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The 2024 T20 World Cup has arrived at its second leg with eight teams battling for a place in the semi-final. The Super Eights will be divided into two groups, with the first one consisting of powerhouses, India and Australia, and dark horses, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Group 2 will witness co-hosts, West Indies and the USA, facing stiff competition from defending champions England and perennial under-achievers South Africa. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-final and inch closer to the prestigious T20 World Cup crown.
The 20-team group stages saw the batting units unanimously struggle to come to grips with uneven and bowler-friendly pitches, especially the ones in the United States.
However, as the action shifts exclusively to the West Indies for the remainder of the tournament, the batters from all teams will breathe a sigh of relief and likely come into their own.
On that note, let us rank the batting line-ups of the participating teams in the Super Eight of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
#8 USA
The USA have been the World Cup's surprise team, exceeding all realistic expectations to qualify for the Super Eights. Their batting is nothing to sneeze about, having successfully chased 195 against Canada and tying Pakistan's total of 159 in another run-chase.
Yet, the increase in competition and scrutiny with pitches shifting from the comforts of their home arenas to the Caribbean could hurt their batting lineup.
Nevertheless, the USA have a terrific middle-order batter in Aaron Jones capable of playing the waiting game and attacking the bowling. He is the tournament's sixth-leading run-scorer with 141 runs at a strike rate of 160.22 despite one of their games being washed out.
Skipper Monank Patel and Steven Taylor form a solid opening partnership with the versatile Andries Gous at one drop. The USA also boasts an impressive lower middle-order with Nitish Kumar and Corey Anderson, yet, how all the batters handle the bigger stage and more potent bowling remains to be seen.
#7 Bangladesh
Bangladesh have largely qualified for the Super Eights with their incredible bowling prowess over their batting. With only Shakib Al Hasan even averaging over 30, bumped up by a 64* in their final group game, and none of the batters striking at even a rate of 130, the Tigers have been below par with the bat.
Middle-order batters, Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah, saved them from the blushes a few times as the top-order struggled with the two-paced pitches. Bangladesh are not without talent in their batting lineup, with proven performers like Najmul Shanto and Litton Das at the top followed by a dangerous middle-order.
Yet, their inability to play the long innings and score at a high strike rate could haunt them in the Super Eights against stronger opposition like Australia and India.
#6 Afghanistan
Afghanistan boasts two batters - Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran in the top four of the run-scoring charts thus far in the tournament. The duo have helped the side get off to solid starts on challenging wickets to enable wins in three out of their four group-stage matches.
However, the middle order is yet to fire with no other batter even averaging over 20 and this was exposed in their latest outing against the West Indies. Chasing 219, Afghanistan lost Gurbaz early for once and the rest of the lineup couldn't hold the fort as they suffered a massive 104-run defeat.
With potent new-ball attacks thrown at them, Afghanistan's semi-final chances will hinge on their skillful but unproven middle-order coming to the party.
#5 South Africa
South Africa were the hardest team to rank among the eight sides, considering their vast difference between potential and performance. On paper, the Proteas top six is as powerful as any and should almost certainly find a top three spot.
However, barring David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs, the other batters have been woeful in the 2024 T20 World Cup, with each one averaging under 13. Making matters worse is that none of South Africa's batters have a strike rate of 100 thus far in the competition.
That they won all four group stage games was a testament to their tireless bowlers and the side winning key moments in tense finishes.
Nevertheless, one would like to assume such a talented batting lineup will eventually come good, and what better time than the business end of the tournament?
#4 England
Defending champions England have been solid with the bat without being spectacular. They are the only team to possess two batters - Jos Buttler and Phil Salt in the top five of the ICC T20I batting rankings and the duo have struck at rates of 165 and 176.37 thus far in the competition.
Yet, a suspect middle-order that only came good against a mediocre Namibian attack could be a cause to pause in the Super Eights. What works in England's favor is the batters ability to score at a rapid pace, evidenced by six of them boasting strike rates of over 139 in a thus far bowler-friendly tournament.
Batting power and depth have ultimately defined England's post-2015 white-ball success and how far their ongoing campaign extends will depend mostly on the same.
#3 India
Team India possesses some of the best short-format batters in world cricket, including the all-time leading run-scorer in T20 World Cup history - Virat Kohli. Yet, his form with an average of under 2 thus far in the tournament is an unfathomable worrying sign.
Fortunately for the Men in Blue, Rishabh Pant has taken to the No.3 spot with both hands, averaging 48 at a strike rate of almost 125. The World's No.1 ranked T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav finally found his groove with a 50* in the tricky run-chase against USA.
With batting until Ravindra Jadeja at No.8 and an explosive batter like Yashasvi Jaiswal warming the benches, India boasts as strong a lineup as any in the Super Eights. However, the form of some of their vital cogs leaves Indian fans biting their nails in anxiety.
#2 West Indies
Playing in front of their home fans and the comfort of home pitches has been and will likely continue to be the West Indian batters' ally. The two-time champions are coming off scoring the most runs in an innings in the ongoing World Cup, with their 218/5 in 20 overs.
While they have only Nicholas Pooran over the 100-run mark in the competition, five batters are striking at a rate of over 140. They also have four batters averaging over 40, with different individuals stepping up in each circumstance.
Sherfane Rutherford scored a match-winning 68* off 39 at No.6 against New Zealand and the big hitters Andre Russell and Romario Shepherd came in at No.8 and 9 speaks to the West Indies' batting depth and power.
With such a devastating and in-form batting lineup, West Indies will be among the favorites to hoist the trophy for a third time in their rich T20 history.
#1 Australia
With three players in the top 10 of the run-scoring charts and two in the top five, the mighty Australians boast arguably the most fearsome batting lineup in the competition.
Travis Head and David Warner have scored over 100 runs, providing Australia with the ideal platform to launch. Australia have arguably the batter of the tournament in Marcus Stoinis, with an average of 78 and a strike rate of 190.24.
Tim David showcased his finishing skills with a 14-ball 24* in the successful run-chase of 181 over Scotland. Australia's lone worry will be the form of match-winners Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell, each averaging under 26 and striking at a rate of under 120.
However, both batters have proven themselves repeatedly to be world-beaters, and come the big game, Australia will know they can be counted on to deliver the goods.
