CRICKET
Five most exciting players
to watch at the
World T20
F
ive players to watch in the World Twenty20, whose
preliminary stage starts in India
Chris Gayle (West Indies)
The explosive batsman is one of cricket's biggest personalities, but never far from controversy.The Jamaican
was fined US$7,000 after he asked an Australian interviewer reporter out on live TV at the Big Bash. Gayle
was unabashed, telling critics to kiss his “Black Rass”
on social media. On the field he smashed 50 off just 12
balls for the Melbourne Renegades in January to equal
the fastest half-century in T20 history.
Virat Kohli (India)
India vice-captain and talisman Kohli is in red-hot form
and will be key to the chances of the host nation when
their campaign begins against New Zealand on March
15. The 27-year-old's aggressive batting and self-assurance bailed India out more than once during the recent
Asia Cup, exemplified by his poise in the face of a torrid
spell from Pakistan's Mohammad Amir and an unbeaten
41 to see his side to victory in the final against Bangladesh.
Mohammad Amir (Pakistan)
The pace bowler returns for his first ICC event following a five-year ban for spot-fixing upon the back of im-
pressive performances on tour in New Zealand and the
recently-concluded Asian Cup. Tall and intimidating, the
23-year-old Amir was considered one of the best young
fast bowling prospects in the world before his fall from
grace but his composure could be severely tested by
hostile Indian crowds.
AB de Villiers (South Africa)
Nicknamed “Superman”, a destructive batsmen in all
formats who is adored in India for his power batting in
the IPL. Holds the records for the fastest 50 (16 balls),
100 (31 balls) and 150 (64 balls) in the 50-over format.
In Johannesburg in February he smashed the fastest
T20 50 by a South African, off just 21 balls, and went
on to make a match and series-winning 71 off 29 balls
against England.
Ben Stokes (England)
Hailed by some as the new Ian Botham, all-rounder
Stokes began 2016 by tonking the second fastest Test
double hundred off just 163 balls against South Africa
and went on to clear the boundary a record 11 times
before he was out for 259 off 198 balls. Also a go-to man
with the ball, he became in