In advance of the upcoming T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka legend Russel Arnold and two-time World Cup winner Michael Bevan offer their predictions. After defeating New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final in the United Arab Emirates last year, Australia is hosting the tournament and wants to win it again.

Even though the hosts are still the favourites, England, India, New Zealand, and Pakistan will all believe they can win.

Harry Brook 

Harry Brook has performed admirably at number five for England in recent matches. 

Jason Roy and Johnny Bairstow are not playing for England in Australia. Concerns about Liam Livingstone’s fitness mean that England lacks power hitting, particularly in the middle overs.

However, Harry Brook, a young player who starts at number five, has demonstrated in a short amount of time that he is an excellent player. He will be crucial for an England team that wants to make it all the way through the tournament.

Brook continued his good form for England in Pakistan and emerged as one of the tournament’s star players this year. In 14 matches for England, the 23-year-old has scored 316 T20 runs, including 81 against Pakistan and 45 not out in the final warm-up match against the same team.

He has a strikeout rate of 149.05 and an average of 35.11 runs scored. England will look to Brook to score runs in the final overs in Australia because he has a reputation for doing so.

He hasn’t played a lot of cricket in Australia, and in the first two Twenty20 matches against Australia, he showed that getting used to the conditions might take some time. However, he will play a significant role for England this year as he tries to establish his place in the team across all formats.

Mark Wood

Mark Wood’s qualities are well-documented, but so are his injuries. On his return to the England team, Mark Wood has taken nine wickets.

After being out of action for eight months, the fast bowler made his return to T20 cricket this year in Pakistan, where he took three wickets in three games.

Wood is the only bowler on the team who provides express pace, as Jofra Archer is injured and cannot participate. Wood is certain to be the person Jos Buttler calls upon when he is looking for wickets, as he has taken nearly 35 wickets in 23 matches for England.

This was evident in the first Twenty20 match against Australia on October 9, when Wood picked up crucial wickets as Australia appeared to be on their way to victory. The 31-year-old’s fitness is the only question mark, and he will need to be managed throughout the tournament.

England will need Wood to be fit and firing if they want to win the title.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya India’s lower-order batsman Hardik Pandya has taken important wickets and scored runs despite missing players like Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah. 

India’s impressive squad makes them a favourite in Australia.

In recent months, all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been crucial for India in T20 cricket, scoring crucial runs in the lower order and taking crucial wickets at the death. This year, with India lacking key front-line bowlers, his role with the ball may be even more significant.

The 28-year-old recently took a break from cricket but returned with renewed energy.

Analyst Freddie Wilde says that some of India’s best players could shine in the T20 World Cup in Australia.

He led India to a series victory over Ireland this year and captained the Gujarat Titans to the Indian Premier League title in their inaugural season. In 17 innings this year, Pandya has taken 12 wickets in T20 cricket. During the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, he was greatly missed and is now one of the experienced heads in the dressing room.

Pandya, who had nearly 500 runs in 2022, will need to be at his best for Rohit Sharma’s team this year if they want to win the trophy. 

Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh Since making his T20 debut, Arshdeep Singh has impressed. Young seamer Arshdeep Singh has been given a chance to play for India because of injuries, and he has demonstrated precisely why he is so highly regarded.

During two close overs against Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup this year, he showed composure and calm, and Sharma said he has the temperament to bowl at the end.

India’s attack also lacks a left-arm seamer, but Singh has taken 15 wickets in 12 matches since his debut for the international team. He might be one of the young players at this World Cup who can really shine.

David Warner 

David Warner has performed admirably for Australia in recent months. The hosts are the bookmakers’ favourites and have assembled a team with a mix of youth and experience.

Opening batsman David Warner has been an integral part of Australia’s T20 World Cup success in recent months.

This year, Warner has been in top form.In just seven Twenty20 matches, he has scored nearly 300 runs, including an innings that won the match against the West Indies. In the pre-tournament series against England, he continued his good form by scoring 73 runs in the first Twenty20 match in Perth.

If Warner can maintain his winning streak, Aaron Finch’s team will be difficult to beat with home advantage in their favour. 

Tim David

Tim David’s rise to Australia’s World Cup squad has been remarkable. He has the potential to replace a veteran batsman during the tournament. The batsman was signed by the Mumbai Indians for £848,769 in the IPL auction without a state contract or first-class appearance.

One of the most sought-after T20 finishers in international cricket is the 26-year-old.

David was picked up by Surrey, the Southern Brave, and then Mumbai after perfecting his game in the Big Bash and with the Lahore Qalandars in the 2020/21 season.

He faced 86 pitches in the 2022 IPL season and hit 16 for six, the highest strike rate ever for a batter in a single season. In six matches for the national team, he scored 116 runs, including a stunning cameo against the West Indies in which he scored 20 runs off just four balls.

David, however, is competing with Steve Smith, Mitch Marsh, and Marcus Stoinis for a middle order spot, so his place in the starting eleven is not guaranteed. However, as the tournament progresses, he may replace one of them in the team.

Devon Conway 

Devon Conway was injured and didn’t play in the final last year. A key member of a New Zealand team that has lost two World Cup finals, Devon Conway has been in great form this year. He was absent from the IPL for a significant portion of this year, but he has since returned to play for New Zealand and resumed his work from 2021.

Last year, Conway scored more than 400 runs, including 46 in the T20 World Cup semi-final, but he suffered a hand injury that prevented him from playing in the final. He has continued his good form, scoring 129 runs in six matches, the highest total in the tri-series against Pakistan and Bangladesh with 233 runs, including a match-winning 70 not out against Bangladesh on October 9.

Mohammad Rizwan 

One of the most feared T20 batsmen in international cricket, Mohammad Rizwan has teamed up with Babar Azam to dominate Pakistan’s top order. He is the world’s top T20 batsman and has scored the most T20 runs in 2022, surpassing Suryakumar Yadav during the New Zealand tri-series.

Rizwan is in good shape heading into Australia. In addition, he scored the most runs at the Asia Cup and scored 316 runs in six T20 matches against England recently. With 201 runs, Pakistan’s star player finished the most recent tri-series against Bangladesh and New Zealand as the second-highest run scorer.

Pakistan’s middle order has frequently struggled when called upon early in an innings because they are heavily reliant on their openers for runs. To give Pakistan the best chance of competing for the trophy, Captain Azam will hope that Rizwan can maintain his excellent form at the World Cup.

Shaheen Shah Afridi 

Shaheen Shah Afridi is back in shape to play for Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. 

Although Pakistan struggles with middle order runs, their varied bowling attack frequently keeps teams to small totals. Since making his debut in 2018, Shaheen Shan Afridi has been a key member of their bowling team.The 22-year-old has been the pace spearhead for his team, taking 47 wickets in 40 T20 matches.

He is one of the most feared T20 bowlers in the world because of his speed, ability to generate bounce, and ability to bowl accurate yorkers. Recently, the seamer has been getting back into shape and played in Pakistan’s final warm-up match against England before they play India in the World Cup on October 23. 

ALSO READ: T20 World Cup 2022: Changes From Last Year to Now

Due to an injury, Pakistan’s attack against England appeared sluggish, and Afridi’s return at this World Cup will be a significant boost for Azam.