MUMBAI — Sri Lanka and Pakistan must overcome batting inconsistency if they are to leave India with a second World Twenty20 title, with both sides coming into the tournament on the back of uninspiring performances at the Asia Cup.
Defending World Twenty20 champion Sri Lanka, which was also runner-up in 2009 and 2012, bid adieu to batting stalwarts Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara from the format after their 2014 triumph and have yet to fill the void.
It comes into the tournament following series defeats in New Zealand and India and a poor showing at the Asia Cup, where it lost to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh while only beating United Arab Emirates.
The fitness of Lasith Malinga will have a major bearing on Sri Lanka’s chances.
All-rounder Angelo Mathews will hope his side can find form when it matters but addressing his batting unit’s inconsistency is a priority.
The team has failed to cross the 130-run mark, considered a modest total in the T20 format, on four occasions in its last six games and was all out for 82 in the second of the three-match series in India.
Pakistan, the 2009 champion, has what could be the best fast bowling attack in the tournament but it too has been hampered by inconsistency at the crease.
The left-arm pace unit of Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz are capable of wreaking havoc against any side but its batting has let it down.
Pakistan lost at least two wickets in the first four overs in three out of four matches in the Asia Cup and its wobbly top order has put enormous pressure on the middle and lower order batsmen to push it to competitive totals.
Capable of beating the best in the world but maddeningly unpredictable, Pakistan lost T20 series against England and New Zealand before falling to arch-rival India and Bangladesh in the Asia Cup.
Afridi, who is able to win matches with his bowling and power-hitting, will be concerned about his own form with the bat, with a high score of eight in his last four innings.
Meanwhile, host India’s scintillating form leading up to the tournament will only fuel local hopes that the trend will continue.
Former players and pundits have been united in endorsing India, which won the 50-over World Cup at home in 2011, as favorite to add a second World Twenty20 title to its cabinet and given the side’s run of form, it is hardly surprising.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men have won 10 of the 11 Twenty20 contests they have played this year, including a 3-0 win in Australia, and have looked supremely balanced with their often-soft bowling attack also showing plenty of bite.
The only worry for India’s fanatical cricket following will be that the team has peaked too early and it will be desperately hoping that the law of averages catches up with it after the final at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on April 3.
Australia will look to end its lack of success in the format, banking on its explosive batting line-up to make up for the lack of a potent spinner.
It has not left anything to chance though, replacing Aaron Finch with Test and One-Day International skipper Steve Smith to lead the side, which has had a number of players plying their trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years.
Another side hoping the experience of playing in the IPL will come in handy for their players will be South Africa, which once again will be determined to shed its ‘chokers’ tag at another global championship.
AB de Villiers, believed by most to be the most destructive batsman in world cricket, has often entertained crowds in India during the IPL with his 360 degree batting and South Africa will hope the 32-year-old can end their wait for a World Cup title.
Jos Buttler, Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan will believe they can be match de Villiers’ pyrotechnics for England but the 2010 champion’s bowling attack appears short of experience.
It also has a powerful striker in Ben Stokes and the dependable Joe Root with the willow but it is to be seen if the batting can gloss over their bowling shortcomings.
Fellow contender New Zealand may have a few psychological issues to resolve if it is to overcome its tendency to come up short on the big stage.
its preparations have been overshadowed by the recent death of former captain Martin Crowe while the retirement of Brendon McCullum has robbed them of an exceptional reader of the game with unbridled batting firepower.
Darren Sammy will also have to inspire an understrength West Indies team, which just weeks ago was planning to boycott the tournament over a contractual dispute, if the 2012 champions are to stand any chance of winning a second title.
