India… or pretty much any of the major teams, if you go by what those in the know are saying. One thing is for sure – the format has democratised cricket to the extent that form often doesn’t matter.
There was a time when the cricket world waited with bated breath for the World Cup. It came, quite predictably, once every four years, with no mega event having satiated your appetite. Each event was preceded by a lengthy build-up, both on and off the field. While teams had their task cut out, picking the best team for the conditions and then fine-tuning aspects of training, it was off the field where anticipation was highest. For a sizeable set of cricketers, the World Cup was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to snatch glory. You had to be at the peak of your powers, and the conditions had to suit your style of play for you to even have a shot at glory. For captains and coaches, the World Cup was a double-edged sword. The four-year cycle provided an apt timeline to be judged on results, and a bad showing in the World Cup often meant being shown the door.
In the brave new world of 2016, however, the existing order has been turned on its head. The ICC World Twenty20, a tournament that has never been played in India before, is expecting to smash all viewership and attendance records. There has been little time for build-up, with teams still playing against each other in bilateral and other series, even as the tournament opener beckons. For the players, though, when the coin goes up for the toss the first time on March 8, the opportunity before them is a considerably different one. With the Indian Premier League to follow, and leagues around the world (from the Big Bash to the Ram Slam to the Pakistan Super League) welcoming players of all shapes and kinds with generous pay cheques, the ICC World Twenty20 has plenty to offer, apart from the glory of winning. The next big ticket surprise to take the T20 leagues by storm could well emerge from an area where it is least expected.
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Denne historien er fra March 2016-utgaven av Man's World.
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