Ravi Shastri's Super 8 Predictions, Picks & Tips for the ICC T20 World Cup

As we all know, Ravi Shastri, the Indian cricket legend, is a man of immense knowledge and experience. His insights and predictions, backed by his illustrious career, hold significant weight in the cricketing world . A few weeks ago, we had the privilege of speaking to him about the IPL , and his expert thoughts and predictions got us excited. During our conversation, we couldn't resist asking him about the upcoming T20 World Cup , set to take place in the West Indies and, for the first time, the U.S.A.

In 2022, England beat Pakistan in a nervy final, simultaneously making them the holders of both the 50-over and 20-over world cups. Here is Ravi Shastri's exclusive interview with Stake.com , highlighting his ICC World Cup 2024 picks.

T20 World Cup 2024 Format and Schedule

The USA, the co-hosts, will face Canada in the opening match on June 1st. The tournament will last nearly one month, with the final taking place on June 29. The opening game

will take place in a stadium not familiar to the vast majority of cricket fans at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, while the final will be held in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The 20 teams who qualified for this tournament are divided into four groups of five teams. Each team will play against every other team in their group once. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Eight stage, consisting of two groups of four teams. The top two teams from these groups will then move on to the semi-finals.

The Super Eight stage of the tournament began on June 19th, and the final game will commence on June 25th. By then, we will have only four teams. Then, the players will have a day's rest, with both semi-finals being played on the 27th. This will eventually lead to one team being crowned the T20 World Cup champions.

Which Teams Qualified for the T20 World Cup in 2024?

This year's edition will feature 20 teams, the most in a T20 World Cup ever. Alongside hosts West Indies and USA, the top eight teams from the 2022 tournament, England, Pakistan, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Australia, and the Netherlands secured automatic qualification. Afghanistan and Bangladesh also qualified automatically based on their positions in the men's T20I team rankings.

Ireland and Scotland advanced through the European qualifier, while Canada emerged victorious in the Americas qualifier. Nepal and Oman qualified from the Asia region, and Namibia and Uganda from Africa. Papua New Guinea clinched their spot by winning the East Asia-Pacific qualifier.

Ravi Shastri's T20 World Cup Picks & Predictions

Before the tournament began, we asked Shastri who he believed would make the final four. Unsurprisingly, the cricket legend backed India, England, and Australia. These are the three strongest teams on paper. They also have the luxury of playing their full-strength side more often than the other international sides competing in this tournament.

England are the current holders of the ICC T20 World Cup and have several batters capable of winning games on their own. India is a team that ticks every box, while Australia is simply Australia. They win major cricketing tournaments even when it appears they are not the favorites. Live cricket odds on all T20 games are available throughout the tournament.

As we’ve seen so far, India and Australia both performed well, topping their groups and making the Super 8 with no issues. England had a slightly more challenging group stage and needed other results to go their way. Still, they managed to make the Super 8 and could defend their title if performances improve.

Ravi Shastri's World Cup 2024 Dark Horses

Shastri named South Africa as a potential dark horse. They are still chasing their first major international trophy but have some heavy hitters and potential match-winners with the ball. After some impressive wins, they’ve topped Group D with four wins out of four and will present a challenge to the top four.

Before the tournament began, he also backed the co-hosts West Indies to surprise a few people. The West Indies, known for their unpredictable and exciting style of play, are unlikely to win the cricket T20 World Cup, but we can also see Shastri's logic in backing them as dark horses. They have a team full of athletes, and if everything clicks, they can win games of cricket. They have won this tournament on two occasions before, and it's the one discipline of cricket the West Indies are still capable of competing in on a consistent basis.

Sunil Narine was incredible for KKR in the IPL . We asked Shastri if he thought his inclusion would improve the Windies' chances of success.

"Yes, for sure, West Indies have some match winners with a lot of T20 experience, and Sunil Narine is one of them, so expect him to be a crucial part of the West Indies squad".

Once again, Shastri’s predictions were right on the money. West Indies impressed in the group stage with four wins out of four and one of the highest net run rates in the competition at +3.257.

Ravi Shastri's Views on India's World Cup T20 Chances

When the Indian team steps onto the cricket field, they carry their hopes, dreams, and the weight of a nation's expectations. Their performance at the 50-over World Cup was nothing short of remarkable. They won every game until the final, when a resilient Australian side bested them.

The IPL demonstrates that India's talent pool is monstrous. Shastri has previously given his predictions on the IPL 2024 season and IPL 2024 Playoffs , so we thought we would ask him about some decisions he would make if he were still in charge of Team India.

Firstly, we asked him if he was concerned about Shivam Dube's dip in form and fitness level since the T20 WC squad was announced.

"Not really, because conditions and surroundings in franchise tournaments compared to World Cup events are much different, and it becomes all about the player's rhythm. Shivam Dube is in a good rhythm and mind space, so he should be able to perform well."

There will always be some fine Indian batsmen who do not make the starting XI, such is the level of talent available. With this in mind, we thought it would be fun for him to compare Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. If Shastri could pick only one of these to play, who would it be and why?

"It will depend greatly on the Indian team's mindset, the conditions, and decision to stick with the left and right-hand combinations in their middle order. Both players are match winners, so that will be the captain's call in the end".

Virat Kohli is back to his very best after an incredible season with RCB, and Indian cricket fans are pondering where the great should bat in this Indian side. We asked Shastri if the Indian management might consider opening the batting with the legend.

"I think India needs a player of his quality and experience to come in at 3, considering Yashasvi and Rohit Sharma will be opening the batting. So, I don't see India changing their combinations too much".

Shastri’s Super 8 Predictions

With the first Super 8 matches getting underway soon, we caught up with Ravi Shastri once more to ask his opinion on the upcoming games and who he thought would qualify for the semi-finals.

While he backed England before the tournament began, their lackluster performances in the group stage meant he doesn’t expect them to reach the semi-finals this year. The four competitive teams he predicts will make the semi-finals are India, Australia, West Indies and South Africa.

Shastri expects the likes of Travis Head and Marcus Stoinis to be instrumental for Australia as they push for the trophy. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah is his player to watch for India. For the West Indies, he names Nicholas Pooran as the difference maker, while South Africa can rely on the high skill level of Heinrich Klassen.

Shastri gave us a further assessment of India’s T20 chances. According to the cricket legend, “West Indies wickets will suit the combinations of this Indian team a lot, and their all-rounders like Jadeja Dube Pandya will come into play a lot more on these wickets. So expect India to go all the way if conditions remain as what they are currently”.

While he expects India to go all the way, he’s not overlooking the potential of teams such as West Indies and Afghanistan to deliver some major upsets during the Super 8. They’ve beaten the odds so far, and either could potentially still shock the bigger teams.

Afghanistan has the likes of Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat and Noor Ahmad performing well. Meanwhile, West Indies have the benefit of being co-hosts, with several games held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda. The semi-finals and final will take place in the West Indies too.

How to Watch T20 World Cup Online on Stake

We know the process: First, you will scan the T20 World Cup 2024 odds right here on Stake sportsbook . Are you one of those people who like to bet on a long shot? If so, check out the odds for Sri Lanka winning.

After that, you will want to watch all the action unfold live and free on our platform . Shastri told us in our interview that he is interested in watching more than just the big teams. The USA will be playing, and he is fascinated to see their capabilities. The great man will have the pleasure of being at the tournament, but we can bring you the next best thing with our streaming service.

Watching the T20 World Cup and the drama unfold couldn't be easier. Simply click on the live stream icon next to the selected event to watch all the cricket you desire. Visit our live streaming guide to learn more about how to watch your favorite games. Whether you're a cricket enthusiast or a casual sports fan, you can watch all major upcoming cricket games on Stake.com.