Sawal yeh hai: kya Gloucestershire apna woh emotional pehla title wapas jeet sakta hai? South Group mein kaafi tough competition hai, toh chalo dekhte hain kaise Gloucestershire aur baaki teams ke chances hain, urban Hindi style mein, full vibe ke saath.
Gloucestershire ka Scene: Title Defend Kar Payenge?
2024 mein Gloucestershire ne sabko shock kiya, bina kisi bade star ke, Jack Taylor ki captaincy aur Mark Alleyne ke mastermind coaching ke saath. Unhone quarter-final, semi-final, aur final mein opponents ko chhote scores (124, 106, 124) pe rok diya aur khud sirf 14 wickets gawaye. Miles Hammond aur Cameron Bancroft ka 112-run stand final mein game-changer tha, aur David Payne-Matt de Lange ki bowling ne kamaal kiya.
2025 ke Liye Strengths:
- Solid Leadership: Mark Alleyne ekdum OG hai, T20 mein dimaag lagaane mein ustaad. 2024 mein uska jadoo chala, aur 2025 mein bhi wahi vibe expect hai.
- Bade Players: Cameron Bancroft wapas aa raha hai, jo 2024 ka hero tha. Overseas mein Ben McDermott (Aussie batter), Michael Neser (all-rounder, pehle 8 matches), aur Ottniel Baartman (SA seamer, last 6 matches + knockouts) squad mein dum bharenge.
- Home Ground ka Jadoo: Seat Unique Stadium aur Cheltenham Cricket Festival mein 7 home matches hain, jahan 2024 mein fans ne mood banaya tha. Alleyne ne bhi kaha, crowd ka support tight games mein kaam aata hai.
- Naye Launde: Ollie aur Tom Price jaise youngsters 2024 ke experience ke saath ab bada dhamaka kar sakte hain.
Challenges:
- Target on Their Back: Champion hone ka pressure hai, har team inko haraane ke liye full josh mein hogi. Alleyne ne kaha, ab game ka vibe alag hai.
- Batting ka Rona: 2023 mein inki batting thodi weak thi, koi bhi top-50 run-scorers mein nahi tha. Bancroft aur McDermott ke saath bhi, Chris Dent aur James Bracey ko consistent runs chahiye, warna dikkat hogi.
- Shuruaat Mein Consistency: 2024 mein shuruaat mein thodi struggle thi, mid-season tak 6th pe the. 2025 mein Kent Spitfires ke khilaaf opener (30 May) se hi full form mein hona zaroori hai.
Faisla: Gloucestershire ke paas jeetne ka dum hai—balanced squad, solid coaching, aur home crowd ka support. Par title defend karna asaan nahi, batting ko thokna padega aur har match mein focus rakhna hoga. South Group ka scene itna tight hai ki ek chhoti si slip bhi game badal sakti hai.
South Group ka Full T20 Mahaul
South Group mein 9 teams hain: Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Hampshire Hawks, Kent Spitfires, Middlesex, Somerset, Sussex Sharks, aur Surrey. Har team 14 group-stage matches khelegi, top 4 quarter-finals mein jayenge. Chalo, har team ka scene dekhte hain, full urban style mein.
1. Essex Eagles
- 2024 Ka Scene: Final mein Somerset se haar gaye, South Group mein 4th aaye.
- Bade Ballers: Michael Pepper (32 sixes in 2024, ekdum beast), Daniel Sams (2023 ka MVP, all-rounder), Simon Harmer (captain, spin ka boss), Mohammad Amir (pace ka ustaad).
- Strengths: Batting mein Pepper aur Sams ka dhamaka, bowling mein Amir aur Harmer ka control. Naye coach Chris Silverwood ke saath fresh vibe hai.
- Challenges: T20 mein kabhi full form, kabhi flop. Consistency chahiye.
- Dark Horse: Matt Critchley, leg-spin aur batting ka combo, 2024 ke 14 wickets ke baad bada naam kama sakta hai.
- Scene: Essex ka squad solid hai, par group stage mein steady khelna padega warna phir se final mein slip ho sakta hai.
2. Glamorgan
- 2024 Ka Scene: Knockouts mein nahi pahunche, par Metro Bank One-Day Cup jeeta.
- Bade Ballers: Colin Ingram, Sam Northeast (batting ke boss), Beau Webster (6ft 7ins Aussie seamer), Cameron Bancroft (Gloucs ke saath share), Mason Crane (Hampshire se loan pe).
- Strengths: Ingram-Northeast ki batting line-up ekdum thok-thok, Webster aur Crane ki bowling tight. Coach Richard Dawson ka one-day ka experience kaam aayega.
- Challenges: Blast mein kabhi jeete nahi, sirf 2 baar Finals Day pe gaye, semi-final nahi jeeta. T20 mein form laana hoga.
- Dark Horse: Ben Kellaway, 21 saal ka ambidextrous all-rounder, 2023 ke baad bada dhamaka kar sakta hai.
- Scene: Glamorgan dark horse hai, 3 solid matches jeete toh quarter-final, ya shayad pehla title bhi laa sakte hain.
3. Hampshire Hawks
- 2024 Ka Scene: Semi-finals tak gaye, South Group mein 2nd.
- Bade Ballers: James Vince (captain, 2023 mein 670 runs), Ben McDermott, Michael Neser, John Turner (pace ka junoon), Joe Weatherley.
- Strengths: 3 baar ke champ (2010, 2012, 2022), batting mein Vince, Dawson, Howell, Fuller, Neser ka depth. Pace attack (Turner, Wheal) ekdum deadly.
- Challenges: Nathan Ellis (23 wickets in 2023) nahi hai, aur Turner ke injury ka risk. Bowling thodi weak ho sakti hai.
- Dark Horse: Joe Weatherley aur Toby Albert, middle-order ke naye launde, bada score kar sakte hain.
- Scene: Hampshire ka squad ekdum heavy, title ke liye top favorite, bas Ellis ki kami na khale.
4. Kent Spitfires
- 2024 Ka Scene: South Group mein 5th, knockouts miss kiye.
- Bade Ballers: Sam Billings (captain), Daniel Bell-Drummond (2023 mein 600 runs), Wes Agar, Xavier Bartlett, Beyers Swanepoel (overseas seamers), Grant Stewart (24 wickets in 2023).
- Strengths: Bell-Drummond aur Billings ki batting, seamers ka pace, Stewart ka wicket-taking form.
- Challenges: 2024 mein shuruaat kharab thi, 2025 mein pehle din se form chahiye. Consistency ka issue hai.
- Dark Horse: Koi standout nahi, par young talent ubhar sakta hai.
- Scene: Kent ke paas talent hai, par Gloucestershire ke khilaaf opener (30 May) se hi full josh dikhana hoga.
5. Middlesex
- 2024 Ka Scene: Clear nahi, par historically T20 mein weak.
- Bade Ballers: Qais Ahmad (2022 mein spinner), Stephen Eskinazi.
- Strengths: Lord’s aur Merchant Taylors’ School mein home matches, women’s team ke saath double-headers se crowd ka support.
- Challenges: Bade stars nahi, Finals Day pe kabhi strong nahi rahe. Domestic players ko hero banna padega.
- Dark Horse: Koi specific nahi, par Qais jaise spinners tight games mein kamaal kar sakte hain.
- Scene: Middlesex underdog hai, bada upset chahiye top teams ke saath compete karne ke liye.
6. Somerset
- 2024 Ka Scene: Defending champs the, par final mein Gloucestershire se haar gaye.
- Bade Ballers: Tom Banton, Lewis Gregory (2024 final mein 53), Ben Green, Riley Meredith (overseas seamer).
- Strengths: 2023 ka title, knockouts ka experience, balanced squad. West Country rivalry Gloucestershire ke saath fire laayegi.
- Challenges: Nathan Ellis nahi, Meredith uski jagah. 2024 ke final ka loss bhulna hoga.
- Dark Horse: Banton, agar England ke liye select hua, toh bada game-changer ho sakta hai.
- Scene: Somerset ka squad solid hai, title wapas jeetne ka full chance, bas new bowlers ko set hona hoga.
7. Sussex Sharks
- 2024 Ka Scene: Semi-finals mein Gloucestershire se haare.
- Bade Ballers: Ravi Bopara, Tymal Mills (2023 ke heroes).
- Strengths: 10 Finals Day appearances, Mills ka pace attack ekdum deadly. Batting mein bhi dum hai.
- Challenges: Semi-final ka jinx todna hoga, group stage mein consistent khelna zaroori.
- Dark Horse: Koi specific nahi, par naye coach ke saath youngsters ubhar sakte hain.
- Scene: Sussex dangerous hai, Gloucestershire ke khilaaf double-header (1 June) mein bada chance hai.
8. Surrey
- 2024 Ka Scene: Semi-finals mein Somerset se haare.
- Bade Ballers: Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Jason Roy, Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Reece Topley, Chris Jordan.
- Strengths: Squad ekdum star-studded, 2003 ke champs. Roy-Jacks ki batting aur Topley-Jordan ka bowling kisi ko bhi dho sakta hai.
- Challenges: Itne stars ko manage karna, international call-ups ka risk. Consistency chahiye.
- Dark Horse: Jamie Overton jaise youngsters bada impact daal sakte hain.
- Scene: Surrey top favorite hai, Gloucestershire ke khilaaf 1 June ka match ekdum bada hoga.
South Group ka Full Hungama
South Group ekdum loaded hai, sab teams ke paas bade players aur talent hai. Hampshire ka experience aur squad depth unko favorite banata hai, Somerset aur Surrey apne stars ke saath close behind hain. Gloucestershire, as champs, pressure mein hain, par batting thik kare toh repeat kar sakte hain. Essex aur Glamorgan dark horses hain, Essex ka firepower aur Glamorgan ka underdog vibe dangerous hai. Kent aur Sussex ko bada effort chahiye, aur Middlesex ko toh miracle chahiye top 4 mein aane ke liye.
Predicted Top Four:
- Hampshire Hawks
- Somerset
- Gloucestershire
- Essex ya Glamorgan (tight race)
Final Vibe
Gloucestershire ke liye 2024 ka magic wapas laana bada challenge hai. Alleyne ka brain, Bancroft ka bat, aur home crowd ka josh unko strong contender banata hai. Par South Group mein Hampshire, Somerset, aur Surrey ke saath ladna asaan nahi. 2025 Vitality Blast ekdum lit hone wala hai, double-headers aur women’s competition ke saath. Gloucestershire ko agar 13 September ko Edgbaston mein phir trophy uthani hai, toh batting ko thokna hoga aur har match mein full focus rakhna hoga. Chalo, dekhte hain kaun is baar T20 ka baap banta hai.
