ICC T20 World Cup 2022 kicked off on October 16, 2022, Down Under, and in the first round, eight teams are locking horns with one another. After the first round, the top 4 teams will fill the vacant places in the Super 12 stage by qualifying for it.
In the Super 12 stage, eyes will be set on veterans such as Rohit Sharma, Aaron Finch, David Warner, Martin Guptill, and Shakib Al Hasan as the legends will probably feature for the last time in T20 World Cups due to their growing age. These players before hanging their boots will try to deliver their best in the tournament to hold the prestigious T20 World Cup trophy.
On the other hand, for youngsters such as Rishabh Pant, Arshdeep Singh, Naseem Shah, Sam Curran, and Harry Brook, it’s an opportunity to become a household name by showing their talent in the World Cup. With a blend of youngsters and veterans, these sides will try to have the last laugh by lifting the trophy in the final at the MCG.
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Here is the average age of each team in the T20 World Cup 2022:
1. Australia- 31.26
The 35-year-old Aaron Finch couldn’t do much with his bat in the last edition of the World T20. But the team won their maiden T20 World Cup title by beating New Zealand in the final under his captaincy.
This year, the right-handed batter relinquished his ODI career to focus on the T20 form of the game. In this World Cup, the team will bank on him and 35-year-old David Warner to provide a blistering start to the team.
Along with Finch and Warner, the squad has 9 more players who are over 30. Veterans Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc are some names Cricket Australia has believed in to defend the title
2. India- 30.73
In the inaugural edition of the World T20, the young Indian squad under 26-year-old MS Dhoni vanquished big teams such as Australia, England, South Africa, and Pakistan to win the title. Since then, Indian cricket fans have been waiting for their team to win the next title.
This year, under 35-year-old Rohit Sharma, India will strive to create a record of winning the title for the second time. Of 15 members, the team has 9 players who are over 30. In this edition, fans are expecting big names such as skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and Mohammed Shami to use their experience to bring the trophy back after 15 years.
In the current squad, Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik are the players who featured in the team’s 2007 T20 World Cup victory in South Africa.
3. England- 30.73
In the tournament, England will be led by dynamic Jos Buttler. After Eoin Morgan’s retirement from the sport earlier this year, the England and Wales Cricket Board showed faith in Buttler, who won England many games with his dashing innings.
In the current squad, England have 10 players who are over 30. The management decided to believe in experienced players such as Alex Hales, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, and Chris Woakes. In the past, all these known faces have made a huge contribution to the success of the team.
This year, too, these players with youngsters such as Harry Brook, Sam Curran, and Phil Salt will try to add a new chapter in the history of T20 cricket by winning the title for the second time.
4. New Zealand- 30.33
The runners-up of the 2021 World T20 Cup, New Zealand, in this edition, will endeavor their best to win the trophy. In the last World Cup, under the leadership of Kane Williamson, the Black Caps delivered their best performance in the mega event.
In this edition, the 32-year-old leader will try to quench the team’s thirst to win this mega T20 title. Like the previous World Cup, this year also, the team management has decided to go ahead with experienced players such as Martin Guptill, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Ish Sodhi.
The 15-member squad of Black Caps consists of 11 players who are over 30. In this World Cup, the kiwis will look to outsmart other teams with the talent and experience of their squad.
5. South Africa- 29.40
Temba Bavuma will lead South Africa for the second time in T20 World Cup. Despite a brilliant show in the last edition, the Proteas got eliminated from the World Cup due to their run rate.
This year, with a good mixture of experienced and young faces, South Africa will look to destroy their opposition with their aggressive game plans. Players such as David Miller, Quinton de Kock, and Kagiso Rabada have ample experience to create history by winning the T20 World Cup for the first time.
For players such as Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Heinrich Klaasen, and Aiden Markram, it‘s an opportunity as their experience of playing league cricket could help them and other teammates to celebrate with the World Cup trophy.
6. Pakistan- 26.60
After Afghanistan, Pakistan boast of the youngest squad in this tournament. The 15-member squad includes 10 players under 30. The oldest player in the group is Shan Masood aged 32. On the other hand, the talented Naseem Shah is just 19 years old.
In the last World Cup, youngsters such as Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan played a crucial role to take Pakistan to the semis. Shadab, with his skillful bowling, took four wickets in the losing cause against Australia in the semi-final.
Ahead of this World Cup, the skipper of the team, Babar Azam, has turned 28. With young guns such as Mohammad Hasnain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Naseem, and Haider Ali, he will strive his best to get his hands on the trophy on November 13, 2022, at the MCG, Melbourne.
7. Bangladesh- 26.40
Playing under veteran Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh will try to surprise big teams with young guns such as Afif Hussain, Hasan Mahmud, and Shoriful Hassan.
Experienced players such as Mustafizur Rahman, Litton das, Soumya Sarkar, and Taskin Ahmed started playing international cricket at a very young age. Many times, these players have shown their talent by taking the team home.
In this 15-member squad, except skipper Shakib, all are under 30. The youngsters, in this edition, will try to produce Bangladesh’s best performance in the tournament. Supporters of the Bangladesh team still reminisce about the 2007 T20 World Cup victory over West Indies as the side, under the young captain Mohammad Ashraful, had done wonders by knocking the Caribbeans out of the tournament.
8. Afghanistan- 23.93
In this World Cup, Afghanistan is the youngest in the tournament. The team will be led by 37-year-old Mohammad Nabi, but most of its players are under the age of 25. With these young talents, Afghanistan will try to leave an amazing impact on the tournament.
Young guns such as Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan are well-known names in international cricket. In this World Cup, the young boys under their experienced skipper will look forward to showing their magic by stunning big teams.
In the 15-member squad, the right-arm fast bowler Mohammad Saleem, 20, is the youngest player, and the 37-year-old Mohammad Nabi, the captain of the group, is the oldest in the squad.
