Toronto Nationals Team squad 2019: Predicted Playing XI of Yuvraj Singh’s GT20 team

Toronto Nationals Team squad 2019: The Sportsrush present before you Toronto Nationals’ Predicted Playing XI for GT20 2019.

The second edition of the Global T20 League Canada 2019 will begin on the day after tomorrow with Toronto Nationals taking on Vancouver Knights in the opening match. Talking specifically about Nationals, they have been bolstered by the inclusion of former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh.

Other than his cricketing abilities, Yuvraj’s presence will also entice the Punjabi spectators in Ontario to the stadium. Given how well the southpaw is received by the his Punjabi fans, expect them to watch him live for the first time post retirement.

Talking of Toronto’s performance last year, they finished at the bottom of the points table with only a couple of wins in six matches under former West Indies skipper Darren Sammy’s captaincy. Having made many changes to their squad this year, expect National to register a better performance.

ALSO READ: Full squads | Global T20 Canada League 2019

Toronto Nationals Full Squad – Yuvraj Singh, Chirag Suri, Ravinderpal Singh, Salman Nazar, Rodrigo Thomas, Kieron Pollard, Calum MacLeod, Chris Green,  Jasdeep Singh, Brendon McCullum, Heinrich Klaasen, Ghulam Shabber, Mitchell McClenaghan, Manpreet Gony, Sandeep Lamichhane, Jeremy Gordon, Mark Montfort.

Toronto Nationals Team squad 2019 – Predicted Playing XI

Top-order

At the top of the order, Nationals will be looking to bank on the experience of former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum. A T20 average and strike rate of 29.97 and 136.49 respectively speak highly of the 37-year old cricketer’s expertise in the format. At a personal level, the veteran cricketer is 78 runs away from becoming the second batsman to score 10,000 T20 runs.

While UAE’s Chirag Suri looks set to open the innings alongside McCullum, expect Scotland’s experienced campaigner in Calum MacLeod to bat at No. 3.

Middle-order

Toronto’s stellar middle-order comprises of the all-rounder duo of Yuvraj Singh and Kieron Pollard. Given both the cricketers’ more than decade-long experience in the format, expect them to put on display a commendable performance.

South Africa wicket-keeper batsman Heinrich Klaasen and Australia’s Chris Green will complete Nationals’ middle-order. Green, who is primarily an off-spinner, has it in it to launch the big hits in the slog overs.

Bowlers

Skilled New Zealand fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan and sensational Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane will lead Toronto’s bowling lineup. With both the cricketers having played a lot of T20 cricket of late, Nationals would be expecting for them to continue in the same manner for them.

Following Yuvraj’s footsteps, fellow India and Punjab fast bowler Manpreet Gony had also recently announced retirement from international cricket. Gony and Canada fast bowler Jeremy Gordon will complete Toronto’s bowling unit. Gony, who has a T20 batting strike rate of 149.55, would also be looking to aid the batsmen in the slog overs.

Toronto Nationals Predicted Playing XI – 1) Brendon McCullum 2) Chirag Suri 3) Calum MacLeod 4) Yuvraj Singh 5) Kieron Pollard 6) Heinrich Klaasen (wk) 7) Chris Green 8) Manpreet Gony 9) Mitchell McClenaghan 10) Jeremy Gordon 11) Sandeep Lamichhane