T20 World Cup danger men: Mohammad Rizwan, Hardik Pandya, Adam Zampa among the guns to watch
Mohammad Rizwan
Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan, the top-ranked batter in T20 international cricket, averages 52.34 from 73 matches.
He has a strike-rate of 128.05, and has struck 22 half-centuries and one century — a knock of 104 not out against South Africa in Lahore in 2019.
The 30-year-old holds the record for most T20 international runs in a calendar year, having registered 1326 in 2021. No one else has reached the 1000-run barrier.
Rizwan is also Pakistan's wicketkeeper.
Suryakumar Yadav
India's Suryakumar Yadav, the second-ranked batter in the T20 international game, has compiled 1045 runs at the average of 38.70 and strike-rate of 176.81.
The 34-match danger man has tallied nine half-centuries and one century — an innings of 117 against England in Nottingham this year.
The 32-year-old Yadav hits the ball hard, has an eclectic array of shots and makes batting look easy.
Babar Azam
Pakistan captain Babar Azam, the third-ranked batter in T20 international cricket, has churned out 3221 runs at the average of 43.66 and strike-rate of 129.65 from 92 matches.
The clinical right-hander has peeled off 29 half-centuries and two tons, with his top score the 122 he made against South Africa in Centurion in 2021.
Aiden Markram
The man ranked fourth in T20 international batting, South Africa's Aiden Markram, has made 780 runs from 26 appearances.
The right-hander averages 41.05 and has the strike-rate of 151.16.
He's yet to reach triple figures but has chalked up eight half-centuries, including a top score of 70 against the West Indies in St George's in 2021.
Devon Conway
New Zealander Devon Conway, who slots in at fifth in the T20 international batting rankings, has piled up 941 runs from 28 games.
The left-hander averages 52.27, has the strike-rate of 134.23 and has notched six half-centuries.
His top score of 99 not out came against Australia in Christchurch in 2021.
Conway and Glenn Phillips are New Zealand's wicketkeepers for the T20 World Cup.
Dawid Malan
The top-ranked Englishman in T20 international batting, Dawid Malan, has amassed 1692 runs from 51 games.
The bludgeoning left-hander averages 39.34, has the strike-rate of 138.68, and has struck 14 half-centuries and one ton.
That was an unbeaten knock of 103 against New Zealand in Napier in 2019.
Malan ranks sixth in T20 international batting, behind Mohammad Rizwan, Suryakumar Yadav, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram and Devon Conway.
Aaron Finch
Aaron Finch remains Australia's top-ranked batter in the T20 international game despite his rough trot with the blade in recent times.
The national captain averaged only 19.75 across his last three series ahead of the World Cup, but there's no denying he's a great of Australian cricket.
Finch, who steered Australia to T20 World Cup glory in the Middle East in 2021, has churned out 3013 runs from 100 matches at the average of 33.85 and strike-rate of 144.02.
The highest T20 international score by an Australian remains Finch's 172 from 76 against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2018.
Finch ranks seventh in T20 international batting, behind Mohammad Rizwan, Suryakumar Yadav, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram, Devon Conway and Dawid Malan.
Josh Hazlewood
While Australian Josh Hazlewood attracts the bulk of his plaudits for Test mastery, the metronomical right-armer is the top-ranked bowler in T20 international cricket.
The paceman has captured 53 wickets from 37 games at the average of 19.94 and economy of 7.62.
Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan is a T20 magician.
The Afghanistan leg-spinner's domination was recognised in 2020 when he was crowned the ICC's men's T20 cricketer of the decade.
From 71 appearances, Khan has snared 188 wickets at the average of 14.21 and economy of 6.24.
He registered career-best figures of 5-3 against India in Greater Noida in 2017.
Only Josh Hazlewood is ranked higher in T20 international bowling.
Wanindu Hasaranga
Wanindu Hasaranga, the third-ranked bowler in T20 international cricket, has bagged 78 wickets from 47 appearances for Sri Lanka.
The leg-spinner averages 14.23 and has the economy of 6.62.
He's also ranked fifth in the T20 international all-rounder rankings.
