WI vs BAN: 5 Players to watch out for in T20I series
After a total dominance from the West Indies in the recently-concluded Test series that saw them whitewash Bangladesh 2-0, the focus now shifts towards the shortest format with the first T20I that gets underway from July 2 in Dominica. The final two games will be played on the 3rd and 7th July respectively.
Even though the hosts dominated the Test series, the T20I series is expected to be a different ball game with some gifted match-winners in both sides. Without further ado, here’s a look at five of them.
5. Mahmudullah Riyad
Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah Riyad is an explosive middle-order batter who has the potential to play game-changing knocks in the death overs with his brisk batting approach. Apart from that, he is also a very handy bowler providing breakthroughs with his right-arm off break.
Mahmadullah has been Bangladesh’s second-highest run-scorer since January 2021 in T20Is and has so far amassed 2002 runs from 115 outings.
4. Nicholas Pooran
Nicholas Pooran has succeeded in becoming one of the Windies’ best limited-overs middle-order batters in the last few years. He can be very devastating if gets going and can do some serious damage with the bat.
While all eyes will be on Pooran in this series, he also has an opportunity to breach 1,200 T20I runs. The southpaw is currently at 1,193 and would be the seventh Windies batter to reach the milestone.
3. Obed McCoy
Obed McCoy has impressed one and all with his left-arm fast bowling in the last few years and has been a regular member of the Caribbean white-ball squad. The 25-year-old has 19 scalps from 13 games.
McCoy is just two wickets away from surpassing Fidel Edwards and Chris Gayle’s wicket tally of 20.
2. Mustafizur Rahman
Mustafizur Rahman, who has deceived the best in the business with his well-disguised cutters has a chance to become only the fifth bowler to register 90 wickets in the shortest format.
The left-arm quick currently has 87 scalps to his name from 63 appearances at an economy of 7.57 and could shatter a few records in the three-match series.
- Shakib Al Hasan
Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has accomplished it all with both the bat and ball and now he also has a chance to make new records yet again.
Even though he is comfortably placed as the top wicket-taker in T20Is with 119 scalps from 96 matches, the southpaw has a wonderful opportunity to add more to his tally. With the bat, Shakib has a chance to become the second Bangladeshi batter after Mahmudullah Riyad to complete 2000 runs in the shortest format.
He is currently placed at 1908 runs and should it happen, then the all-rounder will become the very first player to register over 100 scalps and score 2000 runs in T20Is.
