The 2016 ICC World T20 kicks-off in Nagpur on Tuesday with hosts India taking on New Zealand in the opening match.
The star-studded affair will see some of the world’s best players fighting it out for the coveted crown in the shortest format of the game.
But, at the same time, several players who have made a mark in T20 will miss out on the ICC’s marquee event in India either because of retirement, injury or non-selection.
Aruneel Sadadekar/Rediff.com takes a look at some players Indian fans will miss after following their exploits in the Indian Premier League.
Kevin Pietersen
You can love him or hate him, but just can’t ignore KP!
A much sought-after Twenty20 specialist who plays in different leagues around the world, Pietersen was the third highest run-scorer in Australia’s Big Bash this year.
The man who guided England to World T20 title in 2010, Pietersen is out of England’s team since their 2013-14 Ashes debacle. His explosive batting during the past editions of the IPL won many Indian hearts.
Brendon McCullum
Remember his whirlwind 158 off 73 balls for the Kolkata Knight Riders? It set the platform for the IPL in 2008.
In his last international game for New Zealand, he reminded everyone of his hitting abilities by slamming the fastest Test century (off 54 balls) against Australia in Christchurch last month.
Finishing his career as the all-time leading run-scorer in Twenty20 Internationals, McCullum will certainly be missed by the Black Caps over the next fortnight.
Sunil Narine
The world’s top T20 bowler opted out of the tournament because of insufficient progress in rehabilitative work on his bowling action.
The mystery spinner played a crucial role in the West Indies’ 2012 World T20 triumph and his presence on the turning tracks in India would have been the key to the West Indies fortunes.
While he picked only six wickets in the 2012 edition of the World T20, Narine was one of the best bowlers of the tournament, recording an astonishing economy-rate of 4.60 over five matches. His exclusion comes as a huge setback for the Windies.
Mitchell Starc
The best limited-overs’ fast bowler in the world, Starc was the leading wicket-taker during last year’s 50-over World Cup in Australia.
A stand-out performer, he averages below 20 in the shortest format of the game and has the ability to hit the speed mark of 146 km/hr. With senior pacer Mitchell Johnson having retired, the Aussies will miss the services of this young pace spearhead, who is nursing an injury.
Kieron Pollard
A T20 specialist in the typical Caribbean mould. He can bowl medium pace and his big-hitting abilities are well-known.
A household name in India because of his exploits for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, Pollard is also regarded as one of the best fielders in the international circuit.
With Narine and Pollard out, it surely is a major blow for the Windies.
Morne Morkel
For a long time now, Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn hunted in pairs for the Proteas. But the 6 ft 5 inches towering pacer was left out of South Africa's side for the WT20, to be held on the slow Indian pitches.
The 31-year-old’s record is pretty strong: in 39 T20 internationals, Morkel has taken 45 wickets at 22.71 with a pretty steady economy rate of 7.37.
The South Africans have opted for Kagiso Rabada and Kyle Abbott to partner Steyn. Will the move give them their maiden T20 world title or will Morkel's absence hurt?
Albie Morkel
Both the Morkel brothers were left out of the Proteas squad, with coach Russell Domingo describing the reason for their exclusion as 'unlucky'.
A truly world-class all-rounder, Albie made a return to international cricket in the one-off T20 game against India in the last series between the two teams.
However, the big-hitting all-rounder has since been replaced by David Wiese, who is more of a fast-bowling all-rounder.
In fact, this will be the first time in the history of World T20 that no member from the Morkel family will feature in the tournament.
Dwayne Smith
Another West Indies player who has starred in the IPL, but will miss the action during the World T20.
However, unlike Narine and Pollard, Smith was not selected by the West Indies Cricket Board.
Surprisingly, he was the Man of the Match in the final during the recently-concluded Pakistan Super League and regularly features in T20 leagues across the world.
