wicketkeeper Azam Khan.
8. Sri Lanka
The last time Sri Lanka won the T20 World Cup was in 2014. Although their batting and bowling groups are strong this season, their finishers are not as potent as others. The all-rounders Dasun Shanaka and Dhananjaya De Silva, together with seasoned cricketer Angelo Mathews, complete the Lankan lineup. A few crucial runs in the lower order can also be shipped in by Captain Wanindu Hasaranga.
7. New Zealand
With an eye towards winning the limited-overs title, New Zealand will go into the competition. Although their batting lineup is strong, they are a little weaker in the finishing department. Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Jimmy Neesham, and Glenn Phillips are the ones assigned to this position. Interestingly, Phillips hasn’t participated in any games in the 2024 Indian Premier League, whereas Santner has had few opportunities and hasn’t shown much in them.
Also read: Ranking the T20 World Cup’s top 10 “all-time greats”
6. Afghanistan
There are a lot of excellent all-round players in Afghanistan. Nangeyalia Kharote, Karim Janat, and Azmatullah Omarzai can provide the team a strong finish. Mohammed Nabi, an accomplished campaigner, and Rashid Khan, the captain, will be in the bottom middle order. Both are capable finishers who can contribute to the team’s ability to post a strong total.
5. India
Although India’s debut champions have a lot of possibilities for finishing, the management is concerned about their current performance. This job has been allocated to all-rounders Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, and Hardik Pandya. Dube was inconsistent towards the conclusion of the season, while vice-captain Pandya struggled to play throughout the Indian Premier League. Additionally capable of giving their innings a strong finish are middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav, wicketkeepers Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson.
4. Australia
The reigning T20 champion, Australia, is a formidable force in international cricket. They can finish games off opponents with a variety of choices that can do so on their own. While Tim David and Cameron Green will fill in as necessary in the bottom middle order, veteran players Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis will guard the middle order. In the event that Josh Inglis does not bat in the top order, the keeper-batter will be used to finish with others.
3. England
Even England’s top-order batsmen can produce scorching finishes to their innings, so it will be challenging to identify the team’s finishers. Although Jonny Bairstow and Will Jacks are top-order threats, they can also bat deep with an incredible strike rate. The team’s lower-order firepower will come from Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, and Sam Curran. With this combination, the team is among the top batting groups in the main tournament.
2. West Indies
The first team that springs to mind when you hear the T20 format is the West Indies. There are always going to be big-hitters on their team who can bash opponents ruthlessly. This time around, the Windies are led by a number of formidable hitters like as Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Powell, Jason Holder, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd. Each of them has the ability to alter the game’s outcome on their own.
1. South Africa
The batting group is South Africa’s main asset. Their middle and lower middle order can put on a blistering display towards the end of their innings. For the role of finisher, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and promising talent Tristan Stubbs have been enlisted. In the recently finished 2024 IPL, Miller had a respectable season, but Klaasen and Stubbs were brutal throughout. When this trio is in full flow, bowlers will have a hard time stopping them. Additionally, all-around player Marco Jansen may contribute some significant runs as a useful lower-order batter.
India
