Players to look out for at T20 WC

Dilanka MANNAKKARA

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AB de Villiers (South Africa)

South Africa's T20 captain, AB de Villiers has been fantastic in T20s, the shortest version of the game, as he has so far played 16 matches in the World Cup. With 389 runs off 16 outings, at an average of 29.92, the right-handed genius has a strike rate of 133.21 with a highest score of 79 (not out) in World Cup.

AB who is a gifted stroke maker can pinch the singles when ever it is needed and clear the boundary with such grace and elegance.

The 28 year old, can change things in his favor and can tear apart any bowling attack on his day as he has done it in a couple of T20s.

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Shahid Afridi( Pakistan)

He is a man with plenty of X factor in him,a man for the big occasion,the flamboyant Afridi will be just a treat to watch with his maverick hitting or wily bowling. The Man of the Series in the 2007 T20 World cup, Afridi’s knack to come up with his best in crucial games will be vital for Pakistan to proceed towards the title as he did in the World Cup T 20 Semi final against South Africa.With a mind blowing strike rate of 140 plus in 50 games combined with over 800 runs with the bat Afridi will hit the ball out of the ground with immense power.

He will be one of the bowlers to watch during this edition.

His superb record with the ball includes 58 T20 wickets with a miserly economy rate of 6

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Chris Gayle (West Indies)

The monstrous hitter of the cricket ball,Chris Gayle is easily the most sought after T 20 player in the world. Combined with shear power and lovely timing Gayle can just win you games single handedly within a few overs of time. West Indies will heavily rely on “the Gayle storm” to unleash during the World Cup and he did in the first match against South Africa in the inaugural edition of the World Cup in 2007, as he scored a brilliant 117, to become the first cricketer to record a hundred in the shortest version of the game.

After a hiatus West Indies opener, Gayle is back to his devastating best, as he has been showing the world that he is capable of ruling the world. Having played 23 T20 Internationals so far, with a strike rate of 143, average of 36, Gayle is surely one of the batsmen to watch out for in ICC World T20.

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Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)

T20 is a batsmen’s game no doubt but here is one man who could rip through a batting order in no time. He is Sri Lanka’s trump card in T 20s and is one of the world’s most lethal bowlers in the world. “Slinga Malinga” will be relying on his deadly accurate toe crushers,slower balls and lethal bouncers to outfox the batsmen. With 40 wickets in

33 T 20 Internationals, Malinga will be very tough to get away especially during the death overs.

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Yuvraj Singh (India)

When he is in form,he is an eye candy,dominating bowlers with such brilliant placement, power and elegance, hitting the ball long and high with awesome supremacy and the guy who will give you those crucial break throughs. India’s two recent World cup wins – both the 2011 Wc and the 2007 World T 20 have both come courtesy some Yuvraj specials.

He makes an emotional and dramatic comeback to cricket after being diagnosed for Cancer after winning the Man of the series award in the 2011 World cup. All eyes will be on Yuvraj as to will recapture the superstar status once again or will he be a shadow of his glorious past!!! Yuvraj’s incredible power hitting was on show during the Semi Final of the World Cup T 20 2007. His incredible 70 of just 30 balls against a ever dominating Australian team provided his team with the momentum to win the trophy in the final. Yuvraj is a big match player and India will be hoping that Yuvraj will be at his best this time around as well.His 150 plus strike rate makes him one of the most explosive and destructive hitters of the cricket ball.