T20 World Cup Top Bowler Prediction Factors
In order to realise the top wicket-takers for the World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, I looked at a few factors like:
- Team form
- Player form
- Pitch conditions
- Past record in the World Cup
- Playing time in the format
I also looked at the top bowler betting guide to get a full 360-degree view of the picture. There are also a few facts to consider:
- Four of the top five bowlers in the last two World Cups in the format have been spinners
- The pitch in Sharjah may favour bowlers more than batsmen
- Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will play more matches than other Test nations since they are starting in the Group stages
- In the 2020 IPL (conducted around the same time last year), four of the top five wicket-takers were seamers
Of course, our top bowler prediction for the T20 World Cup considers the fact that the player is a starter and will bowl his full spell of 4 overs.
T20 World Cup Top Bowler Prediction: Mustafizur Rahman
Shakib Al Hasan is the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in the T20I format with 106 wickets, Mustafizur Rahman is right behind him with 76. What’s impressive is their strike rate, which is at an incredible 18.4 and 14.9 respectively.
Moreover, both players are well-suited to the conditions having spent the last month or so in the country for the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.
They were equally impressive in the 20-over home series against Australia and New Zealand; Rahman posted figures like 3-13 and 4-12 against the Kiwis in two matches while Al Hasan took 4-9 against Australia in the final T20 international of the series.
Needless to say, these players have plenty of experience between them and will lead the way for Bangladesh in the World Cup. But between the two, Rahman makes for a more appealing choice because he has been much more consistent.
Plus, Bangladesh are starting in the Group B qualifiers with Oman, Papua New Guinea, and Scotland – giving him all the time and opportunities in the world to get a headstart on his competition.
T20 World Cup Top Bowler Prediction: Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah, hands down, is one of the best fast bowlers India have had in quite some time. And more importantly, he is a huge part of the bowling attack and is more than likely to feature in every game for Team India.
The 27-year-old has plenty of T20 experience, whether it is from his time with Mumbai Indians in the IPL or the national team. He finished this year’s IPL with 21 wickets from 14 matches – third highest in the league while last season, he was second with 27. Let’s not forget that both these editions were conducted right here in the UAE.
Among the men in blue seamers, Bumrah certainly makes for the obvious choice to lead the attack and take wickets.
Plus, he will get to show off his skills against the relatively ‘weaker’ teams of Afghanistan and the two entrants from the Group stage.
