The stars ready to break out at 2021 men's T20 World Cup
Josh Inglis (Australia)
It is rare to make an impact on the international team before you've played an official match, but that's exactly what Australia's Josh Inglis has done.
Inglis was expected to be the backup wicketkeeper for the World T20 behind Alex Carey but played a match-winning role in Australia's thrilling warm-up victory over New Zealand.
The 26-year-old strode to the crease with eight runs required to win off three deliveries, but only needed two deliveries to finish the job after hitting consecutive boundaries.
One of the key reasons behind the Western Australian's selection was his versatility, with an ability to bat anywhere in the line-up as required.
"He has been just so impressive in his gradual development over the last two to three seasons," legendary wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said.
"He's proving now to be almost like your football utility, which is a pretty good position to be in for him to get that opportunity to be in a touring squad and a good player type for Australia to have."
Gareth Delany (Ireland)
In a format where all-rounders are as a vital a commodity as any player, Ireland's Gareth Delany is as dangerous as they come.
The 24-year-old has firmly established himself as a T20 specialist and has thrived after an English county stint with Leicestershire.
"He hits the ball as clean as anyone that I've ever seen in an Irish jersey," veteran teammate Kevin O'Brien said of Delany.
"Being a young guy he's only going to get better. Plus he's a useful legspin bowler and a good fielder, so he's a three-in-one cricketer: that's something that we're crying out for, people who can do all three."
Delany averages just 23.25 with the bat in T20s but it his strike rate of 140.48 that highlights his true value. Couple that with a bowling average of 25 and you've got a handy cricketer.
Richard Berrington (Scotland)
At 34 years of age, this year's T20 World Cup is certainly not Scotland vice-captain Richard Berrington's first rodeo.
The South African-born all-rounder has been a mainstay in Scotland's line-up over the years comes to the World Cup in fine form.
He is currently ranked third on the ICC's men's T20 all-rounder rankings, only behind Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi and Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan.
All-rounders are especially valuable in the shortest format of the game and Berrington is relied upon heavily with both the bat and the ball.
The veteran boasts an impressive batting average of 32.27 and a strike rate of 128.12 while also averaging just 23.33 with the ball at a respectable economy rate of 7.56.
Hazratullah Zazai (Afghanistan)
Hazratullah Zazai is one of the brightest stars in what's become a golden generation for the Afghanistan team.
While the 23-year-old opener is yet to make a Test appearance for his country, he has become a fearsome batsman in the shorter format.
The left-hander holds the second-highest score by an opener in an international men's T20 after slamming an unbeaten 162 off just 62 deliveries against Ireland in 2019.
That knock was hardly a one-off either as evidenced by Hazratullah's career strike rate of 155.31, which is only bettered by the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Evin Lewis and Andre Russell.
He comes into the T20 World Cup as the 10th ranked men's T20 batsman in the world.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan)
Rashid Khan may have claimed all the headlines as Afghanistan's wonder-spinner, but his protege might be better.
At just 20 years of age, Mujeeb Ur Rahman has already amassed an incredible 150 Twenty20 appearances as a specialist in the shorter form of the game.
While his exploits are familiar in competitions around the world, he has only played in 19 T20s for Afghanistan.
The finger spinner already has 25 wickets in that time at an incredible average of 17.72 and a stunning economy rate of just 6.15.
Between Mujeeb and Rashid, Afghanistan have a pair of spinners that will make life difficult for even the best in the world.
Mark Chapman (New Zealand)
Mark Chapman's path to the T20 World Cup actually began by playing for Hong Kong, his country of birth.
After making his debut for Hong Kong in 2014, Chapman was able to qualify for New Zealand through his father and made his debut for the Black Caps in early 2018.
The left-hander only has modest T20 numbers early on in his international career, but a look at his List A batting average of 51.08 at a strike rate of 97.75 tells you that he could explode very soon.
Chapman has amassed a significant amount of T20 experience in domestic leagues and boasts a batting average of 24.91 at a strike rate of 132.85 and a bowling average of 25.10 with an economy rate of 7.69.
Could this year's World T20 be the tournament where Chapman announces himself to the world?
Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)
Pakistan fans will be used to seeing the No.10 with 'AFRIDI' on the back running around at tournaments over the years, but the famous shirt now has a different owner.
Unlike it's previous owner, legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi, Shaheen is a left arm opening bowler.
At just 21 years of age, Afridi has already established himself as one of the better bowlers in all three formats of the game, but could explode in a global tournament.
Afridi has been so prolific to start his career, he has earned comparisons to legendary Pakistani quick Wasim Akram having claimed 76 wickets in his first 19 Tests.
The left-arm quick has 32 wickets to his name in 30 T20 appearances for Pakistan at an economy rate of 8.17.
Wiaan Mulder (South Africa)
South African cricket is undergoing a transition period after the retirement of some behemoths, and paceman Wiaan Mulder is one of the youngsters coming through.
The 23-year-old has already debuted for the Proteas in all three formats of the game and is ready to blossom.
After earning some early Jacques Kallis comparisons with his batting at the domestic level, Mulder has settled into more of a bowling all-rounder at the international level.
Having played just five T20s for South Africa, it's hard to read too much into his numbers, but his domestic stats tell a better tale.
He has averaged 25.75 with the bat at a strike rate of 127.47 and has 26 wickets at an average of 26.96 in 43 appearances.
For a country crying out for a new star man, Mulder might just fit the bill.
Anrich Nortje (South Africa)
Anrich Nortje's meteoric rise to prominence has been highlighted by him being named Cricket South Africa's newcomer of the year and men's cricketer of the year in successive years.
With the likes of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander retired, Nortje has risen to partner Kagiso Rabada as the Proteas' latest fearsome quick.
The right-arm paceman possesses a mean short delivery and regularly pushes the speed gun in excess of 150 km/h.
Having been described as "extremely exciting" by Steyn himself, Nortje has gotten significant T20 experience in the IP for the Delhi Capitals.
The 27-year-old will want to improve on his current international record of just nine wickets in 11 T20s at an average of 32.22.
What better time to do it than at the World Cup.
Fabian Allen (West Indies)
The West Indies have never been shy to unearth a destructive all-rounder with the likes of Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and, remember the name, Carlos Brathwaite laying waste to attacks over the years.
Now, Fabian Allen has assumed some of that role.
"I think it's a natural West Indian thing," he says about the ability to clear fences. "You don't need to do nothing, just stand properly and get bat on ball. Yes, we practise our strengths. That's the major aspect of the game."
The 26-year-old's averages are modest, perhaps an indication of his lack of consistency, but his strike rates are frightening.
The right-hander boasts an international T20 strike rate of 138.88, which balloons out to 149.59 at the domestic level.
Allen is also handy with the ball, having taken 20 wickets in 28 matches at an average of 27.05.
