India emerged triumphant at the T20 World Cup 2024, etching their names in cricketing history and finally giving 1.4 billion hearts something big to cherish. Virat Kohli’s phenomenal knock in the finals secured him the Player of the Match award, while Jasprit Bumrah’s godly brilliance throughout the tournament earned him the coveted Player of the Tournament title.
However, amidst the celebrations, some big names failed to live up to their potential. While every team experiences its share of underperformers, a few players across the board consistently fell short of expectations. Here, we take a closer look at those who disappointed and compile our Flop XI of the T20 World Cup 2024.
Flop XI of T20 World Cup 2024
| S No. | Player | Runs/Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Reeza Hendricks (SA) | 113 runs |
| 2. | Tanzid Hasan (BAN) | 76 runs |
| 3. | Mohammad Rizwan (PAK) | 110 runs |
| 4. | Kane Williamson (NZ) | 28 runs |
| 5. | Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) | 111 runs / 3 wickets |
| 6. | Shadab Khan (PAK) | 44 runs / 0 wickets |
| 7. | Ravindra Jadeja (IND) | 35 runs / 1 wicket |
| 8. | Sam Curran (ENG) | 12 runs / 3 wickets |
| 9. | Shaheen Afridi (PAK) | 5 wickets |
| 10. | Matheesha Pathirana (SL) | 3 wickets |
| 11. | Ali Khan (USA) | 3 wickets |
Top-order: Reeza Hendricks, Tanzid Hasan, Mohammad Rizwan
These three openers (while Rizwan is at No.3 here) underwhelmed at the T20 World Cup 2024. South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks, despite playing all matches, couldn’t convert his starts into big scores, finishing the tournament with only 113 runs at an average of 14.12.
Opener Tanzid Hasan from Bangladesh fared even worse, registering a meagre 76 runs with a rock-bottom average of 10.86, the lowest by any opener in a T20 World Cup. Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan’s 110 runs seems alright at first glance, but 53 of them came against a weaker opponent, Canada. In the crucial match against India, his slow 44-ball 31 contributed to Pakistan’s batting woes.
Middle-order & All-rounders: Williamson, Shakib, Shadab, Jadeja, Curran
The middle order and all-rounders of this flop XI were equally disappointing. New Zealand’s veteran captain Kane Williamson, possibly playing his last T20 World Cup, had a forgettable tournament with a mere 28 runs. Shakib Al Hasan, despite being Player of the Match against Netherlands, fell flat against other teams, including a golden duck in the crucial must-win match against Afghanistan. His bowling, even in spin-friendly conditions, lacked impact.
Pakistan’s Shadab Khan, once a reliable all-rounder, saw a massive dip in form, managing only 44 runs and failing to pick up a single wicket. India’s Ravindra Jadeja, the only Indian in this list, also announced his retirement today. With his 35 runs and just a solitary wicket, his overall contribution fell short of expectations as Axar Patel continued to overshadow him.
Sam Curran of England, the Player of the Tournament in the last edition, had a disastrous campaign as well. His bowling managed 3 wickets, but with only 12 runs scored, he offered little to the team’s batting. Moreover, his economy of 9.6 was also on the higher side.
Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Matheesha Pathirana, Ali Khan
Rounding out this flop XI are the bowlers. Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi, despite taking 5 wickets, struggled against key teams like India and USA, which significantly contributed to Pakistan’s debacle.
Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana, fresh off a stellar IPL season, failed to translate that form into the World Cup, managing just 3 wickets. The inclusion of Ali Khan from USA is more about his high expectations as a marquee player for the developing team. While USA performed admirably, his contribution with 3 wickets wasn’t substantial enough to lift them further.
