With the Asia Cup T20 just 6 days away, we take a look at the Top 5 players to watch out for in the Asia Cup T20I 2016 to be held in Bangladesh.
1. Virat Kohli
The Indian test captain has been in scintillating in recent games and seems unfazed by things happening in his personal life and the constant speculation about it. India’s No.3 batsman in all formats, the 27-year old scored three consecutive fifties in the recently concluded T20 series against Australia and looked in imperial touch. Virat is desperate to win his first World T20 this year and the Asia Cup provides the ideal springboard for the stylish right-hander to get into ideal batting groove before the showpiece event in India in March. And despite many rating Suresh Raina higher than Kohli in the shortest format, the Delhi boy has proved in IPL 8 and the Australia series that he is a man to bank on when it comes to the T20 format.
2. Shahid Afridi
Who’d believe Shahid Afridi is still 35? The Pakistan all-rounder has been around for the longest time and this year’s Asia Cup will be Afridi’s penultimate international tournament. Already retired from Test and ODI formats, the Asia Cup 2016 promises to be a great opportunity for Pakistan’s forever young skipper to lift another trophy before he hangs his boots. Recall Afridi’s smashing half-century in the final of the 2009 World T20 final against Sri Lanka at The Oval, and you know that even at the twilight of his career, Afridi has the swashbuckling batting ability to take the match away from the opposition. And if he gets going, the people sitting in the crowd better look for cover.
3. Mustafizur Rahman
Acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the recent IPL Auction owing to his impressive performances in the past one year, Mustafizur Rahman has been in prime form since making his international debut against Pakistan in April last year. He has become an integral member of an increasingly confident Bangladesh side and is arguably a major reason behind the Tigers’ resurgence in the past year. The upcoming Asia Cup promises to be the biggest test of his short career and it will be interesting to see how he uses his variations in line and length as well as the slower delivery against some of the best batsmen in the world.
4. Mohammed Shami
A fully-fit Mohammed Shami is someone Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be very happy to welcome back in the T20 team. The fast bowler hasn’t played for India since the 2015 World Cup Down Under and all eyes will be on the 25 year old’s fitness as he looks to forge a way back into the team. With Ashish Nehra having bowled brilliantly in the powerplay overs against Australia and Sri Lanka, Shami might very well have to fight with Jaspreet Bumrah for the only remaining spot. Both Bumrah and Shami are good options in the death overs, so Mahendra Singh Dhoni may have a headache or two making this decision.
5. Kasun Rajitha
The young pacer from Sri Lanka shocked not only Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane but also the cricketing fraternity as he announced himself on the international stage in style with two wickets in his very first over. The 22-year-old picked up 3 wickets in 2 T20Is against India at an average of 24.66. In 17 Twenty20 matches, he picked up 34 wickets at a very impressive average of 13.55 and a strike-rate of 11.2. While he tends to go for runs when the pitch offers little purchase for the faster bowlers, his variations as well as his ability to extract extra bounce from the wicket can make him a key player for Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup.