ICC T20 World Cup groups 2021: LIVE Updates of T20 WC draw, commentary and news

Well, that brings us to the end of the coverage. I, Mohamed Farzan, will take your leave on behalf of my colleague Shashwat Kumar. Thanks for tuning into Sportskeeda. Goodbye & take care!

India and Pakistan have produced a number of nail-biting encounters at ICC events. The two countries have shared a fierce rivalry over the years and several world-class players from both sides have graced the occasion with their sublime performances. On that note, here we take a look at three memorable India vs Pakistan encounters in the previous editions of the ICC T20 World Cup.

ICC T20 World Cup: Memorable India vs Pakistan encounters

The new 'mauka': India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash the latest festival on the calendar

Predicting who will finish atop the table and second in Group A & B of Round 1 of the ICC T20 World Cup.

T20 World Cup 2021: Predicting the table-toppers of Round 1

With the groups for the T20 World Cup, 2021 announced, here we have a look at 3 talking points from ICC’s announcement of 2021 T20 World Cup groups.

3 talking points from ICC’s announcement of 2021 T20 World Cup groups

England skipper Eoin Morgan feels Team India are the favorites to win the 2021 T20 World Cup to be held in the UAE in October-November. Meanwhile, Indian captain Virat Kohli feels England are the team to beat in the upcoming ICC event.

"India are favorites going into the T20 World Cup" - Eoin Morgan

When will the T20 World Cup 2020 start?

T20 World Cup start time

Fans will once again witness an India-Pakistan clash in October as a part of the ICC T20 World Cup. Several fans expressed their happiness after seeing India and Pakistan drawn in the same group. Meanwhile, one of our writers has written an article stating 3 reasons why India-Pakistan being clubbed in one group was a must. Give it a read!

ICC T20 World Cup 2021: 3 reasons why it makes sense to have India and Pakistan in the same group

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been the perfect platform for young Indian stars to showcase their T20 prowess. Taking players recent form into consideration, here we take a look at 5 players who could make their debut for India in the T20 World Cup.

5 Indians who could make their T20I debut in the T20 World Cup

Here’s complete group stage draw for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 💥🏏

Predict the 4️⃣ semi-finalists 👇#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ayjPIbY6jD
— Sportskeeda India (@Sportskeeda) July 16, 2021

24 October. India Pak in a World Cup is always fun. But the other group is tougher for sure.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) July 16, 2021

Fans on Twitter can't keep calm as India and Pakistan are pitted in the same group for T20 World Cup. Have a look at the best reacts below:

"Pressure loading...!" - Fans can't keep calm as India & Pakistan are drawn in same group for T20 World Cup

🤩 Some mouth-watering match-ups in the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men's #T20WorldCup 2021 🔥

Which clash are you most looking forward to?

👉 https://t.co/Z87ksC0dPk pic.twitter.com/7aLdpZYMtJ
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) July 16, 2021

Shashwat: The West Indies have paid the price for their lowly ICC T20I ranking, which as things stand, places them in 8th spot. Incidentally, that was the last spot where teams could qualify automatically. Yet, at a T20 World Cup, the Calypso Kings can hardly be considered a pushover. And, of course, they are the defending champions! Perhaps it's fair to say that Australia, England and South Africa would've ideally wanted to avoid the West Indies in the group phase!

International Cricket Council (ICC) has formally announced the groups for the T20 World Cup. India & Pakistan are pitted in the same group, while we have several exciting matches to watch out for. To know more about the groups, give a quick read to the below-attached article.

India, Pakistan in Group 2; ICC announces draw for the 2021 ICC World T20

Farzan: We're in for nail-biting encounters as all fours teams from Group 1 stand equal chances to make it to the knockouts stage.

Prasen: If there was ever any such thing as a group of death, it's tough to look beyond Group 1. England, Australia, West Indies and South Africa! Going by current form, could be a cracking set of encounters!

Looks like we're in for 2-3 months of 'Mauka-Mauka' ads too!

Shashwat: By the way, the last time Pakistan faced India in an ICC event, the Men In Blue trampled over them. Prior to that, well, I don't think any Indian would want to revisit that particular afternoon at The Oval!

Qualification groups in full!

Group A
Sri Lanka
Ireland
Netherlands
Namibia

Group B
Bangladesh
Scotland
Papua New Guinea
Oman

SUPER 12 GROUPS IN FULL!

Group 1
England
Australia
South Africa
West Indies
Group A topper (post qualification phase)
Group B runner-up (post qualification phase)

Group 2
India
New Zealand
Pakistan
Afghanistan
Group B topper (post qualification phase)
Group A runner-up (post qualification phase)

The other group though, is perhaps the Group of Death, for it contains the likes of Australia, England, South Africa and the defending champions West Indies. At least three of these teams are capable of going all the way and it would be thoroughly fascinating to see how these teams match up right at the start of the tournament. And, if that wasn't enough, they might have Sri Lanka join in on the fun. That, though, is contingent to the Islanders getting through their qualifying group unscathed!

WELL WELL! INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE IN THE SAME GROUP, AFTER ALL!

The two teams will be joined by Afghanistan and New Zealand, with Bangladesh and Ireland (or Sri Lanka, with the way they are going currently) potentially emerging from their respective qualifying groups! This could get quite tasty!

The Men's #T20WorldCup 2021 groups are out 📋

The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super 12.

Who are your picks? 👀

👉 https://t.co/T9510AGiDS pic.twitter.com/GoJ2QcctXE
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) July 16, 2021

Only a few minutes left now before the draw for the group stages are unveiled! And, for those unaware, anything can happen! We can have India and Pakistan clubbed together and we can also have Australia and England in the same group! Or, better still, a repeat of the WTC final at the T20 World Cup!

Farzan: Thanks Shashwat, for your wonderful insights!

Shashwat: I really hope Suryakumar Yadav finds a place in that eleven. He brings something different to the fore and is brilliant with his innovative stroke-play. I would also personally want Shreyas Iyer to feature, considering he can bat aggressively and in a conservative manner. Hardik Pandya would've been a shoo-in a year ago but if he isn't bowling regularly, he might have to stake his claim solely with the willow

Farzan: Yes, that makes sense! Moving on to India's playing XI, who do you think will form Team India's middle-order alongside Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant?

Shashwat: I certainly would want them to be pitted in the same group, not just because of the hype and the excitement that particular game would generate but also because no ICC tournament seems complete without an India-Pakistan clash. And, with the way Pakistan are going currently, it might be too much to expect them to make the knockouts!

Farzan: Hi Shashwat! There have been some discussions about whether fans would like to see India and Pakistan compete in the same group. I want them to be in the same group as that's when we can witness an India vs Pakistan match. Do you also feel the same or have different thoughts?

Chris Gayle aka the Universe Boss, will most certainly make his way to the UAE and barring an injury or a sudden dip in form, should be expected to lead the West Indies' charge. More recently though, he hasn't quite been among the runs, with his role as an anchor being cast under the scanner. Should he revert to his belligerent roots? Dip yourselves into this article to find out!

Chris Gayle needs to come out swinging in his last hurrah

There have been several talks on India's best XI for the T20 World Cup. The Indian side were on the lookout for a middle-order batter who can play alongside Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant. They tried several players in the position, namely Vijay Shankar, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey. Will India play two spinners or just one? Too many questions to be answered ahead of the T20 World Cup. Let us take you through Team India's Best XI for T20 WC 2021.

Team India’s best XI for 2021 T20 World Cup

Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has finally found a place in the Indian team after twice missing out due to injury and fitness concerns. He will want to make it to the playing XI when India meet Sri Lanka during the first ODI. Varun had an exceptional IPL season with the Knight Riders and might break into India's squad for the T20 World Cup. Here you can have a look at 3 reasons why Varun Chakravarthy should be in India's T20 World Cup squad:

Why Varun Chakravarthy should be in T20 World Cup team

Shreyas Iyer might play a key role for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup. He will get back on the field in September during the second half of the IPL. Here, one of our writers sheds light on three reasons why Shreyas Iyer is vital for India’s T20 World Cup plans:

Why Shreyas Iyer is vital for India’s T20 World Cup plans

Plenty of excitement, with respect to the group stage draw. Will India and Australia be paired in the same group, like they were in 2016? And will South Africa and West Indies be up against each other, just months after five thoroughly compelling T20Is in the Caribbean? We'll find out in a while!

Right. We are only a few months away and the excitement for the T20 World Cup has reached fever pitch. Not only have cricketing enthusiasts already marked out their calendars, most international outfits have also prioritized the shortest format of the sport, with several of them playing bilateral series. In fact, this particular edition has already seen its fair share of drama, for it was originally scheduled to be held in India, before the COVID-19 pandemic put paid to those hopes.

Nevertheless, on the cricketing front, there are plenty of intriguing story-lines too. India, under the stewardship of Virat Kohli, would be looking to end their ICC tournament hoodoo (since 2013) and despite playing in UAE, would be firm favourites to win the entire thing. Not just because they have class and talent oozing through their ranks, but also because an Indian triumph seems due, especially after all the recent heartbreaks.

England, on the other hand, would be aiming to become the first team to achieve a World Cup double – becoming the first side ever to hold both the 50-over and the 20-over world titles. To that end, they have numerous match-winners in their ranks too, with the likes of Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler providing unmatchable oomph. Australia, meanwhile, would be wanting to break their T20 World Cup duck, for this, apart from the World Test Championship (obviously), remains the only bit of silverware missing from their cabinet. For the Black Caps, this competition represents another opportunity to punch above their weight and truly showcase their quality as an all-format cricketing nation.

And, then there are the boys from the Caribbean, who lest we forget, are the defending T20 world champions, having won that accolade in 2016 when Carlos Brathwaite razed Stokes and England into the Eden Garden turf. If that wasn’t enough, they’ve somehow managed to assemble their galaxy of stars together. Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and possibly Sunil Narine are expected to feature and they will most certainly be a tough nut to crack, even if the ICC rankings suggest otherwise. Elsewhere, Afghanistan and Pakistan would be longing to make a mark on a multi-nation tournament, having withered away decent opportunities lately. South Africa, too, despite not entering the competition as favourites, might have plenty of historical heartbreaks to erase.

In a nutshell, the aforementioned eight teams are slated to participate in the group stages of the T20 World Cup, with the other four teams having to undergo a qualifying phase. However, that too could be quite interesting with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka part of that particular grind. Today, though, we will know how the groups will be stacked up, with the teams that have automatically qualified, being placed. Moreover, they will also know which qualifiers could potentially make up their bracket, meaning that a lot of fascinating narratives could set themselves up today.

And, to be completely honest, the drawing of the groups couldn’t happen early enough, for it is, perhaps the event that sets the ball truly rolling for the T20 World Cup, which remarkably, has not found a place on the cricketing calendar since 2016.

ICC T20 World Cup groups 2021: LIVE Updates of T20 WC draw, commentary and news

The draw will start at 3.30 PM IST.