ICC World T20 2016: A look at how teams have fared since the last T20 World Cup

On 6th April, 2014, India, favourites to win the 2014 T20 World Cup lost to Sri Lanka, a team that finally broke its World Cup Finals jinx to give a few of its legends a fitting farewell from the shorter format of the game. Two years on, the tournament has moved from Bangladesh to India and the hosts are hot favourites to lift the Cup they haven’t won since the inaugural edition in 2007.This isn’t merely rhetoric but rather based on two facts – the domination in the T20 world and the extent of that domination. As we wait with bated breath for the main event to get underway, it is not a bad time to look at how the teams have fared in these two years. The form guide hardly means anything in a high-profile, high-pressure tournament.Nevertheless, it is not a bad idea to check which teams are red hot and which teams have ebbed away since the last World Cup. 

#10 Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, defending champions, have witnessed plummeting fortunes since the fateful day when they won the T20 World Cup in 2014. Unable to replace its legends, the team has lost 10 of their 14 matches since. Their batting average of 19.5 is also the lowest amongst all teams participating in the main round of the World Cup.

Their bowling average is mediocre, although better than that of a few other teams. For Sri Lanka to shake off their lethargy, they will need some special performances from veterans like Dilshan, Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga. They have some talented fast bowlers but there isn’t much quality in the spin department.

Their preparation was nightmarish as they lost against India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the Asia Cup following a 1-2 loss against India in a bilateral series. But, given they have nothing to lose, the big tournament team might come up with something special.