It is the most unpredictable format of the game, where one over can turn the course. Picking a favorite at the start of the season is never easy, as all the existing teams will see several new players coming in. However, looking at past performances and key players can offer us some insights into their strengths. Here's how the teams stand at the start of the season.
# New York Strikers
The Strikers are the reigning champions and would look to add another crown to their jewel this season. They have a star-studded squad and strengthened it further by signing big names. Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Mohammad Amir, Reece Topley, and the young pace sensation Muhammad Jawadulla would be the players to watch out for this season. They have the perfect balance in both departments and will be one of the teams to bet on in 2024.
Squad – Muhammad Jawadulla, Kieron Pollard, Matheesha Pathirana, Sunil Narine, Mohammad Amir, Donovan Ferreira, Evin Lewis, Dewald Brevis, Akeal Hossain, Doug Bracewell, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Waseem, Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Choudhary, Nathan Edward, Dumindu Sewmina, Asif Ali, Reece Topley
# Team Abu Dhabi
The team bearing the city's name hasn't had its moment under the sun. They had a poor tournament last year where they finished at the bottom of the points table, winning just one game. The side will look to make a strong impact this season and have roped in several good players. Shimron Hetmyer, Jonny Bairstow, Philip Salt, Adam Milne, and Lockie Ferguson are experienced players. They will look to make a good start and maintain the momentum throughout the season.
Squad - Kadeem Alleyne, Shimron Hetmyer, Laurie Evans, Ramon Simmonds, Kyle Mayers, Muditha Lakshan, Jonny Bairstow, Philip Salt, Adam Milne, Allah Mohammad, Lockie Ferguson, Noor Ahmad, Rumman Raees, Zeeshan Naseer
# Ajman Bolts
The Ajman Bolts are one of the new entrants in the tournament, and they look to make a strong impact this season. They have signed up some of the best players in the shortest formats and will look to go the distance. James Neesham, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Alex Hales, and Dunith Wellalage will be the players to watch out for in this tournament. They have a strong batting lineup with an army of all-rounders, adding to the team's firepower.
Squad - James Neesham, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gulbadin Naib, Haider Ali, Mohammad Nabi, Obed McCoy, Ravi Bopara, Alex Hales, Terrance Hinds, Shehan Jayasuriya, Arinesto Vezha, Shevon Daniel, Ali Abid, Mohammad Mohsin, Safeer Tariq, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Dunith Wellalage
# Northern Warriors
The Northern Warriors won the tournament twice, once in 2018 and again in 2021. But since then, the team hasn't fared well. They failed to go beyond the league stage last year, finishing 6th on the points table. The team will look for a good performance from its players, and they will have the squad to defeat any of the other sides. Trent Boult, Finn Allen, Johnson Charles, Sherfane Rutherford, and Colin Munro make it a formidable side, and many bettors will have their eyes on the Northern Warriors this season.
Squad - Trent Boult, Finn Allen, Johnson Charles, Sherfane Rutherford, Saqib Mahmood, Colin Munro, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ankur Sangwan, Brandon King, Fareed Ahmad, Ziaur Rahman, Shohidul Islam, Kimani Melius, Shaqkere Parris, Uzair Khan, Sagar Kalyan
# Bangla Tigers
The Tigers are among the strongest teams to have never won the title. They finished 4th last season. In the past, the side has started the tournament with many promises but hasn't delivered the results. On paper, they are one of the strongest sides this season, with big names like Shakib Al Hasan, Rashid Khan, Hazratullah Zazai, Liam Livingstone, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Dasun Shanaka. They have covered all bases with some of this format's best hitters and bowlers. It will be interesting to see if the side can maintain consistency throughout the season.
Squad - Shakib Al Hasan, Rashid Khan, Hazratullah Zazai, Liam Livingstone, Iftikhar Ahmed, Dasun Shanaka, Josh Little, Mohammad Hasnain, Dinesh Karthik, Mohammad Shehzad, David Payne, Mir Hamza, Ravindu Rathnayake, Tashinga Musekiwa, Hafiz Almas Ayub, Luqman Faisal, Nav Pabreja, Imran Khan, Towhid Hridoy
# Morrisville Samp Army
They have finished 3rd on the points table in the last two seasons and hope to improve their performance. They were brilliant on the league stage last year, winning six out of seven games and finishing at the top of the points table. They have a star-studded squad, and most of these players have played together for a while. Faf du Plessis, David Willey, Imad Wasim, Karim Janat, Rohan Mustafa, and Qais Ahmad are big names in world cricket, and they will be looking to repeat their magic from the last season.
Squad – Faf du Plessis, David Willey, Imad Wasim, Karim Janat, Rohan Mustafa, Jack Taylor, Qais Ahmad, Leonardo Julien, Sajid Khan, Kjorn Ottley, Andries Gous, Hazrat Bilal, Taimoor Ali, Umair Ali, Amir Hamza, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Brian Bennett, Will Jacks
# Delhi Bulls
The team has been one of the strongest over the years, but the title eludes them. They have been runner-up in 2021 and 2022 but since then have struggled. The team has a strong middle order and bowling attack and shall look to bank on that. Rovman Powell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and James Vince are players for the big occasion, and they will look to do well.
Squad – Rovman Powell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, James Vince, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Tom Banton, Salman Irshad, Kasun Rajitha, Nikhil Chaudhary, Isai Thorne, Pavan Rathnayake, Saghir Khan, Shahid Iqbal Bhutta, Harshit Seth, Fabian Allen, Matthew Wade
# Deccan Gladiators
Runner-up last year and winners in 2022 and 2023, the Deccan Gladiators are among the strongest teams this season. They have been the most consistent team in the tournament's history, playing in the final four out of the five times they have participated. They are one of the strongest contenders for the title this year, boasting players like Jos Buttler, Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, Anrich Nortje, Maheesh Theekshana, Andre Russell, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore. It remains to be seen if they can live up to the expectations.
Squad – Jos Buttler, Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, Anrich Nortje, Maheesh Theekshana, Andre Russell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Luke Wood, Khary Pierre, Usman Tariq, Malsha Tharupathi, Tinotenda Maposa, Zahoor Khan, Abrar Ahmad, Aryan Lakra, Richard Gleeson, Rilee Rossouw, David Wiese
# UP Nawabs
They are the second team debuting this year. The side expects to stamp its authority in its first appearance, and they have the players to surprise the best opponents this season. They have assembled a strong squad for this year. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Dawid Malan, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Andre Fletcher, Najibullah Zadran, and Odean Smith have shown their talent, and they will look to deliver a strong performance and aim for the title.
Squad – Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Dawid Malan, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Andre Fletcher, Binura Fernando, Najibullah Zadran, Odean Smith, Akhilesh Bodugum, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Curtis Campher, Ashmead Need, Joshua Bishop, Farhan Khan, Hafeez ur Rehman, Khalid Shah, Masood Gurbaz, Khalil Gurbaz
# Chennai Brave Jaguars
The Chennai Braves have been the bottom rankers of the points table. The side has finished 7th on the points table in the last two seasons and has failed to show consistency. They have made several changes to the squad this season and aim to turn their fortunes. Rassie van der Dussen, Dan Lawrence, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Thushara, Chris Lynn, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa will be the players to watch out for.
Squad – Rassie van der Dussen, Dan Lawrence, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Thushara, Chris Lynn, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Josh Brown, Nick Hobson, Akila Dhananjaya, Oshane Thomas, George Munsey, Garuka Sanketh, Kavindu Nadeeshan, Aayan Afzal Khan, Sabir Ali, Ali Khan, Kobe Herft, Matiullah Khan