RCB vs RR Preview Dream11. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals Preview Dream11 Prediction
Two teams who have been in do-or-die mode for a couple of weeks now. One side is about to take its last breath, and the other is doing enough to keep hopes alive of a miraculous playoffs appearance.
Not even the philosophical, faithful Royal Challengers Bangalore fans can realistically believe they can make the playoffs. Despite four wins out of five before their defeat to DC, it has been another underwhelming canpaign for Virat Kohli’s men. It was another season of hope for RCB, but it hasn’t materialised. However, they can now be of nuisance value to their opponents. Will they end RR’s season?
Rajasthan Royals made a late run to the playoffs last season. They are attempting to do it again, and even though SRH’s net run rate boosting win over KXIP yesterday is a blow, Steve Smith’s men are still in with a chance. Their first win this season was over RCB, and they will be out to ensure their win over SRH last game isn’t their last.
Key to an RCB win
RCB’s death bowling made for grim viewing once again. Their poor last four overs vs DC was ultimately the difference between winning and losing. Here, they need a polished performance at all stages of the innings, with RR’s top order in good form – Ajinkya Rahane, Liam Livingstone, Sanju Samson and Steve Smith are all playing well. So, Umesh Yadav will be key in the powerplay, Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal up until the middle overs, and Navdeep Saini and even Marcus Stoinis at the death.
Also, can Virat Kohli play a big innings? He has had three low scores in a row – something so rare for the India and RCB captain. He and in-form Parthiv Patel can provide a quick start that pushes RR back, and remind them of their pace bowling worries from earlier in the season. If RCB do the right thing and bat Marcus Stoinis at four, RCB have a top four – including AB de Villiers – that can set up a huge total.
RCB vs RR Preview Dream11 – It wasn’t a good death period for RCB vs DC.
Key to a RR win
RR bowled nicely as a unit in their last-start win over SRH. The much-maligned Jaydev Unadkat picked up man-of-the-match, but the challenge for he and RR is to back up their effort well. Conditions at the Chinnaswamy are different to Jaipur, which puts onus on Varun Aaron and Oshane Thomas in particular to be as accurate as possible with their pace. Shreyas Gopal has a superb record vs RCB, so he can keep things tight in the middle overs, especially if RR make a strong start. Can RR get the better of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers?
Also, there was much to like about RR’s top four against SRH. Ajinkya Rahane and Liam Livingstone began with a strong opening partnership, and if they can replicate what DC did a couple of days ago vs RCB, it sets things up nicely for Sanju Samson, Steve Smith, Ashton Turner and Riyan Parag to play off the back of. Samson in particular has fond memories of the Chinnaswamy, belting 92* off 45 balls there last year. Against an RCB attack that continues to have its struggles, a big opportunity awaits RR.
RCB vs RR Preview Dream11 – Will Steve Smith lead his team to victory?
Possible Playing 11
RCB: 1. Virat Kohli (c), 2. Parthiv Patel (wk), 3. AB de Villiers, 4. Heinrich Klaasen/Shimron Hetmyer, 5. Shivam Dube, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Gurkeerat Singh, 8. Washington Sundar, .9 Umesh Yadav, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11. Navdeep Saini
RR: 1. Ajinkya Rahane, 2. Liam Livingstone, 3. Sanju Samson (wk), 4. Steve Smith (c), 5. Ashton Turner, 6. Riyan Parag, 7. Stuart Binny, 8. Shreyas Gopal, 9. Jaydev Unadkat, 10. Varun Aaron, 11. Oshane Thomas
This will be Steve Smith’s last match for RR this season. It will be his 50th match as captain in T20s.
Yuzvendra Chahal is two wickets away from 100 in IPL.
Virat Kohli currently has 49 wins as an IPL captain.
Match Prediction
Huge game for RR as they look to keep their season alive.
It is hard to predict which RCB side will turn up in this game. Will they perform really well now that the pressure is gone? Or will RR continue their good run?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the fixtures for India’s 2026/27 home season. It includes a blockbuster five-Test series against archrivals Australia – the next instalment of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“The season will culminate with the prestigious and much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, featuring a five-match Test series against Australia, beginning on January 21, 2027, in Nagpur. The contest will then move to Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad, promising a compelling battle between two of the premier sides in world cricket,” read the BCCI’s news release on Thursday.
Fans disappointed with BCCI announcement on venues for 2027 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
However, instead of expressing excitement, fans have slammed the choice of venues for the series. Kolkata, who has not hosted a Test against Australia since the famous Eden Gardens Test of 2001, missed out. As did Mumbai, who hasn’t hosted Australia for a Test since the final match of the 2004 series.
In particular, the decision to host a Test in Guwahati raised eyebrows. Barsapara Cricket Stadium hosted its first-ever Test in November 2025. India and South Africa featured in a game where play had to begin at 9am local time as light fades rapidly by 4pm. Things could be even more complicated light-wise in February.
“This would be like Australia hosting its five marquee Tests in Hobart, Brisbane, Kalgoorlie, Wollongong and Canberra,” wrote CODE Sports’ Daniel Cherny on X (formerly Twitter).
“The wait continues for Australia to return to Eden Gardens – no Test there since the 2001 VVS/Dravid miracle. And no Mumbai Test for them since 2004. Oh well,” wrote Adam Collins of SEN and The Final Word Podcast.
Many India fans were also left disappointed. Here are some of the reactions.
This would be like Australia hosting its five marquee Tests in Hobart, Brisbane, Kalgoorlie, Wollongong and Canberra. https://t.co/g1xKtIlXk8
BCCI announce Nagpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad the five venues for the January-March 2027 BGT.
The wait continues for Australia to return to Eden Gardens – no Test there since the 2001 VVS/Dravid miracle. And no Mumbai Test for them since 2004. Oh well.
Having covered a Test vs South Africa in Guwahati, that is certainly not the best venue for a marquee Test. If not Eden Gardens, then at least Wankhede or Chinnaswamy should have hosted a Test against a team like Australia. Let there be 7 permanent Test centres. Do away with…
What a pathetic choice of venues… Across the season, Kolkata gets a solitary odi v Zim Mumbai gets a solitary odi v Zim! Still no Wankhede/Eden/Chinnaswamy for BGT Ind has not played Aus at Eden since that 2001 win Ind hasn't played Aus at Wankhede since that 2004 win!#BCCIhttps://t.co/Hw7uw9k1Q7
Nagpur, Ranchi, and now Guwahati, BCCI’s new favourite venue and the home base of the BCCI secretary, have absolutely no business being here. pic.twitter.com/RYsvzlXThR
In any sane organisation t20’s and ODI’s should be allotted to upcoming newer centres since it’s the best format to boost the game while Tests should be reserved for traditional centres with history and legacy!!!
BCCI just proving that they no longer care about test cricket in India.
They have once again ignored venues like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Dharmshala and instead they have given the test matches to Ranchi, Guwahati and Ahmedabad once again.
The 2027 BGT kicks off on January 21 in Nagpur. The second Test begins on January 29 in Chennai before the action moves to Guwahati for the third Test starting February 11. Ranchi (February 19-23) and Ahmedabad (February 27-March 3) will host the last two Tests.
For the first time in men’s IPL history, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have a title to defend. The franchise finally emerged victorious on their 18th attempt, with their bowling attack playing a key role in their triumph.
The key question for RCB now is can they back it up? Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal – two bowlers central to their success last season – are not available for this game, so how the attack fares against a strong Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) batting lineup makes for fascinating viewing.
Speaking of SRH, they struggled badly in 2025; a season where many predicted them to win the title. The batting lineup oozes quality and sheer power, but can their bowling attack limit opponents, especially in the early absence of Pat Cummins? It won’t be an easy at the usually batting-friendly M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
This article will reference SPODA AI for predictive analysis that could help guide you in creating your fantasy cricket teams. Check out the platform below in the fantasy cricket tips section.
IPL 2026 1st Match: RCB vs SRH Possible Playing XIIs
One of the key questions for RCB is whether the in-form Jacob Bethell can find a place in the XI. Phil Salt had an underwhelming T20 World Cup, but he was outstanding for RCB last season and will likely start.
RCB also have a call to make between Devdutt Padikkal and Venkatesh Iyer. Padikkal had a strike rate of 150.6 at number three last season, while Venkatesh’s numbers at three at outstanding overall in the IPL, with 562 runs at an average of 43.2 and strike rate of 168.8.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 1. Phil Salt (OS), 2. Virat Kohli, 3. Devdutt Padikkal/Venkatesh Iyer, 4. Rajat Patidar (c), 5. Tim David (OS), 6. Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7. Romario Shepherd (OS), 8. Krunal Pandya, 9. Mangesh Yadav, 10. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11. Jacob Duffy/Nuwan Thushara (OS), 12. Suyash Sharma
Ishan Kishan will captain and Brydon Carse could line up in the absence of Cummins, who is still managing the back injury he picked up in mid-2025.
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru Pitch Report and Weather
Bowlers did have more of a say at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Benglauru last season, especially in the early stages. The average first innings score was 169 at a run rate of 8.99, with the chasing team winning three of the five matches.
In IPL 2025, pace bowlers took 52 wickets on this ground at an average of 26.62 and economy of 9.71. Spinners took 19 wickets at an average of 35.89 and economy of 8.74.
According to SPODA AI data, RCB have a 72% chance of winning if they bat first, lose one wicket in the powerplay, hit 50 in the death overs and finish with 180. The corresponding figure is 50% for SRH.
Warm and mostly clear conditions are forecast with temperatures around 25 degrees during the match hours. According to AccuWeather, no rain is expected.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for RCB vs SRH: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Top wicketkeeper picks:
Ishan Kishan is having a dream year so far. The left-hander has smashed 532 runs at an average of 40.9 and strike rate of 207 in all T20s in 2026.
Phil Salt was crucial for RCB in 2025. He hit 403 runs at a strike rate of 176 last season, including 62 off 32 balls (SR 193.8) against SRH.
Key batter picks:
Virat Kohli r has struck 236 runs in his last four matches vs. SRH at an average of 59.00 and strike rate of 156.30. According to SPODA AI data, Kohli has a 48.65% chance of scoring 30 or more in this game.
Travis Head has smashed 200 runs in the IPL on this ground at an average of 66.7 and strike rate of 185.2.
Abhishek Sharma had an under-par T20 World Cup, but he smashed a rapid fifty in the final. He is yet to score a fifty in 10 matches vs. RCB, but he has scores of 34, 31 and 34 in his last three matches against them at a strike rate of 190.4.
Top allrounder picks:
Krunal Pandya is selected in over 70% of Dream11 teams for this match. Krunal was vital for RCB in their title-winning season. He strikes at 149.1 with the bat against SRH (261 runs) and has 12 wickets at a strike rate of 19.6 (econ. 7.58). Expect him to bowl more against SRH’s right-handed middle order.
Given RCB are missing experience in their bowling attack, expect Romario Shepherd to be called on to bowl overs. He is also an excellent finishing option for RCB, especially if they bat first.
Key bowler picks:
Bowler picks can be tricky in this game. Harshal Patel bowls in the crunch death overs which bring wicket-taking opportunities. SPODA AIgives a 36.59% probability that Patel will take 2+ wickets in this match.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be vital against SRH’s strong top order with his ability to swing the ball. He dismissed Travis Head cheaply last season (5 balls, 6 runs, 1 wicket).
For predictive analysis that could help guide you in creating your fantasy cricket teams, check out SPODA AI (AI Cricket Prediction & Match Analysis Tool) below.If you sign up, you will receive 3 FREE match passes to start.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams
Heinrich Klaasen has scored 91 runs off his last 44 balls at M Chinnaswamy. Overall against RCB, Klaasen has smashed 234 runs (avg. 46.8, SR 196.6). However, his returns in all T20s have not been as prolific since the start of 2025 (1,117 runs, avg. 27.9, SR 144.3).
Like last season, the Bengaluru pitch could have extra bounce given there hasn’t been a game there for a while. This suits Jacob Duffy, who hits a hard length consistently.
Tim David’s record against SRH makes for good reading: 56 balls, 105 runs, avg. 35, SR 187.5.
Liam Livingstone offers great potential as a finisher on this ground. But, he struggled at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium last season, scoring just 62 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 119.2.
Venkatesh Iyer’s excellent record at number three in the IPL makes him a strong differential pick.
Other Stats and Important Matchups
Head-to-head: Matches 26, RCB 11, SRH 14, N/R 1.
Ishan Kishan’s record at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the IPL: 4 inns, 120 runs, avg. 40, SR 164.4. He smashed 94 off 48 balls on this ground last season.
Virat Kohli strikes at 170.2 against Harshal Patel in the IPL (47 balls, 80 runs, two dismissals).
Rajat Patidar struggled at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2025: 6 inns, 90 runs, avg. 15.00, SR 103.4.
Harshal Patel’s bowling record at Bengaluru: 23 inns, 22 wickets, avg. 34.4, econ. 9.44, SR 21.9.
Jaydev Unadkat has kept Virat Kohli quiet in the IPL over the years: 66 balls, 74 runs, one wicket.
Phil Salt has a promising matchup against Jaydev Unadkat. Salt has scored 452 runs against left-arm seam in all T20s since the start of 2025 (avg. 34.8, SR 162.6).
Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs. Ishan Kishan in the IPL: 41 balls, 72 runs, one wicket.
Jacob Duffy has dismissed Travis Head twice in T20s: 13 balls, 17 runs, two wickets.
Harshal Patel (bowling) vs. Krunal Pandya (batting) in the IPL: 24 balls, 39 runs, one wicket.
Harshal Patel vs. Phil Salt in the IPL: 15 balls, 43 runs, no wickets.
Harshal Patel vs. Tim David in all T20s: 17 balls, 24 runs, two wickets.
IPL 2026 1st Match: RCB vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today
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Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.
Option 1:
IPL 2026 1st Match: RCB vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today
Option 2:
IPL 2026 1st Match: RCB vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today
IPL 2026 1st Match: RCB vs SRH Match Prediction Today – Who will win?
A tough match to predict given both teams are without key bowlers. This one will come down to which top order performs strongest. RCB have a little more experience in the bowling department, so will back the home side to win.
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Pat Cummins is targeting a return to action in the second-half of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Sunrisers Hyderabad and Australia captain is continuing his recovery from a lumbar stress injury, which saw him play just one Ashes Test. He then missed the entire T20 World Cup due to a minor setback.
Aiming to back in back-half of IPL 2026 – Pat Cummins
Speaking on the Business of Sport podcast, Cummins confirmed he is back bowling in the nets. Also, the pace bowler has arrived in India and was going through the paces at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, as confirmed by ESPNcricinfo.
“I’m still recovering from a back injury, but it’s good. I’m back bowling in the nets,” he said.
“The IPL is starting soon. I won’t make the start of that, but it shouldn’t be too long before I’m back out there playing.
“I’m back bowling. I’m bowling basically every third day at the moment. We’ve mapped out a plan to get me right by [the] middle of the tournament, so hopefully, if nothing goes wrong, [I’ll] play the back half plus the finals.”
SRH are aiming for a much improved season after finishing bottom of the table in 2025. Their powerful batting lineup – which fired them to the 2024 final – failed to get going last season, while their bowlers struggled to contain opponents.
“We’ve got quite an experienced bowling group of local guys, so a few of the younger guys that come through that I don’t know as well, particularly early on in a season, I’m definitely leaning on the local guys who do know them well – or even speak the language,” Cummins said.
Cummins forms part of a host of Australians either unavailable for the early part of the campaign or ruled out altogether. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will also join Delhi Capitals (DC) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) later in the tournament as part of Cricket Australia’s player management program.
SRH begin their campaign away at defending champions RCB in the tournament opener on March 28.
Former England captain Mike Atherton has been attributed to quotes about the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and its standing against the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Posts by fan account @TsMeSalman on X (formerly Twitter) have generated significant reach in recent days. The first, on March 21, was in relation to Atherton supposedly speaking out against players leaving the PSL for the IPL with the likes of Dasun Shanaka and Blessing Muzarabani making the switch. This post has generated nearly 200,000 views.
“This is a worrying trend for the game. When players are already signed with PSL and, just days before the tournament, IPL franchises start targeting them as replacements instead of looking at available free agents, it raises serious questions,” the post begain.
The second, on March 24, has Atherton rating the PSL above the IPL. “Look, I was going through the World Cricketers Association rankings and honestly, it surprised me. People usually think leagues are judged only on money, but that’s not how it works. There are deeper factors like reliability, how players are treated, how disputes are handled, and how professionally things are managed. And when you look at those, PSL actually comes out very strong,” the post began.
Michael Atherton on IPL signing players already committed elsewhere. 🤯
“This is a worrying trend for the game. When players are already signed with PSL and, just days before the tournament, IPL franchises start targeting them as replacements instead of looking at available free… pic.twitter.com/5cyoldl76T
"Look, I was going through the World Cricketers Association rankings and honestly, it surprised me. People usually think leagues are judged only on money, but that's not how it works. There are deeper factors like reliability, how players… pic.twitter.com/06OXIubqiO
Are the alleged quotes by Mike Atherton about the PSL true or fake?
The quotes above are unequivocally false. Atherton has made no such claims. Searches across news sources, including the BBC and Sky Sports, have yielded no results of the statements.
Many fans questioned whether the quotes were true or not, but others have shared their view assuming Atherton made the claims.
No much how much money a league or a country has. A petty mindset will remain a petty pathetic mindset. Thats the issue with India
Sorry Mike, no moral grandstanding please. You are bot making any sense.
Cricketers are professionals and they are free to choose the league they want to play for. Are u saying that a company should not make an offer to someone already in employment elsewhere?
The IPL and PSL will clash for the second year running. PSL 2026 kicks off on Thursday 26 March with defending champions Lahore Qalandars taking on Hyderabad Kingsmen. IPL 2026 begins two days later on March 28, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The Mumbai Indians (MI) kick off their IPL 2026 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium. After recovering from a shaky start with four losses in their first five matches to eventually finish third in IPL 2025, the five-time champions enter the new season with a formidable core of retained stars, smart trades, and shrewd auction additions.
With expectations naturally high — both due to their rich legacy and the sheer quality and balance of their squad — MI once again look like serious title contenders.
Here is a look at their predicted playing XII for IPL 2026.
MI possible playing 11 for IPL 2026: Incredible selection of overseas talent
The only major question around the possible starting XII is who plays between Will Jacks and Sherfane Rutherford, but ideally Jacks’ stellar T20 World Cup 2026 campaign should put that debate to rest — form should be respected.
The England all-rounder had an outstanding tournament, finishing with 226 runsat a strike rate of 176.56 while batting primarily at No. 6 or lower — the most runs ever scored from No. 6 or lower in a single T20 World Cup edition, surpassing Misbah-ul-Haq’s long-standing record from 2007. He also picked up 9 wickets with his valuable off-spin, including crucial breakthroughs even in the Powerplay, and walked away with a record-equalling 4 Player of the Match awards, a feat previously achieved only by Shane Watson in 2012.
At the same time, Rutherford offers a strong alternative. He brings a left-handed option to the middle order along with significant power-hitting ability that only a West Indian can deliver. The Guyanese finisher has been in solid form across recent T20 leagues and internationals, which would keep Jacks on his toes.
That said, I believe MI are likely to start with Will Jacks at least in the initial phase of the season.
The other spot where there could be pressure moving forward in the tournament is the wicketkeeper slot. Quinton de Kock was initially the straightforward choice, but his relatively underwhelming T20 World Cup 2026 campaign has opened the door for Ryan Rickelton, who had a stronger tournament despite batting in a less suited role. If de Kock fails to impress early on with the bat, it shouldn’t take long for MI to bring in his compatriot in his place.
The rest of the XII almost picks itself.
Despite the potential issues versus spin they might face in the middle overs — given the recent form of Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma’s presence at No. 4 — MI look strong enough to at least make it to the Playoffs, if not beyond. They’d ideally want to use Mitchell Santner better than they did last season and trust him more with the ball in important phases.
This season also presents a big opportunity for the impressive Naman Dhir, who has scored 247 runs in overs 16-20 at a strike rate of 202.46 in the last two seasons of the IPL. Another strong campaign could put him firmly in national reckoning as a genuine finisher.
Overall, this MI side looks well-rounded on paper. The real challenge for captain Hardik Pandya and coach Mahela Jayawardene will be to provide a team full of high-profile players and superstars a clear vision and get everyone aligned to it. In a squad brimming with talent and egos, success often comes down to culture, role clarity, and ruthless execution under pressure. If MI can nail that, a sixth title is very much within reach.
The Indian Premier League franchise, Rajasthan Royals (RR), has been sold to Kal Somani, who was already one of the stakeholders in the franchise. He will now have a 100% stake in the Royals franchise.
The franchise has been valued at $1.63 billion (INR 16,290 crores). This doesn’t only include the Rajasthan Royals but also the Barbados Royals (CPL and WCPL) and the Paarl Royals in the SA20 league.
A consortium, led by Somali, will take over the franchise post the IPL 2026 season from the current ownership of Manoj Badale of Emerging Media. The Royals were the franchise that got the lowest bid amongst the eight franchises back in 2008 for US $67 million at that time.
IPL’s founder Lalit Modi’s brother-in-law, Suresh Chelaram, held 56% stakes of the franchise before he exited, and then Manoj Badale emerged as the new owner. Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, owned 13% stake for INR 65 crores in 2009.
Kundra was later banned for life by the Loda committee for being involved in betting activities. RedBird Capital Partners acquired a 15% stake in the franchise for INR 550-600 crores back in 2021.
As a part of the deal/agreement, if RedBird were to leave, the other shareholders may also have to sell. With RedBird wanting to exit, the others had no choice but to sell the franchise.
Shane Warne’s superb business mind
Former Australian legend and arguably the best spinner ever, the late Shane Warne was the captain of the Royals in 2008, and he also led the side to a title in the inaugural season.
🚨 SHANE WARNE – THE MASTERMIND. 🚨
📢 Shane Warne took a salary of just 9.35cr from Rajasthan Royals for playing for 4 seasons, but here’s the real twist:
⚠️ He demanded a 0.75% equity in RR every year till the time he plays for coming out of retirement!
Warne asked for a 0.75% stake in the franchise till he plays for them. He went on to play in four editions, making him a 3% owner of the franchise. And now since the franchise has been sold for such big money, his 3% stake is worth somewhere around $4.6 billion dollars.
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The bowlers and Connor Esterhuizen’s display of stand-and-deliver hitting led South Africa to a series-levelling win in Wellington on Sunday. As a result, the series moves to a decider in Christchurch.
Players from both teams will be looking to make more of a mark to keep themselves at the forefront of selectors’ minds. Strike rates have been on the lower end, so impact is the order of the day with a series win up for grabs. Katene Clarke and Tim Robinson started promisingly for New Zealand, but it was a struggle thereafter.
South Africa’s bowlers found rhythm after the Black Caps struck at over 10 an over in the powerplay. Prenelan Subrayen’s yorkers turned the tide, and he will be key again against a New Zealand middle order that has its question marks. With Ottneil Baartman and Gerald Coetzee also able to take regular wickets, South Africa have every chance of series-levelling win.
This article will reference SPODA AI for predictive analysis that could help guide you in creating your fantasy cricket teams. Check out the platform here or below in the fantasy cricket tips section.
NZ vs SA 5th T20 2026 Possible Playing XIs
Rawalpindiz have signed Cole McConchie as a replacement player for Jake Fraser-McGurk in the PSL. There is no confirmation yet as to whether he’s left for Pakistan.
New Zealand: 1. Tim Robinson, 2. Katene Clark, 3. Dane Cleaver (wk), 4. Nick Kelly, 5. Bevon Jacobs, 6. James Neesham, 7. Cole McConchie/Jayden Lennox, 8. Josh Clarkson, 9. Zak Foukes, 10. Kyle Jamieson, 11. Ben Sears
South Africa could stick with the same team that won the fourth match.
South Africa: 1. Tony de Zorzi, 2. Wiaan Mulder, 3. Connor Esterhuizen (wk), 4. Rubin Hermann, 5. Dian Forrester, 6. Jason Smith, 7. George Linde, 8. Gerald Coetzee, 9. Keshav Maharaj (c), 10. Prenelan Subrayen, 11. Ottneil Baartman
Hagley Oval Christchurch Pitch Report and Weather
The average first innings score in the last five T20Is is 154.4. England smashed 236/4 in the last T20I on this ground in October 2025.
In all men’s T20s at Hagley Oval since the start of 2023, pace bowlers have taken 188 wickets at an average of 22.59 and economy of 8.06. Spinners have fared well, taking 82 wickets at an average of 25.95 and economy of 7.88.
There is a chance of rain affecting this match with showers forecast for the evening. Temperatures will drop to about 15 degrees under lights.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for NZ vs SA 5th T20 2026: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Top wicketkeeper picks:
Connor Esterhuizen is the likeliest player to make a 30+ score, with a 50% probability, according to SPODA AI. Esterhuizen is coming off an excellent half-century in the fourth T20I.
Key batter picks:
Tim Robinson looked in good touch for his 22-ball 32 in the fourth T20I. He is averaging just 14 for the series, but he is due a strong score.
Top allrounder picks:
Cole McConchie will be key against South Africa’s left-handers. He has dismissed Tony de Zorzi twice in nine balls in this series.
Wiaan Mulder has made consecutive ducks. But, the fact he opens the batting and provides overs with the ball makes him an attractive Dream11 pick.
Prenelan Subrayen is considered the likeliest bowler to take 2+ wickets in this game according to SPODA AI. The offspinner was excellent in the fourth T20I, targeting the Black Caps’ middle order with full deliveries targeted at the stumps.
Key bowler picks:
BenSears (39.13% chance of 2+ wickets) and Ottneil Baartman (35% chance of 2+ wickets) are two of the prominent wicket-takers this series. Sears has taken six wickets in his last two T20s at Hagley Oval. Baartman took the most scalps in the SA20 2026 season (20) at an average of 13.55 and strike rate of 8.90.
Gerald Coetzee has taken the equal-most wickets in this series (6) at an economy of just 6.47.
Since 2023, Kyle Jamieson has picked up 13 T20 wickets at Hagley Oval at an average of 15.69 and economy of 5.83.
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Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams
Consider Zak Foulkes. The seam bowler has taken the most wickets of any bowler in all men’s T20s at Hagley Oval since the start of 2023 (21 wickets, avg. 15.29, SR 12.57).
Since the start of 2023, Nick Kelly has struck 130 runs at an average of 43.33 and strike rate of 152.94 in T20s at Hagley Oval.
Katene Clarke made a very promising start to his T20I debut, hitting two strong boundaries against spin straight away. He then cracked a pull shot straight to deep backward square leg where he was caught. Across the past two Super Smash seasons, Clarke has smashed 616 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of nearly 150.
George Linde is striking at 179.48 with the bat in this series.
Dane Cleaver has a strike rate of 140.5 in eight innings in T20s this year (184 runs, avg. 23).
Other Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 24, New Zealand 10, South Africa 14.
New Zealand have never won a bilateral T20I series of two or more matches against South Africa.
Tim Robinson is having a lean year in all T20s so far: 9 inns, 149 runs, avg. 16.6, SR 126.3.
Kyle Jamieson vs. Connor Esterhuizen this series: 29 balls, 41 runs, no wickets.
Ben Sears vs. Connor Esterhuizen in this series:23 balls, 27 runs, two wickets.
SA vs NZ 5th T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today Match
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Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.
Option 1:
SA vs NZ 5th T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today Match
Option 2:
SA vs NZ 5th T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today Match
SA vs NZ 5th T20 2026 Match Prediction – Who will win?
With rain around, the chasing team is likeliest to win this game.
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All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, and Cricmetric.
Under the leadership of Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer, Punjab Kings (PBKS) reached the 2025 final and will be aiming to go one better in 2026. The franchise qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2014, finishing top of the table and then narrowly losing the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
PBKS enter IPL 2026 with a settled core. They look strong once again, and will be seeking a smooth start to campaign where there will be plenty of expectation.
PBKS possible 11 for IPL 2026: Who will be the overseas players?
New recruit Cooper Connolly could slot in the middle order. The quality Azmatullah Omarzai is also an option for that role, but it will be interesting to see whether PBKS opt for the spin-bowling all-round option.
Ricky Ponting is a big fan of Marcus Stoinis, who will likely take one of the overseas slots alongside Marco Jansen and potentially Xavier Bartlett with Lockie Ferguson to miss a portion of the season for family reasons.
“Just had a wee son, trying to spend as much time as I can at home and help the wife out,” Ferguson said earlier this month, as quoted by ESPN. “I’ll have a few weeks off after this, before sort of heading to the later stages of the IPL and away for the winter.”
Despite the Ferguson setback, there is a lot to like about PBKS this season. They bat deep and have plenty of bowling options. Shreyas Iyer (604 runs), Prabhsimran Singh (549 runs) and Priyansh Arya (475 runs) all had impactful seasons in 2025, and will be looking to set the tone once again in 2026.
Shreyas Iyer’s team will start their campaign against fellow playoff contenders Gujarat Titans at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium at Mullanpur on March 30. They will then travel to Chennai for a blockbuster against CSK on Wednesday April 3.
Former England captain and one of the best white-ball batters, Jos Buttler, has refused to have any intention of hanging up his boots in international cricket. The wicket-keeper batter managed only 87 runs in eight innings in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at an average of just 10.87, with his highest score being 26 runs.
On his podcast, Buttler accepted that he had a poor tournament, but he’s hopeful of regaining his form. He said, “I don’t know. Obviously I had a poor tournament, which is disappointing, but I’ve been playing some of the best cricket in recent years, so hopefully I can get back to playing my best.”
He continued that he certainly has ambitions to play for England, but he’s no longer the captain, and he’s not the selector, so what will be, will be. “Yeah, we’ll see,” he said.
The wicketkeeper batter said he ‘hopes’ to be in the English squad when India tours England for a 5-match T20I and a 3-match ODI series during the English summer.
Buttler spends time in mountains in France away from cricket
The former English captain said he spent time away from cricket up in the mountains in France with his family.
He said, “I couldn’t have been further away from cricket, which for me at the time was just perfect. It’s exactly what I needed. Obviously the tournament didn’t go personally how I’d have liked it to go, and I just felt like I needed some space from cricket and not to think about the game, and I could not have been further away from cricket than I was in that week.”
He continued, “It was really refreshing – I really enjoyed it, a complete sort of release. And slowly but surely, I’d say at the start of this week, just starting to reflect a bit and having a few thoughts about what’s important to me and my cricket and why it probably didn’t go quite as I would’ve liked.”
On what went wrong in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for him, he said that there are elements to it that he actually doesn’t really know. It just didn’t work out despite his best intentions, hard work, and efforts to perform.
Jos Buttler will now feature in the IPL as a part of the Gujarat Titans. He will be amongst the best players for the franchise and will hope to do well.
Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player Subramaniyam Badrinath has raised a question on his YouTube channel. He has asked if Indian star KL Rahul is happy at the Delhi Capitals (DC).
Badrinath was talking about the constant change in Rahul’s batting position for DC last season. Initially, he started batting at number four with Faf du Plessis and Abhishek Porel opening the innings. Later in the season, he was shifted to opener.
Badrinath said, “Every year, the batting order is their conundrum, especially where KL Rahul should bat. I believe KL Rahul wants to open the innings. But, on the other side, the team management wants him to bat in the middle order. This seems to be an ongoing conflict. They definitely have to solve this issue. It is unclear whether KL Rahul is happy in DC.”
Plenty of openers in the Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2026 – Should KL Rahul bat there?
Rahul had a fantastic season in 2025, where he was the highest run-scorer for his side with 539 runs in 13 matches at an average of 53.90, and he had three fifties and one century to his name.
Faf du Plessis was there in the last edition of the tournament opening alongside Porel first and then KL Rahul. But Faf won’t be a part of the IPL in the upcoming season. However, Delhi Capitals still have many opening batters in their ranks.
The likes of Abhishek Porel, Pathum Nissanka, Ben Duckett, and Prithvi Shaw are all opening batters. They have also traded in Nitish Rana from the Rajasthan Royals, and Karun Nair is also there. It will be interesting to see who makes it to the Delhi Capitals’ top order as Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma, and Tristan Stubbs are already there in the middle order.
The Capitals finished 5th in the points table last year with seven wins in 14 matches. The franchise will be itching to get their hands of the first title in IPL 2026.
