ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Outright Betting Preview

As the cricketing world gears up for the highly anticipated in the West Indies and USA, excitement is building around the top contenders. Among the favourites, India, Australia, England, Pakistan, and our very own South Africa stand out, each bringing a unique blend of talent, experience, and tactical prowess to the tournament. We look at outright favourites for the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Tournament Format

This edition features an expanded lineup with 20 teams, up from 16, split into four groups of five. The top two from each group will move on to the Super 8 stage, forming two groups of four. Another round-robin follows, and the top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, leading to the final showdown.

India

India comes into this World Cup as the favourites. Their T20 strength is boosted by the Indian Premier League, which acts as a crucial training ground. The IPL sharpens domestic players’ skills and exposes them to international competition, fostering a competitive edge.

India’s squad boasts immense talent, featuring key players like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. Kohli, with his class and consistency, is central to the batting lineup, anchoring innings and accelerating when needed.

Bumrah, known for his unique bowling style and lethal yorkers, is crucial in both powerplay and death overs, often turning matches in India’s favour with his ability to perform under pressure. Despite this talent, India’s record in the knockout stages remains a concern.

Historically, the team has faltered at critical moments due to psychological pressure and strategic errors. Their sole T20 World Cup victory in 2007 shows their potential, but the lack of additional titles since then highlights areas for improvement. Overcoming these mental barriers and refining strategic approaches will be essential for India to turn their favoured status into a tournament win.

Australia

Australia, the T20 World Cup champions in 2022, are perennial favourites in international cricket. Their success hinges on a formidable bowling attack featuring Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Cummins’ pace and bounce, paired with Starc’s lethal swing and toe-crushing yorkers, form a potent combination capable of dismantling any batting line-up. Their ability to adapt to different pitch conditions will be crucial, especially in the varied terrains of the West Indies and the USA.

On the batting front, Australia boasts a robust line-up with players adept at handling different game situations. The experienced top-order, proven in high-pressure scenarios, is a significant strength. However, Glenn Maxwell’s form will be pivotal. Known for his explosive batting, Maxwell’s consistency and performance in crucial matches will heavily influence Australia’s campaign.

England

England’s T20 squad, led by Jos Buttler, combines experience with youthful energy. Buttler’s aggressive batting and sharp cricketing brain set the tone at the top. Young talents like Phil Salt and Harry Brook bring a fresh dynamic. Salt’s fearless approach and Brook’s technical proficiency strengthen England’s batting lineup.

Ben Stokes’ absence is a significant blow, given his all-round capabilities and clutch performances. In his absence, the spotlight is on all-rounders like Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali. Livingstone’s big-hitting and useful off-spin, along with Ali’s experience and versatility, are crucial for England’s success.

England’s aggressive style, characterised by high scoring rates and innovative shot-making, makes them formidable. However, their success will depend on adapting to conditions and handling pressure situations effectively.

South Africa

Once again, South Africa goes into a Cricket World Cup as one of the favourites. The Proteas have one of the most feared and destructive batting lineups in the tournament, which has given most South Africans hope going into the showpiece. Their batting lineup, led by Aiden Markram, boasts the likes of Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and the in-form Tristan Stubbs.

The form of skipper Aiden Markram will be a huge concern for the Proteas as he had a disappointing IPL campaign. Kagiso Rabada is also an injury concern for the Proteas and is one of the players who also had an underwhelming IPL campaign.

The Proteas will hope that their big players step up when it matters most and finally bring a World Cup home and remove the “chokers” tag. They reached the semifinals of the 50-over World Cup last year and will be motivated to go one better this time.

Pakistan

Pakistan, with odds of 7.50, are an intriguing pick for bettors. Their balanced squad features prolific batsmen like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Their bowling will be led by the dynamic Shaheen Shah Afridi, making them strong contenders. Babar Azam’s elegant stroke play and consistency are crucial for Pakistan’s batting, providing the backbone for building or chasing targets.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, with his pace and ability to swing the ball both ways, is a genuine threat, especially in the powerplay where his early breakthroughs can hurt opponents. Additionally, the Pakistani players’ fresh legs, not worn out by the exhaustive IPL schedule, might give them an edge in the tournament.