The 2022 T20 World Cup lived up to the hype. After initially threatening to be a dampener due to the unpredictable Australian weather, the World Cup delivered unrivalled drama, tension, and upsets, with England eventually emerging as champions after their convincing victory over Pakistan in the final. The 2022 T20 World Cup saw some of the world’s biggest superstars perform to their highest level on the biggest stage. Virat Kohli showcased his brilliance with the bat, Shaheen Afridi wowed with the ball, while the associate nations also came to the party.
It was a tournament of thrills and last-over finishes, and here is our Man’s Life Team of the 2022 T20 World Cup.
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Jos Buttler was brilliant with the bat in hand – scoring 225 runs at a strike rate of 144 – but the England skipper also got all his tactical calls right throughout the tournament. Buttler was perfect with his bowling changes and the usage of his bowlers in different conditions and at various stages of the game.
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Recalled to the side in the lead-up to this tournament, Hales should England what they were missing all these years at the 2022 T20 World Cup. The Englishman took his time to get going early on, but played three pivotal innings in must-win games against New Zealand, Sri Lanka and India.
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If there’s one man you want on your team at a world event, it’s Virat Kohli. The Indian superstar proved that he is still the man for the big occasion. Kohli scored four half-centuries in six matches at this World Cup and finished as the highest run-scorer in the tournament with a mind-boggling average of 98.
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No batter provided more entertainment and joy at this T20 World Cup than Suryakumar Yadav. The world’s number-one ranked batter scored the third-most runs in the competition at a ridiculous rate of 189 and played some of the most outrageous shots on Australian shores in his innings against Zimbabwe at the MCG.
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The Blackcaps always tend to punch above their weight at World Cups and Glenn Phillips’ brilliance in the middle order helped New Zealand pip Australia to a semi-final spot. Not only was Phillips the best fielder in the entire tournament, but he also played one of the standout innings at the World Cup against Sri Lanka, smashing his maiden century at the SCG.
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Sikandar Raza enjoyed a dream tournament for Zimbabwe in Australia, with the all-rounder showcasing his elite skills with both bat and ball for the associate nation. Raza was the only player in the tournament who finished amongst the top ten of run-scorers and wicket-takers, amassing 219 runs at an excellent strike rate of 147 and also picking up ten scalps at an average of 15.6.
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Shadab Khan starred with both bat and ball for Pakistan in their dream run to the final at the 2022 T20 World Cup. Khan controlled the middle overs for Babar Azam’s side throughout the tournament, picking up 11 wickets. His 20-ball half-century vs South Africa at the SCG played a critical role in helping Pakistan defy all odds to make the final four.
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After spending the previous T20 World Cup in the UAE as a commentator due to injury, Sam Curran proved to be the x-factor England needed with the new ball on this occasion in Australia. Curran won the player of the tournament award for his brilliance with the new ball and at the death, the Englishman picked up 13 wickets at an average of 11.3 in six matches.
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Shaheen Afridi proved why he is the best new ball bowler in T20 cricket at the 2022 T20 World Cup. Despite not being at full fitness due to his knee injury, Shaheen picked up 11 wickets at an economy of 6.16 at the World Cup. Ultimately, it was his injury in the final that swung things in favour of England, with Afridi unable to bowl his final 11 balls after injuring his knee while taking a catch at long-on.
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Anrich Nortje was one of the few South African players that covered himself in glory at the 2022 T20 World Cup. Nortje was at his fearsome best in Australia, picking up 11 wickets at an economy rate of just 5.37 in five matches for the Proteas.
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Rounding up our team of the tournament for the 2022 T20 World Cup is Irish fast-bowler Josh Little. The left-armer impressed heavily with his pace and movement with the new ball in Australia and was one of the only fast-bowlers in the tournament to rattle the English top order, dismissing both openers in Ireland’s famous win at the MCG.
[Featured Image Credit: ANI]
Shivaan Shah