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The Super 12 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 is over, and in a matter of three games, we'll have the champions. Pakistan and New Zealand have qualified out of Group 2 to reach the semi-finals. They will take on Australia and England, respectively, for a place in the final.
In a group that was less competitive than Group 1, India will be disappointed to miss out on qualification. All they needed was a win in their two matches against Pakistan and New Zealand, as the three other games were against modest opposition.
However, that didn't happen. Pakistan won the group by winning all five games, with New Zealand finishing second with four wins out of five. Nevertheless, there were a few players from all teams who impressed at the T20 World Cup 2021.
On that note, here is a look at the best player from each team in Group 2 of the tournament:
#1 Pakistan - Babar Azam
Pakistan's captain Babar Azam came into the T20 World Cup 2021 with intent, and that was evident from his very first game against India. The opener scored four fifties in five group-stage games to end up as the top scorer of the Super 12 stage.
Very rarely does a batter come along who is as effective in the red-ball format as he is in limited-overs. Thanks to his fabulous performances, Azam reclaimed his No.1 position in the T20Is. He is now in the top.ten in all formats; he's also No.1 in ODIs, while he's No.7 in Tests.
Babar Azam's tally of 264 runs in the T20 World Cup 2021 have come at an average of 66 and a strike rate of 128. With his opening partner Mohamed Rizwan also among the runs, Pakistan never looked in a spot of bother with quick wickets falling at the top.
See who is the highest run scorer in T20 World Cup 2021 here.
#2 New Zealand - Trent Boult
New Zealand's loss against Pakistan in their T20 World Cup 2021 tournament opener made fans wonder if the team will disappoint at the tournament. However, they have come back strongly, largely due to the exploits of their lead seamer Trent Boult.
The left-arm pacer has picked up 11 wickets in the tournament, at an impressive average of 10.45 and a strike rate of 10.73. Six of those scalps came in two must-win games against India and Afghanistan.
While Boult has never been a death-over specialist, he has improved in that regard this tournament. Across 19.4 overs in the T20 World Cup 2021, his economy is just under six runs per over.
#3 India - KL Rahul
The runs flowed for India's stylish opener KL Rahul at the T20 World Cup 2021. But they came too late to keep the team in contention for a place in the semis. Rahul scored three fifties in the tournament, but his failure to get going against Pakistan and New Zealand put paid to India's knockout hopes.
KL Rahul scored 194 runs in the tournament at an average of 48.5 and a strike rate of 152.76. That tally includes a 19 ball 50 against Scotland, giving India renewed hope of reaching the semis. But Afghanistan's failure to beat New Zealand meant India's last game against Namibia, where Rahul scored another fifty, became a dead rubber.
The match against Pakistan was the only one Rahul truly failed in, making only three runs. He got a start against New Zealand, scoring 18. but could not capitalise on that.
#4 Afghanistan - Najibullah Zadran
Afghanistan's vice-captain Najibullah Zadran did his best to give his team and India a chance of making the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2021. However, his brilliant 48-ball-73 against New Zealand was not enough.
Nevertheless, his batting proved that Afghanistan are not a one-man team around Rashid Khan. They have other players, too, who are capable of playing against top opponents and hold their own.
His tally of 172 runs in the tournament came at an average of 34.4 and a strike rate of 135. Rashid Khan also had a great tournament. But teams generally figured out they could not take too many risks against him, so they went after the other bowlers.
#5 Namibia - David Wiese
David Wiese was Namibia's most known player coming into the tournament, and the former South African delivered for his new side. He scored 227 runs at the T20 World Cup 2021, and also took six wickets.
What is even more encouraging for the team is how well Wise played against the top dogs in the group. After his 66 against Netherlands helped the team qualify for the Super 12, he scored 26 apiece against India and Afghanistan.
He scored 16 against New Zealand and an aggressive 43 against Pakistan to give his team a fighting chance. Among his six wickets were the prized scalps of Babar Azam and Martin Guptill, wickets he will remember for a long time.
#6 Scotland - Michael Leask
Despite a few underwhelming performances in the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2021, it was a campaign to be proud of for Scotland.
However, their bowlers didn't get many wickets while their batters blew hot and cold. Their top-scorer Richie Berrington had three ducks in five games, while opener and second-highest scorer George Munsey only had a strike rate of 109.
Against that backdrop, Michael Leask emerged as their best player at the T20 World Cup. His tally of 121 runs in five games included a 20-ball 42 not out against New Zealand and a 27-ball 44 against Namibia. A run-a-ball 14 against Pakistan and a 12-ball 21 against India were his other efforts.
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