Right up to the Twenty20 World Cup final, there were question marks about whether India should persist with playing Virat Kohli. One of the greatest cricketers India has ever produced just wasn't scoring. He'd tallied 75 runs in seven games, including two ducks. India won every game but Kohli was reduced to a concerning afterthought, saved by the middle order and bowlers. The humbling scores followed a spectacular Indian Premier League for Kohli, who set or extended tournament records in scoring 741 runs at an average of nearly 62. Captain and fellow opener Rohit Sharma, despite their low-scoring partnerships at the World Cup, insisted throughout that he and Kohli were the first names on the team list. His faith was repaid in the final against South Africa on Saturday, when Kohli led India's batting with 76 from 59 balls in a competitive total of 176-7. The bowlers brilliantly defended the total to win a thriller by seven runs and make India a world champion for the first time in 13 years. “None of us doubted him,” Sharma said of Kohli. Virat Kohli latest victim of deepfake? “We know his quality. He has been at the top of his game for 15 years now. Big players will step up in big occasions and he played a crucial knock today. It was a team effort to get to that total but we knew we needed someone to bat time and he did that perfectly, using all his experience.” After being named man of the match, Kohli said it was his last T20 international. “One day you feel like you can't get a run, but one day things just click,” he said. “I am so proud to get the runs for the team on the day it mattered most. The occasion prompted that change for me, I felt like it was now or never. We have wanted to lift a trophy for a long time. The occasion made me put my head down, respect the situation and play the innings that the team needed from me.” Class prevails when it comes to Kohli. He's produced so often when it's mattered. In the 2014 final in Dhaka, he led all scorers with 77 off 58, though India lost to Sri Lanka. In the 2016 semifinal in Mumbai, he hit an unbeaten 89 off 47 in the loss to West Indies. Asia Cup: India overpower Afghanistan as Virat Kohli hits ton after 1,000 days He finished as the T20 captain at the 2021 World Cup, and hit 50 off 40 in the 2022 semifinal loss to England in Adelaide. After six T20 World Cups, he's the highest scorer in tournament history, just ahead of Sharma, but he's decided to finish his 14-year T20 career on a high than stay to the next World Cup in 2026 co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. He'd be 37 by then. “It is time for the new generation to come through for India,” Kohli said. "We have some amazing players coming through and they have to take this team forwards now. Virat Kohli steps down as India's Test skipper “I wasn't feeling myself before today. I wasn't confident. So I am very grateful and humble right now. It has been difficult, so there are a lot of emotions. It hasn't quite sunk in for me yet. It's an amazing day, I am so thankful.”

A month-long Men’s T20 World Cup cricket tournament is about to end with a blockbuster final between two unbeaten sides India and South Africa. Both teams will face each other at Bridgetown, Barbados on 29th June, 8:30 PM BST. Details of the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Final Match Match Date (BST) Teams Time (BST) Venue 55 29/6/2024 South Africa vs India  8:30 PM Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados . Preview of the 2024 T20 World Cup Final between India and South Africa It is a fascinating and fitting World Cup final in so many ways. The battle for the trophy is supposed to be between the two undisputed best teams in the world. And no one’s more fitting for that other than the two unbeaten teams of the tournament.  South Africa is making their debut appearance in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. Previously, they failed to win the World Cup semi-finals twice but got 3rd time lucky this time in the ongoing tournament against Afghanistan. India, on the other hand, won the initial edition of the tournament in 2007 hosted by South Africa, but failed to repeat it afterward. India lost one final (2024) and two semi-finals (2016 and 2022) since winning the 2007 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In 2024, team India are on their mission for their 2nd T20 World Cup championship. This time, South Africa appears to be unbeatable. Not only do they have a wonderfully balanced team in every department, but they also have a propensity to deliver the desired outcome in every case. They have a perfect winning record and are the only team participating in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 to do so. Additionally, South Africa are not reliant on a single player, just like any champion team. Only one of their batters is among the top 15 run-scorers in this World Cup. This may be primarily due to the kinds of pitches they were playing on. However, it is quite unexpected given the number of superstars in their bowling lineup that they have only one bowler in the top 5. However, there will be cause for concern with their close matchups. This concern might be erased from their head after a dominant win against Afghanistan. They showed in that match why they were the better side and gave a silent warning to the Indian team as well.  Across this World Cup tournament, India appears to be the most coordinated and skilled team. They played flawlessly and won the majority of their games comfortably to advance to the semi-finals. As of now, they appear to be the overwhelming favorite to win the trophy because of the way they have dominated their opponents. Up to this point, they have depended on the collective output. In almost every situation during the games, almost every player of the team contributed significantly as per their might. They are now a team that faces no fear and is capable of defeating anyone in any circumstance. They can now at last sense that their 11-year wait for an ICC trophy is about to come to an end. But they will desperately hope for Virat Kohli's form to be back in line despite they may not even require his assistance very much. Read more: South Africa beats Afghanistan to reach the Twenty20 World Cup final, ending a long cricket drought India Performance in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Played 8 Won 7 Lost 0 Tie/NR 1 Highest Run-scorer Rohit Sharma (248) Highest Wicket Taker Arshdeep Singh (15) . South Africa Performance in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Played 8 Won 8 Lost 0 Tie/NR 0 Highest Run-scorer Quinton de Kock (204) Highest Wicket Taker Anrich Nortje (13) . India vs South Africa Head-to-Head T20I Records So Far Matches Played India Won South Africa Won TIE/NR 26 14 11 1 . IND vs SA H2H Records T20World Cup Tournaments So Far Matches Played India Won South Africa Won TIE/NR 6 4 2 0 India have mostly proven to be the better side when these two teams faced each other in the World Cup.  Probable Lineups  India Rohit Sharma (Captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav. South Africa Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram (Captain), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Tabraiz Shamsi. Read more: Analysis of India Squad for the ICC Men's T20 World 2024 Key Players to Watch in India Team  Rohit Sharma Following a quiet start to the competition, Rohit Sharma really turned things up when it mattered the most. With his explosive 92-run innings against Australia and fiery 57 runs against England, he has shown his urge to be the first captain in 11 years to lead India to an ICC trophy glory. The Indian captain's role has become increasingly important in the last few matches. He has a century against South Africa in his career as well. India will undoubtedly be hoping that their captain performs as well as he did against Australia. Jasprit Bumrah India's strike bowler will be crucial in this match. He is the best at getting wickets early on. In a match where they need to pick up the likes of Quinton De Kock and Aiden Markram early, he is the most key player for the team. Although he has been poor against South Africa, he along with India would be eager to change it this time.  Kuldeep Yadav By taking significant wickets in the middle overs and keeping the opposition away from settling down, Kuldeep Yadav has been one of the most instrumental bowlers for India. He has completed his work to perfection so far and now needs to do it again. A middle-order consisting of Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller need to be dispatched early, or else India could be in serious trouble. Kuldeep Yadav must take care to prevent that from occurring. Read more: After a disastrous T20 World Cup, what's next for Bangladesh cricket? Key Players to Watch in South Africa Team Anrich Nortje He has been a major factor in South Africa's success in this competition. The captain handed him the bowl, and he did a good job of it wherever the opposition tried to establish a solid foothold in the match. After witnessing what Rohit Sharma can do in the last two matches, taking his wicket would be South Africa's primary goal in this match. South Africa will rely on Anrich Nortje, who is an expert in this field.   Heinrich Klaasen Right now, he is probably one of the game's best hitters. He can easily alter how the match plays out. The Indian spinners are benefited from the pitches regardless of the condition. In the middle overs, the Indian spinners have been the best and Heinrich Klassen would be essential to maintaining South Africa's run rate in the face of India's lethal spin attack. Quinton de Kock Of course, the top run-scorer for South Africa have a huge role to play in their first-ever final. He averages 44.57, the most in his career, against India. If he gives the Proteas a good start, South Africa might be able to cope better against Indian spinners. He would love that too.  Verdict The India vs South Africa final is going to be an exciting and competitive match where both teams could win given the option. There is not much differentiating point between the two finalists. However, India is a slight favorite because of their experience in playing finals over the years compared to South Africa, for whom it is the first time in history. This controlling nerve might be the only point between these two where India have an advantage. But for the fans, they should sit tight to witness an epic battle between the two invincibles of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Read more: T20 World Cup: India beat England comfortably, setting up final with South Africa

It’s a repetition of 2022 all over again. For back-to-back editions, the 2nd semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will feature India and England. England would want things to unfold in the exact way it did in 2022 while India would want it to be exactly the opposite.  Match Details of IND vs ENG in the T20 World Cup 2024 Match Date (BST) Teams Time (BST) Venue 54 27/6/2024 England vs India  8:30 PM Guyana National Stadium, Guyana Preview of Semi-final Match Between India vs England  India appears to be the most well-organized and polished team in the ongoing Men’s T20 World Cup tournament. They proceeded to the semi-finals without losing a game and won most of their games commandingly. They dictated their opponents so far and look to be the top favorite to bring the trophy home.  Read more: India, Afghanistan into T20 World Cup semifinals after dramatic Super 8 finale They have so far relied on team performances. Every single player of them had some significant contribution at some point in the game. The concern of skipper Rohit Sharma not being amongst highest run scorers was blown away after an assertive innings of 92 (41) against Australia. Now they are a side that fears nothing and can beat anyone in any situation. They can finally feel that this is the time to end their 11-year drought for an ICC trophy. Additionally, they would also look to take revenge for the last time when England crushed them in the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.  They have so far only one concern which is the form of Virat Kohli. However, the way this team is going, they might not need him to do much either.  England is one of the slow starters of the game. Their campaign so far has been astonishing, to say the least. They were almost on the cusp of going out in the group stage. Yet they not only passed the group stage but also fired in the Super 8 being the first team to ensure their place in the semi-finals. The most important thing for them was that their key players found their feet right in time. Jos Butler scored a fiery 83 against the USA, Phil Salt, and Jonny Bairstow were right on cue against the West Indies. The most important fact is that whoever gets a good start in this team, make sure to get them over the line. As a result, they have only two players in the top 10 run-scorer list and none in the top 10 wicket-takers (as a matter of fact, they are the only Super 8 side besides the USA who doesn’t have a bowler to take 10 wickets) yet they are comfortably sitting in the semi-finals. They will now try to do what they do best and defend the title for Champions of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Read more: T20 World Cup: England secures spot in the semis, South Africa beats West Indies by 3 wickets Table: India Performance in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Played 7 Won 6 Lost 0 Tie/NR 1 Highest Run-scorer Rohit Sharma (191) Highest Wicket Taker Arshdeep Singh (15) Table: England Performance in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Played 7 Won 4 Lost 2 Tie/NR 1 Highest Run-scorer Jos Buttler (191) Highest Wicket Taker Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid (9) Head-to-Head Records Between India and England So Far Table: Head-to-Head Records in T20I Matches Played India Won England Won TIE/NR 23 12 11 0 Table: Head-to-Head Records in T20 World Cup Matches Played India Won England Won TIE/NR 4 2 2 0 The tie is evenly balanced between both sides. Both of them have 2 wins against each other in ICC T20 World Cup. Read more: BCB announces women's cricket team for ACC Women's Asia Cup 2024 Probable Lineups of ENG vs IND Semi-final Match India Rohit Sharma (Captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav. England Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (Captain), Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Reece Topley. Key Players to Watch in India Team Rohit Sharma After a quiet start to the tournament, Rohit Sharma stepped on the gas peddle right at the business end of the tournament after his blistering innings of 92 against Australia. The pitch of Guyana requires teams to utilize the powerplay to put on a good total. As a result, the role of the Indian skipper becomes more crucial. He has a century against England and scores against them at an average of 34.16. India will hope their skipper displays something similar he did against Australia.  Read more: BCCI announces itinerary for Bangladesh's tour of India in September, October Hardik Pandya Hardik Pandya is another Indian who brings out his best against England. His most runs and most wickets against an opponent are against England. Hardik Pandya might have been the most influential player for India this time. He also scored 63 off 33 against England last time they faced in the 2022 World Cup semi-final. Hardik Pandya would love to have another massive performance against his favorite opponent this time.  Kuldeep Yadav Kuldeep Yadav has been key for India by picking up crucial wickets in the middle overs and not letting the opponents settle. He has done his job perfectly and he has to do it once again. Guyana traditionally favors the spinners. England’s middle order consists of dangerous Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, and Liam Livingstone. If their wickets are not picked up early, India are in big trouble. Kuldeep Yadav needs to make sure that does not happen.  Key Players to Watch in England Team Adil Rashid Adil Rashid is the joint most wicket-taker for England. He has been the prime and the most consistent wicket-taker for this England side. As mentioned earlier, Guyana is supposed to favor spinners. Therefore, Adil Rashid will be the bowler to look out for Indian batters.  Read more: Analysis of India Squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World 2024 Jos Buttler England fans might say “You have Rohit Sharma, we have Jos Buttler” and they would not be wrong. The English skipper also had a slow start but picked up his form at the right time with his 83(39) against the USA. India is also among his favorite opponents. Additionally, he scored 80(49) in that 2nd semi-final of the 2022 World Cup. Therefore, he can give England a brilliant head-start in this game.  Moeen Ali Moeen Ali might be the most important player for England in this game. He did not have an overwhelming campaign so far but this might just be this game. His off-spin can be vital against a left-handed packed Indian middle-order. Adding to that, he will have an advantage against the spin unit of India, consisting of two left-arm orthodox and one Chinaman, being a left-handed batter himself. Therefore, a lot lies on his shoulders and he has shown previously many times that he can deliver exactly when needed the most.  Verdict The ICC 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final match between India and England is supposed to see a neck-and-neck competition given these two team’s profiles. Still, India might just be the slight favorite given their form. However, writing England off is not a wise option either. All the fans care about is that they are in for a blockbuster game.  Read more: South Africa vs Afghanistan Match Preview: T20 World Cup 2024 Semi-Final

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 semi-finals will kick off with a match between South Africa and Afghanistan. Both teams have performed astonishingly to reach this far and are on their way to their first-ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final. Here’s everything you need to know.  Table: Details of South Africa vs Afghanistan Semi-final Match in the 2024 T20 World Cup Match Date (BST) Teams Time (BST) Venue 53 27/6/2024 South Africa vs Afghanistan 6:30 AM Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba Preview of SA vs AFG Semi-final Match in the 2024 T20 Men’s World Cup This match will start with an exciting prospect for cricket fans. Whoever wins this game, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will see a brand new finalist. South Africa have been participating in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup since its initial edition but never reached the final. They were semi-finalists in 2009 and 2014. But lost to the Asian giants Pakistan and India. This time, in their 3rd semi-final appearance, they are facing a strong Afghanistan that is on the rise.   The rise of cricket in Afghanistan has been astounding, to say the least, and the latest edition to their fairytale journey is reaching the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Having first participated in the 2010 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, this is the first time they are playing in this phase of the tournament.   Read more: Afghans celebrate their men's cricket team reaching first Twenty20 World Cup semifinals South Africa seems to be unbeatable this time. Not only because they have a brilliantly balanced side but also because they tend to bring the result anyhow. They are the only team in this ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 with a 100% winning record. And like any other triumphant side, South Africa were not dependent on any single player. They have only 1 batter in the top 15 run-scorers of this World Cup. This might mainly be because of the type of pitches they played on. But they also do not have any bowler in the top 5 as well, which is a bit surprising for a bowling line-up consisting of so many superstars. Yet their four bowlers picked at least eight wickets showing how equally everyone chipped in.  But their close matches will be something to worry about. It is a good sign that they are winning these close games. Yet they would not want their opponents to strangle them every time. They would want to win a game comprehensively for a change and the semi-final is a perfect place to do that.  Afghanistan had been blessed by both individual brilliance as well as team performance in their dream run of this ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Two of the top three run-scorers of this World Cup are from their side. The same is the case in the top wicket-takers list as well. But their bowlers have done it better and took three places in the top five wicket-takers list. This just shows how well every player has played their role. In one tournament, they have beaten both Australia and New Zealand in their fairytale journey. And they will look to keep making it better by winning the semi-final as well. From the start of the tournament, Afghanistan were the ‘Dark Horse’ of the tournament because of the condition. And they did justice to it.  Read more: India, Afghanistan into T20 World Cup semifinals after dramatic Super 8 finale However, they still have a lot to improve. Their batting is too dependent on their opening pair which is a worrying side and something they will look to do better forward.  Table: South Africa Team Performance in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Played 7 Won 7 Lost 0 Tie/NR 0 Highest Run-scorer Quinton de Kock (199) Highest Wicket Taker Anrich Nortje (11) Table: Afghanistan Performance in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Played 7 Won 5 Lost 2 Tie/NR 0 Highest Run-scorer Rahmanullah Gurbaz (281) Highest Wicket Taker Fazalhaq Farooqi (16) . Read more: T20 World Cup: Afghanistan march to semifinals after dramatic win against Bangladesh SA vs AFG H2H T20I Records So Far Table: Head-to-Head T20I Records Between South Africa and Afghanistan So Far Matches Played South Africa Won Afghanistan Won TIE/NR 2 2 0 0 Table: SA vs AFG H2H Records in T20 World Cup Tournaments So Far Matches Played South Africa Won Afghanistan Won TIE/NR 2 2 0 0 These two sides only met twice in T20Is, both at T20 World Cups (2010 and 2016). South Africa came victorious every time.  Read more: T20 World Cup: England secures spot in the semis, South Africa beats West Indies by 3 wickets Probable Lineups Most Probable XI of South Africa Team  Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram (Captain), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Tabraiz Shamsi. Most Probable XI of Afghanistan Team  Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (Captain), Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Nangeyalia Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi Key Players to Watch in South Africa Team Anrich Nortje  He is one of the key reasons South Africa have been so good in this tournament. Wherever the opponents looked to gain a strong foothold in the game, the captain handed him the bowl and he delivered well. In this game, South Africa’s main objective would be to break Afghanistan’s opening pair. Anrich Nortje is an expert in this job and South Africa will rely on him for this.   Read more: BCB announces women's cricket team for ACC Women's Asia Cup 2024 Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj  Tabraiz Shamsi was Man of the Match in their win against West Indies which took them to the semi-final. Afghanistan have some lacking dealing with spin. It is evident when they have lost 17 wickets this tournament to a leg-spinner or a left-arm spinner. Therefore, the combination of these two ace spinners from South Africa, in a condition that might very well favor the spinners, will be massive in deciding this game.   Heinrich Klaasen  He is arguably among the best hitters of the game currently. He can easily change the course of the game. The pitches at Trinidad and Tobago have favored the spinners. The spinners of Afghanistan come in the attack in the middle-overs. As a result, Heinrich Klassen would be crucial to keep South Africa’s run rate flowing against the deadly spin attack of Afghanistan.  Key Players to Watch in Afghanistan Team Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran   They have been almost 90% of the batting for Afghanistan. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the highest run-scorer while Ibrahim Zadran is the 3rd highest run-scorer of this tournament.  Both combined scored 510 runs in this World Cup which is almost 53% of the total runs Afghanistan scored in this World Cup. They have in total made 455 runs together which is the highest by some distance by any pair. They also have the 3 100+ partnerships, the only pair to do so, along with another 50+ runs partnership. Similarly, 3 of the 6 highest partnerships were scored by them. They have carried Afghanistan in the batting so far and they need to do it again in the biggest game of their career so far.  Read more: Afghanistan-South Africa T20 World Cup semifinal pits cricket's overachievers against underachievers Rashid Khan There would not be much reason needed for one of the best bowlers in the world to be important in his nation’s biggest match. However, South Africa historically struggles against spin. Therefore, his role would be crucial in dispatching the dangerous middle order of Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, and Marco Jansen Fazalhaq Farooqi  He is the highest wicket-taker of this tournament. As a result, he is an automatic important player for the game. However, he needs to be his best version for this game in particular. Quinton de Kock can give a killer blow at the beginning of the innings. So it is necessary to get him early. Fazalhaq Farooqi with his record against lefty batters is the right person for it.  Verdict South Africa will start the match as favorites because of their higher pedigree. Also, they are yet to lose in this tournament. However, given their history in World Cup semi-finals, Afghanistan might very well feel they are in it equally and fancy their chances for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Finale. On the whole, it is expected that the SA vs AFG Semi-final will be competitive and enjoyable.  Read more: India vs England Semi-Final Preview: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

The Super 8 phase of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will conclude with the all-important match of Bangladesh vs Afghanistan. The two dark horses of the tournament will face each other on the 25th of June at 6:30 AM BST at St. Vincent.  Match Details of Bangladesh vs Afghanistan  Match Date (BST) Teams Time (BST) Venue 52 25/6/2024  Bangladesh vs Afghanistan 6:30 AM Arnos Vale Ground, Arnos Vale, St Vincent . Read more: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024: Groups, Match Fixtures, and Venues Preview of BAN vs AFG Match at Super 8 Stage After the groups were set, the general idea was that India and Australia would qualify for the semi-finals. However, Afghanistan made this group interesting after their brilliant and historic performance against Australia. As a result, the semi-final spot became open for everyone now. Equation Afghanistan have earned their position to be in this place. They have a genuine chance to qualify for the semis. But they have to wait for things to go in their favor in the match of Australia vs India. If Australia doesn’t win then a win for them is more than enough for their first-ever semi-final appearance. Even if Australia wins that game, they can get there by winning by a margin which will see them ahead in the net run rate. Additionally, they still might have a chance to go through even if they lose. But for that, Australia needs to lose by a big margin and they lose by a small one to give them the advantage in the net run rate.  Everyone thought Bangladesh to be done and dusted after their abysmal performance against India. But Afghanistan have given them a chance. However, it’s the most difficult for them among the four teams to qualify. And their fate is not fully in their own hands either, courtesy of their poor performance in the Super 8. Their chances rely on the match between Australia and India. Any outcome other than an Indian win will blow away their chances even before the game starts. The only chance they have is that Australia lose to India and they beat Afghanistan by such a margin that will give them the necessary advantage in the net run rate. Read more: India vs Australia Match Preview: T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 Performance and Team Situation The stats would say Afghanistan dominated the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Both the highest run-scorer and highest wicket-taker are from their team. Not only that, two of the top 4 run-scorers of this tournament are from Afghanistan. Their openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran have scored 449 runs combined which is the highest by any opening pair in this World Cup. Similarly, three of the top 10 wicket-takers are from Afghanistan this time. Therefore, Afghanistan looks solid in every aspect of the match. No wonder they have come this far. However, a major problem is their over-reliance on their openers for runs. The openers produced heavily for the Afghans as mentioned earlier. But none of the other batters could score even 100 in the tournament. That is one aspect they would like to sort out before this match.  On the other hand, Bangladesh is in a grave situation currently. Their bowling line-up has been productive. Bangladesh and Afghanistan are two of the three sides that have multiple bowlers with 10 wickets in this tournament (the other is India). Yet they are in a dire situation due to their batting lineup. The misery of their top-order continues. Even though skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto scored some runs in the Super 8, it did not prove to be enough. And other batters are also in miserable form and critically inconsistent. To give a picture of their batting, they are the only side from the Super 8 which does not have a batter who scored 150 runs. The good news for them is that the match is at St. Vincent where they have an excellent record and the conditions are bowling-friendly. Still, there is little to no hope with this batting lineup. Read more: Venue Guide: Stadiums of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Table: An overview of Afghanistan’s performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Match Played 6 Won 4 Lost 2 Tie/NR 0 Highest Run-scorer Rahmanullah Gurbaz (238) Highest Wicket Taker Fazalhaq Farooqi (15) Table: An overview of Bangladesh’s performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Match Played 6 Won 3 Lost 3 Tie/NR 0 Highest Run-scorer Towhid Hridoy (139) Highest Wicket Taker Tanzim Hasan Sakib (11) . Read more: T20 World Cup: Afghanistan stun Australia Bangladesh vs Afghanista H2H T20I Records So Far Table: Head-to-Head T20I Records Between Bangladesh and Afghanistan So Far Matches Played Bangladesh Won Afghanistan Won TIE/NR 11 5 6 0 Table: H2H Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Records In the T20 World Cup Tournaments So Far Matches Played Bangladesh Won Afghanistan Won TIE/NR 1 1 0 0 Bangladesh somehow managed to stay unbeaten against Afghanistan in the ICC tournaments so far. But Afghanistan have more wins against them in the overall T20I scenario. Probable Lineups  Most Probable XI of the Bangladesh Team Tanzid Hasan, Litton Kumer Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman. Read more: T20 World Cup: Bangladesh aims to unleash full potential despite challenges. Most Probable XI of the Afghanistan Team Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (Captain), Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Nangeyalia Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi. Key Players to Watch in Bangladesh Team Tanzim Hasan Sakib Bangladesh have been relying on their bowlers largely to get a result in this campaign. This match will not be any different either. Tanzim Sakib has been a real menace for the opponent's top-order batters. Afghanistan’s top order secures a lion’s share of their batting performance. Therefore, the best bowler of Bangladesh in this World Cup has to pick up early wickets and give Bangladesh a real chance in this match.  Rishad Hossain He can be the answer to Rashid Khan for Bangladesh. Rishad Hossain has been a revelation of this T20 World Cup. Afghanistan also have a weakness against the leg-spin like Bangladesh. Therefore, his role would be key to restricting the middle order of the Afghanistan team. Litton Kumer Das Despite his form, Litton Kumer Das remains a key in this match. It is mostly because of his numbers against Afghanistan. Given their spinners will operate in the middle overs, someone from the top-order of Bangladesh needs to play a good knock to give them runs in the powerplay. Litton Kumer Das has to take that role for Bangladesh.  Read more: Analyzing Bangladesh Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Key Players to Watch in Afghanistan Team Rashid Khan The Afghanistan skipper will always be the most important player for them. Bangladesh have a historical weakness in dealing with leg spinners. And arguably the best leg-spinner of the generation in the condition of St. Lucia can take Bangladesh batting apart. Afghanistan would want that. Rahmanullah Gurbaz The highest run-scorer of this tournament has a lot to do in this match. The net run rate would be a huge factor in their qualification for the semis. Therefore, his early power in the batting would not only make life difficult for Bangladesh but give a huge boost to their semi-final hopes.  Fazalhaq Farooqi The highest wicket-taker of the tournament playing against one of his favorite opponents. The prospects are highly attractive for Afghanistan at this point. It can be crucial to take early wickets of the already struggling Bangladesh top-order and restrict them to a low total which will take them to the semis.  Read more: BCB announces women's cricket team for ICC Women's Asia Cup 2024 Verdict Despite the history of these two teams being neck-and-neck, Afghanistan have to be the favorite at this point due to the way they have been performing in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. However, it is expected that the BAN vs AFG match at the Super 8 stage will be thrilling, and exciting.  

The ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2024 tournament is advancing towards the semi-final stage. Currently, at the Super 8 stage, finalists of the World Test Championship 2023 and ICC ODI World Cup 2023, India and Australia will take on each other once again on 24th June at 8:30 PM BST. Match Details of India vs Australia Match Date (BST) Teams Time (BST) Venue 51 24/6/2024 India vs Australia 8:30 PM Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St. Lucia Preview of IND vs AUS Match in the World Cup Super 8 Stage Everyone thought this match to be a dead rubber following the grouping. But after Afghanistan’s historic win against Australia at St. Vincent, this match has become ever more important for both teams. It is not a must-win game for any of them. But not winning might have dire consequences afterward. Equation India is in a more comfortable position than Australia at this point. If they win then there’s no stopping them from going to the semi-finals. An abandonment also works fine for them as it would still make them group champions. India have a positive net run rate of 2.425 which gives them a handsome advantage. So, they might still comfortably qualify even after losing this game. But they need to depend on the Bangladesh vs Afghanistan match for that. Australia have been put into a delicate position after their loss to Afghanistan. Although they are not sure to be knocked out, a win doesn’t guarantee them a place either. If they wish to secure their place in the semi-finals, they need to win by a margin that puts India behind them in the net run rate. A loss or an abandoned game means that they have to pray for a lot of ifs and buts to go their way in the match of Bangladesh vs Afghanistan to advance to the semi-final. Read more: T20 World Cup: Afghanistan stun Australia Performance and Team Situation India will approach this match with a lot of confidence after being the only unbeaten side in this World Cup and comprehensively winning the first two matches of the Super 8. Their main strength has been their team performance. Almost everyone is chipping in in every game which is making them look formidable. They are unbeaten till now but still, none of their batters is in the top 11 run-scorers of this tournament. This shows that India have not been a one-man show. Their only issue was the opening pair which also clicked against Bangladesh. This team spirit has been the key throughout this campaign for them. Similarly, their bowling has also been solid. Their main frontline bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah have taken 22 wickets combined. As a result, in a World Cup where condition has been the main talking point, no condition doesn’t seem to be enough to stop them. Australia were also unbeaten until the last match. Afghanistan exposed their various lackings and gave them what seems to be a timely wake-up call. Unlike India, Australia have been more of individual brilliance. For a major part of the tournament, Marcus Stoinis played a crucial role for their wins. Travis Head also has some innings to mention. The good news is their other major batters like David Warner and Glenn Maxwell seem to have gained some ground and contributed well in the Super 8 matches. Yet there needs to be a cumulative effort for them to win the odds they are facing. Similar goes to bowling which has been more of a one-man show than their batting. Adam Zampa is the 2nd highest wicket-taker of this edition of the World Cup with 13. However, their next best is Pat Cummins who got 9 wickets courtesy of back-to-back hat-tricks. Their bowling also needs to get in good shape before that. Read more: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024: Groups, Match Fixtures, and Venues Table: India Team's Performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 So Far Match Played 6 Won 5 Lost 0 Tie/NR 1 Highest Run-scorer Rishabh Pant (152) Highest Wicket Taker Arshdeep Singh (12) Table: Australia Team's Performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 So Far Match Played 6 Won 5 Lost 1 Tie/NR 0 Highest Run-scorer Travis Head (179) Highest Wicket Taker Adam Zampa (13) IND vs AUS H-to-H T20I Records So Far Table: Head-to-Head T20I Records Between India and Australia So Far Matches Played India Won Australia Won TIE/NR 31 19 11 01 Table: H2H Records Between India and Australia in T20 World Cup Tournaments So Far Matches Played India Won Australia Won TIE/NR 5 3 2 0 It has been an evenly balanced tie in the World Cup for them. However, India winning the last two World Cup matches between these two great cricketing nations gives them an additional edge for this match. Read more: Cummins makes history with back-to-back hat-tricks in T20 World Cup Probable Lineups Most Probable XI of India Team Rohit Sharma (Captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav. Most Probable XI of Australia Team Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh (Captain), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa. Read more: Venue Guide: Stadiums of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Key Players to Watch in Team India Virat Kohli He was the man of the match in these two sides' last meeting in a T20 World Cup match. Virat Kohli has also regained some form in the match against Bangladesh. Now at St. Lucia, the highest scoring ground of this world cup, against Australia, his favorite opponents in this format of the game, very few will bet against him not making the difference in this match. Rishabh Pant He has been the most consistent of Indian batters this time. He is not necessarily playing big innings. But he makes sure to shift the momentum completely towards India’s side. India needs another similar impact from him once more Jasprit Bumrah The strike bowler of India is going to be key in this match. His ability to pick early wickets is unmatched. Also, he loves bowling against the Aussies against whom he has picked up the most wickets in his career. He must be very eager to do something similar again. Read more: Analysis of India Squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World 2024 Key Players to Watch in Australian Team Glenn Maxwell He can be for Australia what Virat Kohli can be for India in this match. After an underwhelming World Cup, Glenn Maxwell picked up his game just at the right time with his 59 against Afghanistan. It would be interesting to see what he does against the opponent he scored the most runs in his career. Travis Head Travis Head is the highest run-scorer for Australia. He has tried to give a fiery start to the team. After an IPL where he dominated, one can rely on him to thrive against this Indian bowling line-up. Australia will hope for that as well. Adam Zampa Adam Zampa literally can’t stop taking wickets at this point. Even though India always have a reputation for playing the spin better, the 2nd highest wicket-taker of this World Cup cannot be taken lightly. Also, he shines while facing an Asian side. As St. Lucia has a batting-friendly condition, he needs to pick regular wickets to stop India’s scorecard from getting out of hand. Read more: Analysis of Australia Squad in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Verdict There is a possibility of rain in this game. It is a match where nothing can be predicted. Yet with the form they are in, India might be the favorite for this game. But it would not be wise to count Australia out at any point. The IND vs AUS match at the 2024 T20 World Cup’s Super 8 Stage will be highly enjoyable and competitive. 

Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins has etched his name in cricket history by becoming the first player to achieve hat-tricks in two consecutive T20 World Cup matches. Cummins joins Brett Lee as the second Australian to record a hat-trick in the tournament. Lee achieved the feat against Bangladesh in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Read more: South Africa unbeaten at T20 World Cup after win over England, West Indies defeats US by 9 wickets. Cummins claimed his first hat-trick against Bangladesh in their opening Super Eights match. Remarkably, he replicated this achievement just three days later against Afghanistan, dismissing Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, and Gulbadin Naib across the 18th and 20th overs. With these two hat-tricks, Cummins joins an elite group of bowlers who have achieved the feat twice in T20 internationals, including Lasith Malinga, Tim Southee, Mark Pavlovic, and Waseem Abbas. This unique accomplishment draws parallels to the legendary Wasim Akram, who accomplished consecutive hat-tricks in Test matches against Sri Lanka in 1999. Read more: T20 World Cup: Bangladesh suffer another thumping defeat to India

India got the expected winning start in the Super 8 and would like to put one foot in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 semis by beating Bangladesh, who must win this game to advance to the semis. Table: Schedule of BAN vs IND Match in the Current T20 World Cup’s Super 8 Stage  Match Details Match Date (BST) Teams Time (BST) Venue 47 22/6/2024 Bangladesh vs India 8:30 PM Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua . Preview of BAN vs IND Match in ICC World Cup Super 8 India are one of the only two teams in this World Cup who did not lose a game. Apart from the rain that hit the last match of the group stage against Canada, they won every single game of theirs. So far, India’s T20 World Cup 2024 journey has been a strange one. They do not have any batter who features in the top 15 run-scorers of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which is not usual. Playing all the group games on the tricky surfaces of New York and Florida had an impact on their batting.  However, they regained form in the much more batting-friendly pitches of West Indies when they scored 180+ against Afghanistan. Moreover, their bowling attack was spot on and restricted every opponent to a severely low total. Thus, they didn’t lose a game even after not scoring much. Especially, their strike bowlers are in tremendous form picking up 18 wickets combined already. Read more: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024: Groups, Match Fixtures, and Venues Bangladesh also found the same relief from their bowling unit which has been rather brilliant so far. Both Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Rishad Hossain have picked 9 wickets each. Apart from that, Mustafizur Rahman has also picked up 7 wickets. Nonetheless, their batting is out of form at this moment. It seems like they just cannot find a way to click at this point.  Bangladesh ended up scoring only 140 on a pitch which was brilliant to bat on. Therefore, it is increasingly seeming hard to see Bangladesh do much in the Super 8 with such miserable batting form. It is not the case for India who can rely on their batting now after scoring 181 against a solid Afghanistan bowling attack. Additionally, all of their batters scored at an excellent strike rate except for skipper Rohit Sharma. As a result, India will feel confident about facing Bangladeshi bowling attack ahead of the game. One thing that might be a matter of slight concern for them is their opening pair which consists of two of the greatest hitters of the generation but yet not clicking. Their highest opening stand is 22 which is quite underwhelming. India would be confident about their openers getting runs but it will be in their minds as well. Read more: Venue Guide: Stadiums of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Table: India Team’s Performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup At a Glance India Performance in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Match Played 5 Won 4 Lost 0 Tie/ NR 1 Highest Run-scorer Rishabh Pant (116) Highest Wicket Taker Arshdeep Singh (10) . Table: Bangladesh Team’s Performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup At a Glance Bangladesh Performance in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Match Played 5 Won 3 Lost 2 Tie/NR 0 Highest Run-scorer Towhid Hridoy (135) Highest Wicket Taker Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rishad Hossain (9) . H2H T20I Records Between Bangladesh and India So Far Table: BAN vs IND head-to-head records in T20I So Far Head-to-Head Records in T20I Matches Played India Won Bangladesh Won TIE/NR 13 12 1 0 . Table: BAN vs IND head-to-head records in the T20 World Cup Tournaments So Far Head-to-Head Records in T20 World Cup Matches Played India Won Bangladesh Won TIE/NR 4 4 0 0 . The tie was largely dominated by India where Bangladesh could manage only 1 win against them. India is one of many opponents whom Bangladesh couldn’t beat in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Probable Lineups Most Probable XI of India Team Rohit Sharma ©, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav Most Probable XI of Bangladesh Team Tanzid Hasan, Litton Kumer Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto ©, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman Key Players to Watch in India Team Virat Kohli Virat Kohli had an unexpectedly poor campaign by his extremely high standards. But he gave symbols of coming back to runs with his 24 against Afghanistan. It can be felt that he will have a big score soon and no opponent would be more suitable than Bangladesh against whom he averages 96.5 in the T20Is Suryakumar Yadav With his half-century in the last game, Suryakumar Yadav is surely gaining ground in this ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and might be the most impactful batter against Bangladesh. Jasprit Bumrah The ace bowler of India is going to be crucial against Bangladesh, against a struggling top order who find it difficult to deal with raw pace, Jasprit Bumrah will be key to picking early wickets and rattling the top-order of Bangladesh's batting line-up. Read more: Analysis of India Squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World 2024 Key Players to Watch in  Bangladesh Tanzim Hasan Sakib Bangladesh has been largely reliant on their bowlers to get a result in this World Cup. This game is not going to be any different it seems. Therefore, the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh this time would be the most important player for them in this game as well. Mustafizur Rahman Mustafizur Rahman and India go a long way back. He is simply in a different mode while facing India. Bangladesh team need him to step up once again and dominate the Indian batters like he used to do in his early and best days.   Litton Kumer Das This might seem a bit controversial given the current situation. But like Mustafizur Rahman, Litton Kumer Das also loves performing against India. Everyone will remember the exceptional innings of 60 runs from him in the 2022 T20 World Cup. In a situation, where big runs are necessary to win and the top order is heavily underperforming, Bangladesh fans will hope for Litton Das to bring that Adelaide innings from the 2022 T20 World Cup at Antigua this time. Verdict India are the favorites in every match in this ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. They would not want to break their winning streak. The BAN vs IND T20 match in the Super 8 stage might not be different either. However, Bangladesh have a slender hope given their batters' performance. Read more: Analyzing Bangladesh Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

Australia will face Bangladesh in their first game of ‘Super 8’ in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The game will take place in Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua on the 21st of June at 6:30 a.m. BST. Here you will find all you need to know about the game. Match Details Table: Schedule of BAN vs AUS match in the T20 World Cup 2024 at Super 8 Stage Match Date (BST) Teams Time (BST) Venue 44 21/6/2024 Bangladesh vs Australia 6:30 AM Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua Read more: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024: Groups, Match Fixtures, and Venues Preview of BAN vs AUS Match in T20 World Cup 2024 Australia had a 100% record of winning in the group stage where they beat all of England, Namibia, Scotland, and Oman comprehensively to become the group champion. Bangladesh also performed impressively in the group. Barring losing a cliffhanger against South Africa, they won all of their group games. Australian batting has arguably been the best in this tournament. In an event where teams are struggling to get runs, Australia has scored 160+ on three occasions. The other game where they didn’t achieve this feat was only because Namibia gave them a target of 73 only and they chased it down within 8 overs. Additionally, they are one of the only 3 teams to score 200+ in an innings in this World Cup till now. On the other hand, Bangladesh have been reliant on their bowling this time. Their pacers have delivered big time. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain was a revelation for them during this World Cup. The same goes for Tanzim Hasan Sakib who is the joint 3rd highest wicket-taker of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Two of the top 10 wicket-takers of this tournament are from Bangladesh. At the same time, two of the top 10 run-scorers of this ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 are from Australia. Australia’s strongest zone is Bangladesh’s weakest. The Bangladesh team’s batting has been extremely unreliable this time. The horrible lack of form in their top order is a huge concern for them. Their opening pair couldn’t gather a single run two out of four times in this World Cup. They could only manage 9 and 3 runs the other two times in their opening partnership. Additionally, their highest 2nd wicket partnership is only 20 runs and they lost three wickets within 50 runs twice. Shakib Al Hasan’s half-century against the Netherlands is the only occasion of 50+ innings from a Bangladeshi batter this time. These are just some glimpses of their batting performance. Therefore, Australia will look to bat first to put a good total on the board and suffocate the struggling Bangladesh batting lineup. Bangladesh will look toward their bowlers, specially seamers, to get them past this Australian side and start the Super 8 phase with a win. Read more: Bangladesh pacer Tanzim fined for on-field misconduct in T20 World Cup Table: Australia’s Performance in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Match Played 4 Won 4 Lost 0 Tie/NR 0 Highest Run-scorer Marcus Stoinis (156) Highest Wicket Taker Adam Zampa (9) Table: Bangladesh’s Performance in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Played 4 Won 3 Lost 1 Tie/NR 0 Highest Run-scorer Towhid Hridoy (95) Highest Wicket Taker Tanzim Hasan Sakib (9) Read more: Venue Guide: Stadiums of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 H2H T20I Records Between Bangladesh and Australia So Far Table: BAN vs AUS Head-to-Head Records in T20I Format  Matches Played Australia Won Bangladesh Won TIE/NR 10 6 4 0 Table: BAN vs AUS Head-to-Head Records in the ICC T20 World Cup Tournaments So Far Matches Played Australia Won Bangladesh Won TIE/NR 4 4 0 0  Australia will be confident about a win as they never lost to Bangladesh in the ICC T20 World Cup game. However, Bangladesh won 4 out of the last 6 games between these two sides which can be a confidence booster for them. Probable Lineups of BAN vs AUS Match in Super 8 Stage Most Probable XI of Australia Team Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh (Captain), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, and Adam Zampa. Most Probable XI of Bangladesh Team Tanzid Hasan, Litton Kumer Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Sakib, and Mustafizur Rahman. Read more: Bangladesh secures last Super 8 spot beating Nepal at T20 World Cup; Pakistan bows out Key Players to Watch in the Australian Team Marcus Stoinis Marcus Stoinis has been the best player for Australia. He is the highest run-scorer and 2nd highest wicket-taker for the team in this campaign. His impact has been a differential factor for them. The games against Oman and Scotland are direct evidence of his impact where Australia had some concerns due to the early fall of wickets. Stoinis not only steadied the ship for Australia but anchored them to sail. He has won Man of the Match in 2 out of 4 games Travis Head Travis Head is the 2nd highest run-scorer for Australia. He has maintained his role of giving a fiery start to the team. However, his main impact would be against Bangladesh pacers. He has a strike rate of almost 200+ against right-handed pacers this year. Therefore, he is the perfect man to tackle the fearsome pace attack of Bangladesh. Adam Zampa Adam Zampa has been the go-to spin bowler of Australia for a long time. He is the highest wicket-taker for Australia and the 2nd most impactful player for this team. He won the Man of the Match award in the other two matches where Marcus Stoinis didn’t win. Bangladesh traditionally suffers against leg-spinners. Therefore, he can be vital for this game. Read more: Analysis of Australia Squad in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Key Players to Watch in the Bangladesh Team Tanzim Hasan Sakib Given the form of batting, Bangladesh have to rely on their bowlers largely to get a result from this game. And so far, no one is more reliable than Tanzim Sakib. He has been a headache for opponent top-order batters. He has taken 4 against Nepal, 3 against South Africa, and 1 each against Sri Lanka, and Netherlands in his opening spells. Bangladesh need early wickets in this game and Tanzim Sakib is the man for this. Rishad Hossain He has been a trump card for Bangladesh. He picked 7 wickets but all of them were huge and game-changing wickets. Australian batters struggle against spinners, especially leggings. Rishad Hossain has to play one of his best games with the ball. Also, the match is supposed to be a bit more high-scoring. Therefore, his pinch-hitting can prove vital against Nepal. Mustafizur Rahman Another of the key bowlers of Bangladesh. If Tanzim Sakib does the damage in the beginning, he destroys the opponent’s innings in the end. He has been the death-over specialist of this World Cup. His role becomes more crucial as he might be bowling against their hard-hitters like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Tim David. Bangladesh need a classic Mustafiz show in this game. Verdict Australian Men’s Cricket Team always enter every tournament and matches as the favorites. They have maintained their winning streak in this ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 so far. Not to mention, they are favorites in the BAN vs AUS match in the Super 8 stage. However, Bangladesh can also turn out to be the winner if they can solve their issue with batting. Read more: Analyzing Bangladesh Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Bangladesh suffered a narrow four-run defeat to South Africa in their second T20 World Cup match. Bangladeshi fans believe they were unjustly deprived of four crucial runs when a delivery struck Mahmudullah Riyad's pad and crossed the boundary rope. However, a controversial ICC rule meant no runs were awarded to Bangladesh. The incident occurred in the 17th over of Bangladesh's innings. Mahmudullah attempted to flick a delivery from Ottneil Baartman but missed, the ball hitting his front pad before deflecting to the boundary. South Africa appealed for LBW, and umpire Sam Nogajski raised his finger. Mahmudullah immediately sought a DRS review, which revealed the ball was missing leg stump, overturning the dismissal.  However, the boundary was not added to Bangladesh's total due to the existing ICC rule stating that once an umpire makes an out or not-out decision, the ball becomes dead, regardless of the DRS outcome. The impact of this incident proved significant, as Bangladesh ultimately lost the match by precisely four runs—the exact number denied due to the controversial rule. Fakhrul continues to hammer govt's handling of the economy, breakdown of institutions This has ignited widespread controversy in the cricketing world, raising questions about the fairness of the rule. Former Bangladesh captain and opener Tamim Iqbal urged the ICC to seriously reconsider this rule. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, alongside South African Morne Morkel, Tamim suggested that umpires should take a few more seconds to make such crucial calls. “You have time, you can wait a couple of seconds to see where the ball is going—whether it's going for a boundary or not. Then you can make your decision. Regardless of anything, I strongly feel that if the batter is not out and the ball hits their thigh pad or pad and goes for a boundary, it should be given as runs,” Tamim said. “This is something the ICC can seriously look into,” the former Bangladesh captain added, acknowledging that he may sound biased but expressing his genuine sentiment. Morkel echoed Tamim's sentiments, saying that he hopes for a rule change after the World Cup. Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer also criticized the current law, taking to social media to express his disapproval. “Mahmudullah was wrongly given out LBW, the ball went for four leg byes. The decision was reversed on DRS. Bangladesh didn't get the 4 runs as the ball is dead once the batter is given out, even if wrongly,” he wrote on his social media account. T20 World Cup: Bangladesh fall agonisingly short in low run chase against South Africa With a fresh scar of a heartbreaking defeat, Bangladesh team has now arrived in the West Indies for their next two matches against the Netherlands and Nepal. They, with a win in the first match against Sri Lanka, still have a good chance of qualifying for the next round of the tournament.