T20 World Cup 2022: Ranking the Best Playing 11 for All 16 Teams

New Zealand and India, the top 2 teams as we look at the ranking of the strongest predicted playing 11 for all 16 teams for T20 World Cup 2022. 

Just a year back in 2021, we had seen Team Australia triumph in the biggest spectacle of T20 cricket, the T20 World Cup 2021. That memory is still fresh, and we are back once again in 2022 with defending champions Australia being the hosts for the 2022 T20 World Cup. 

16 Teams will be officially playing the tournament, which is divided into three stages. The first stage will see 8 teams fighting it out in the qualifiers from October 16. The top 2 teams from two groups will qualify from the first stage, and will meet 8 teams in the Super 12 stage. The top 2 teams from two groups will then meet in the Semis.  

The qualifiers shall see strong teams like Sri Lanka and West Indies competing with each other. Whereas the Super 12 stage already has the top 8 teams qualified already. So, with 16 teams participating in the tournament, it would be interesting to rank the strongest predicted playing 11 for all 16 teams for T20 World Cup 2022. 

Methodology:

To arrive at the ranking, we will look at the best 11 players from each team across each category, viz., Batting, Bowling, and All-rounder. To remove any biases and perception, we will look at the unbiased ICC ranking as on October 11 of each player in their category as that is the best source of truth for us. 

The ranking shall have a relative points system with the highest player being ranked 10 and the subsequent players being ranked 9.75, 9.5, and so on. The minimum points for any player shall be 5. In the end, the team with the highest aggregate ranking points out of 100 shall be ranked the best. 

#16: Netherlands – 52.9

At number 16, we have the Netherlands team. They are one team that is yet to reach its full potential. The team has Max O-Dowd, Stephan Myburg, and Rolef van der Merwe as their three best players with Max O’Dowd being ranked 47. Apart from these, the players to watch out for include Vikramjit Singh, Fred Klaassen, and Shariz Ahmad. 

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for the Netherlands: 

Max O’Dowd, Stephan Myburgh, Vikramjit Singh, Bas de Leede, Tom Cooper, Scott Edwards (C&WK), Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Shariz Ahmad, Brandon  Glover & Fred Klaassen

#15: UAE – 55

Talk about associate nations, and UAE is one name that has made significant strides in T20 cricket. The team has Muhammad Waseem as their best player in the line-up, and he is ranked 9th. Apart from him, the players to watch out for include Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Karthik Meiyappan, and Ahmed Raza. 

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for UAE: 

Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind (WK), Chundangapoyil Rizwan (C), Basil Hameed, Zawar Farid, Kashif Daud, Ahmed Raza, Junaid Siddique, Zahoor Khan & Karthik Meiyappan

#14: Zimbabwe – 55.9

Coming to number 14, we have Zimbabwe, who are reigniting their old-self. The team has two strong all-rounders in the form of Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams. That’s where their game is majorly revolved. Apart from these two, Craig Ervine, Ryan Burl, and Wesley Medhevere are the players to watch out for.

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for Zimbabwe: 

Regis Chakabva (WK), Craig Ervine (C), Wesley Medhevere, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara & Richard Ngarava

#13: Namibia – 56.6

At number 13, we have the Namibia team. The Namibia team is known for their all-rounders, and they have three top all-rounders in the top 20. JJ Smit is their best player with an ICC ranking of 7. Following him are Captain Gerard Erasmus and David Wisse. Apart from these three, Stephan Baard, and Bernard Scholtz are their key players. 

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for Namibia:

Stephan Baard, Michael van Lingen, Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (C), Zane Green (WK), David Wiese, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz & Ben Shikongo

#12: Scotland – 56.6

Scotland is one team that has been playing T20 cricket for a long time now. The team has Richard Berrington as their best-ranked player at 23. But apart from him, Scotland have a lot of star players including the likes of George Munsey, Mark Watt, Chris Greaves, and Josh Davey. 

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for Scotland: 

George Munsey, Calum MacLeod. Richie Berrington (C), Matthew Cross (WK), Craig Wallace, Michael Leask, Mark Watt, Chris Greaves, Josh Davey, Safyaan Sharif & Bradley Wheal

#11: Ireland – 58.4

One of the best maturing teams, Ireland team have a star mix of potential players in the line-up. Paul Stirling and Joshua Little are their best-ranked players in T20Is. But then there’s Harry Tector who plays sublime cricket; as also seen in the T20I series vs India. Apart from these three, the players to watch out for include Andrew Balbarine and Mark Adair. 

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for Ireland: 

Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie (C), Lorcan Tucker (WK), Harry Tector, George Duckrell, Curtis Campher, Fionn Hand, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy & Joshua Little

#10: Bangladesh – 65

At number 10, we have the Bangladesh team, who will be looking forward to having a better output this time around. Shakib Al Hasan is their star player with Mustafizur Rahman being equally good. Apart from these two, Bangladesh would need the likes of Mehedi Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, and Nurul Hasan to do well.  

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for Bangladesh: 

Mehedi Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan (C), Litton Das, Nurul Hasan (WK), Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman & Taskin Ahmed

#9: Pakistan – 72

At number 9, we have Pakistan, who would be disappointed with their ranking. The team is highly dependent on their openers and pace bowlers. They have the best openers in the business in the form of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Whereas their pacers are quite potent in the form of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah, but are ranked poor. Apart from these 5, the team would need the lower-order to perform to its full potential. 

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for Pakistan: 

Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Usman Qadir & Naseem Shah

#8: West Indies – 72.1

The mighty West Indies seeing themselves at number 8 may not represent their true potential. Led by Nicholas Pooran, West Indies have good firepower in the form of Evin Lewis, Rovman Powell, Odean Smith, Obed McCoy, etc. The team is well-balanced, but it is all about how they perform to their full potential.   

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for West Indies: 

Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran (C&WK), Kyle Mayers, Shamarh Brooks, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Odean Smith, Akeal Hossain, Obed McCoy & Alzarri Joseph

#7: Afghanistan – 74.1

Coming to number 7, we have Afghanistan, who aren’t a weak team by any margin. Their strength is their bowling, and they have potential match winners to come to the party on occasions. Apart from the openers, who are quite good, the team will be dependent on their star players, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi. 

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for Afghanistan: 

Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (C), Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad & Fazal Farooqi

#6: Australia – 75.2

Defending champions Australia are at the number 6 position. The team is filled with match-winners right from the openers. Their main headache would be to select two Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, and Tim David. The recent rise of Tim David makes it tough to leave him out. Whereas Marcus Stoinis is a match-winner. It’s a tough decision to leave out a player like Steve Smith. But they would have to take this decision; at least to start with. 

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for Australia

David Warner, Aaron Finch (C), Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (WK), Tim David, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood & Adam Zampa

#5: Sri Lanka – 76

The Asia Cup 2022 champions have a fairly potent squad filled with quality players. Each and every player, if performed to full potential can make a strong impact as we had also seen in T20 World Cup 2022. Their starting 11 will be almost similar to the one that helped them win the Asia Cup 2022. 

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for Sri Lanka: 

Kusal Mendis (WK), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dasun Shanaka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana & Dilshan Madhushanka. 

#4: England – 80.2

The explosive England team is at the number 4 position. Unlike 2021, England shall see Jos Buttler as their captain. England’s main headache would be to select one among Phil Salt and Harry Brook for the number 4 position. Barring that, their starting 11 is pretty much self-selected. Their main attraction would be a strong batting line-up until 8.

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for England: 

Jos Buttler (C&WK), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Reece Topley, Mark Wood & Adil Rashid. 

#3: South Africa – 82.3

South Africa will most-likely be the underdogs for this T20 World Cup. Except for South Africa’s captain, who is an unfit player for this format, they have the right mix of players. Only if Temba sits out, South Africa look like a much better team. But alas we will have to live without that. South Africa’s main attraction is their pace bowling quartet of Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell, and Lungi Ngidi.

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for South Africa:

Temba Bavuma (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Rille Rossouw, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristian Stubbs, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje & Lungi Ngidi 

#2: Team India – 83

The number 2 team on paper is Team India, who marginally fall short of New Zealand due to the loss of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja. Team India will have Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul as openers. Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya in the middle-order. Axar Patel and Dinesh Karthik as finishers at 6 and 7 respectively. 

Team India are yet to name a replacement for injured Jasprit Bumrah. But it looks like Mohammed Shami shall be the replacement. But since he doesn’t have match practice as yet, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, and Yuzvendra Chahal shall be the front-line bowlers to start the initial matches. 

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for Team India: 

Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh & Yuzvendra Chahal. 

#1: New Zealand – 86.1

At number 1, we have Team New Zealand. They are one team that seldom does any changes in their squad. Their strongest 11 is almost similar to the one that played in 2021; except for the line-up. If Daryl Mitchell is fit, we should see him play in the middle-order with Guptill and Conway opening. The team will be dependent on their pace bowling which comprises Southee, Boult, and Ferguson. 

T20 World Cup 2022 – Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for New Zealand: 

Martin Guptill, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Glenn Philips, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult & Lockie Ferguson

So, that’s how the 16 teams are ranked in T20 World Cup 2022 when it comes to their strongest playing 11. India, England & Australia start as favourites if we talk about the best potent team on paper. 

Thanks for reading! Which team is the favourite to win T20 World Cup 2022? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com

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