Essential Guide to T20 World Cup Group D: Star Batters and Bowlers
The 9th edition of the T20 WC has now begun.
Star Sports has partnered with Winbaji data analysts to preview each of the twenty sides in the beginning group stage.
We’ve divided each of the 4 groups into its preview and looked at how each side is shaping up ahead of the tournament and Winbaji has picked out a key batter and bowler.
Check Out: All You Need to Know About the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024
Here’s Group D, which features Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands, and South Africa.
Bangladesh
ICC World Ranking – 9th
Appearances in the T20 World Cup – 8
Finest T20 WC Performance – Round 2 (2022, 2021, 2016, 2014, and 2007)
Captain – Najmul Hossain Shanto
Head Coach – Chandika Hathurusingha
Form (latest last) – WLLLW
Group Fixtures – Nepal (17 June, 00:30), Netherlands (13 June, 15:30), South Africa (10 June, 15:30), and Sri Lanka (8 June, 01:30)
Battle to Watch – Towhid Hridoy
The high-hander comes off the back of two 400+ run seasons in the commonly low-scoring BPL.
Across this WC cycle, he has developed his all-round game substantially, averaging upwards of 40 against spin, while striking at over 150 against pace bowling.
Bowler to Watch – Shakib Al Hasan
The debatable talisman will play a chief role in all divisions, but with the ball, the Tigers will be depending on home most keenly.
The left-arm spinner is approaching 50 wickets in this WC cycle, which has cost him just a shade over 6 an over.
He will discover the conditions to his preference in the US and the Caribbean, with tons of playing experience in these nations offering 50 wickets at an average below 20 and an economy rate below 7.
Nepal
ICC World Ranking – 17th
T20 WC Appearances – 1
Best T20 WC Performance – Round 1 (2014)
Captain – Rohit Paudel
Head Coach – Monty Desai
Form (latest last) – WWLLL
Group Fixtures – Bangladesh (17 June, 00:30), South Africa (15 June, 00:30), Sri Lanka (12 June, 00:30), and Netherlands (4 June, 16:30)
Batter to Watch – Dipendra Airee
While Rohit Paudel takes on most of the responsibility at the top of the order, Aerie takes the reigns in the final overs.
With more than 500 runs since the last WC at a brilliant strike rate of 191, Dipendra Airee is an aggressive and powerful batter.
The sole batter in the world in recent times to go past his strike rate is Glenn Maxwell of the Australian team, which is not a shady company to be keeping.
Bowler to Watch – Abinash Bohara
Right-arm seamer Abinash Bohara has taken more wickets for Nepal compared to any other bowler since the last WC.
Interestingly, for a cricketer with that reputation, he bowls a few of his deliveries in the powerplay. Most of his wickets and deliveries have come in the death overs, at a standard of just 17.
With an economy of 9.2 runs-per-over in that phase as well, he is a critical element for the Nepal team at the back end of the innings.
Netherlands
ICC T20 Ranking – 15th
T20 WC Appearances – 5
Finest T20 WC Performance – Round 2 (2022 and 2014)
Captain – Scott Edwards
Head Coach – Ryan Cock
Form (latest last) – WLLLW
Group Fixtures – Sri Lanka (17 June, 01:30), Bangladesh (13 June, 15:30), South Africa (8 June, 15:30), and Nepal (4 June, 16:30)
Batter to Watch – Sybrand Engelbrecht
The right-hand cricketer has made a quick influence since returning to Cricket – the South Africa-born cricketer initially retired back in 2016 – and joining the Dutch set-up.
Following an encouraging 50-over WC in India last year, he averages upwards of 50 at a strike rate of above 150 in T20s for the Dutch since.
His batting throughout the middle order will be important to catapulting the Netherlands totals forward.
Bowler to Watch – Logan van Beek
The right-arm seamer has become a true attack leader for the Netherlands over the last couple of years and has the most wickets of any Dutch bowler in T20s across this WC cycle.
He bowls with great pace and can bowl during the innings, but he shines at the death with his average down to 15.28 in that phase.
South Africa
ICC T20 Ranking – 4th
T20 WC Appearances – 8
Finest T20 WC Performance – Sem-finalists ( 2014 and 2009)
Captain – Aiden Markram
Head Coach – Rob Walter
Form (latest last) – WLLLL
Group Fixtures – Nepal (15 June, 00:30), Bangladesh (10 June, 15:30), Netherlands (8 June, 15:30), and Sri Lanka (3 June, 15:30).
Batter to Watch – Heinrich Klaasen
The right-hander’s numbers in the present WC cycle have been exceptional.
An average of 41 and an eye-watering strike rate of 182 is something that no player in the world can currently compete with.
He takes a special liking to spin, striking at 192 and averaging 59.
Bowler to Watch – Tabraiz Shamsi
With close to 50 career wickets in the Caribbean, across T20 internationals and, T20 Caribbean Premier League, Shamsi is the most experienced South African bowler in these conditions.
The left-arm spinner is the top wicket-taker among any Proteas bowler in this WC cycle and will be leaned on greatly to find wickets by captain Aiden Markram.
Sri Lanka
ICC T20 Ranking – 8th
T20 WC Appearances – 8
Finest T20 WC Performances – Winners (2014)
Captain – Wanindu Hasaranga
Head Coach – Chris Silverwood
Form (latest last) – LWLWL
Group Fixtures – Netherlands (17 June, 01:30), Nepal (12 June, 00:30), Bangladesh (8 June, 01:30), and South Africa (3 June, 15:30)
Batter to Watch – Kusal Mendis
The creative right-handed batter etched his authority on last year’s 50-over WC in India and hopes to do the same in the Caribbean.
He has scored close to 1200 runs in this WC cycle, almost 500 more than the next Sri Lankan.
As a right-hander, he will be targeted, especially in these conditions with left-hand spin, but he shins against it, averaging 41 through his career. That’s his highest of any bowling delivery.
Bowler to Watch – Matheesha Pathirana
The fight-arm quick bowler, Matheesha Pathirana has been turning into Sri Lanka legend Lasith Malinga both in a style and numerical sense.
His bowling action attained similar levels of dip, destruction, and speed.
Across this IPL season, before a small injury, Matheesha Pathirana at an average of 13, took 13 wickets, bowling leading orders away in the powerplay and breaking legs.
With speed closing in at 93mph, he could be the bowler to watch out for in the tournament.
