2024 Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup Preview: Odds, Favorites, Predictions & Picks for the Tournament

The first matches of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, one of the most significant events in international cricket, will commence this weekend.

England emerged victorious in the tournament, securing their second title, after triumphing over Pakistan with an impressive five-wicket victory in the final held in Melbourne, Australia, two years ago.

This time, England is expected to be among the strongest contenders for the title. However, they will face a challenging historical trend. No team has managed to win the Men’s T20 World Cup consecutively, and even the current champions have not reached the final of the subsequent tournament.

The upcoming tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States and West Indies. The excitement will kick off on Saturday night as the USA, participating in the tournament for the first time, faces Canada in a thrilling Group A match at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.

It comes as no surprise that the USA is not expected to perform well. However, their group includes tournament favorites India, fellow contenders Pakistan, and Ireland, making it a potential home for the eventual champions.

If you’re new to T20 cricket or cricket in general but still want some tournament predictions, we’ll provide a breakdown below. However, let’s begin by examining the current futures odds for the Men’s T20 World Cup.

Odds to Win the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup

• India +250
• Australia +350
• England +450
• South Africa +600
• West Indies +700
• Pakistan +1000
• New Zealand +1000
• Sri Lanka +4000
• Bangladesh +7500
• Afghanistan +7500
• Ireland +25000
• Netherlands +25000

See the rest of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup odds at BetOnline, a longtime fixture in the sports betting industry. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on the tournament there.

What Is the Format of the Men’s T20 World Cup?

Similar to the FIFA World Cup or Rugby World Cup, the initial stage of the tournament involves group play.

For this edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup, the 20 participating teams are divided into four groups, each containing five teams.

• The nations in Group A are Canada, India, Ireland, Pakistan, and the United States.
• The teams in Group B are Australia, England, Namibia, Oman, and Scotland.
• The teams in Group C are Afghanistan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, and West Indies.
• The teams in Group D are Bangladesh, Nepal, Netherlands, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.

Every team in a group will face all other teams once. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 8s, which is a second group stage consisting of two groups, each comprising four teams.

• Group 1: A1, B2, C1, D2
• Group 2: A2, B1, C2, D1

During the Super 8s, every team will face the other teams within their group once. The top two teams from each group will then proceed to the semifinals.

• The first semifinal match on June 26 will take place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago. It will feature the winner of Group 1 against the runner-up of Group 2.
• On June 27th, at Providence Stadium in Georgetown, Guyana, there will be a semifinal match between the winner of Group 2 and the runner-up of Group 1.

On June 29, 2024, the final match of the Men’s T20 World Cup will be held at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Who Are the Favorites to Win the Men’s T20 World Cup?

India (+250)

In 2007, India emerged victorious in the first-ever Men’s T20 World Cup, triumphing over Pakistan in the final match held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Afterward, their most notable performance in the event occurred when they reached the final in 2014, but unfortunately, they were defeated by Sri Lanka.

Captain Rohit Sharma (37), Virat Kohli (35), and Ravindra Jadeja (35) may never get another chance at winning a significant international trophy.

The concern is not about talent; it is about whether that talent can perform when it is most crucial. In the previous ODI World Cup, India had a flawless journey to the final but failed to deliver against Australia. However, this time they will not face the added pressure of playing on their home ground.

Australia (+350)

Is it possible for Australia, the winner of the 2021 tournament, to simultaneously hold the titles of Test Championship, ODI World Cup, and T20 World Cup?

England (+450)

The wise decision would be to not support the reigning champions due to their past experiences. However, England will have confidence in their ability to defend their 2022 title.

South Africa (+600)

Is South Africa’s long wait for a men’s ODI or T20 World Cup championship about to end? Despite their best efforts in previous tournaments, including semifinal defeats to Pakistan in 2009 and India in 2014, they have never made it to the final.

What Is the Outlook for the USA?

Absolutely, the USA’s first appearance in the men’s T20 World Cup would undoubtedly bring excitement.

Is it likely to happen? No.

Canada is expected to be no match for them, making them the clear favorites to win that match. They also have a good chance of defeating Ireland. However, unless some unexpected and unpredictable events occur, they are unlikely to progress beyond the group stage.

Nevertheless, they enter the tournament with a remarkable boost as they secured victory in two out of three matches against Bangladesh. This triumph marked the USA’s inaugural series win against one of the ICC’s Full Members, highlighting its immense significance both in the present and potentially for the future.

This presents a significant opportunity for the finest talents in the USA to demonstrate their skills on the grandest platforms.

Predictions & Picks for the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup

Prediction: Afghanistan will reach the Super 8s

While not the most audacious forecast, Afghanistan is likely to surpass either New Zealand or the West Indies to advance to the Super 8s.

Afghanistan can easily overcome Uganda and Papua New Guinea without much difficulty. This would require them to win either against New Zealand in their second Group C match or against the West Indies in their Group C finale, while also maintaining a higher net run rate. These goals are highly attainable.

Prediction: The USA will upset Ireland

On June 14, in Lauderhill, Florida, the USA and Ireland are set to face each other in what is expected to be the last match of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup for both teams.

Considering the schedule of the match, Ireland is expected to have a significant game as they will be playing against India and Canada prior to their final match against the USA and Pakistan in Group A on June 16.

For the USA to achieve this, it will require a remarkable display with both the bat and ball. However, they have proven capable of such feats in the past. In December 2021, the USA secured their first victory against a Test-playing nation by defeating Ireland by a margin of 26 runs at the very venue where their upcoming World Cup match is scheduled to occur.

2024 Men’s T20 World Cup Winner Prediction & Pick: South Africa (+600)

South Africa’s squad possesses a significant amount of talent and experience, and if everything falls into place, this year could potentially be their breakthrough.

Will the Proteas finally step up in crucial matches and moments, putting an end to their perpetually unlucky reputation reminiscent of Charlie Brown?