T20 World Cup 2022

India have been taking Karthik as wicketkeeper-cum-specialist finisher in the tournament. But on Sunday, Pant was selected instead of Karthik for their final Super 12 match against Group 2 opponents Zimbabwe in Melbourne. In his first match of the tournament, Pant played a flat slog-sweep off Sean Williams in the 14th over.

After suffering losses to India and Zimbabwe in their first two matches, Pakistan came back to get wins against Netherlands and South Africa. When the Dutch pulled off a shock 13-run win over the Proteas at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, Pakistan were given an unexpected lifeline to enter the semifinals, which they did with a five-wicket win over Bangladesh.

On Sunday, Suryakumar enthralled 82,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in a death overs batting masterclass of 25-ball 61 not out. He set the base for a 71-run thrashing of Zimbabwe to set up a semi-final showdown with England at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

But in the ongoing T20 World Cup, where fast bowlers have called the shots from the word go, Rohit hasn't been able to get the big starts for India in the power-play. Though they have now qualified for the semifinals, Rohit's form will be a cause of worry, making 89 runs in just five matches at an average of 17.

Virat Kohli was elected winner following a global vote conducted among media representatives, ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and fans registered at icc-cricket.com.

Gunathilaka, who was ruled out of the T20 World Cup in the first round itself with a hamstring injury, was replaced in the squad. The 31-year-old, who has played eight Tests, 47 ODIs and 46 T20Is, however remained with the side during its campaign.

Against Zimbabwe, when India were in trouble after losing three quick wickets, Suryakumar changed the tempo of the match yet again with absolutely insane striking of the ball. He hit six fours and four sixes in a death overs batting masterclass at a strike-rate of 244 to end up with 61 not out off just 25 balls.

The 35-year old, who retired from ODIs in September, will have no international commitments until next August when Australia have T20s in South Africa. The next T20 World Cup is in West Indies and the USA in mid-2024 when Finch will be 37.

The entry into the semi-finals of cricket's showpiece T20 competition had been fraught with some inconsistent or even below par displays in the league phase. In any competition of this nature such a scenario presents itself, top notch performances coming from some members and average displays arising from some others.

Suryakumar Yadav, with his match-defining knock (61 off just 25 balls) against Zimbabwe, went past 1000 runs in T20 Internationals in 2022. He now has 1026 runs in 28 T20I innings in the year. The 32-year-old is the first Indian to achieve the feat and only the second player ever to do so, following in the footsteps of Mohammad Rizwan in 2021, with the Pakistan opener finishing with 1326 runs last year.