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?
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.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) will be seeking a return to playoffs in IPL 2026 after missing the top four in 2025. They finished ninth in a disappointing season, and have lost the in-form Sanju Samson to CSK.
However, the emergence of young talent gives RR fans hope for the new campaign. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi lit up IPL 2025 with a stunning 38-ball 101 that had to be seen to be believed. With Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Shimron Hetmyer to follow a strong top three, RR have the potential to hit plenty of big totals this season.
RR possible 11 for IPL 2026: Who will be the overseas players?
Riyan Parag will captain the team. Ravindra Jadeja provides all-round stability in the middle order. He and Ravi Bishnoi can form a strong spin duo throughout IPL 2026.
The key questions for RR are what Tushar Deshpande and Sandeep Sharma can deliver, plus whether Jofra Archer can stay fit for the season. Archer and Sandeep could be the key death-over options at different stages throughout the campaign, depending on who else RR pick for their bowling attack.
Also, assuming Archer, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, and Shimron Hetmyer occupy three overseas slots, who should be the fourth? RR have the choice of all-rounders Dasun Shanaka (in for Sam Curran) and Donovan Ferreira, or go for a specialist fast bowler in Adam Milne, Nandre Burger or Kwena Maphaka.
RR kick off their season against Samson’s CSK at Guwahati on Monday March 30. In fact, the franchise will be their first three games at Barsapara Stadium before moving to Jaipur. It is a circumstance that R Ashwin sees as an issue.
“I thought their team got a slight upgrade when they got both Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. But they have a lot of things going for them, as well as not going for them. They have not been playing at one venue, and that is just not fair. I know Riyan Parag is the captain, and he will get Support in Assam, I understand all that, but if you want to play, play the entire season there only,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, as quoted by India TV News.
“I was the Kings XI Punjab (now renamed as Punjab Kings) captain when we had to play a few matches in Indore, and that is a huge factor, I know there is gate collection, and fan support. RR have a lovely brand and an an eco system, it is close to my heart because I enjoyed that team environment,” he added.
RR will then travel to Ahmedabad to take on Gujarat Titans on Saturday April 4.
Former South African cricketer and one of the top coaches in the cricket world, Gary Kirsten, opened up about his coaching stint with the Pakistan cricket team. Talking to the talkSPORT Cricket YouTube channel, he spoke about the challenges he faced as he aimed to implement his strategies and style.
Surprised with the level of interference in Pakistan cricket – Gary Kirsten
When asked about how he’ll look back at his six-month stint with the Pakistan cricket team, Kirsten said, “I’m the perennial career coach. So, I look at every coaching experience as a wonderful opportunity and a wonderful experience.
“There were frustrations along the way. I think the thing that surprised me probably more than anything was the level of interference. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it at that level before. Did it surprise me? I don’t know.”
Kirsten then spoke of the difficulty of working with the players and developing strategies without influence from outside. In light of his comments, it becomes even more clear as to why Pakistan struggle for consistency.
“But it was certainly significant,” Kirsten continued. “It’s quite difficult for a coach to formulate a way that you can work with the players when there’s just this constant noise from the outside. I think I really enjoyed working with the players.
“It was tough just with this constant noise from the outside and a lot of punitive actions around poor performance. As a coach, you’re the lowest-hanging fruit when the team’s not going well.”
Kirsten concluded by saying that actions like getting rid of the coach or putting a restriction on the coach are the easiest things when the team’s not performing, and they are counterproductive in his view.
“Then why recruit the coach? Recruit someone that you need to recruit that suits your needs rather than someone that is going to run the team how they see fit,” Kirsten said.
Gary Kirsten was appointed as Pakistan’s head coach in April 2024 under a 2-year contract, but he resigned from his position in October 2024 after disagreements with the PCB regarding interference in squad selection and other issues. In this period, Pakistan suffered a humiliating exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup.
🇵🇰 "The thing that surprised me was the level of interference."
🏏 "It's quite difficult for a coach to formulate a way of working with the players when there's the constant noise from the outside."
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) kick off their IPL 2026 title defence against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. After clinching their maiden IPL title in 2025, RCB enters the new season with a strong core of retained players, smart auction additions, and some intriguing selection dilemmas.
Here is the predicted XII and a deep dive into the four major selection dilemmas.
RCB possible playing 11 for IPL 2026 (assuming Romario Shepherd is available):
Phil Salt (OS)
Virat Kohli
Devdutt Padikkal
Rajat Patidar
Tim David (OS)
Jitesh Sharma
Romario Shepherd (OS)
Krunal Pandya
Mangesh Yadav
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Jacob Duffy (OS)
Suyash Sharma
Key Selection Debates
Phil Salt vs. Jacob Bethell
Salt endured a poor T20 World Cup campaign, scoring just 130 runs across eight innings, crossing 30 or more only twice. Bethell, on the other hand, scored 280 runs in as many innings, with four 30+ scores, including a century against India in the semi-final.
However, this still shouldn’t really be a debate. Salt has been one of the world’s best T20 batters since 2022, scoring over5,500 runs at a strike rate of 157.02. Last season, he scored 403 runs for RCB at a strike rate of 175.98. In fact, among openers with at least 1000 IPL runs, no one has a higher strike rate than Phil Salt’s176.81. Very few players can take the game away in the Powerplay and maximise field restrictions the way Phil Salt does, and he should be the preferred pick.
Devdutt Padikkal vs. Venkatesh Iyer
RCB went as high as INR 23.50 crore for Venkatesh Iyer before KKR landed the winning bid last time. They’ve now brought him in for less than a third of that price (INR 7 crore), which clearly shows how highly they rate him.
Compared to Devdutt Padikkal, Venkatesh is probably the more robust player, especially against pace, and arguably has a higher ceiling.
However, form is on Padikkal’s side, and it’s hard to ignore what he did last season — scoring 247 runs at a strike rate of 150.6, playing impactful knocks at No. 3. His domestic run has been phenomenal as well: 543 runs at 54.3 in the Ranji Trophy, 725 runs at 90.63 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and 309 runs at a strike rate of 167.03 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Venkatesh, on the other hand, had significantly weaker tournaments, especially the SMAT, where he scored just 211 runs across 10 innings at a strike rate of 119.21.
Dropping Padikkal after such consistency would be harsh, so he edges it for the No. 3 spot.
Mangesh Yadav vs Yash Dayal
Yash Dayal hasn’t played any cricket since last season’s IPL and has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, with even his participation in the squad uncertain.
Purely from a cricketing standpoint, though, he was bowling key overs for RCB and is a smart, thinking bowler. He can swing the new ball both ways, has a back-of-the-hand slower one, and can also bowl yorkers at the death.
However, having played no cricket in a year, RCB might start with Mangesh Yadav, the Player of the Tournament in the Madhya Pradesh T20 League 2025, where he took 14 wickets in 6 innings at an economy of 8. He can also contribute with the bat, adding depth to the lineup.
He was bought by RCB for INR 5.2 crore and is highly rated by the team. He can bowl at 140 kph, move the new ball around, and execute yorkers at the death. In the MP T20 League, he made a strong impression as a yorker specialist. He can also operate on a back-of-a-length and has developed useful slower variations.
The other option is Rasikh Salam, but it’s unlikely RCB go that route given the management’s preference for having a left-armer in the XI.
Jacob Duffy vs. Nuwan Thushara (until Hazlewood joins)
Duffy hasn’t had a great year with the ball so far, taking just nine wickets in 10 T20Is and going at 10.77 an over. However, it’s important to note that all those games were played on Indian roads, where pacers collectively went at 10.36.
The pitch at Chinnaswamy for RCB’s first two games — before Hazlewood arrives — could be different, given the ground hasn’t hosted a game in a while. Much like last season, there could be that tennis-ball bounce from the 6-8 metre length that troubled batters. Duffy is better suited to exploit those conditions compared to Thushara and is a more like-for-like replacement for Hazlewood.
Moreover, it’s not as if Thushara has been in great form either. He hasn’t played since 7 January, when he went for 0/31 in 2 overs against Pakistan. He also comes with limitations — primarily being effective in the Powerplay and showing a clear drop-off against right-handed batters.
Nuwan Thushara in T20Is:
Batter Type
Wickets
Economy
Average
LHB
18
7.55
15.9
RHB
18
8.54
29.3
If Romario Shepherd is Unavailable
The lineup shifts slightly for balance:
Phil Salt (OS)
Virat Kohli
Devdutt Padikkal
Rajat Patidar
Jacob Bethell (OS)
Tim David (OS)
Jitesh Sharma
Krunal Pandya
Mangesh Yadav
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Jacob Duffy (OS)
Suyash Sharma
If Romario Shepherd doesn’t join the squad in time, RCB are likely to tweak their combination slightly by bringing in an extra middle-order batter in Jacob Bethell. Not to forget, he can also chip in with some left-arm spin if needed, so the depth of the XII isn’t compromised.
Blending last year’s title-winning core with exciting new additions, RCB are poised for another compelling campaign. The opener against SRH brings an added layer of intrigue: their relentless batting lineup, capable of game-altering onslaughts, meets a Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch revived after months away from competitive play.
The IPL 2026 auction will be remembered for the “Uncapped Gold Rush,” with teams breaking the bank for rising stars like Kartik and Veer. But amidst the frenzy to secure the hottest new talent, some crucial tactical needs were left unaddressed.
A closer inspection of the final rosters reveals that while most teams have a potent starting lineup, several are dangerously light on squad depth. From middle-order stabilisers to domestic power-hitters and mystery spinners, here are the top unsold players who could have been perfect fits for the holes left in the IPL 2026 squads.
Top unsold players in IPL 2026
The Overseas Solution for Gujarat’s Middle Muddle
Jamie Smith (25y, RHB/WK)
Gujarat Titans (GT) did not buy a single middle or lower-order hitter and left the auction with the same vulnerability as last season: their middle order.
Kumar Kushagra has been in stellar form witg 368 runs in six innings (SR: 102.50) including two centuries in the 2026 Vijay Hazare Trophy, and 422 runs at an average of 60.29 with a strike rate of 161.69 in the 2025/26 SMAT. Also, an improved Washington Sundar might get a more consistent run at number four or five this season. However, the batting beyond the top three or four still lacks the confidence required for a genuine title charge.
Top unsold players in IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans squad depth.
It is also possible that Gujarat may play Jason Holder at No. 6. While Holder has improved — 63 sixes at a strike rate of 159.92 in T20s in 2025 compared to 29 sixes at a strike rate of 132.69 across 2023-24 — No. 6 still feels a spot too high for him. Jamie Smith could have fit neatly at No. 5/6, solidifying the batting spine, with Glenn Phillips remaining a strong backup option.
The Left-Handed Top-Order Options
Atharva Taide & Tushar Raheja
Atharva Taide (25y, LHB from Vidarbha) Stats: 153.54 SR in T20s since 2023
Kolkata Knight Riders enter the season with a heavily right-handed top five — and even their immediate backups follow the same pattern. Taide, who has quietly improved his T20 game over the last few years could have added much-needed variety.
Tushar Raheja (24y, LHB/WK from Tamil Nadu) Stats: 488 runs at 61/186 in TNPL 2025; 324 runs at 36/150 in TNPL 2024; 165 SR in SMAT
A reputed spin-hitter with wicketkeeping skills, he would have been an asset for KKR for the same reasons as Taide. His ability to take down spin (32 sixes in TNPL 2025) in the middle overs makes his unsold status surprising.
In a format where matchups dictate outcomes, the absence of a left-hander in KKR’s top order could hurt them. Taide or Raheja (or even Mahipal Lomror) may not be superstars, but they fit a clear tactical need.
One of the recurring themes of this auction was the lack of depth in Indian lower-middle-order options for teams like GT, KKR, and CSK.
Sanvir Singh (29y, RHB from Punjab): With 528 runs at a strike rate of 183 while batting lower down since 2022, Sanvir is a proven commodity and has previously been with SRH as well.
Ruchit Ahir (25y, RHB/WK from Saurashtra): With 333 runs at an average of 42 and a strike rate of 169 in his short T20 career so far, Ruchit also boasts the most sixes for Saurashtra across the last two seasons.
Salman Nizar (28y, LHB from Kerala): A poor SMAT 2025 ahead of the auction likely went against him, but Nizar had 169 runs at an average of 56 and a strike rate of 164.08 in SMAT 2024 and also scored 751 runs at an average of 93.88 and a strike rate of 157.77 across the last two editions of the Kerala Cricket League.
Final Flourish 🔥
Salman Nizar smashes 6⃣,4⃣,6⃣,6⃣ in the last over and remains unbeaten on 99*(49) as Kerala post 234/5 👏#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank
Manisankar Murasingh (33y, LHB+RAP from Tripura): One of the most discussed names ahead of the auction, he offered a rare dual skill set: a lower-order hitter — 277 runs at an average of 46.17 and a strike rate of 172.04 in SMAT 2025, also the third-highest six-hitter after Abhishek and Mhatre. Plus, he has some right-arm pace (6 wickets at an economy rate of 7.6). It was somewhat surprising to see him go unsold.
GT have almost no lower-order backups. KKR’s Indian backups (Pandey, Sarthak Ranjan, and Tripathi) are all top-order batters; none are lower-order specialists, and none really serve as backups for Rinku or Ramandeep. CSK face a similar issue, with Urvil and Sarfaraz ideally being top-four backups, leaving them short on lower-order bench strength as well.
Any of the four players mentioned above would have provided cheap, effective insurance for these teams.
The Specialised Bowlers
Shivam Shukla & Money Grewal
Shivam Shukla (30y, mystery spinner from Madhya Pradesh) Stats: 25 wickets at 6.81 ECO in SMAT; 21 wickets in 11 innings in Madhya Pradesh Premier League
It was a little surprising to see a proven mystery spinner with strong performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Madhya Pradesh Premier League over the past couple of years go unsold, especially when several teams clearly required his services.
RCB opted for Satwik Deswal as a backup to Suyash Sharma — a choice they clearly saw merit in — but Shukla felt like the more proven option. GT lack a wrist-spin backup for Rashid Khan, LSG have no safety net behind Digvesh, who is entering only his second season, and DC rely entirely on Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj, with no wrist-spin backup in the squad. All three teams had an obvious opening for Shukla.
Money Grewal (25y, RAP from Delhi) Stats: 20 wickets (highest) at 7.81 ECO and 11 SR in Delhi Premier League 2025
Sunrisers Hyderabad needed a new-ball threat after releasing Mohammed Shami. While they picked prospects like Praful Hinge, Grewal’s recent dominance made him feel like a safer option. The leading wicket-taker in DPL 2025, Grewal swings the new ball, operates decently at the death, and has also served as RCB’s net bowler during IPL 2024.
Hat-trick magic from Money Grewal! 💥
Money Grewal cleans up East Delhi Riders with a fiery hat-trick! 🏏
Delhi Capitals made a rather perplexing move right at the end of the auction by picking Kyle Jamieson. With Dushmantha Chameera and Lungi Ngidi already in the squad, they had ample overseas pace backup.
What DC actually needed was a lower-order batter who could bowl a bit of spin. Michael Bracewell fit this profile perfectly. Instead of stacking up on a third overseas seamer as backup, Bracewell would have offered better balance and a genuine hitting option at No. 7.
Whether these omissions come back to haunt certain franchises will be revealed over the season — but on paper, these were opportunities left on the table.
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After a terrible start, New Zealand have come roaring back in this series, winning the last two T20Is easily. After beating South Africa by 68 runs in the second match, the Black Caps dished out another thumping in the third, winning by eight wickets and 22 balls to spare in Auckland.
The hosts will be without some key experience for this match with Devon Conway, Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson only available for the opening three matches. However, it provides an opportunity for others to stake a claim for future honours, including the likes of Katene Clarke and Nick Kelly.
For the Proteas, whatever could go wrong did go wrong at Eden Park. Their raw batting lineup struggled batting first, before lacking penetration with the ball and putting chances down in the field. They need a stronger batting powerplay here to set a platform for the likes of Jason Smith and Dian Forrester, who are capable of delivering impactful knocks.
NZ vs SA 4th T20 2026 Possible Playing XIs
Tom Latham will lead and Katene Clarke is set to make his T20I debut.
New Zealand: 1. Tom Latham (c & wk), 2. Katene Clarke, 3. Tim Robinson, 4. Nick Kelly, 5. Bevon Jacobs, 6. James Neesham, 7. Cole McConchie, 8. Josh Clarkson/Nathan Smith, 9. Kyle Jamieson, 10. Ben Sears, 11. Jayden Lennox/Zak Foulkes
Ottneil Baartman could come back into the Proteas XI for this match.
South Africa: 1. Tony de Zorzi, 2. Wiaan Mulder, 3. Connor Esterhuizen (wk), 4. Rubin Hermann, 5. Jason Smith, 6. Dian Forrester, 7. George Linde, 8. Gerald Coetzee, 9. Keshav Maharaj (c), 10. Nqobani Mokoena, 11. Ottneil Baartman
Sky Stadium Wellington Pitch Report and Weather
Scores have varied in the last five T20Is at Wellington’s Sky Stadium. The average first innings score in men’s T20Is since the start of 2021 is 159, with two 200+ totals. The chasing team has won the last three matches.
A cold evening is forecast with a top of around 15 degrees. Very late season conditions in New Zealand means there could be assistance for the pace bowlers once again.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for NZ vs SA 4th T20 2026: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Top wicketkeeper picks:
Tom Latham is coming off a half-century and will be looking for another against an inexperienced South Africa attack.
Key batter picks:
Tim Robinson is yet to fire in this series (24 runs), although he looked in decent touch in the third T20I. Since the start of 2025, Robinson has scored 861 runs in all T20s at an average of 29.7 and strike rate of 140.5.
Top allrounder picks:
Fantasy points have been hard to come by in the South Africa team this series, so allrounders Wiaan Mulder and George Linde are the top picks. Mulder opens the batting and can contribute 1-2 overs, while Linde is South Africa’s most impactful batsman in the series (SR 180.64).
Cole McConchie has picked up 172 Dream11 points in this series. South Africa have a number of left-handers in their lineup that he can target again with his capable offspin.
Key bowler picks:
Ben Sears has picked up five wickets in the last two matches. His pace can trouble the inexperienced South African lineup once again, including Tony de Zorzi and Connor Esterhuizen, whom he has dismissed in this series.
Gerald Coetzee has bowled economically in this series, conceding just 5.90 an over. Coetzee could also be motivated to perform given there are spots opening up for fast bowlers in IPL teams.
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
Katene Clarke has smashed 616 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of nearly 150 in the past two Super Smash seasons. One to watch.
Connor Esterhuizen is South Africa’s leading runscorer in this series with 68 at an average of 34.00. He will be looking to improve on his strike rate of 100, but he offers value for fantasy cricket as he bats in the top three.
Bevon Jacobs can be a handy pick if New Zealand bats first. Jacobs struck five consecutive fifties in the most recent Super Smash edition (overall: 361 runs, avg. 90.25, SR 164.84).
Ottneil Baartman could return in this game after a solid start to the series. He took the most wickets in the SA20 2026 season (20) at an average of 13.55 and strike rate of 8.90.
Dian Forrester is a player to watch, despite not getting going so far in the series. He scored 175 runs in SA20 2026 at an average of 58.33 and strike rate of 165.09.
Other Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 23, New Zealand 10, South Africa 13.
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: 8 inns, 117 runs, avg. 14.6, SR 121.9.
Keshav Maharaj vs. Tom Latham in this series: 9 balls, 11 runs, 1 wicket.
Ben Sears vs. Connor Esterhuizen in this series: 14 balls, 8 runs, 1 wicket.
Connor Esterhuizen has had a better time against Kyle Jamieson: 19 balls, 30 runs, no wicket.
SA vs NZ 4th 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 4th T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today Match
Option 2:
SA vs NZ 4th T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today Match
SA vs NZ 4th T20 2026 Match Prediction – Who will win?
This shapes up as a close match with New Zealand missing a few experienced players as well. Despite that, New Zealand still have enough to get the job done here.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, and Cricmetric.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will be aiming to have a big campaign in 2026 after enduring a miserable tournament last year. The Orange Army took the IPL by storm in 2024, smashing record totals en route to an appearance in the final. However, they couldn’t deliver the same impact with the bat in 2025 as their bowlers struggled.
On paper, SRH could have a similar campaign in 2026 with the bowling attack susceptible to conceding big totals. Also, Pat Cummins and Eshan Malinga are under injury clouds and will miss the start of the tournament, while Jack Edwards is out of the entire campaign.
SRH possible 11 for IPL 2026: How will the bowling attack shape up?
SRH’s top six is set. They boast an incredibly powerful lineup, with Ishan Kishan in particular enjoying an outstanding 2026 to date. Eyes will be on Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma as well as the duo can blow teams away in the powerplay, setting a strong platform for Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, and the promising Aniket Verma in addition to Kishan.
However, while SRH can score big, they could also concede big in 2026. Cummins’ absence means Kishan will lead, with Harshal Patel, Shivam Mavi, and Jaydev Unadkat likely to form the core of the attack. Brydon Carse could be the overseas pacer with Nitish Kumar Reddy, Liam Livingstone, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma all capable of providing overs as well.
SRH play the first match of the 2026 season against defending champions RCB. The Orange Army have a history of scoring big at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, and that looks their best chance of victory on paper.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) face a tricky start to the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, especially on the bowling front.
Harshit Rana is out of the tournament due to injury, while Matheesha Pathirana is yet to receive an NOC from Sri Lanka Cricket as he must pass a Physical Performance Test following the hamstring injury he sustained during the T20 World Cup. He will miss the early stages of the campaign.
In another blow, Akash Deep was ruled out of the tournament due to injury, though it remains unclear exactly what the issue is. “Unfortunately, he is out of the IPL, ruled out for the season,” said a KKR official, as reported by cricbuzz.
KKR also have decisions to make on their four overseas players. Here is a look at the possible 11 they may start with this season.
KKR possible 11 for IPL 2026: Is there room for both Finn Allen and Tim Seifert?
KKR face a conundrum. Finn Allen and Tim Seifert are one of the most destructive opening combinations in T20 cricket, but there may be room for only one depending on whether KKR opt to play an overseas pace bowler.
If KKR choose both, the three-time champions may opt to play three domestic frontline seamers depending on replacements for their injured players. Cameron Green, purchased for a record overseas sum, will surely make the first XI given the investment in the all-rounder. Sunil Narine is expected to be the other overseas option.
Also, the question if both Allen and Seifert play is where Ajinkya Rahane bats. The skipper would then move to three, pushing Green and Angkrish Raghuvanshi at least one spot down the order. This may not serve the team’s best interests as both prefer to bat in the top four.
KKR kick off their IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede on Sunday March 29.
The war in the Middle East is impacting English cricket, with a shortage of Dukes balls as a result of high transport costs and a backlog of freight.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, English counties will begin the 2026 County Championship season with half the number of balls required for the summer.
This is further complicated by the fact that the England and Wales Cricket Board have scrapped the use of the Kookaburra ball throughout the season after mammoth totals in 2025.
“We’ve got plenty of stuff in the factories in the subcontinent ready to go, but the airlines are not taking the freight, because there’s a logjam,” said Dukes owner Dilip Jajodia to the Daily Mail.
“The rates have gone up too. A box of 120 cricket balls would be charged normally by airlines at about $5 a kilo. The last quote I got was $15 a kilo. Most of the stuff goes through the Middle East, but if you’ve suddenly got rockets flying around, you’ve got a major problem.”
Reactions to Dukes balls shortage: Shubman Gill, everywhere
According to reports, Dukes are exploring alternative routes from the subcontinent to avoid the logjam of flight traffic in the Middle East.
Fans on social media were all over it, with Shubman Gill a common sight on timelines as he told England to “grow some” during last year’s closely-fought Test series.
What if The Middle East conflict is actually just a cover story for the County Championship to use the Kookaburra ball for half the season. They’ll do bloody owt to make sure it’s used! https://t.co/wE6qcBUvCr
The 2026 County Championship season kicks off on Friday April 3. Nottinghamshire won the 2025 Division One title, while Leicestershire sealed the Division Two title.
Injuries and player unavailability has interrupted the leadup to the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. With the tournament to begin on March 28, franchises are now formulating their plan B’s with a number of squad changes.
IPL 2026: Injured players by franchise
Chennai Super Kings
In a huge blow for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Nathan Ellis is set to be ruled out of the entire tournament. According to cricket.com.au, the pace bowler reaggravated a hamstring injury in the recent Australia One Day Cup Final playing for Tasmania against New South Wales. Now, CSK are seeking a replacement player, as per cricbuzz.
Also, all-rounder Matt Short will miss the start of the season due to a fractured thumb.
Delhi Capitals
Mitchell Starc will miss the start of IPL 2026. According to cricket.com.au, Cricket Australia (CA) is taking a cautious approach with the left-arm fast bowler as Australia are set to play up to 21 Tests between August 2026 and August 2027.
How many games Starc will miss depends on CA’s return-to-play protocols over the next few weeks.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Matheesha Pathirana suffered a hamstring injury during Sri Lanka’s win over Australia in the recent T20 World Cup. He is reportedly progressing well, but must pass a Physical Performance Test, as communicated by Sri Lanka Cricket.
“Wanindu Hasaranga, Eshan Malinga, and Matheesha Pathirana, who have requested NOCs to participate in IPL 2026, are yet to undergo the Physical Performance Test, as they are still undergoing rehabilitation to recover from injuries sustained,” the release read.
Harshit Rana was previously ruled out due to a knee injury. The three-time champions are currently seeking a replacement, with the likes of Simarjeet Singh and Sandeep Warrier in the mix according to News Karnataka.
Punjab Kings
Lockie Ferguson will miss the early stages of IPL 2026 to spend time with his family. He and his wife welcomed a newborn son recently, and Ferguson wishes to be home to assist.
“Just had a wee son, trying to spend as much time as I can at home and help the wife out,” Ferguson said before the third T20I against South Africa, as quoted by The Hindu. “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.”
Rajasthan Royals
The Royals have been dealt a blow with Sam Curran likely to be ruled out of the IPL due to a groin injury. Curran has had a busy year in T20s already, leading Desert Vipers to the UAE ILT20 title in January. He then joined Sydney Sixers for a few matches in the BBL before embarking on national duty, including the recent T20 World Cup.
Eyes are also on Adam Milne’s recovery from a hamstring injury he suffered during the SA20. The fast bowler was subsequently ruled out of the T20 World Cup.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Defending champions RCB are sweating on the fitness of Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood, who played a crucial part on their title-winning season, has now entered a fifth month of rehabilitation after picking up hamstring and achilles injuries during the Australian summer. He will miss at least the early part of the IPL season and is subject to CA’s return-to-play protocols in the coming weeks.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH have been hit significantly with Jack Edwards ruled out of the tournament due to a foot injury, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. It is a blow for Edwards who performed well in the BBL 2025/26 season, taking 19 wickets in 13 games for the Sydney Sixers.
Also, captain Pat Cummins, like Hazlewood and Starc, will miss the early stages of the tournament. Cummins continues to manage a back stress injury that saw him feature in just one of the five Ashes Tests over the summer. He then missed the T20 World Cup.
It remains to be seen if Eshan Malinga will be fit to feature. The Sri Lankan missed the T20 World Cup due to a shoulder injury.
