The 2022 T20 World Cup form guide: Sams emergence strengthening Australia's depth

Sams claimed 3/16 in his four-over allotment, bowling 18 dot balls as he decimated the Chennai Super Kings top-order.

The left-armer claimed Devon Conway and Moeen Ali in the space of three balls in the first over of proceedings, as well as Ruturaj Gaikwad to have his opponents reeling at 17/4.

An MS Dhoni recovery mission couldn't save the Super Kings who stumbled to 97 all out, with Mumbai chasing the target inside 15 overs.

With the tournament inside six months away, find out which other players are priming for Australia 2022 with strong performances at the IPL.

Leg-spinnerRashid Khan continues to lead the way for his country and is showing no signs of slowing down at the IPL.

Rashid has 15 wickets from 12 matches for Gujarat Titans, but it is his stunning economy rate (6.79) that stands out in comparison with other bowlers at the tournament.

Afghanistan team-mates Mohammad Nabi (Kolkata Knight Riders) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Gujarat Titans) are yet to feature for their respective franchises, but may receive an opportunity during the backend of the tournament.

Sams played the starring role in yesterday's win for the Mumbai Indians, and finds himself in a rich vein of form at IPL 2022.

After taking one wicket at an economy of 12.64 in his first three outings, the left-armer has found his feet, taking 10 wickets at an economy of just 7.04 in his last six outings.

Sams travelled to UAE for last year's edition, and continues to make his press despite the depth in class in the Australian set-up.

Elsewhere, David Warner is in good touch at the IPL and looks certain to play a major role in Australia T20 World Cup defence later in the year.

Warner has 427 runs from 10 innings for Delhi Capitals at the IPL, with his recent impressive 52 not out from 41 balls against Rajasthan Royals.

Mitch Marsh fired with bat and ball for Delhi in that same game, with the star all-rounder smashing a quickfire 89 and claiming two key wickets with the ball.

Australian team-mates Glen Maxwell (193 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore) and Marcus Stoinis(120 for Lucknow Super Giants) have shown glimpses of their talent, while with the ball veteran seamer Josh Hazlewood is performing superbly.

The right-armer has 13 wickets for Royal Challengers Bangalore and his miserly economy rate of 6.81 is easily inside the top 10 for all bowlers at the tournament.

Australia's Test skipper Pat Cumminswill miss the remainder of the tournament with a hip injury, though is expected to tour Sri Lanka next month.

Right-handerJos Buttlercontinues to dominate at the top of the order for Rajasthan Royals, having now amassed a total of 625 runs from 12 innings to be the leading run scorer at the tournament.

Buttler has three centuries and three half-centuries to his name and his strike rate of 149.88 is among the best for all batters.

Liam Livingstoneis impressing at Punjab Kings with 315 runs from 11 innings, while veteran Jonny Bairstow has 136 runs from eight hits for Punjab Kings.

Experienced all-rounder Moeen Alistarred on Sunday with figures of 3/13 for Chennai Super Kings against Delhi Capitals and the veteran also has 130 runs to his name from seven innings.

Opener KL Rahul(459 runs for Lucknow Super Giants) has the most runs of any India player at the IPL, but veteran Shikhar Dhawan (381) is not far behind and must still harbour aspirations of making the trip to Australia for the T20 World Cup later this year.

A handful of other batters jostling to make the trip have also impressed, with Hardik Pandya (344 runs for Gujarat Titans) and Shreyas Iyer (336 runs for Kolkata Knight Riders) also inside the top 10 for most runs at the tournament.

Veterans Virat Kohli(216 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore) and Rohit Sharma (218 runs for Mumbai Indians) have been performing below their lofty high standards, while Rishabh Pant(294 runs for Delhi Capitals) has looked good at times.

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal remains the leading wicket-taker at the tournament with 23 scalps, with left-armer Kuldeep Yadav (18 wickets for Delhi Capitals at 19.55) and experienced seamer T Natarajan (17 wickets for Sunrisers Hyderabad at 17.82) not far behind.

Jasprit Bumrah'sfive-wicket haul for Mumbai Indians on Monday moved him into double figures at the IPL this year, before another 1/13 effort against CSK solidified his credentials.

Experienced captain Kane Williamsonhas managed 199 runs from 11 innings for Sunrisers Hyderabad, with the veteran right-hander suffering a rare occurrence of being run out for a duck without facing a ball during Sunday's match against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Despite the duck in last night's fixture, perhaps the most impressive Kiwi at the IPL so far has been Devon Conway, with the talented opener having scored three half-centuries and a total of 231 runs from five knocks for Chennai Super Kings.

A trio of New Zealand seamers are doing well in India, with right-armer Lockie Ferguson leading the way at Gujarat Titans with 12 wickets from 11 matches.

Tim Southee(12 wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders) and Trent Boult(10 scalps for Rajasthan Royals) are also in good touch, leaving the Kiwis with plenty of strong bowling options ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year.

Kagiso Rabadacontinues to impress with Punjab Kings, with the tall right-armer tied for third for most wickets at the tournament with a total of 18 scalps for his side.

That should bode well for the Proteas at the T20 World Cup in Australia, with compatriots Dwaine Pretorius(Chennai Super Kings) and Marco Jansen(Sunrisers Hyderabad) with six wickets apiece.

A host of South African batters have been among the runs at the IPL, with stylish left-hander Quinton de Kockleading the way for Lucknow Super Giants with 355 runs.

Aiden Markram isn't far behind with 326 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad, while David Miller (332 runs for Gujarat Titans) has also impressed.

Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been in superb touch at the IPL and looks certain to play a major part in Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup campaign in Australia.

Hasaranga picked up the excellent figures of 5/18 in a Player of the Match performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday and the 24-year-old now has 21 wickets for the tournament with Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Fellow spinner Maheesh Theekshana has 12 wickets from nine games at Chennai Super Kings, while pacer Dushmantha Chameera has nine wickets for Lucknow Super Giants.

Attacking left-hander Bhanuka Rajapaksahas 201 runs from seven innings with Punjab Kings.

Newly-appointed white-ball captain Nicholas Pooranhas been in decent touch for Sunrisers Hyderabad, with the left-hander having scored 261 runs from 10 innings at the IPL.

Compatriot Andre Russell(281 runs for Kolkata Knight Riders) and Rovman Powell(205 runs for Delhi Capitals) have showed some good signs, while Jason Holderhas 13 wickets for Lucknow Super Giants.

Ireland, Namibia, Pakistan, Scotland and UAE have already qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, but don't have any players featuring in the IPL.

The final two teams to qualify will be decided at the B Qualifier in July.