7 batsmen at the World T20 who can play all possible shots

The ICC World T20 is here and cricket lovers all around the world are already getting to witness some amazing cricket. From great bowling spells to great shots and last ball finishes, T20 cricket is an endless bonanza of entertainment and fun.Also read: ICC T20 World Cup 2016: India vs New Zealand Match Predictions, Pitch Report, Match NewsT20 cricket is all about great hitting, improvised shots and unorthodoxy. It is thanks to the shortest version of the game that batsmen now have a wider range of shots in their artillery. With the tournament about to begin, let us look at 7 batsmen atthe ICC World T20 who can play everyshot in the book.Also read: India vs New Zealand, ICC T20 World Cup 2016: LIVE streaming, team news, squad, date, match time, tickets online

#7 Mohammad Shahzad

The minnows will be helpful of a great showing by Shahzad

The man who has been scripting all the stories of romantic folklore for Afghanistan cricket in the recent days is Mohammad Shahzad. While growing up in a refugee camp in Peshawar in his boyhood days, Shahzad, unable to buy a jersey, had once asked a painter to paint the names of Moin Khan and Ricky Ponting on his shirts.

Shahzad, the explosive wicket-keeper batsman, is one of the finest cricketers hailing from Afghanistan. As a batsman, he is anything but orthodox and pretty. He can dismiss the ball with a nonchalant brutality that reminds the world of his icon MS Dhoni.

He can bend over and scoop the ball or jump in the air to hoick and slice it with powerful disdain. There is nothing that Shahzad cannot do. The man who hit an unbeaten double century against Canada in their record-breaking chase of 494 in the 2009-10 ICC Intercontinental Cup is now the highest run-scorer from Afghanistan.

The pot-bellied powerhouse, he is, as Jarrod Kimber calls him, 'the one true master of the agricultural afghan drunken samurai method'. Ranked 12th in T20s, he is Afghanistan's hope in the ICC World T20.

#6 Sabbir Rahman

Bangladesh will expect some fireworks from Rahman

It is no secret that Bangladesh have improved by leaps and bounds in the past one year. One of the architects of such a resurgence is the hard-hitting lower-middle order batsman Sabbir Rahman. He is one of the few confident cricketers who will be leading the Bangladeshi charge to glory in the ICC World T20.

Besides his ability to hit the ball a mile, it is his capability to improvise that makes Sabbir so dangerous. From short-arm jabs to sweeps off fast bowlers, he is not too afraid to attempt anything when he is in full flow.

His most recent exhibition of brilliance came in the Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka. Having been reduced to 26 for 3, it was Sabbir who played a masterful knock of 80 off 54 balls that swung the momentum in the favour of Bangladesh

From deft shots and sweeps to clean sixes off mid on, Sabbir was absolutely merciless on Kulasekara as he tore into the Sri Lankan bowling attack on that day. He played shots all around the ground and it was a treat to behold for any cricket-lover.

#5 Eoin Morgan

Morgan playing the reverse-sweep during a warm-up match

The energetic English captain who is at the helm of a fitter and more exciting outfit does not care much about conventional shots. A connoisseur of unorthodoxy, Morgan can play reverse sweeps, reverse dabs and reverse flicks with great ease. The power he generates on these strokes is nothing short of amazing.

The good-natured English captain is feisty when it comes to hitting the ball. Particularly strong on the leg-side, he loves to flick or play the conventional big shot over long on at times. But it is the reverse shots that has now become his forte.

Morgan grew up playing hurling twice a week at school in Ireland and the unconventional grip of the hurley stick is believed to have helped him develop strong wrists and fast hands. And then there are the late cuts he plays, some so strange that commentators struggle to define them. He is truly one of the most unconventional batsmen of our times.

#4 David Warner

Warner executes a switch-hit for Australia

The explosive Australian vice-captain has improved by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Always considered a maverick who can play the occasional fast knock, Warner has turned over a new leaf and become more consistent in the last few years.

Even after being more responsible, however, Warner has remained extremely explosive both on and off the field. Like Virender Sehwag, he has unexpectedly enjoyed immense success in all three formats of the game and has turned into a great Test batsman though no one expected much of him earlier.

He, in fact, knocked off the fastest Test century at SCG earlier this year. In the shortest version of the game, Warner plays almost all shots in the book. He is one of the few batsmen now to play reverse sweeps and switch-hits successfully on a consistent basis. He combines power and unorthodoxy to make up a deadly package.

#3 Jos Buttler

Buttler can knock it out of the park

In November last year, Jos Buttler came down hard on the Pakistani bowling attack in the 4th ODI at Dubai. Buttler had by then had made a name for himself for his fearless batting and brutal stroke-play. But what followed that day was something the world yet was unprepared for.

It was brutal carnage of the highest order. Having been promoted to number 4 to keep scoring fast, Buttler powered his way to a 46-ball century tearing the Pakistani attack to shreds. It was the fastest century by any Englishman as he ultimately finished with 116 off 52 balls.

Buttler also showed in the innings that he has capable of playing any shot in the book. When on song, he can play bottom-handed drives, scoops and reverse-sweeps to give even AB de Villiers a run for his money. A newly resurgent England side will be heavily relying on him in the ICC World T20.

#2 Glenn Maxwell

Maxwell’s big hitting holds the key for Australia

One of the most unconventional cricketers to have emerged out of T20 cricket, Glenn Maxwell is one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world today. It is Maxwell's portent ability to play shots all around the field that makes him so dangerous and unpredictable.

One of the most fearless and cleanest strikers of the ball, Maxwell can go after the bowling from the word go without getting his eye in. And it is a well known fact that he can play any shot in the book.

The amount of power that he can generate even off unconventional shots like the switch hit or reverse slog is mesmerizing to say the least. One of the most dauntless batsmen in the middle order, Australia will be banking on him in the ICC World T20 this year.

#1 AB de Villiers

AB is known as Mr 360

When it comes to unorthodox batsmanship, the world of cricket unanimously agrees that there is no one like AB de Villiers. Known as the Lionel Messi of cricket, De Villiers can bamboozle the bowlers with any shot in the book. From reverse sweep to scoops, his ability to play all around the field has earned him the sobriquet of Mr. 360 degrees.

He was in fine form last year and played two magnificent knocks that will go down in history as two of the most explosive ODI innings ever. His 162 off 66 balls against the West Indies in the World Cup and 149 off 44 balls against the same opponents earlier last year were examples of batting of the finest order.

He will be the batsman to watch out for in the ICC World T20 this year. Bowlers will not be too happy at the prospect of bowling to him.