Cricket Feature T20 World Cup: After SL Vs Aus and India Vs SA series which team is better prepared?

being followed by all the teams to form a solid squad for the upcoming World Cup. Let's look at how prepared teams look based on their ongoing international performances including MVP ( Most Valuable Player )

India Vs South Africa

SA MVP: Lungi Ngidi Temba Bavuma David Miller

Indian MVP: Dinesh Karthik Hardik Pandya Harshal Patel

The five-match T20I series between the two teams ended in a dull draw of 2-2 as rain whitewashed the decider match of the series. The series commenced with the complete dominance of the South African team over the hosts in the first two matches. South Africa took over with their probable best playing XI except for Aiden Markram, who missed out due to Covid. They have a stable opening pair with skipper Temba Bavuma there to anchor. David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen make the middle-order extremely explosive once set. Indian bowlers struggled while breaking their partnerships when set on the crease. Lungi Ngidi has been very clinical, getting breakthroughs for the team in initial overs alongside Kagiso Rabada. Tabraiz Shamsi struggled, but Keshav Maharaj made the most of the opportunity to back the spin counterpart. So, in all, Proteas would be a competitive side to defeat in the upcoming World Cup.

On the other hand, with the absence of mainstays of team India, the young team under the debut international captaincy of Rishabh Pant has been under scrutiny for the upcoming World Cup. India has a lot of puzzles to solve. The management is experimenting with three different teams and two different coaches across three other series. With so many quality players for management to choose the best from, this only looks like the most viable option. But, how far this will benefit is a matter of doubt and a thing to see in the future. In the concluded series against South Africa, Ishan Kishan's outlook at top-order against spinners was good. However, will this robust strike rate be the need of team India for the World Cup? Is it a thing to look at?

Further, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant failed to impress with their numbers in the middle-order, falling victim to South African bowlers cheaply. Dinesh Karthik's resurgence as a finisher alongside Hardik Pandya looked like a real game-changer for the team, but both of their accommodations could be tricky. Bhuvneshwar Kumar shouldered the burden of death overs quite well with Harshal Patel and will be an excellent combination to watch if carried in the World Cup. With so many quality spinners available in the form of Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi, it would be an arduous scrutinising task for Rahul Dravid and the team management.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia 

Sri Lanka MVP: Wanindu Hasaranga Dunith Wellalage Maheesh Theekshana

Australia MVP: Glenn Maxwell Josh Hazlewood Jhye Richardson

The tour has been full of excitement, with both sides gunning hard for the win. Except for the first T20I, in which Australia dominated to win by ten wickets, the hosts gave a tough fight in the remaining T20Is and ODIs to follow. While Australia won the T20I series by 2-1, the five-match ODI series stands at 2-1, with Sri Lanka leading.

Looking at the current series, the World Cup defending champions look a little depleted on the bowling front. They have an experienced batting line-up with David Warner and Aaron Finch at the top. With both of them in form, the opening pair makes their batting line-up extremely strong with power-hitters to follow down the order. Mitchell Marsh not firing yet can be a matter of concern looking at the World Cup. Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell have been displaying brilliant batting down the order at a commendable strike rate. The team is in desperate need of experienced bowlers. With just Josh Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson as experienced ones, Aussies are facing hardship in getting an edge over hosts.

In contrast to Australia, Sri Lanka is concerned about its batting line-up. Their bowlers have been phenomenal, restricting Australia to lower totals or defending low scores. Their top-order is seen going hot and cold in this tour. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mandis look a little consistent and promising with the bat. Their spin bowling department consisting of Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana, have been mesmerising in this tour and turned out to be the match-winners for Lankans. Their bowlers make them a side to defeat. Return of Niroshan Dickwella looks to provide a resistance in the middle-order to falling wickets. Overall, with little work in the batting department, the team looks promising to qualify from Round 1 and enter Super 12 for the World Cup.