T20 World Cup 2014: 5 players who can win it for India

India can be counted as one of the favourites for the World T20 tournament that starts from March 16, if not for their recent form, but for the subcontinent conditions that are likely to favour them. Sri Lanka will start out as favourites, as they won the title last time. Bangladesh will be shouldering a lot of responsibility from the local crowds, and they have to really gear up and prove their worth in the group stages, not doing which can result in their not qualifying for further rounds.India have a decent pool of players to choose from, and they can go a long way in the tournament provided the elders in the squad find their feet. Here are 5 names who can really make it happen for India this time.

#5 Mohammed Shami

This new talent will debut for India as far as T20 cricket is concerned. But that does not mean that he will have a minor role to play. He will be one of India’s frontline bowlers as far as pace bowling goes, and will be partnering Varun Aaron and/or Bhuvneshwar Kumar, depending on who makes the playing XI. He has some nice statistics in T20 cricket, with 35 wickets from 24 games, and he has given just 14.60 runs per wicket and used just 13.60 deliveries to get the next wicket. These are pretty awesome numbers, and even though they came at the domestic level, they have prompted selectors to give him a chance for the upcoming international tournament.

He is a pretty regular selection in the ODI side currently (50 wickets in 29 games), and he really proved his worth in the series against New Zealand recently and in the Asia cup thereafter, taking wickets almost every game. The Bangladeshi pitches may not be of the greatest assistance to him, but with his talent and hunger for wickets, he may just do wonders for India. The 24-year old is a great fast bowling prospect that the team should groom, and he will contribute handsomely for years to come. He does have the potential to lead the attack like Zaheer Khan did some time back for India. He will, in all probability, make it to the squad for the World Cup next year as well, but much of that will depend on how this tournament and the few upcoming ones go for him. This is a great opportunity and stage for him to really make it count.