With hopes of growing cricket in the United States, the newly constructed Nassau County Stadium in Eisenhower Park is hosting a portion of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup starting this week.
The event includes some of the most famous athletes in the world — even if you haven’t heard of them — and the 34,000-seat temporary stadium in Eisenhower Park is expected to be packed to the rafters with millions of fans tuning in across the world.
These talented cricketers and international stars are worth keeping an eye on throughout the remainder of the World Cup.
Ravindra Jadeja, India
India enters the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with head coach Rahul Dravid at the helm, and it is not surprising that all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is Dravid’s marquee player for the tournament.
Jadeja has been coined “The Rockstar” by Australian cricketer Shane Warne and the name holds true on the field.
The all-round powerhouse plays with a tenacious style from his left-handed batting, pinpoint left-arm spinner and fielding.
There is one more item in his arsenal: The iconic sword celebration. Expect to see a bat twirl every time he scores a hundred or gets to fifty.
Jasprit Bumrah, India
Another force helping India’s efforts to become the proverbial king of the hill is the right-arm fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
Blazing through his competitors, Bumrah has emerged as one of the top bowlers in the world.
Bumrah’s feats have grown his popularity and he has amassed over 14.7 million Instagram followers.
He currently ranks No. 2 in the ICC (International Cricket Council) for test bowling rankings with 847 points. Bumrah’s opponents struggle to read and react to his unorthodox, high-arm action.
On average, Bumrah fires the ball at 142 km/h, and he can rapidly dip the ball while keeping pace.
Heinrich Klaasen, South Africa
Looking to rack up another trophy — with its first dating back to 1998 — South Africa will be playing with a chip on its shoulder at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen is one of their assets leading the charge.
He is known for his high-octane batting alongside his remarkable wicketkeeping skills. The 32-year-old is coming off a scorching 2023 season, starting with a century for Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20 — a significant milestone for any batsman.
Klaasen followed this up with two more centuries through the year, becoming the first player to score a century in Major League Cricket.
“What’s changed in my career is that I am playing every ball as it is, and for me to stay in that mindset, I don’t recap what I have done the previous ball or think of what I might do the next ball,” Klaasen said in an interview with Planet Sport.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, India
Young, smart and mature: That describes India’s batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal in a nutshell.
At just 22-years-old, Jaiswal made it clear that he deserved his spot on the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup roster.
He eclipsed 1,000 runs in Test Cricket in just 16 innings, which makes him the second-fastest Indian to do so, trailing Vinod Kambli who did so in 14.
Jaiswal is known his fiery and aggressive style of play and he has 3.6 million Instagram followers interested in his every move.
Babar Azam, Pakistan
Team captain Babar Azam is leading Pakistan at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, bringing his renowned expertise, skill and discipline to the tournament.
Azam stands as Pakistan’s best batsman, while also being one of the most celebrated players nationally and globally.
He is poised to lead his team to victory and proudly represent his country.
“It is now my career objective and target to win the T20 World Cup and present the title to the passionate people of Pakistan, who have always stood behind us like a rock in good and not so very good days,” Azam said, according to multiple reports.
With a dedicated following of 5.2 million, the world-class player’s massive fanbase speaks volumes about his exceptional talent and character.
Phil Salt, England
Meet Phil Salt, the fearless right-handed wicketkeeper who helped England hoist the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophy back in 2022.
Hailing from North Wales — with roots in Barbados — the dynamo brings a unique blend of talent and tenacity to the English squad.
Salt’s aggressive ball-striking for Sussex garnered him global recognition, which helped him earn his debut with England in 2021.
Salt’s story of success continued, as he went down in cricket history after scoring two consecutive centuries in T20Is against the West Indies.
With an Instagram following of 228K, Salt is undoubtedly a fan favorite and a player to keep an eye on.
Josh Hazlewood, Australia
After securing its sixth World Cup title with a six-point victory in the 2023 final, Australia has entered the 2024 T20 World Cup more determined than ever to tack on another championship.
Josh Hazlewood, the tall pace bowler known for his accuracy, adds an abundance of experience to Australia’s roster.
Currently ranking No. 2 in ODI, No. 7 in T20I and No. 2 in Test in the ICC Men’s Player Rankings, the 33-year-old is a force to be reckoned with.
With several championships under his belt, Hazlewood will be a vital member of the squad’s potential success this year.
Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh
Ranked No. 9 in the T20 World Rankings, Bangladesh is on a mission to capture its first-ever ICC championship.
With 2.6 million followers on Instagram, there is no doubt Shakib Al Hasan is one of the biggest names in Bangladesh cricket history.
Admired for his consistency and passion, the all-rounder is a game-changer for the team, currently dominating the leaderboard for most wickets in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history.
