Who improved their T20 World Cup credentials during the IPL?

Every time you think the India mainstay might be showing a bit of fatigue he has the unsung ability of elevating his performances by that extra 10 per cent just to show he is still easily one of the most fearsome quicks in T20 cricket.

Bumrah may have made a slow start to the IPL in 2022, but finished it on a steep upward curve with 10 wickets from his final four matches for Mumbai Indians.

During that period Bumrah also picked up two Player of the Match awards and it would be a bold prediction to expect anything else than a world class performance from the experienced quick in Australia later this year.

It was a strange case of less is more for the highly-talented David, who could well be called up for Australia and given a chance to impress in the lead-up to the ICC T20 World Cup later this year.

While David’s raw numbers aren’t anything to write home about, a closer look into the right-hander’s impact shows just how devastating he can be during the final overs.

David’s strike rate during the IPL was the best of all first-choice batters, with only Australia Test captain Pat Cummins scoring at a better clip throughout the tournament.

While Australia already have a bevy of star batters at their disposal, David’s skillset is slightly different to what they currently have and the 26-year-old could be a surprise packet at the World Cup if he can grasp his chance.

In saying that, David could well still turn out for Singapore at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier B in July. A switch of allegiances may be in the offing, though it’s still unclear how his situation may play out.

Tim David

If the T20 World Cup was held right now, there is every chance Jos Buttler could carry England all the way to the final and beyond just on his own performances with the bat.

The dynamic right-hander was easily the best batter during the IPL, as he nonchalantly dispatched a plethora of world-class bowling line-ups with apparent ease on numerous occasions.

If entirely possible, Buttler may be still on the improve as it looks like he knows his own game better now than he used to and is even getting a bit more choosy when deciding to hit at full pelt in the early overs.

Not that it’s damaging his strike rate, with Buttler scoring quickly during the IPL and on track to do similar for England in Australia later this year.

This talented all-rounder continues to impress and he will be dangerous with both bat and ball if his IPL heroics are anything to go by.

Livingstone shone with the bat, finishing with the fifth best strike rate of all batters at an impressive clip of 182.

But this guy is more than just a talented top-order batter, with his variable spin – Livingstone bowls both off-spin and leg-spin- often used by Punjab Kings during the early and middle overs of an innings.

Livingstone stood out in more ways the one at the IPL and should be ready to produce on the big stage in Australia if he can continue his recent upward curve.

The crafty leggie picked up the most wickets at the T20 World Cup last year and he proved that wasn’t a fluke by finishing the IPL as the second leading wicket-taker with 26 scalps.

It seems when he fires so does Sri Lanka and there is no reason why the Island nation can’t go deep into the tournament in Australia on the back of Hasaranga’s coat-tails, even if starting at the First Round.

Hasaranga didn’t do much with the bat at the IPL, but we have been in the past that he is no slouch with the willow so keep an eye on this multi-talented player in Australia later this year.

It’s amazing to think that the towering right-armer is only 27 and could still be on the improve if his performances at the IPL are closely scrutinised.

Rabada held together Punjab Kings’ bowling line-up during the entire tournament, with his consistency a clear standout from 13 matches for Anil Kumble’s side.

When he first arrived on the scene Rabada was somewhat wayward with the new ball at times, but a more mature Rabada can definitely make an impact for the Proteas in Australia with his control and consistency a clear threat.

Everyone knows Rashid is the most dangerous white-ball spinner in world cricket and it quite often means that the batter respects the leg-spinner greatly and merely tries to see off the Afghan ace and score from the other bowlers.

This was often the case during the IPL – and is arguably more regular at international level – with Rashid’s economy rate under seven runs per over and easily inside the top 10 for all bowlers at the tournament.

It’s not just with the ball that the 23-year-old is dangerous – just ask Sunrisers Hyderabad about Rashid’s final-over heroics with the bat – as the right-hander is also a more than capable lower-order batter.

Rashid’s strike rate with the bat at the IPL (206.81) is testament to this fact and you just know he will make an impact one way or another at the T20 World Cup.

If there was any doubt whether the veteran seamer was a certain inclusion in Australia’s first choice XI, then surely his efforts in India have ended that argument.

Hazlewood’s control when bowling either with the new ball or at the death was first class during the IPL and he has already proven a difficult bowler to get away with 27 T20I caps to his name for Australia.

It’s likely Hazlewood will partner left-armer Mitchell Starc with the new ball for Australia at the ICC T20 World Cup and that is a formidable duo to try and score off.

While wayward at times during the IPL, this young right-armer certainly showed enough to suggest he could prove the x-factor that India require to go all the way in Australia.

While Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami appear certain to head up India’s new-ball attack in Australia, Umran might just be the perfect pacer to complement the experienced duo.

Umran has already been named in India’s squad for upcoming T20Is against South Africa and, if he performs well there, then there’s no reason why he won’t win a seat on the plane that heads Down Under in October.

He’s raw, he’s exciting, his potential is sky high and he’s expected to continue to bowl faster and give the 160/kmh barrier a nudge and that formula could be hard to handle on the bouncy pitches of Australia.

Umran Malik

The veteran off-spinner is in excellent form and looks like he is determined to make up for missing out on playing for West Indies at the most recent ICC T20 World Cup last year.

Narine missed out on that tournament due to fitness issues, but the 34-year-old appears back to his best if his IPL performances are anything to go by.

While the right-armer only picked up nine wickets from 14 matches for Kolkata Knight Riders, it was his stingy economy rate that really stood out.

Narine finished the tournament as one of only two bowlers to concede less than a run a ball and will definitely be a force in Australia if he can continue in that rich vein of form.