T20 World Cup 2022: Whenever you think about the West Indies in the shorter format of the game, you are already filled with butterflies inside your stomach. The boys from the Caribbean possess some of the cleanest and most brutal hitters of the cricket ball, they bat very deep, are inspite of their huge and broad-chested physique, they are some of the most agile and athletic fielders in the world.
Therefore it is no surprise that the Windies are the only 2-time T20 Champions of the world, having won it all in 2012 and 2016. Whenever we talk about the West Indies in T20, our mind always goes to players like Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, and the Universe Boss himself, Chris Gayle. However, when the West Indies recently announced their squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022, there was no place for any of the above players, with the Windies board opting to go for the promise of youth, rather than experience.
So let us have a look at the big names that have been left out from the side for the T20 World Cup 2022:
1. Chris Gayle
The universe boss is synonymous with T20 cricket. The modern legend of the game mesmerized the people into Falling in love with T20 cricket whenever he walked in to bat. His ability to tonk sixes at will at any stage was a really important cog in the wheel for the success of West Indies in this format. While he has been away from the game since playing his last T20 game in the world cup last year, he has still not officially announced his retirement from the game just yet. This will be the first time that West Indies will play a T20 World Cup without Chris Gayle in the side, having played every world cup since it’s inception in 2007.
Cricket fans across the world will miss Chris Gayle in the T20 World Cup 2022.
2. Dwayne Bravo
Another one who was in every squad for the West Indies in this format’s World Cup, Bravo is one of the elite all-rounders to have graced the shortest format of the game. With his impeccable awareness of the situation, coupled with his ability to nail those Yorkers in the death overs, as well as his flamboyant batting down the order, Dwayne Bravo always bought a sense of calm and composure to an otherwise chaotic game. He was also one of the leaders in the side, and this new Windies side will surely miss his leadership in the dressing room. The thing is that he retired last year post a random match, though many hoped that he would still play this tournament, looking at the inexperience of the current squad.
3. Kieron Pollard
The man who holds the record of having played the most T20 games in history, Kieron Pollard is one of the frontrunners of this Windies side. A genuine and proven matchwinner in any situation, he has been responsible for single-handedly winning many games from losing positions for his country. He also was deceptive with the ball, with his wily bag of variations and change of pace, has got the better of some of the best batsmen in the business. He was the captain of this Windies side before he abruptly announced his retirement from international cricket earlier this year. New captain Nicholas pooran will have massive shoes to fill.
Big Polly will definetly missed in the T20 World Cup 2022.
4. Andre Russell
Andre Russell is another one from the famed conveyor belt of Carribbean power-hitters who can change the course of any game at any time from lower down the order. Unfortunately, the Maverick all-rounder has always been at loggerheads with the current management of the West Indies board, and has been rather vocal about the issues in the operations as well. In fact, such is the dispute between the two sides, that Russell had earlier skipped the limited overs series vs India just to play The Hundred, which prompted their head coach to say that they will not “Beg” him to play for the country. And just like that, Andre Russell was not selected and has been left out in the cold. Whether or not he plays again in maroon is to be seen, but his all-round skills and falmboyance will be missed in the T20 World Cup 2022.
5. Sunil Narine
A mystery spinner in the truest sense of the term, Sunil Narine is not a big fan of talking too much, but he rather let’s his bowling do the talking. His almost emotionless face will make you wonder whether he is an assassin or no. But make no mistake, Narine is a cold-blooded killer, having accounted for some of the biggest names in cricket, which also include his compatriots, who have openly gone on to say how thankful they are to be playin on the same side as Narine. Having played in only 2 World Cups, many wondered why Narine wasn’t a part of the side. A combination of a suspect bowling action which earned him a lengthy suspension, added with the fact that even he had a lot of disputes with the board, and his reluctance to play for the national side have all culminated in this ouster.
