We are just one sleep away from the curtain-raiser of the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup, slated to take place in the Caribbean and USA. For the first time in the tournament’s history, 20 teams will feature in the global event, a fusion of full-member and associate-member teams.
Cricket is evolving in the USA, and the T20 World Cup co-hosts have recently clinched their first-ever international series win against a Test-playing nation, thumping Bangladesh 2-1 in the 3-match series. The win against Bangladesh gave the US squad confidence ahead of the mega event.
Being the co-hosts of the ninth edition of T20 World Cup, the USA got direct entry and will feature for the first time in the marquee tournament. Monank Patel has been appointed as the skipper of the USA, with Aaron Jones named as vice-captain. It would be interesting to see how Americans fare in their maiden T20 World Cup appearance. 
In this article we will shed light on the USA side – their strengths, weaknesses, X-Factor, and predictions for the T20 World Cup.
USA squad for T20 World Cup 2024
Batters: Monank Patel (c & wk), Aaron Jones, Andries Gous (wk), Nitish Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Steven Taylor
All-rounders: Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, Shadley van Schalkwyk
Pacers: Ali Khan, Jasdeep Singh, Saurabh Netravalkar
Spinners: Nosthush Kenjige
Strengths of USA in T20 World Cup 2024
Plenty of all-rounder options in the squad
The USA all-rounder contingent boasts the likes of Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel, and Shadley van Schalkwyk, who could prove to be lethal with both bat and ball. In recent matches, the USA’s all-rounders have stepped up with the bat whenever their top order faltered, contributing valuable runs to win games. Shadley van Schalkwyk is an experienced asset to the team; he bowls economically in the middle overs and can aid with cameos with the bat at the tail end of the innings.
Decent bowling attack
Saurabh Netravalkar and Ali Khan operate with the new ball, and if they get lateral movement, which is likely in USA conditions, the duo could rattle the top-order batters in the powerplay. In the recent series against Bangladesh, Ali Khan single-handedly turned the tide of the game in the Americans’ favour from a precarious situation in the death overs, and the right-arm quick would like to carry this momentum into the World Cup.
Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Steven Taylor, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Nisarg Patel, and Nosthush Kenjige have also stepped up with the ball on many occasions for the USA, giving Monank Patel the luxury of plenty of bowling options.
Where USA might lose the plot in World Cup 2024?
Lack of Experience
The USA is less experienced than a full-member squad and could crumble under pressure in crucial game moments, potentially losing the match.
Consistent Performances
The co-hosts have plenty of talented players in their squad, but consistent performance is lacking. They need to be reliable with both bat and ball to win matches.
Fielding Standards
Apart from batting and bowling, fielding is also an important aspect of cricket, and the USA has room for improvement in this sector. Dropped catches or misfields at the crucial juncture could cost them the game, and the co-hosts would look to improve their fielding standards in the World Cup.
The X-Factor of USA in T20 World Cup 2024
Corey Anderson and Harmeet Singh
The former New Zealand player Corey Anderson is a valuable player for the co-hosts; he comes down the order in batting and can change the game’s complexion with his swashbuckling knock. Additionally, his left-arm bowling can be valuable in both the middle and death overs, helping his team establish a strong position in the match.
Harmeet Singh is a dangerous batter in death overs and a consistent contributor with both bat and ball for the USA. Coming down the order, the southpaw can tee off any bowling attack in the death overs and shape the game’s result. In the recent series against Bangladesh, Harmeet scored an unbeaten 33 runs off just 13 balls and helped his side score 55 runs in the last four overs to win the match. On multiple occasions, the left-arm orthodox stepped up with the ball for his side to win the game.
USA Players to watch out for in T20 World Cup 2024
Steven Taylor: The left-handed batter is the leading run-scorer for the USA in T20Is and has a century under his belt in this format. Taylor opens the innings and can adapt to the situation quickly. Additionally, the Florida-born player is a part-time off-spinner, with skipper Monank Patel frequently entrusting him with the ball in bowling duties.
Monank Patel: The USA skipper is an explosive top-order batter and has stockpiled 441 runs in 22 T20I innings, making him the second-highest run-scorer for USA. The right-handed batter is in decent form ahead of the World Cup, scoring back-to-back fifties in the recent T20I series against Canada.
Saurabh Netravalkar: The left-arm pacer is the joint-highest wicket-taker for the USA, along with Nisarg Patel in T20Is, scalping 27 wickets in 27 matches. The Indian-born pacer has a knack for picking wickets with the new ball and is a regular contributor with the ball for Americans.
Prediction Time
USA are placed in group A along with India, Pakistan, Canada, and Ireland, and looking at their recent performance against Test-playing nation Bangladesh and their home advantage, the co-hosts have the potential to spring a major upset in the tournament.
