T20 World Cup 2024: Bat 1st or Bowl 1st – What should the Teams opt for?

The ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is here, taking place in the Caribbean and the USA. This is the third tournament in four years and it’s the first time the USA is hosting an ICC event. This introduces some new challenges for the teams given that the conditions out there would be completely alien.

FRESH DYNAMICS IN T20s
T20 leagues often test new ideas, but these innovations are showcased on a larger scale during the World Cup. In 2023, there was a significant increase in scoring rates across major T20 leagues like the IPL, PSL, and BBL, reaching an all-time high of 8.61. This trend has continued into 2024. Notably, the IPL, PSL, CPL, and T20 Blast all recorded their highest scoring rates ever in 2023.

The IPL improved even more in 2024, reaching a scoring rate of 9.56, the highest in any T20 tournament. Batters like Travis Head have been destroying the bowling lineups like a child’s play. Especially the ones wearing his favorite blue jersey.

Since the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, matches between the full time member nations have had a scoring rate of 8.59, the highest between World Cups. This sets the stage for the upcoming World Cup.

With T20 cricket soo much evolved over the last couple of months and with challenging playing conditions in the Caribbean, teams need to make smart decisions, starting right at the toss. Should they bat first or bowl first?

Playing Conditions During CPL
In the CPL, over the last three seasons, teams batting first won 48 out of 96 games. In day games, teams batting first won 61% of the time, while in night games, teams chasing won three out of five times. The average first-innings score in Caribbean T20s is 170 in day games and 169 in night games.

Some venues favor batting first in day games, like Bridgetown, Tarouba, and Providence. At night, teams chasing win more often. Gros Islet is different, with teams setting targets doing better in night games, and an even split in day games.

In Dallas, during the 2023 MLC, teams batting first won eight out of 12 games, including all three day games. In Lauderhill, teams batting first won four out of six games.

Since April 2021, in 36 completed T20s at these venues, teams batting first have won 26. In 46 completed night games, teams chasing have a 23-22 win-loss record.

Here’s the record for teams batting first in Day-Night Games on several venues across the West Indies and the USA. 

Here’s the record for teams batting first in Night Games on several venues across the West Indies and the USA. 

Considering the historical data from the past few years, teams need to carefully strategize their decision to bat or bowl first in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. 

WHAT SHOULD TEAMS OPT FOR?
In day games, there is a clear advantage to batting first, particularly at venues like Bridgetown, Tarouba, and Providence, where teams batting first have a win percentage exceeding 66%. Conversely, in night games, chasing teams tend to perform better, with a balanced record in venues like Gros Islet and a notable advantage for chasing teams in Tarouba and Bridgetown. Dallas also shows a strong trend favoring teams batting first, regardless of the time of day. 

Thus, captains should consider batting first in day games to leverage the higher success rates, while opting to chase in night games could be a smarter approach to exploit the conditions and historical patterns. By making these informed decisions, teams can enhance their chances of emerging victorious in this highly competitive tournament.

The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye.