Spinners will be crucial going into the T20 World Cup; given the larger ground dimensions in Australia. They will fancy themselves to pick up wickets by tempting the batter to go over the top. They are critical to a team’s strategy in the middle overs as they help stem the flow of runs and create wicket-taking opportunities.
Given the new rule about overrate introduced by the ICC, if a team is behind in the over rate, they will have an additional fielder inside the 30-yard circle. Spinners take lesser time to bowl their overs in comparison to fast bowlers. Hence, keeping the team within the overrate.
On that note, let’s look at five spinners to watch out for in the upcoming edition of the T20 world Cup.
#1 Rashid Khan
The first word people associate with Rashid Khan is ‘consistency’. He consistently has performed for all franchise teams he has been part of and on the international platform for Afghanistan.
Playing in T20 leagues all across the globe has allowed him to experience different conditions. He is an asset for whichever team he plays, as he not only stems the flow of runs but also picks up wickets. His googly still can’t be read by some of the best spin-playing batters in the world.
For Afghanistan this year, he has already picked up 15 wickets at a mere economy of 6.40. Given that they are placed with teams like Australia, England, and New Zealand, his four overs will be essential against quality oppositions like them. The Afghans will hope that he comes through for them in the world cup.
#2 Adam Zampa
Adam Zampa is a significant part of the white ball setup of Australia. Over the years, he has consistently delivered performances for them and proved his worth. Given that Australian conditions favour the pace bowlers, this spinner has an exemplary record in such conditions and knows them at the back of his mind.
Since the T20 World Cup is in the backyard of the reigning champions, Australia, Zampa has an advantage over the other spinners in terms of understanding the conditions.
This year he has taken 12 wickets at an economy of 7.58. In the previous edition, he played an essential role in the Aussies lifting the trophy picking 13 wickets in the tournament.
#3 Keshav Maharaj
Although he has only played lesser games in this format in contrast to his contemporaries, he has already proved his worthiness in T20s. Keshav Maharaj gives the team an option to bowl in the powerplay and the middle phase. Even if he is wicketless in any particular game, he will usually not leak too many runs for the team.
Maharaj has already picked up 13 wickets this year for the Proteas. Besides his bowling, he is also an exceptional fielder in the outfield. Given the world cup, South Africa will hope he contributes to the team’s success in whichever game phase he bowls.
#4 Adil Rashid
Like his counterpart from Australia, Zampa, Adil Rashid is also an essential member of England’s white-ball setup. He is their leading bowler in this form of the game. He has a knack for picking up wickets in the middle phases of the game for England.
The veteran cricketer has proved his value to the team. In the home series against the Proteas, it was visible how much they missed him. This year on the international stage, he has picked up 13 wickets in the games he has gotten to play.
During the Eoin Morgan era, Rashid was seen bowling in the powerplay, and then in the middle phases of the game, let’s see how captain Jos Buttler uses him. Till now, he has bowled in the middle stages but coming to the world cup, will we see a different role for the leg spinner?
#5 Maheesh Theekshana
The rising star in the Sri Lankan spin department made a mark for himself in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup in the UAE, where he picked up eight wickets.
Bowling predominantly in the powerplay for the Lankans, Theekshana not only doesn’t allow the batters to capitalize on the powerplay but also takes wickets with his mystery bowling.
Since the previous edition, he made his IPL debut for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Whenever he picks up wickets, there is rarely an occasion where he doesn’t pick up more than a single wicket. This year he has picked up 13 wickets. The spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Theekshana will be expected to spin their web on the batters allowing them to go deep into the tournament.
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