The key to victory for any team is to have all of its players make a significant contribution to the cause. Some players are stars, the flashy ones that have the limelight all over them. The likes of Virat Kohli, AB De Villiers, Chris Gayle and so on have tremendous amount of hopes placed on their shoulders whenever they are out on the field.
But there are other players who go about quietly while doing their jobs.
In football, most holding midfielders play this role. While the media go crazy about Lionel Messi or Neymar, few outlets react the same way to Sergio Busquets’ incredibly intelligent ways on the pitch.
Similarly, there are some players like that in cricket. Players who always lurk in the shadows, the unsung heroes, and set their teams up to cling on to victory. Castrol Activ’s Actibonds help cling on to the engine and help the vehicle perform better. In the same way, these individuals inspired their team from led them to wins.
#1 Ashish Nehra
When he was called up for the 2016 T20 World Cup, many ridiculed the decision. The internet was flooded with trolls deriding the decision. However, Ashish Nehra had the last laugh.
While Jasprit Bumrah has been the center of attention for his spectacular death bowling, Ashish Nehra has done a fine job giving the youngster the support he needs. As a senior, he was also seen giving him advice. Indeed, in the game against Bangladesh, Dhoni was seen taking Nehra’s advice regarding field placing and it was Nehra's wise words which inspired Hardik Pandya to bowl India to victory.
He is having a fine tournament thus far, having picked up a wicket each in all three encounters as well as giving away only 69 runs in the three games combined, nothing out-of-this world flashy—but that is not why he is in the team anyway.
#2 Moeen Ali
Joe Root is the talk of the time in the England team. The 25-year-old is in exceptional form and his superior skills in batting have finally provided England with a genuinely consistent and top-class batsmen in limited overs cricket since Andre Strauss.
However, he can’t do it all alone—and Moeen Ali is playing the Robin to Root’s Batman.
One look at Ali and one would instantly say that his style is too classic for the T20 format of the game. Granted, he has had his struggles initially, but is making thorough mark in the team’s fortunes. In the previous game against Afghanistan, he scored an unbeaten 41 runs to take England to a respectable total—at a time when everyone else failed.
He is also more than handy with the ball as he has picked up 5 wickets in the 3 games that he has played in the tournament.
#3 Suleimann Benn
Now this choice might surprise many. After all, he is someone who has taken only one wicket in the three games of this World T20. But that’s the point—his primary job is not really to take wickets.
In a West Indies team that is filled with superstars, there was always a necessity of a player who provided the yin to the yang of the rest. And Suliemann Benn is just that.
Pitches in this tournament have been helpful to the spinners and anyone with a sensible head has been very difficult for the batsmen to hit. In the 11 out of the possible 12 overs that he has bowled, he has given away only 56 runs, giving others the platform necessary with his tight bowling.
#4 Adam Zampa
Before the tournament began, not many heard of him and even if they did, they weren’t expecting much after having a look at his stats. Right now, however, if Australia are to win this tournament, he has to be at his best.
The spin-friendly tracks of India have provided him with the necessary environment to succeed. And he has taken them with both hands.
He bowled 11 overs in the tournament and has picked up 5 wickets in the 4 matches he played. There might the Watsons or the Warners or Smiths that are talked of more in the papers, but it is Zampa that could the ultimate difference-maker.
#5 Ish Sodhi
Indian cricket fans must be wondering why he isn’t representing them instead of New Zealand. Born in Ludhiana, he immigrated to New Zealand and is now one of their most important players—someone whose tricky leg-breaks are at times inscrutable.
India have not had a great leg-spinner since Anil Kumble and, from the looks it, Sodhi could have been the potential successor to his throne (even though, he has a very long way to go). Anyways, let bygones be bygones. Right now, however, this man could push New Zealand to glory.
A relatively new face, he has stunned the opposition batting line-up—most notably his motherland, India—with his spin wizardry. He has picked up 8 wickets in the four games. Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill might be taking most of the plaudits, but the man from Ludhiana is doing what is necessary.
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