T20 World Cup 2022: Sri Lanka and New Zealand are proof that the "tag of being favourites" is overrated

The likes of England, Australia, India, and South Africa were all discussed as favourites to win the tournament. 

And while India and South Africa have done well, Australia and England have found themselves on the wrong end of specific results that shattered the invincibility levels surrounding them. 

However, the likes of New Zealand and Sri Lanka – decent teams, to be fair, but not seen on the same level as those other teams – are in with an outside chance, thanks to some decent results. And also a little bit of luck. 

But it raises the critical question of whether this game format's favourite tag is overrated. 

Coming into the World Cup, Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup 2022 against all odds. The fact that they even made the finals was a big deal; their winning was the extra sweet icing atop a very unexpected cake. 

Despite that, they were seen as underdogs going into the tournament. They boast of a few top players, the type who demand hefty fees in franchise leagues worldwide. 

But the general feeling one gets when it comes to the Sri Lanka cricket team is that they are a side more significant than the sum of its parts. That's a benefit, but is it enough in a format as hard-hitting as T20 cricket? 

Many had doubts about whether it would suffice, which led to them being written off before the tournament even began. Their loss to Namibia to start the game only added to those beliefs. 

But they found a way once again. They won the two remaining games to make it to the Super 12 – where they started their campaign with a win over Ireland before losing to Australia. 

They are still in with a chance of making the semis, thanks in no small part to a positive net run rate of +0.450. 

As for New Zealand, they began their World Cup preparations by losing a tri-series final at home to Pakistan. That's hardly the ideal stepping stone to success. 

Yet something about the Black Caps and ICC tournaments seems to go hand in hand. They started their game against hosts Australia, a match many expected them to lose. 

However, they put in the performance of a lifetime to thrash Australia by 89 runs – and boost their net run rate to a whopping +4.450. 

They could not build on that in their next match against Afghanistan, thanks to it being washed out without a ball being bowled. 

But count the New Zealand cricket team out at your own risk. They are because they are currently atop group one of the Super 12s. 

This proves that a favourites tag is optional to be among the favourites in such a tournament.