2021 ICC T20 World Cup Team Preview: West Indies

West Indies bank on batting firepower to lift third T20 World Cup title

The 2021 edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup is set to begin in less than 10 days’ time and excitement amongst the fans is gradually increasing.

The tournament will feature 12 teams in the main round who will compete for the ultimate prize of lifting the trophy on November 14 in Dubai.

West Indies will once again enter the contest as a team every opposition will fear to play against as it comprised of genuine matchwinners.

The Caribbean giants are the only team to lift the trophy twice—in 2012 when they defeated hosts Sri Lanka and then later in 2016 when they got the better of England in a thrilling final.

With some of the players who participated in the mega-event five years ago still playing, there is no reason why they cannot repeat what they’ve have done in the past.

Records in T20Is:

West Indies does not have a great record while playing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where they have suffered defeats in all three matches.

Over the last two years, West indies does not have a great record in the 20-over format where they won 13 and lost 13 in 31 matches and five games ended without a result.

In the T20 World Cup, the Caribbean giants have managed to win 18 times in 31 outing which included 12 defeats and one match ended with out a result.

Batting department:

West Indies’ dominance in T20 cricket over the years was because of their batters’ hard-hitting ability and that is likely to be the case this time around as well.

In the presence of experienced pros like captain Kieron Pollard, Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Andre Fletcher, Evin Lewis and Andre Russell, who will be accompanied by an exciting youngster like Nicholas Pooran, there is no reason to expect anything different from the team in the UAE.

The presence of all-rounders Fabian Allen and Roston Chase, both of whom can bat and contribute with the bowl with handy spin, brings the much-needed balance.

Bowling department:

To say that West Indies’ bowling department is the team’s weaker link will not be a misunderstatement.

The pace unit will be heavily relying on three veterans — Dwayne Bravo, Russell and Ravi Rampaul — and they will be accompanied by two youngsters in Oshane Thomas and Obed McCoy.

These bowlers will have the responsibility of not only keeping things tight but ensure that the opposition will not be able to post a big total.

The spin department looks rather decent where Hayden Walsh, Chase and Allen are likely to be more than handy in conditions where there will be assistance for the slower bowlers.

Oppositions:

West Indies are placed in Group 2 alongside 50-over world champions England, Australia, South Africa whereas two teams will join the group after the qualifying round.

The Pollard-led side will be playing their first match against the same team whom they defeated in the final of the previous edition in 2016 on October 23 whereas their last round-robin fixture will be against Australia on November 6 in Abu Dhabi.