T20 World Cup 2024: Top 5 MVP contenders

Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

T20 World Cup 2024 will see a record 20 teams vying for glory in the lands of the West Indies and the United States of America. There has been a significant shift in the way the shortest format was played over the years. Thanks to various leagues across the world, batters have become more aggressive and bowlers have a platform to bring back the good old days.

The recently concluded Indian Premier League 2024 has raised concerns about the T20s being solely a batter’s game. The league saw above 200 scores being scored like a walk in the park. But international cricket comes with its challenges and pressure. Especially when playing multi-team tournaments, key players turn into trump cards.

Here’s a look at top probable Most Valuable Players (MVP) in the T20 World Cup 2024: 

5. Mitchell Santner

Mitchell Santner has been the go-to bowler for New Zealand in the T20Is. He has been handy with the bat down the order and can anchor the inning while promoted up the order. With fewer lefties and many right-handers dominating the roster of every team, a left-arm spinner always comes in handy for any team.

Santner is coming off a decent form in the recently concluded IPL 2024 for Chennai Super Kings. The Dharamsala wicket which was two-paced assisted him well against Punjab Kings. New Zealand will be holding his spell dearer to their hearts as the spinner has a bowling strike rate of 18.6 in T20Is. His strength has always been to constraint batters of runs and his career economy rate of 7.11 in 100 T20Is is a testament to his skill.

4. Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Marsh will be leading Australia at the T20 World Cup 2024. The all-rounder has been exceptional of late in T20Is. He averages 34.09 in 54 T20Is and has amassed 1432 runs at a strike rate of 135.24. He will potentially open the innings with David Warner as the pair has reaped results in that role.

Marsh has emerged as a fourth pace option for Australia. Having said that, he is no novice in the department and has a strike rate of 17.6. The medium pacer has variations at his disposal which will suit him pretty well in the slow West Indies pitches. With an economy rate of 7.74, he can steal an economical over or two as per the need and exert pressure on the opposition.

3. Andre Russell

Andre Russell is turning his characteristics from a renowned lethal batter to a shrewd and calculative medium pacer. It was evident in IPL 2024 as his contribution depended on him providing timely breakthroughs for Kolkata Knight Riders. The all-rounder bagged 19 wickets at an average of 15.53 and a strike rate of 9.3 in IPL 2024.

With home conditions at his disposal, he need not scratch his head too much on the drawing board.  Another factor to depict his blazing form in T20Is would be his last game against Australia in February. The Caribbean had scored a blistering 71 runs off just 29 deliveries, pairing up with Sherfane Rutherford.

2. Kuldeep Yadav

When India toured the West Indies in 2023, Kuldeep Yadav was the second-highest wicket-taker for the Indian team and third-highest in the series. The left-arm spinner plucked six wickets in four games he was featured in and conceded runs at an economy rate below seven runs per over. Having played ample games in the region, he could be a crucial aspect for the Indian team.

He looked in his element in the IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals as bowlers were thrashed all around by the marauding batters. He picked 16 wickets in 11 games and his economy rate of 8.70 was commendable given the pitches favoured spinners less and short boundaries meant the bowlers had their tasks cut out.

1. Virat Kohli 

Virat Kohli has been under intense scrutiny over his strike rate in T20Is. But the 35-year-old remains the top-scorer in a single edition of the T20 World Cup as well as the overall highest run-scorer too. Kohli had scored 319 runs in the 2014 edition and has been the Player of the Tournament on two occasions.

His last T20I was against Afghanistan in January 2024 where he was dismissed for a duck. But he has been spitting fire in the shortest format playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2024. The right-handed batter bagged the Orange Cap with 741 runs in 15 games at a strike rate of 154.69 and an average of 61.75.