A few well-known T20 players had a rough outing in the ODI World Cup. A few teams might re-think their decisions on selecting these cricketers. From the perspective of the players, they might consider switching completely to the T20 format. This might help them perform the best for their respective nations. Here, we take a look at the list of five players who could become T20 specialists after a poor 2023 ODI World Cup.
1) Sam Curran
Sam Curran is one of the players who could become a T20 specialist after a poor 2023 ODI World Cup. The English all-rounder had a forgettable outing, losing his spot in the squad after the first few games.
It appears that the player’s focus on his T20 skills has affected him in the other formats. While in Tests, he is not being considered, it was not a good tournament as an ODI player for him in India. Hence, he could look to become a more complete T20 cricketer.
2) Marcus Stoinis
Stoinis still has a chance to improve his form in the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, after the tournament, he is likely to take a strong decision regarding his ODI career.
It has been a while since he has done well in this format. However, in T20s, he is still relevant and in great form. This is why he could switch his complete attention to this form of the game.
3) Liam Livingstone
Liam Livingstone is also one of the players who could become a T20 specialist after a poor 2023 ODI World Cup. Considering his power and his ability to bowl spin, many had a lot of expectations from him. However, it was a disappointing show by the English all-rounder.
While a career in Tests is still possible, Liam’s best bet would be in the T20 format. With fewer balls to play and him most likely to face pace, the situation would suit his strengths. On pitches that suit his bowling, he can also contribute. Therefore, he could turn into a T20 specialist.
4) Shadab Khan
Shadab Khan was the vice-captain of the Pakistan side. However, his performance was such that he could be dropped from the ODI side altogether.
If you take a look at Shadab’s bowling, it is more suited for a four-over spell. He has limited variations and such a type of bowling may not help in ODIs. In T20Is, as he has already shown, he can be a dangerous bowler when the batter tries to take on him. With the bat, too, a cameo is more likely to come out of Shadab’s bat than a long inning.
5) Matheesha Pathirana
Hence, Pathirana is also a part of this list of players who could become T20 specialists after a poor 2023 ODI World Cup. He played very few games in the World Cup. In the matches that he played, it appeared that the situation was overwhelming for him.
Also, his bowling lacked that impetus which he showed in the IPL. While less experience is surely a reason, Matheesha’s bowling is better suited to the T20 format. Considering the difficulty of his action, it could be a good idea for him to shift his focus completely to the shorter format.
