As the T20 World Cup 2024 ends, here is ESPNcricinfo’s tournament team. The XI primarily relies on ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats, which assign impact points to each batting and bowling performance based on the context. However, the XI also considers overall team balance, ensuring a balanced combination of pace and spin and right and left-arm bowlers.
Rohit Sharma
In difficult batting conditions, Rohit Sharma stuck to his motto of all-out aggressiveness, which paid off handsomely for him and India. His 92 against Australia was the tournament’s third-highest score and the second-highest in terms of batting rating points in an innings, trailing only Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten 68 against New Zealand. His 57 against England was critical in helping India post an above-par total in the semi-final.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Gurbaz was the tournament’s leading scorer and one of just two hitters with three 50-plus scores, the other being Rohit. He and Ibrahim Zadran formed the tournament’s opening combination, scoring 446 runs together, including three century stands; no other duo scored more than 312 runs and one century stand. Gurbaz contributed significantly to Afghanistan’s two triumphs over elite teams, scoring 80 and 60 against New Zealand and Australia, respectively.
Nicholas Pooran
Pooran was solid with the bat, passing 20 in five of seven innings. Still, his standout effort was the 53-ball 98 that helped West Indies score 218 against Afghanistan, the highest individual score and team total in the competition. His one failure came in the West Indies’ biggest game when he was removed for one in a knockout match against South Africa.
Surya Kumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav improved dramatically after a poor start, contributing significantly in four of his last six innings. His unbroken against 50 eased a nerve-racking run chase against the USA, while a 28-ball 53 against Afghanistan propelled India to 181 from a shaky 90 for 4. In the semi-final against England, he and Rohit helped get the innings back on track after two early wickets. Even in difficult batting circumstances, Suryakumar demonstrated his typical flair by playing all over the wicket. He was the first non-opener to record four 30-plus scores during the tournament.
Heinrich Klaasen
Klaasen’s tournament strike rate of 126.66 appears low, especially given his lofty standards, but this is because South Africa played numerous matches in harsh batting conditions: three in New York and one in Kingstown, with the highest score in those four games being 115. Against Bangladesh, his 44-ball 46 helped South Africa win by 113 runs and earned him 79.9 batting impact points, the tournament’s second-most for a sub-50 performance. In the final, his devastating attack on the Indian spinners put South Africa in a solid position to win the title. For more cricket insights and betting tips, visit the Betpro website.
Marcus Stoinis
Australia’s campaign fell apart in three days, but Stoinis’ numbers shone out with both bat and ball. He began with an unbeaten 36-ball 67 in difficult batting circumstances against Oman, followed by 3 for 19 with the ball, and then hammered 59 off 29 in a tight chase for Scotland’s 180. He performed poorly in the games Australia lost, scoring 13 off 21 and taking 3 for 75 in six overs against Afghanistan and India.
Hardik Pandya
It was a fantastic redemption story for Hardik after a difficult IPL. He made many critical contributions under challenging situations, demonstrating intent and vigor with the bat and a calm demeanor with the ball. His scores of 50*, 27*, and 23 against Bangladesh, Australia, and England demonstrated his death-over power-hitting. At the same time, he switched on the bowling in the final, removing Klaasen and David Miller, and bowled a clinical last over. According to ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats, he was the final’s MVP, scoring 104.88 points.
Axar Patel
Many people were surprised when Axar Patel was named to India’s squad, but he justified the faith by delivering vital game-changing performances. He was promoted to No. 4 or 5 when India lost early wickets, and he responded with maturity and a cool head – his 31-ball 47 in the final was invaluable after India had lost three wickets in a row. With the ball, his 3 for 23 secured England’s elimination in the semi-finals, while he delivered a crucial 16th over that yielded only two runs in the game against Pakistan.
Arshdeep Singh
He was the joint highest wicket-taker with Fazalhaq Farooqi (17 wickets), whom he narrowly surpassed in Impact points, and was influential in the powerplay and death overs.
He swung the new ball and took six wickets in the powerplay at an economy rate of seven, while his nine wickets at the death were tied for the most. Jasprit Bumrah was unquestionably the centerpiece of the bowling lineup, but Arshdeep provided an excellent balance with his left-arm angle and variety.
Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah, the tournament’s standout bowler, was Rohit’s go-to bowler anytime India was in difficulty, and he consistently delivered. He produced unplayable deliveries with the new ball, returned to break partnerships in the middle overs, and then delivered yorkers and slower cutters with pinpoint accuracy in the death overs.
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Despite batters’ attempts to avoid his overs, he took 15 wickets. They were distributed evenly across the three phases, with impressive economy rates of 4.07 in the powerplays, 4.75 in the middle overs, and 3.78 at the death. It’s impossible to imagine a more complete bowling display in any World Cup.
Tabraiz Shamsi
“After missing South Africa’s first three games, Shamsi made a significant impression in his debut, taking 4 for 19 in a thrilling one-run victory over Nepal. In a must-win game against the West Indies, he took 3 for 27. Shamsi outperformed Kuldeep Yadav in the final battle of left-arm wrist spinners, and he also had a higher overall impact rating for the tournament than Kuldeep (40.07). Betpro website.”
