Predicting the Winner of 2016 World T20

With World Cups, come predictions. The man of the tournament, the best batsman, best bowler and of course, the eventual winner, everyone has an opinion to share when it comes to such questions. Here's our in-house writer's prediction for every match in the 2016 T20 World Cup all the way up to who will be the eventual Champion at the end of the tournament.

Venue : Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur  

The opening match of the World T20 should see the Indians trying to extend a formidable run of form and with the home crowd firmly behind them, it seems the odds are in India’s favour against New Zealand. A close contest is expected before the Men in Blue edge the Kiwis eventually.

March 16 - Pakistan vs Bangladesh

WINNER : BANGLADESH

Although this prediction might raise many an eyebrow, the Eden Gardens is the closest to home advantage that the Bangladesh men would enjoy, and with all the turmoil last week in Pakistan’s World Cup campaign already, it will be very hard to see why Bangladesh cannot replicate their Asia Cup performance from a few weeks back to trump Pakistan once again. 

Venue : Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai   

WINNER : WEST INDIES

March 17 - Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan

Venue : Eden Gardens, Kolkata

This might against the minnows may be the only match Sri Lanka will win this World Cup. Additionally, it is on a spinning track at the Eden Gardens and qualifiers Afghanistan whose strength is their fast bowling and hard hitting would struggle out here.

March 18 - Australia vs New Zealand

WINNER : NEW ZEALAND

The 2015 World Cup finalists will square off at the beautiful Dharamsala ground, and though the two teams are equal in almost every department the Kiwis will probably win given their superiority in the bowling rarnks with the likes of Southee, Boult and Milne.

Venue : Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai   

WINNER : SOUTH AFRICA           

March 19 - India vs Pakistan

Venue : Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Regardless of the arch-rivalry between the two countries, at this moment, the Indians are just too strong for the Pakistan team who are yet to find a stable line-up in their team. India are all set to continue their unbeaten run in the World Cup and make it 11-0 in all editions against Pakistan.

(Also interested World T20 Quiz - Are you smarter than the average Cricket Fan?)

Venue : Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai   

WINNER : SOUTH AFRICA

March 20 - Sri Lanka vs West Indies

M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru    

West Indies catch yet another favourable ground to play on as they play against Sri Lanka on a flat Chinnaswamy pitch, and the explosive power of the Windies will propel them past a lacklustre Sri Lanka.

March 21 - Australia vs Bangladesh

WINNER : AUSTRALIA

Australia on a flat pitch, with a strong solid batting line-up will be too much to handle for the Bangladesh side, and it appearsan easy win for Aussies.              

Venue : Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali

WINNER : NEW ZEALAND

March 23 - England vs Afghanistan

Venue : Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Although Afghanistan may produce a valiant performance at Feroz Shah Kotla, England would prove to be too strong at the moment for the Asian qualifiers. 

March 23 - India vs Bangladesh

WINNER : INDIA

India versus Bangladesh has become a contest to look forward to ever since the “no-ball” controversy at the 2015 World Cup in Australia. Some furious banter between the two sets of fans ahead of the 2016 Asia Cup final has added to the build-up, but India should easily trounce the Bangladesh side who they have successfully defeated twice in the last few weeks.  

Venue : Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali

WINNER : AUSTRALIA

March 25 - South Africa vs West Indies

Venue : Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur  

South Africa’s overall strength will negate the explosive West Indians and then some more. Expect AB de Villiers and co. to earn a hard-fought victory.

March 26 - New Zealand vs Bangladesh

WINNER : BANGLADESH

This might be surprising pick for many, but considering the spinning conditions and the Eden Garden support for the Bangladesh squad, they might just pip the Kiwi outfit in this crucial group stage match. The lack of a top quality spinner will hurt the New Zealanders, and Bangladesh will enjoy the advantage of having one.

Venue : Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

WINNER : ENGLAND

March 27 - West Indies vs Afghanistan

Venue : Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

This match is yet another no-brainer. The West Indians possess all the attributes to beat Afghanistan and they should do so comfortably.

March 27 - India vs Australia

WINNER : AUSTRALIA

Two of the strongest T20 outfits in the world right now, Australia and India might produce a fiery master class in the final march of Group 2. This match could very well decide the fate of the group and may even decide the fate of the eventual winner with respect to the semi-final lineup.

March 28 - South Africa vs Sri Lanka

Venue : Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

South Africa would want to keep the winning momentum going as they finish top of the table in Group 1. The Lankans may very well have given up by this stage of the tournament making it a walk in the park for the Proteas.

Table after Group Stages

*Australia top the group on net run-rate

Semi-finals

For decades, the tag of chokers has been associated with the South African side when it comes to ICC Tournaments. But with arguably their most balanced side in over a decade, we pick South Africa to finally bulldoze through to the final of the World T20 leaving the home side with a bitter pill to swallow. There is not much to choose between the two sides, but it will be the sheer hunger of this South African side to shed that choker tag that could prove too much for the Indian side.

WINNER : SOUTH AFRICA

Although the West Indies might get through ahead of England from their group, the Australian squad is just too strong for the Caribbean men to handle as the Aussies will once again show their grit and ruthlessness in an ICC World Cup semi-final.

WINNER : AUSTRALIA

South Africa vs Australia

Date : April 03,  Sunday

Australia’s brutal aggression and tenacity against South Africa’s heart and hunger to get the monkey off their back will ensure this is one of the most intensely fought finals in World T20 Cricket.

Although both the sides are equally matched, with the final being held in Kolkata, expect Australia to struggle against the likes of Imran Tahir and JP Duminy and their spin during the middle overs. Australia lacks a world class spinner, and that could prove to be their undoing after reaching the very end.

WINNER : SOUTH AFRICA

Man of the Tournament – Imran Tahir