ICC World T20 2016: Experts' picks
Cricket writers on Sportskeeda have made their picks for the upcoming ICC World T20 in four categories: champions, semi-finalists, biggest disappointments, and player of the tournament.
#1 Champions
Ritwik Mallik: It’s fair to be conservative about this and go with India as eventual champions. There’s no other team in the tournament that looks as complete and ready-to-fire as the Men in Blue do. The team has all key areas covered – a starry top-order, an experienced middle order and hard-hitting finishers. To add to this, India have one of the best bowling attacks in operation currently. Also, don’t forget the home crowd support that can build a lot of pressure on the opposition in crunch scenarios.
Ayush Sharma: India are most likely to end up as the champions when the tournament ends. In a format like T20 which is full of uncertainties, if a team wins 10 out of their last 11 matches then that team has to be a strong contender for the World Cup. What makes India more formidable is that they are playing at home. A team with a strong batting unit, a couple of hard-hitting all-rounders, brilliant spinners and effective seamers, it won't be a surprise to see MS Dhoni lift the trophy for the second time.
Deeptesh Sen: It is well-known that India will start the tournament as firm favourites. Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainty and in T20s, it is even more difficult to predict a winner. But India stand out because of their current form and their familiarity with sub-continental conditions. India have a good blend of youth and experience in their side.
Siddartha Khandelwal: This might raise more than a few eyebrows, but I am going for a surprise pick for the cup this time - England. Apart from India, England probably have the most settled side in the tournament. In Hales and Roy, they have one of the most destructive opening pairs in world cricket complemented ably by Joe Root at one drop. The presence of Ben Stokes, easily the best all-rounder in world cricket right now and Moeen Ali make England the most balanced side of the tournament. Whilst they lack a genuine pace spearhead, they more than make up for it with an imposing batting line-up and over-the-top aggressive approach to the game.
Yash Asthana: It is difficult to look beyond the Indian team as the tournament favourites for the 2016 edition of the World T20. With a settled and balanced playing XI and excellent T20 form in recent months in the Asia Cup, and series against Australia and Sri Lanka and also having the home advantage, India should be able to repeat their feat from 2011 of winning a World Cup on home soil.
Shankar Narayan: India have a firing top 3, followed by a middle-order that is among the runs and a bowling attack that looks balanced with 3 quicks and 2 spinners. This makes the Men in Blue a force to reckon with and one of the few teams across both groups who don't need to ponder over the balance of the side.
Elliot Cornish: The tournament’s first champions India will become the first team to secure a second. Home advantage should suit them well, as it did in the 2011 World Cup, and their spinners will enable them to put a chokehold on their opposition in the crucial middle overs. The batting looks in decent shape after recently nailing a sixth Asia Cup triumph, and providing they settle into the tournament well, they will become increasingly difficult to stop as it progresses.
Thiviyanthan Krishnamohan: India have a well-balanced side and possess the best spin bowling attack in the tournament, that is not to mean their pace bowling is any less lethal.
Ishan Sen: Home conditions, a rejuvenated line-up, a few surprise packages in the team - this World T20 is definitely India's to lose. They have won 10 of their last 11 encounters and that's hardly surprising given the flexible batting order which can chase anything under the sun. The death bowling has improved and Bumrah must be cracking his knuckles, waiting to have a go at the unsuspecting opposition.
Sarah Waris: Unpredictability is the nature of T20s, but the consistency shown by India in this format in the last 3 months makes the ICC World T20 India's tournament to lose. The openers and Virat Kohli are in the form of their lives while the spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja are expected to cash in on the home advantage being provided. With 10 wins in the last 11 T20Is played in 2016 and big checks against all the boxes, including seam bowling, MS Dhoni's team are the fore contenders to seal their second T20 crown at Eden Gardens on 3rd April.
Srikant KK: I do believe that India can match the high expectations and win the World T20 for the second time in its history. The squad is well balanced, they are used to the conditions, the format and the team is in superb nick. Dhoni looks like he is getting back to his best and so is Yuvraj and those are two match-winners that any team will envy. The arrival of Bumrah and Pandya also seem to have covered the two areas where India were lacking considerably before – a good death bowler and a fast bowling all-rounder.