Since its inception in 2007, the ICC World Twenty20 championship has become the most popular event for cricket fans, surpassing the 50-overs World Cup, although it is organised every two years.

The sixth edition, to be played in India, is expected to attract more spectators to stadiums and more TV viewership than the 2015 World Cup did.

Here we take a look at the players who have the potential to prove match winners in the tournament.

Shakib Al Hasan

Bangladesh have never registered any major win in any format of the game. But they have proved two great players nevertheless: Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.

The greatness of Shakib can be gauged from the fact that he has been a sought after player in the leagues of Australia, India, West Indies as well. He has played as many as 165 T20 games in competitions around the globe.

His record in all three formats of the game indicates that he could play for any top cricketing nation. With an average of over 24 in batting and 49 victims in 41 matches, he has served Bangladesh very well and will, therefore, carry most of the burden of his nation’s expectations.

James Faulkner

The man of the 2015 World Cup final is a complete package for any Twenty20 team. That is why he has played for as many as three teams in different editions of IPL.

His record proves his abilities: In 117 T20 matches, he has scored at an average of more than 23 and taken 139 wickets.

He has played only 11 games for Australia in the shortest format but he has done well in those few games and is likely to play a major role for Australia as an all-rounder.

Angelo Matthews

This 28-year-old player has a strike rate of less than 50 runs in Tests, but his strike rate in T20 Internationals is over 123, which speaks volumes about his ability to adapt to different formats of the game.

With an average of over 27 in batting and 32 wickets to his name, the Sri Lankans back home will be looking to him to deliver the goods.

Keiron Pollard

Having played 299 games, he is among the most prolific T20 cricketers. The teams that he has represented include Barbados Tridents, Dhaka Gladiators, Mumbai Indians and Stanford Superstars.

He has a strike rate of 142 in T20Is and has taken 22 wickets from 45 games.

Most importantly, he has played a lot in Indian Premier League, so the West Indians will be expecting him to use his experience of playing there to their fullest advantage.

Shahid Afridi

The player of the 2007 World T20, Afridi perhaps came to international cricket nine or ten years prematurely. His brand of cricket is most suitable for the twenty-over matches.

He played the most important role in Pakistan’s triumph in 2009 World T20.

He scored centuries in Tests as well as in ODIs, but the two most important innings of his career were the two half centuries in the semi-final against South Africa and in the final against India.

With 90 wickets from 89 T20Is, he is the highest wicket-taker in the world. If he clicks like he did in 2007 and 2009, Pakistan have all the chances of lifting the trophy at Eden Gardens on April 3.