T20 World Cup: Watch out for these power hitters | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: “These are giants.” “The ball travels downtown.” “It’s huge, enormous.” “It’s out of the park.” ‘Ah! It’s monstrous.’ Words like these will echo across the commentary boxes and billions of TV sets around the world, as the T20 World Cup progress and the power-hitters across teams begin to flex their muscles.
With their ability to launch a willow from the start, the 12 teams in the Super 12s all have power hitters who can turn the game on its head. ‘Get going’ is the mantra for them. When set on the crease, the power hits are a nightmare for any bowler, be it a spinner or a pacer.
TimesofIndia.com takes a look at some such power-hitters to watch out for here:
(All statistics in this article are updated till the start of the Super 12 phase of the ongoing T20 World Cup)

Tim David (Getty Images)
TIM DAVID (AUSTRALIA): Tim David was born in Singapore but grew up in Australia. He moved to Australia with his family when he was 2. The powerful 6ft 5in tall middle-order swashbuckling batsman, who was part of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2022, is capable of launching the attack from the start. During the second T20I match against England in Canberra, David, who was ranked at no. 7 came into bat, hitting 40 balls from just 23 balls, including 5 fours and 1 six at a strike rate of 173.91. In 22 T20Is, David scored 714 runs at an average of 37.57. His T20I career strike rate of 160.08 says it all. His current form and solid hands in the death overs will help hosts Australia accelerate the run rate.
TIM DAVID T20I CAREER: Matches: 22, Runs: 714, Avg: 37.57, SR: 160.08, 50s: 5

David Malan (AFP Photo)
DAVID MALAN and LIAM LIVINGSTONE (ENGLAND): Dawid Malan made a grand and impressive entry into the T20I scene when he smashed 78 off just 44 balls to give England a 19-run win over South Africa in Cardiff in 2017. Since then, the left-handed batsman has been almost a regular in England’s T20I line-up. With an average of 39.34 and a strike rate of 138.68 in 51 T20Is, Malan is expected to lay a solid foundation for the England team in the T20 World Cup.
England will also rely heavily on their batting lone man Liam Livingstone. Livingstone, who is coming back from an ankle injury, said he was fit and raring to go. Livingstone played an important role for England in the middle overs. He played 23 T20Is for England and scored 368 runs at a strike rate of 152.06. ‘Malan fire’ at the top and ‘Livingstone blast’ in the middle – this is the formula that England will hope works wonders for them in this edition of the T20 World Cup.
DAVID MALAN T20I CAREER: Matches: 51, Runs: 1692, Avg: 39.34, SR: 138.68, 100s: 1, 50s: 14
LIAM LIVINGSTONE T20I CAREER: Matches: 23, Runs: 368, Avg: 21.64, SR: 152.06, 100s: 1

Rilee Rossouw (PTI Photo)
RILEE ROSSOUW (SOUTH AFRICA): Rilee Rossouw, a dominant top-order batsman, will aim to give South Africa a flying start. The South African blasted an unbeaten 100 off just 48 balls against Indore in Indore to help his side cruise home by 49 runs. His whirlwind beats were loved and applauded by the Indore crowd. He blasted 7 fours and 8 enormous maximums in his innings. In his next outing against England, Rossouw scored an unbeaten 54 off 32 balls to give SA an easy 9-wicket win. The Proteas will expect their opening batsman to carry his sublime form into the T20 World Cup as well. In his 21 T20I career, Rossouw has scored 558 runs at an average of 37.20 and a strike rate of 152.87.
RILEE ROSSOUW T20I CAREER: Matches: 21, Runs: 558, Avg: 37.20, SR: 152.87, 100s: 1, 50s: 3

Hardik Pandya (PTI Photo)
HARDIK PANDYA (INDIA): India won the first T20 World Cup in 2007, under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, will kick off their campaign this time on October 23 against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Super 12 stage. Come to the crease, see the ball and send it out of the park – that’s what the Indian team would expect Hardik Pandya to do. Pandya is a fearless batsman and his ability to accelerate the run rate with his sheer hard hitting abilities is no secret. Pandya has played 73 T20Is so far and scored 989 runs at a strike rate of 148.49. He has hit 54 sixes in his career so far.
HARDIK PANDYA T20I CAREER: Matches: 73, Runs: 989, Avg: 25.35, SR: 148.49, 50s: 2

Mohammad Nawaz (AP Photo)
MOHAMMAD NAWAZ (PAKISTAN): Bring in the spinners and Mohammad Nawaz will have all the answers. He will sweep, reverse sweep, come down the track and ensure that the opposition spinners do not put the brakes on his team’s run rate. During the Asia Cup, Pakistan lost Babar Azam (14) and Fakhar Zaman (15) with Pakistan reeling at 63 for 2 in 8.4 overs. Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq and captain Babar decided to promote the hard-working Nawaz. It was a gamble. And it paid off big for Pakistan. The 28-year-old Nawaz, a left-arm spinner, put on a 73-run stand for the third wicket with Mohammad Rizwan. Nawaz smashed 6 fours and 2 sixes in his 20 balls and scored 42 runs. A hard-hitting batsman, Nawaz will be Pakistan’s trump card against the spinners on Australian tracks. Nawaz played 48 matches and scored 354 runs at a strike rate of 136.15.
MOHAMMAD NAWAZ T20I CAREER: Matches: 48, Runs: 354, Avg: 18.63, SR: 136.15

James Neesham (Getty Images)
JAMES NEESHAM/MARTIN GUPTILL (NEW ZEALAND): Both James Neesham and Martin Guptill have been part of the two World Cup finals played by New Zealand (ICC World Cup 2019 in England and ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE). Both played crucial roles. New Zealand managed to put one hand on the trophy on both occasions but failed to clear the final hurdle. Neesham scored an unbeaten 13 off 7 balls, while Guptill managed 28 off 25 to take New Zealand to 172/4 in 20 overs but failed to defend the total against Australia. In 2019, New Zealand lost the 50-over World Cup final against England at Lord’s. Neesham scored 19 runs and took three wickets in the pulsating final.
Both experienced Kiwi players will take the field again and will aim to take the team over the final hurdle this time.
Guptill, playing in his seventh T20 World Cup, is dangerous when lined up. Once settled, he is able to make a mockery of the bowlers with his flashy bat. Guptill, who plays the short balls with ease, is expected to lay a solid foundation for New Zealand in the tournament. Guptill played 122 T20Is and scored 3531 runs at an average of 31.81 and strike rate of 135.70.
On the other hand, Neesham is the best in the battle over. He will take his front foot out, collect the ball and send it over the fence. The all-rounder has a strike rate of 163.65 in 53 T20Is.
JAMES NEESHAM: Matches: 122, Runs: 3531, Avg: 31.81, SR: 135.70
MARTIN GUPTILL: Matches: 122, Runs: 3531, Avg: 31.81, SR: 135.70, 100s: 2, 50s: 20