Former Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist has backed minnows Nepal and Netherlands to cause major upsets at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Adam Gilchrist, who was a part of the Australian team in the inaugural T20 WC edition in 2007, made this statement in the light of recent upsets at ICC events. The terms “Upsets” doesn’t have anything to do with any player or team getting sad. It is actually a term that was coined a couple of years ago which denotes that a small team has defeated a powerpacked big team.
Upsets in the sporting world have become highly prevalent and in Cricket, too, it has left it’s mark. During the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, we had seen quite a few upsets when Zimbabwe had defeated Pakistan and the Netherlands had defeated South Africa. Last year at the 50-over WC, Afghanistan upstaged the cricketing world with wins against England, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka.
In the upcoming 20-team T20 WC, there is no shortage of small Nations who will be aiming to beat big guns like Australia, India and England among others.
Adam Gilchrist places trust on Nepal and Netherlands to raise eyebrows with shock wins
During a recent appearance at SEN Radio, Australia, Adam Gilchrist was asked to shed light on the teams, he thinks can cause major upsets. Gilchrist didn’t think much before naming Asian side Nepal and T20 World Cup’s 4th European team Netherlands.
The former wicket-keeper batsman believes that Nepal have got what it takes to fire a shot against a big side. Adam Gilchrist feels that players like Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Bhurtel, Rohit Paudel, Kushal Malla and Karan KC, who are a part of the squad, can use their experience in this WC.
“I think Nepal would be a team that might be able to fire a shot. They’ve got a couple of young players who have been in all the big leagues for a number of years now.” – Adam Gilchrist said via SEN Radio.
In what is going to be just their second appearance at the T20 World Cup, the Nepali team will aim to go as far as possible.
Gilchrist names Netherlands as another team that can cause upset
Adam Gilchrist went on to name Netherlands as the second tea, which is capable of beating the big guns. He mentioned their victory against the South Africans in Adelaide during the 2022 T20 WC at the Land Down Under. The Dutch, in fact, have the chance to beat them again as they have been drawn into the same group as the Proteas.
The Netherlands had denied South Africa from qualifying for the next round of the World Cup after beating them by 13 runs in their last group game.
“The Dutch always seem to ruffle a few feathers, they always seem to get under the skin, and they’re drawn in the same pool as South Africa again. They nailed them in the T20 World Cup last time in Australia in Adelaide. So, it might be the Dutch.” – Adam Gilchrist concluded.
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