5 reasons why West Indies can win the 2016 World T20 despite their woeful current form

The year has ended on a bad note for the West Indies whose weaknesses in every department have been exposed by the mighty Australians on their home soil. But in T20s, it is a completely different ball game.Free-flowing and fun loving as they are, the Windies perfectly enjoy themselves in T20 cricket and have no dearth of talent in their ranks to surprise the big teams. In fact, in the latest released ICC T20 rankings, they share the top spot with Australia and Sri Lanka. It would not be a mistake to say that the West Indies are already being touted by some to be one of the favourites for the tournament.Let us look at 5 reasons why the West Indies, despite their poor form, can win the ICC World T20.

#1 Power-hitters

West Indies have no dearth of big hitters in their ranks

Think of T20 cricket and the first thing that comes to the mind is power-hitters. Batsmen with big bats who can score at a canter and clear the boundaries comfortably at will. And no team has so many power-hitters in their ranks like the West Indies.

The West Indies might be struggling in an embarrassing way in Tests but they are one of the best by some margin in T20Is. Gayle, Sammy, Bravo, Pollard and Russell can all hit the ball a country mile. They also boast of some of the best finishers in T20 cricket.

When it comes to T20I cricket, the West Indians are special at it as many of their players have honed their skills in domestic T20 leagues all around the world.

#2 Good all-rounders

Pollard can be a formidable all-rounder in the shortest version of the game

In T20 cricket, there is nothing like having good all-rounders and West Indies have quite a few of them in their ranks. Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Jason Holder are all quality all-rounders when it comes to the shortest version of the game.

As in any other format of cricket, getting the balance right in the team is crucial in T20s. One of the reasons why India have struggled in T20Is of late is because they have lacked a quality all-rounder. All-rounders give the captain the added luxury of playing the extra batsman who can make the difference in the end.

So many all-rounders in their rank also means that West Indies bat deep, which makes them serious title contenders.

#3 Specialist in T20 leagues

West Indies have plenty of T20 specialists like Bravo

Look into the composition of any T20 team in any domestic league around the world and you are sure to find quite a few West Indian players. The Windies players are in great demand when it comes to T20 domestic league competitions.

And as they continuously keep playing in leagues around the world, the West Indian players have developed a specialised skill for T20 cricket.

Former West Indian pacer who is confident of the West Indies' chances in the tournament says, "Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel's recent win in Caribbean Premier League 2015, beating similarly talented Barbados Trident, tells only one story; that a WI team consisting of several players from that final game, plus some from other teams, could bring WI further World T-20 success."

#4 Chris Gayle

Gayle is one of the most dangerous T20 batsmen in the world

Chris Gayle. The name itself is reason enough why West Indies might win the ICC World T20 this year. Gayle might be making headlines for the wrong reason right now, but he has been in tremendous form in the Big Bash of late.

When Gayle is on song, there is no stopping him. There is little that a captain and a bowler can do when Gayle starts hitting everything out of the park. Flamboyant and fearless, the greatest plus point with Gayle is that he can take the match away from the opposition in the initial few overs.

With Gayle looking to play himself in of late, it is more bad news for the bowlers. If he manages to bat at least 10 overs in a match, it might be curtains for the opposition. He is someone who can single-handedly win it for the Windies.

#5 The Indian pitches would suit the Windies

Narine might hold the trump card to West Indies’ fortunes in the ICC World T20

The legendary West Indian batsman Viv Richards has backed the Windies to win the ICC World T20 this year citing their familiarity with Indian conditions as one of the main reasons. Richards said, "I’ll back the West Indies any day [for T20 World Cup 2016]. I think they have a phenomenal team. There is quite a wide range of individuals who are powerful enough to pick from.

“And, because of where it is being held in India, a lot of these guys have been gracing the Indian environment or the IPL [Indian Premier League] with their talent and been successful at it. So I guess the experience is there. "

Sunil Narine who has been a standout performer for the KKR in the IPL might hold the key for the West Indies if he can correct his action to feature in the tournament. West Indies last won the ICC World T20 in 2012 when the tournament was played in Sri Lanka where the conditions were somewhat similar.