T20 World 2020: 3 teams with best chances of winning the trophy

2. Australia

For the first time, T20’s flagship tournament hit the Australian shores, giving the Aussies a perfect opportunity to win the only trophy they are yet to win as a cricket nation.

Australia’s best performance in the T20 world cup came in 2010 when they made the finals, but were beaten by arch-rivals England. And they had a terrible World Cup in 2016 as they failed to get past the first hurdle following the defeats to India and New Zealand in the group stage.

Australia lost to England in the 2010 T20 World Cup in 2010. Image @Twitter

But the past records should not hold too much importance for Australia, especially when they will be hosting the tournament. We know something changed in 2011 when India became the first host nation to win the World Cup. Host teams seem to not feel the pressure of playing in front of the home fans. Instead, they are exploiting the home conditioned better. Since India’s triumph at Wankhede, both Australia (2015) and England (2019) went on to win the lift the prestigious trophies in home conditions.

In David Warner and Aaron Finch, the Aussies boast one of the most devastating openings batsmen. The duo complements each other well, run quickly between the wickets and both can cut loose at any point in the game. But what makes Australia even more formidable is the fact that they have some powerful players in the middle order who can clear the long boundaries in Australia with ease.

But T20 is not all about players with the willow, bowlers are equally important, perhaps more important in this format of the game. And Australia can claim to have some of the very best talents in the shape of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

1. India

India is the powerhouse in the cricketing world. They are the goliath and command utmost respect from one and all. But the big profile alone is not the reason why Team India will once again head into a prestigious ICC tournament as one of the hot favourites to win it, it’s the talent and the experience.

India won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 in South Africa and came close to winning it again in 2014, but a Lasith Malinga-inspired Sri Lankan team avenged their 2011 defeat in the 50-over World Cup with a six-wicket victory in the final.

Since 2014, India made at least into the semi-finals in the next three ICC events; made to 2016 ICC Champions Finals, to the semi-final in 2016 T20 World Cup, and recently lost in the semi-final in 2019 ICC World Cup. India may have come a little short in those tournaments, but they are also the most consistent sides in ICC Tournaments of late.

India’s powerhouse batting line-up starts right from the top, with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan arguably the best opening pair in the world. And no superlative can be enough to praise captain fantastic Virat Kohli. He is the batting standard these days. If Mahendra Singh Dhoni makes it to the Indian team, Kohli can count on his experience and wicket-keeping skills, while he remains a very dangerous batsman.

In the bowling, we know who will be key to India’s chances, and you can almost, and surely trust Jasprit Bumrah to bring his A-Game to the tournament. IF Kohli and Rohit are the kings of batting, Bumrah is the prince of bowling. He is the best without a shadow of any doubt.

Mohammad Shami has revived his career and is one of the first names on the team sheet. In Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, India boasts two of the best spinners in the short form of the game. Bring it on Team India!