This weekend sees the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 begin, less than a year after the previous T20 World Cup. With 16 teams from around the world coming together to compete for the biggest prize in cricket’s shortest form of the game, the next six weeks will see a flurry of activity to determine a winner. We look at three of the favorites to win this tournament, ahead of the first ball being bowled this Sunday.
Defending Champions and Home Favourites Australia
This time last year, Australia were in the middle of mounting their first ever successful T20 World Cup campaign in the United Arab Emirates.
Australia went on to win the tournament in November 2021, beating New Zealand by eight wickets in the final to claim the trophy. Heading into this tournament, Australia are hot favourites in the odds at most major bookmakers to defend their title.
While Australia are currently only ranked No.6 in the world in T20 cricket, a huge factor going in their favour is the fact that the 2022 T20 World Cup is being played in their backyard. With Australia as the hosts of the tournament, games will be played in conditions that the Australian players have been used to their whole lives.
Expect the defending champions to put up a strong challenge in front of a home crowd for the title.
World No.1 and Cricketing Behemoth India
Any discussion of favourites ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022 would be incomplete without mention of the No.1 team in the world, India.
Right now, the men in blue are the team to beat, sitting atop of the ICC rankings and playing excellent cricket. The side has played well over 20 T20Is in 2022, losing only a handful of matches. Recently, they have won series over Australia and South Africa 2-1, and head into the T20 World Cup with strong form and depth in their squad.
Indian fans who fancy getting a monetary return from their side’s form can head to a sportsbook such as BetWinner and place a bet on India to win the T20 World Cup, where they are neck-and-neck with Australia as favourites in the tournament. Punters can see the benefits of BetWinner here—for those who haven’t wagered on cricket before, the sportsbook offers a healthy sign up bonus, as well as other incentives.
New Zealand Play the Dark Horse Yet Again
Last T20 World Cup’s beaten finalists may not be favourites to win the 2022 World Cup, however they are always an outside chance in any ICC tournament.
The Kiwis have been busy racking up T20I wins this year, putting aside the disappointment of again falling short in a World Cup final in 2021. With the exception of a tough tour to Australia, New Zealand have been in hot form across white ball cricket, touring Europe unbeaten and winning a series away in the West Indies as well. Currently they are in the middle of a tri-series against Bangladesh and Pakistan, where their spinners are showing fine form ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Expect New Zealand to challenge the big cricketing powers over the next six weeks, and perhaps cause a few upsets.
