Twenty-20 cricket is perfectly suited for big hitters or power hitters, as they are called these days, and the batters who can play big shots are of immense value to their teams in this format.
The ability to clear the ropes regularly is absolutely essential in the shortest format of the game. Hence, we are going to discuss five such players who can make a big impact in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia:
#1 Marcus Stoinis (Australia)
While Glenn Maxwell is more celebrated as a big hitter, the big and strong Stoinis can be the game-changer for the hosts in the tournament. He can clear the boundaries in front of himself regularly and should be an asset for the home side in the big grounds down under.
Stoinis made a whirlwind 35 off 15 balls against England in the recent T20 series and will also look to carry his form into the World Cup. If Australia is to defend their title, the 33-year-old West Australian all-rounder, who boasts a career strike rate of 144 in T20 cricket, will have to be in good touch.
#2 Dawid Malan (England)
Malan is no spring chicken at 35 but should be one of England’s key players in the World Cup. He has had a relatively late entry to the international arena but has succeeded in making his mark in both red-ball and white-ball cricket. He has a strike rate of 140 in T20 internationals.
In a recent match against Australia, Malan impressed with the bat and was instrumental in England’s win. England will bank on him a lot to get quick runs during the last 10 overs. Malan is more comfortable playing cuts off his back-foot and hence, should enjoy playing on the bouncy tracks of Australia. However, as he exhibited recently, he is also quite adept in playing pulls against pacers and slog-sweeps against spinners.
#3 Hardik Pandya (India)
Pandya is one of India’s key players in this format of cricket and continues to be the fulcrum of the middle order. Coming in at No. 5 or 6, Pandya can take the game away from the opposition with a quick-fire knock.
Pandya prefers playing off his back foot, and hence, the pitches in Australia should suit him. He played a match-winning knock against the Aussies in a recent T20 series in India and has a brilliant career strike rate of 148 in T20 internationals.
#4 David Miller (South Africa)
Miller has the nickname “Killer Miller”, and while the rhyming of his surname has led to it partially, it cannot be altogether denied that he can bludgeon any opposition in this form of cricket.
Miller recently hit a brilliant century against India in a T20 international, and although it was in a losing cause, the pugnaciousness in the knock was there for everyone to see. Miller is particularly strong on the leg-side, and some of his pulls and hits over the long-on boundary can be breathtaking. Miller’s strike rate of 145 in T20 internationals has few parallels.
#5 Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka)
Rajapaksa is the most powerful hitter for the Lankans and displayed his prowess with a brilliant knock of 71 in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan, which Sri Lanka won. He is very powerful on the leg side and can hit sixes consistently over the deep mid-wicket and long-on boundaries.
Rajapaksa is also very adept at playing the spinners, and the Lankans will depend a great deal on him for scoring runs in the middle overs and giving the innings a late thrust. Rajapaksa has an impressive career strike rate of 139 in T20 internationals.
Related: 5 Key Players for Team India in the T20 World Cup 2022
