After a 14-year hiatus, the T20 World Cup is back in the Caribbean islands. With the sudden evolution of cricket in the Western region, the United States is partnering with the West Indies to stage the grand event this year.
Having failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup after suffering defeats against Scotland and the Netherlands, it’s redemption time for the two-time champions. Also, with most of their players regularly playing in the T20 format, this West Indies team could be eyeing their title on their home soil.
So, let us come to the billion-dollar question. Does the West Indies stand a chance to clinch their third T20 World Cup title? We shall find out as we proceed through this piece.
Squad of West Indies in T20 World Cup 2024
Batters: Johnson Charles, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope
All-rounders: Rovman Powell ©, Romario Shepherd, Andre Russell, Roston Chase, Jason Holder
Pacers: Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph
Spinners: Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie
Strengths of West Indies in T20 World Cup 2024
Fearsome Ball-Striker
The Men in Maroon possess some of the best strikers of the cricket ball. Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Brandon King, and Rovman Powell dominate the T20 circuit. They have a strong batting order, and each player can win matches for the side. They also have anchors like Hope, Roston Chase, and Jason Holder, making them a team to watch out for in the tournament.
Plethora of All-Rounders
The Windies squad has ample all-round options to snatch the game away from their counterparts. Jason Holder brings a wealth of experience with both bat and ball. Despite his performance against Logan van Beek during the World Cup Qualifiers last year, he reads the situation well and adapts accordingly.
Cricket West Indies has also summoned Andre Russell for the mega-event. He had a great outing during IPL 2024, especially with the ball. Whenever the captain asked him to deliver, Russell executed perfectly. In addition, Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd, and Rovman Powell can play match-defining roles with both bat and ball. 
Weaknesses: Where West Indies Might Lose the Plot
Lack of Slog Over Specialists
Pace bowling is one of the grey areas for the hosts, with Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph likely to spearhead the department. Although Romario Shepherd, Russell, and Holder can be handy with seam-up, they lack a slog-over specialist. Modern T20 cricket has evolved constantly, and bowlers face intense pressure.
IPL 2024 redefined the T20 template, with batters going gung-ho against bowlers. If this continues in the World Cup, West Indies might struggle during the slog overs with the ball.
Inconsistent Batting
The Windies side is prone to collapses, even against lower-ranked teams. During the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers, the Netherlands and Scotland humiliated them, and they could not advance to the 50-over World Cup for the first time in history.
On their day, the West Indies can be great and decimate any opposition. However, the side lacks someone to step up and deliver on their bad days. To win the title, they need to overcome this unpredictable nature.
X-Factor of West Indies in T20 World Cup 2024
Shamar Joseph
Shamar Joseph has been a hot topic in West Indies cricket since the Australian summer. He has raw pace and might be an X-factor for the Windies.
The two-time champions lacked a proper pace attack in the past 5-6 years, but Shamar could greatly assist Alzarri’s pace and bounce. Having played just three T20Is and one IPL game, bagging three wickets, the cricket fraternity has seen little of Shamar Joseph. He could turn out to be a surprise package for the opposition.
West Indies Players to Watch Out for in T20 World Cup 2024
Nicholas Pooran
The wicketkeeper-batter is one of the top picks for West Indies. He knows the conditions well, having been the highest run-getter in the 2023 Major League Cricket (MLC) with 388 runs from eight matches. Pooran also slammed a 25-ball 75 against Australia during a warm-up fixture.
Andre Russell
The all-rounder had a good outing during the IPL. He won a match for KKR with the bat early in the competition before turning up with the ball and consistently taking wickets. Russell also snapped a three-fer in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Brandon King
The top-order batter has been hot at the top of the order. He joined the Windies setup with promise after a successful CPL 2019. King has been among the runs in West Indies’ recent bilateral series against South Africa and is one of the players to watch out for.
Prediction Time
The West Indies are one of the dark horses of the tournament. Although they have won the T20 title twice, the joint-most by any team, they need to gel together and make the most of home conditions. With favourable conditions, West Indies look poised to make the semi-finals this year. However, they might not see their best cricketing days when it comes to nerves.
