Last Updated on 9 months ago by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: T20 World Cup 2021: 5 veterans to watch out for | 5 veterans to watch out for in the 2021 T20 World Cup in UAE

T20 cricket is known to be the format for the young stars of world cricket. But several examples over the years have shown that the veterans of the sport can have as much of a say in this game as their junior counterparts.

The 2021 T20 World Cup will be the last song for several veterans of the game, across different nations. This tournament will pave the way for some fresh faces who will lead the sport to greater heights in the future, but it is also going to provide an opportunity to certain seasoned players to prove their mettle at the biggest stage, one last time.

5 veterans to watch out for in the T20 World Cup:

Chris Gayle

Also known as The ‘Universe Boss’, Chris Gayle is arguably the greatest batsman that T20 cricket has ever produced. He has won the T20 World Cup twice already for West Indies, and is understandably eager to repeat the feat once again in the coming few weeks.

The 42-year-old hasn’t been in the best of form in recent times, but he still strikes the ball long and clean. Moreover, his recent form is also majorly defined by a substandard season for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

PBKS didn’t utilize him properly, nor did they have the best of campaigns collectively either. However, if Gayle rediscovers his mojo, then this West Indies side can extract a lot of value out of him in this major tournament.

Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan has been one of the stalwarts of world cricket in the last 15 years. He has been the pillar around which Bangladesh cricket has revolved over the years. His abilities with bat and ball especially in conditions prevalent in the UAE and overall experience to provide the team much-needed stability to sail through tricky situations.

Shakib, coming off two player of the match performances against Oman and PNG, has scored over 1800 runs and picked 111 wickets in 88 T20Is over the years. Plus, he has been awarded player of the match in each of Bangladesh’s last six wins at ICC events.

Overall, 14 years down the line from the inaugural World T20, Shakib Al Hasan still holds the key for Bangladesh’s success in the tournament.

Tim Southee

Tim Southee might have lost some of his efficiency in limited-overs format given the changing nature of the sport, but the Kiwi pacer still remains an integral part of the team’s bowling unit. His ability to maintain a consistent line and length and perhaps nick a wicket or two in slightly favourable conditions can be of great use of New Zealand in this World Cup.

Southee has also been someone who consistently looks to add some more variations to his armoury. His slower deliveries, knuckle balls and other rather unique deliveries could yield good results provided that Southee uses the dimensions of the ground in the UAE well. At 32 years of age and with 99 T20I scalps to his name, the pacer surely knows these factors well enough to use them to their advantage.

Kyle Coetzer

Scotland have started their World T20 campaign quite handsomely by winning their first two games so far. They have been brilliantly led by skipper Kyle Coetzer, who, at 37 years of age, is seeking perhaps his one final blitz of success with the Associate nation. Coetzer has notched over 1400 runs in 63 T20I innings so far, having debuted way back in 2008.

He will be laying the foundation of the innings for the Scots, which will be important as the side will be looking to put up formidable totals for their skillful bowlers to defend. This is Scotland’s fourth ever appearance in the T20 World Cup. Tournaments like these are major opportunities for associate countries to spark a surprise and Coetzer’s men will be eager to do the same as well. Naturally, the skipper, though ageing, will hold the key for that to happen.

Dwayne Bravo

DJ Bravo. Sir Champion. Ageing like a fine wine, Dwayne Bravo has returned to international cricket for one last swansong with his Caribbean teammates. One can argue that there is no better time to do so, too.

This is a format that West Indies master, and Bravo looks to have regained his influential edge with both bat and ball. He was one of the most important pillars around whom the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) staged their remarkable comeback in the recently concluded IPL campaign.

Bravo’s bowling was wily, efficient and reliable as ever and he tends to chip in with some quick and handy runs with the willow every now and then. This West Indies team is neither short on talent, experience or big-match winning records.

And now they also have the Champion back to lead them to their third T20 World Cup title in November.

Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter