Cricket News: Kane Williamson to miss ODI World Cup 2023, set to undergo ACL surgery | Will Kane Williamson play the ODI World Cup?
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee whilst fielding in the Gujarat Titans’ (GT) first game of the current Indian Premier League (IPL) season against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
The injury rules him out of contention of participating in the One Day International (ODI) World Cup scheduled to be held in India in October-November this year. It is a massive blow for New Zealand as Williamson had led the Kiwis to the finals in the previous edition of the competition in 2019.
“I’ll be doing everything I can to get back on the field as soon as possible” – Williamson
Williamson will undergo a surgery once in the next three weeks once the swelling around his knee reduces. He is back in New Zealand now. “Naturally it’s disappointing to get such an injury, but my focus now is on having the surgery and starting rehab. It’s going to take some time, but I’ll be doing everything I can to get back on the field as soon as possible,” Williamson was quoted in a report by ESPNcricinfo.
Tom Latham is almost certain to take over the leadership mantle from Williamson for the foreseeable future, possibly even in the World Cup. The southpaw had captained the Kiwis during their tour to India earlier this year.
“We haven’t given up hope that he might be right but at this stage it does look unlikely. Our first thoughts are with Kane at the moment, it’s a tough time for him, it’s not an injury you expect. It hits you pretty hard,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead mentioned in a report by the aforementioned website.
Williamson will be a big miss for the Kiwis in the tournament, considering that he averages 56.94 with two centuries and three half-centuries in 22 innings in the ODI World Cups. He has had a key role to play in the team’s runners-up finishes in the previous two editions of the tournament.
How will New Zealand cope without Williamson in the World Cup in India? Let us know by tweeting @cric_blog.
LSG vs SRH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2023 Match 10 | LKN vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today | Lucknow Pitch Report
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will face off against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a highly-anticipated clash. Both teams lost their last game and would want to put on a better show this time around. LSG, who won their first game by 50 runs, were handed a defeat by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 12 runs at Chennai, while SRH were on the wrong end of a 72-run hammering at the hands of the Royals.
SRH’s regular captain Aiden Markram will be back for the game. His availability will strengthen the team and also boost their confidence. They have the talent to bounce back, but will have to play well against an LSG team that has shown strong signs they will be there challenging for the playoffs yet again.
An even-fought game is well on the cards at Lucknow.
Lucknow Super Giants: 1. Quinton de Kock (OS) (wk), 2. KL Rahul (c), 3. Kyle Mayers (OS), 4. Deepak Hooda, 5. Nicholas Pooran (OS), 6. Krunal Pandya, 7. Ayush Badoni, 8. Krishnappa Gowtham, 9. Avesh Khan, 10. Mark Wood (OS), 11. Ravi Bishnoi
Adil Rashid might make way for SRH captain Aiden Markram. Glenn Phillips could also make way for Heinrich Klaasen. The rest of the players might retain their places.
KL Rahul has scored 393 runs at an average of 39.30 and a strike rate of 125.55 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. He has also amassed four half-centuries against them.
Rahul has scored 93 runs off 79 balls against Bhuvneshwar Kumar with one dismissal.
Quinton de Kock will be playing his first game of the season. The Southpaw has a decent record against SRH: 372 runs at a 37.20 average and a strike rate of 130.98. He has also made three fifties against the Orange Army.
Kyle Mayers scores in the first two games read: 73 (38) vs DC & 53 (22) vs CSK. He is in sublime touch this season. Mayers can also chip in a few overs if required.
Mark Wood is bowling rockets at the moment. In the first two matches, Wood has snared eight wickets at a magnificent average of 7.88 and a strike rate of 6.00 so far. It includes a five-for in LSG’s opening rubber against Delhi Capitals.
Ravi Bishnoi has looked reasonably well with the ball so far. In the first game, he scalped two wickets and three wickets in the second game. Overall, Bishnoi has taken seven wickets at an average of 13.57 and an economy rate of 6.33 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Mayank Agarwal is a quick starter of the innings. He likes taking on the bowlers and making the most of field restrictions. He will again look to provide a rapid start to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Rahul Tripathi at No. 3 in the IPL: 834 runs, 30.88 average & 146.83 strike rate. He has amassed as many as five fifties in that batting position. Expect another good outing for him against LSG.
Aiden Markram is in the form of his life. He is coming into the game on the back of a marvellous 175(126) against the Netherlands in the last ODI. Markram is also a more than handy off-spinner.
Aiden Markram in T20s in 2023: 15 inns, 453 runs, avg. 37.75, SR 135.63.
Harry Brook has had a tough time in his debut IPL game against Rajasthan Royals. But he is a quality player and will be eager to bounce back. In 51 T20s last year, Brook scored 1,181 runs at an average of 32.81 and strike rate of 152.19.
Umran Malik is one of the most exciting pacers in world cricket at the moment. He can trouble the LSG batters with his pace in the middle overs. The likes of Krunal Pandya and Nicholas Pooran have found it onerous to counter high pace in the past.
Other Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 1, LSG 1, SRH 0.
Kyle Mayers in T20s in 2023: 363 runs at a 30.25 average & 164.25 strike rate. 78.23% of his total runs have come in boundaries this year.
T Natarajan vs KL Rahul: 18 balls bowled, 11 runs scored, one dismissal.
Aiden Markram at No. 4 in T20s: 1255 runs, avg. 34.86 and SR. 135.38. He has also made 8 half-centuries and a century in this batting position.
Nicholas Pooran needs 20 more runs to complete 1000 IPL runs.
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium Pitch Report and Weather
The average first innings score at Lucknow in the last three years is 140 in the last three years. The teams batting first have won 50% of the matches. The surface was tricky and patchy in LSG’s opening game against DC, before Kyle Mayers and co. dominated the contest.
The temperatures are expected to be around 30°C during the match hours with no threat of rain.
IPL 2023 Match 10: LSG vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today Match 7 April 2023
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:
Option 2:
Fan2Play Prediction
Base team:
Wicket-keepers: KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock
Batters: Mayank Agarwal
All-rounders: Aiden Markram, Kyle Mayers
Bowlers: Mark Wood
IPL 2023 Match 10: LSG vs SRH Match Prediction – Who will win?
Both – Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad – are strong units. However, LSG will have the advantage of playing at their home ground. Expect them to win their second game of the season.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views 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.
Cricket News: KKR sign Jason Roy for Rs 2.8 crore | Kolkata Knight Riders pick up Jason Roy for IPL 2023
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have signed English opener Jason Roy as a replacement for Rs 2.8 crore as they deal with the absence of two of their high-profile players – skipper Shreyas Iyer and Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Ak Hasan. Roy previously went unsold at the auction in Kochi in December at a base price of Rs 1.5 crore.
So far, Roy’s limited participation in the IPL has been quite conspicuous despite his reputation of being one of the most destructive and consistent openers in limited-overs cricket over the years. He has played only 13 IPL matches since his first appearance in the league back in 2017 for the now defunct Gujarat Lions.
Roy averages 29.91 with a strike rate of 129.02 in these IPL games. However, he will be expected to shoulder greater responsibility and possibly even play an important role for KKR in a campaign when they have to work their way around Iyer’s injury. The India batting star holds that batting unit together as he has the ability to play the long innings around whom others can come and deliver their short, impactful knocks.
The KKR batting wore a pretty inexperienced look lacking both quality and experience in their opening game of the season against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mohali last Saturday. Their top-order comprised Afghan wicketkeeper-batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Punjab batsman Mandeep Singh with skipper Nitish Rana, Anukul Roy and Venkatesh Iyer to follow the duo.
Roy will add a ton lot of strength to the batting unit with his flair and dynamism. He has a natural boundary-hitting ability that is tough to replicate and the 32-year-old’s quick starts will set the base for the likes of Andre Russell and Sunil Narine to fire with the bat later on. Moreover, he will arguably relish the opportunity to play in the batting-friendly track that the Eden Gardens often dishes out.
KKR vs RCB Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2023 Match 9 | KOL vs RCB Dream11 Prediction Today | Eden Gardens Pitch Report
The IPL returns to Eden Gardens, and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) need a happy homecoming. Their flaws were on display against Punjab Kings, with a focus now on rectifying those in an important early-season clash against the confident Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
RCB have won five of their past seven games against KKR. Here is the perfect opportunity for Faf du Plessis’ team to add to that. Mohammed Siraj was back to his powerplay best against Mumbai Indians, while du Plessis and Virat Kohli reminded us of just how good they are. However, how RCB deal with their injury concerns – now including Reece Topley – is a big test of their credentials.
For KKR, how will they reduce their reliance on Andre Russell? With Shreyas Iyer not available, and Jason Roy not yet with the squad, the onus is on a relatively inexperienced top order to set a platform for the likes of Russell, Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh. Indeed, that is easier said than done against Siraj and co. on what is expected to be a pacy Eden Gardens pitch, but KKR have seamers of their own who can cause damage.
David Willey is likely to come in for Reece Topley. Rajat Patidar is out of IPL 2023. If they bat first, they may bring in Suyash Prabhudessai for one of the bowlers, i.e. Siraj, and then sub the seamer in for the second innings.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1. Faf du Plessis (c), 2. Virat Kohli, 3. Glenn Maxwell, 4. Michael Bracewell, 5. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6. Shahbaz Ahmed, 7. Harshal Patel, 8. Akash Deep, 9. David Willey, 10. Karn Sharma, 11. Mohammed Siraj
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Kolkata Knight Riders:
A lot rests on Andre Russell. He has an unbelievable record against RCB, with 364 runs in 12 matches at an average of 45.50 and strike rate of 208. He also has ten wickets.
Nitish Rana has solid numbers against RCB. The captain has struck 231 runs in nine innings at an average of 33.00 and strike rate of 144.38. He also has similar stats at Eden Gardens: 14 inns, 464 runs, avg. 34.62, SR 140.19.
Rana has faced 21 balls against Mohammed Siraj and strikes at 157.1. He has been dismissed once, so this could be an interesting battle today.
Venkatesh Iyer vs RCB: 3 inns, 77 runs, avg. 38.50, SR 108.45.
Virat Kohli has a strike rate of just 103.1 in the IPL against Sunil Narine (101 off 98, three dismissals). Narine also has the most wickets of any bowler at Eden Gardens, with 56 in 44 innings at a strike rate of 18.29.
Umesh Yadav against RCB’s openers promises to be a great watch. He has dismissed du Plessis once in 15 balls, conceding 12. Also, Umesh has dominated Glenn Maxwell in T20s, with total figures of 4/31 in 28 deliveries.
Tim Southee also has good numbers against Faf, with total figures of 2/27 off 16 balls in T20s.
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Virat Kohli has a great record against Umesh (150 runs off 85 balls, three dismissals), but early movement at Eden Gardens makes Yadav a dangerous customer. If Virat gets going, watch out.
Virat has the most runs in KKR-RCB matches (786) at an average of 34.17 and strike rate of 128.64. He also loves batting at Kolkata, with 471 runs on this ground (avg. 42.82, SR 128.34).
Faf du Plessis was man of the match against Mumbai Indians with a 43-ball 73. KKR is one of Faf’s favourite opponents, with 432 runs at an average of 39.27 and strike rate of 131.71.
Interestingly, du Plessis has a poor past record at Eden Gardens: 7 inns, 108 runs, avg. 15.43, SR 131.71.
Glenn Maxwell has smashed 84 runs off 43 balls against Southee in all T20s (three dismissals). But, his poor record against Umesh (mentioned above) and Sunil Narine (4/93 off 84 balls) is something for him to overcome.
Mohammed Siraj was superb in the powerplay against MI. But, RCB may also look to use him against Andre Russell. He has bowled 18 deliveries to the West Indian, dismissing him once whilst conceding just 22.
Siraj has taken nine wickets in as many matches against KKR at an average of 24.33 and economy of 7.22.
Harshal Patel has dismissed Andre Russell twice in 26 balls, conceding a respectable 35. Harshal has 12 career wickets in ten matches vs KKR (SR 17.50) and nine wickets in seven matches at Eden Gardens (SR 17.33).
Other Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 31, KKR 17, RCB 14.
Andre Russell’s batting record at Eden Gardens: 25 inns, 700 runs, avg. 38.89, SR 199.43.
Virat Kohli has scored 67 off 42 against Shardul Thakur in the IPL.
Faf du Plessis in T20s in 2023: 13 inns, 482 runs, avg. 40.17, SR 146.50.
Umesh takes one wicket every 24 deliveries on average on this ground. Can he improve on this?
Karn Sharma at Eden Gardens: 6 matches, 8 wickets, avg. 19.50, SR 12.75.
Eden Gardens Kolkata Pitch Report and Weather
Expect the Eden Gardens surface to have something in it for the quicks, with early swing and dew on the menu. So, the captain who wins the toss is likely to chase.
There were two high-scoring matches on this ground in IPL 2022. Gujarat chased Rajasthan’s 188 with three balls to spare, before RCB scored 207 and beat LSG by 16 runs. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in October and November 2022, the average first innings score in seven matches was 176.14. The team batting first won four of these games.
A hot and clear night is forecast in Kolkata.
IPL 2023 Match 9: KKR vs RCB Dream11 Prediction Today Match 6 April 2023
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:
Option 2:
Fan2Play Prediction
Base team:
Wicket-keepers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Batters: Virat Kohli
All-rounders: Andre Russell
Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav
IPL 2023 Match 9: KKR vs RCB Match Prediction – Who will win?
RCB start as favourites, but KKR cannot be counted out at home with their bowling attack. The chasing team is likelier to win, so the team batting first needs to aim for 180+ to feel competitive.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views 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.
Cricket News: Twitter reactions: Fans joyful as Rishabh Pant watches DC vs GT in stadium | Rishabh Pant in the stands at Delhi
Star wicketkeeper-batsman and Delhi Capitals’ original skipper Rishabh Pant surprised fans by attending the team’s match against the Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday. Pant, who has been out of cricketing action since suffering a horrific car accident on December 30, made a public appearance.
He was accompanied by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah in the stands. This comes after the Capitals hung his jersey on the top of their dugout in the inaugural game of the season against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Saturday.
Fans react to Rishabh Pant watching IPL in the stadium
Here is how Twitterati reacted to Pant’s return to the stadium.
When life hits hard.. some people aren’t able to get up but some people get up and hit the life back. Rishabh Pant is prime example of the same. pic.twitter.com/0HQdHvrBJw
Youngest IPL Captain snatched away of the opportunity by cruel destiny still has the courage to hold himself and cheer for his team with max enthusiasm from the stands even in an ailing physical condition.
I've stanned right people in life. From the man who stepped into the field after losing his father to the man who was batting coughing blood to the man who stepped into the field after head injury to Rishabh Pant who lost his father, met with an accident yet fought against all… pic.twitter.com/HR35sPOMlD
Delhi, however, succumbed to their second straight loss as the Gujarat Titans defeated them by six wickets. The home team put up 162/8 in the first innings with David Warner scoring 37 off 32 and Sarfaraz Khan taking 34 deliveries for his 30 runs. Axar Patel’s quick cameo of 36 runs helped them get to a challenging total but the Titans’ duo of Sai Sudarshan (62* off 48) and David Miller (31* off 16) ensured that the defending champions rounded off the chase comfortably.
Meanwhile, Pant’s returned thrilled a home crowd in an otherwise disappointing outing for the David Warner-led side. The Capitals will now head to Guwahati to face off against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 8th.
Feels like last season happened two weeks ago with Gujarat Titans – Tom Moody | Tom Moody praises Hardik Pandya the captain
Analyst and former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) coach Tom Moody has heaped further praise on Gujarat Titans following their second-straight win to kick off the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL). Speaking on ESPNcricinfo T20 Time Out, Moody said the Titans’ ability to continue on from last season is an ominous warning to the other nine teams in the league.
“The quality of their bowling attack is quite formidable,” Moody said. “It’s nearly like last season happened only two weeks ago. That’s how it feels just watching them play, and that’s a credit to the management more than anything else because what they’ve done is manage to keep things simple, keep things calm and do what they’ve done previously so people could just continue in the wake of that success they had last year.”
Hardik Pandya’s body language as Titans captain a huge positive – Moody
Moody pinpointed Hardik Pandya’s leadership as a key reasons for Gujarat Titans’ record. They have now won 14 of 18 games since the start of their debut season, with Pandya creating a sense of calm among the playing group.
“Hardik is continuing to impress as a leader, he really is” Moody said. “Just watching his body language in the dugout, watching his body language on the field when things aren’t quite going right and when things are going well, he’s just very level. There is a lot to like about what he’s bringing to the table.”
“It’s nearly like last season happened only two weeks ago. That’s how it feels just watching them play, and that’s a credit to the management”
Tom Moody on the Gujarat Titans
Other pundits have echoed similar thoughts. Managing Editor of Aaj Tak/Sports Tak and Sports Presenter Vikrant Gupta believes the Titans have a formula other teams should aspire to.
“Gujarat Titans are the perfect template for others to follow. Rather than being dependent on just one or two, they come up with a new match winner every game. Some confidence. Some skill this. And credit to Hardik Pandya for all this,” he tweeted.
Gujarat Titans are the perfect template for others to follow. Rather than being dependent on just one or two, they come up with a new match winner every game. Some confidence. Some skill this. And credit to Hardik Pandya for all this #GTvsDC
RR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2023 Match 8 | RR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today | Guwahati Pitch Report
Two first-up winners in IPL 2023 go head-to-head for the chance to keep their 100% record alive. 2022 finalists Rajasthan Royals showcased their 2023 credentials with a calculated, clinical take down of Sunrisers Hyderabad, whom many believe can challenge for this year’s title.
Jos Buttler was superb in the powerplay, and the Royals want more of the same. Yashasvi Jaiswal was also terrific, and is a dark horse for this season’s Orange Cap. Sanju Samson was as classy and impactful as ever, followed up by the Royals’ efficient attack led by the brilliant Yuzvendra Chahal and Trent Boult.
If Punjab Kings are to knock them over in this clash, they’ll have to be even better than they were against KKR on Saturday. It was a solid all-round display against the Knight Riders, but consistency is the next step for the Kings. Last season, they failed to win two consecutive matches, ultimately costing them a playoffs’ spot. Here is a great chance to right that wrong by beating a highly-rated team in IPL 2023.
RR have won four of the past five matches against PBKS. Can Punjab add another victory to turn this recent record around?
For more cricket fixtures around the world, visit Fixture Calendar.
IPL 2023 Match 8: RR vs PBKS Possible Playing XIs
Rajasthan Royals could stick with the same XI. Their team is built perfectly for the Impact Player rule, so they may start with a specialist bowler over Devdutt Padikkal if they bowl first and vice versa.
Kagiso Rabada has joined the PBKS squad after South Africa’s two ODIs against the Netherlands. Whether he is ready to go for this match remains to be seen.
Since the start of IPL 2018, Jos Buttler has smashed 306 runs against Punjab at an average of 43.71 and strike rate of 150.
In all T20s, Buttler has great numbers against Rabada (56 balls, 96 runs, one dismissal).
Yashasvi Jaiswal has struck scores of 68 and 49 at a strike rate of 151.95 against Punjab. He was player of the match against them last season.
Sanju Samson has the most runs in RR-PBKS matches. The captain has belted 552 runs in 15 innings at an average of 46.00 and strike rate of 152.91.
Samson has hit 49 off just 26 balls against Arshdeep (one dismissal), 26 off 17 against Rabada (one dismissal) and 44 off 28 against Rahul Chahar (one dismissal).
Trent Boult started IPL 2023 brilliantly, with two wickets in his first over against SRH. However, he has historically struggled against PBKS, with eight wickets in ten matches at an average of 42.63 and economy of 9.34.
Yuzvendra Chahal is on fire. The classy legspinner has taken 31 wickets in his last 18 IPL matches, including 4/17 against SRH and 3/28 against PBKS last season.
Chahal career record vs PBKS: 17 matches, 28 wickets, avg. 16.25, SR 12.46.
Punjab Kings:
Shikhar Dhawan has scored 576 runs against RR at an average of 28.80 and strike rate of 126.59. He has good numbers in T20s against Trent Boult, with 102 runs in 81 balls (two dismissals).
Jitesh Sharma hit 38* off 18 balls against RR last season. When batting at number five in T20s, Jitesh has scored 406 runs at an average of 58.00 and strike rate of 196.14.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa showcased what he is capable of in the first match against KKR. The hard-hitting left-hander hit 50 off 32 balls.
Arshdeep Singh was outstanding in Punjab’s first game. He took 3/18. Also, he has an good wicket-taking record against RR, with 12 wickets in five matches at an average of 14.42.
Arshdeep has dismissed Buttler once in 20 balls and has only conceded 20 runs. He has also dismissed Jaiswal once in five balls (two runs).
Sam Curran made a promising start to life as the most expensive IPL player. He struck 26* (17) and took 1/38 against KKR. Something to build on.
Kagiso Rabada has taken ten wickets in six matches against Royals (avg. 20.60, SR 14.20).
Watch out for Prabhsimran Singh, who hit an impressive 23 off 12 balls against KKR. He was dismissed in unlucky fashion down the legside.
Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati Pitch Report and Weather
The Royals will play their first two home matches at Guwahati before moving to Sawai Masingh Stadium in Jaipur. Expect a true, fresh pitch for this clash. Last year, India (237/3) and South Africa (221/3) played out a very high-scoring T20I. Kagiso Rabada took 0/57 in four overs, Arshdeep Singh 2/62 and R Ashwin 0/37.
A warm and mostly clear evening is forecast, so the captain who wins the toss is likely to field with dew and the relatively small ground dimensions.
IPL 2023 Match 8: RR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today Match 5 April 2023
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:
Option 2:
Fan2Play Prediction
Base team:
Wicket-keepers: Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson
Batters: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shikhar Dhawan
All-rounders: Sam Curran
Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh
IPL 2023 Match 8: RR vs PBKS Match Prediction – Who will win?
Punjab are capable of winning, but expect Rajasthan to prevail, especially if they chase.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views 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.
The West Indian has been in blistering form to begin the season, smashing 73 (38) and 53 (22) against Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings respectively. All of a sudden, LSG’s overseas combination of Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran and Mark Wood doesn’t look so set, which management required to make a decision with de Kock now available after South Africa’s successful ODI series against Netherlands.
Kyle Mayers madness in the IPL!
– 73 (38) in the first match. – 53* (21) in this match.
– Unbelievable impact by Mayers, he got an opportunity in the opening department and he proved himself! pic.twitter.com/hQhuVgxTuD
Should the LSG management keep Kyle Mayers in the XI?
Dropping Kyle Mayers would be a risky move. However, leaving out the excellent Quinton de Kock, who recently smashed 100 off 44 balls against West Indies, is also a risk.
Another option would be to bat KL Rahul at three. But, it must be remembered that Rahul and de Kock combined for 1,124 runs in IPL 2022, so LSG may not be willing to break that opening combination with both available.
So, the spotlight is on Marcus Stoinis, who has made a bit of a slow start to the campaign. The all-rounder offers plenty of value in T20 cricket, especially as a finisher. Since the start of 2020, Stoinis has a strike rate of 180.7 between overs 17 and 20 in the IPL. However, with LSG already containing the likes of Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni, plus a number of bowling options, LSG may be tempted to play de Kock and move Mayers down to three.
Possible LSG XI without Marcus Stoinis: 1. KL Rahul (c), 2. Quinton de Kock (OS & wk), 3. Kyle Mayers (OS), 4. Deepak Hooda, 5. Nicholas Pooran (OS), 6. Ayush Badoni, 7. Krunal Pandya, 8. Krishnappa Gotham, 9. Mark Wood (OS), 10. Yash Thakur/Jaydev Unadkat, 11. Ravi Bishnoi
This XI also creates a question around Deepak Hooda’s role. He too has made a slow start to IPL 2023, but moving him down to four isn’t the worst move. In 28 T20s batting at four, Hooda has scored 823 runs at an average of 35.78 and strike rate of 146.18.
LSG have Sunrisers Hyderabad up next, who themselves are looking to bounce back after a thumping defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals. de Kock has scored 372 runs in 11 matches against SRH at an average of 37.20 and strike rate of 130.99, including three fifties.
Given the way SRH’s bowlers started against the Royals, a top three of Rahul, de Kock and Mayers can certainly be very damaging.
Cricket News: Tom Moody: Mumbai Indians will be nowhere near the finals | Tom Moody says there are too many gaps in MI team
Former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) head coach Tom Moody believes that there are far too many holes in the Mumbai Indians (MI) squad for them to make it to the finals of the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year. Moody criticised the five-time IPL champions’ auction strategy as he explained that the balance of their overseas contingent is too lopsided at the moment.
MI fought their way to 171 courtesy a terrific knock of 84 runs from Tilak Varma after their top-order completely crumbled. However, the bowling unit showed no bite as RCB’s opening duo of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis took them to the cleaners, stitching a 148 run partnership in merely 15 overs. Mumbai are already missing their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in this campaign and star recruit Jofra Archer did not appear to be in the best of rhythm on Sunday.
Tom Moody – too many holes in the MI squad
“I am concerned (for MI) because I sort of called it before the start of the IPL that I didn’t think they’d be anywhere near the finals. I just feel there are too many holes amongst their team and I don’t think they’ve got a balance in their squad either. They don’t have the domestic bowling depth and the international bowling depth,” Moody said in the ESPNcricinfo T20 time out show in the aftermath of Mumbai’s loss against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.
Mumbai will return back to their home turf to square off against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 8 but Moody is not too optimistic of their fortunes in the ongoing season.
“They don’t have balance with their overseas players either. They’ve got a lot of power-hitters and young power-hitters in Brevis, Stubbs and David. Three of them are taking up the eight slots that you’re given. That doesn’t make sense to me. You can see tonight just with RCB how important experience is. Where is the experience in that squad?” the former Australian pacer mentioned.
In addition to the lack of quality pacers, Mumbai are missing top spin bowling options in their ranks as well. They did not replace Rahul Chahar appropriately in the mega auction prior to IPL 2022 and have acquired Piyush Chawla for this year.
Do you think MI can turnaround their form in the mega encounter against CSK on Saturday? Do let us know by tweeting @cric_blog.
On The CricBlog Podcast, we debate whether Mumbai indians will make the IPL 2023 playoffs. Watch here or below!
DC vs GT Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2023 Match 7 | DC vs GT Dream11 Prediction Today | Delhi Pitch Report
IPL without Rishabh Pant did not start well for Delhi Capitals, losing convincingly to Lucknow over the weekend. The silver lining for Capitals fans today is that Delhi regularly responded to defeats last season, often winning after losing. David Warner, Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly is an excellent leadership core, so expect a bounceback by DC today.
However, it won’t be easy. Champions Gujarat Titans started 2023 in the same manner, with an efficient last-over win on IPL 2023’s opening night. The loss of Kane Williamson to an injury is a blow to both he and the franchise, but the Titans have the core and depth to cover effectively. Today will be a good test away at Delhi, with eyes on how the Capitals tackle Rashid Khan on a pitch that could provide some assistance for the spinners.
On The CricBlog Podcast, we shared our predictions for the IPL season. Watch here or below!
For more cricket fixtures around the world, visit Fixture Calendar.
IPL 2023 Match 7: DC vs GT Possible Playing XIs
DC may stick with the same playing XI that lost to LSG. South Africa’s series against the Netherlands finished on Sunday, but Anrich Norje is set to play according to cricbuzz.
Mustafizur Rahman is with the squad, and he is an option for DC. He took 3/23 against GT last season.
Delhi Capitals: 1. David Warner (OS & c), 2. Prithvi Shaw, 3. Mitchell Marsh (OS), 4. Aman Khan, 5. Sarfaraz Khan (wk), 6. Rovman Powell (OS), 7. Axar Patel, 8. Kuldeep Yadav, 9. Chetan Sekariya, 10. Anrich Nortje (OS), 11. Khaleel Ahmed
Kane Williamson out of IPL 2023 due to injury. According to cricbuzz, David Miller should be available for the match. If he is not, then GT may play Matthew Wade.
Also, GT may play an extra spinner, i.e. R Sai Kishore or Jayant Yadav, if the pitch is on the dry side.
Gujarat Titans: 1. Shubman Gill, 2. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3. Sai Sudharsan, 4. Hardik Pandya (c), 5. David Miller/Matthew Wade (OS), 6. Rahul Tewatia, 7. Rashid Khan (OS), 8. Mohammed Shami, 9. Josh Little (OS), 10. Yash Dayal/R Sai Kishore/Jayant Yadav, 11. Alzarri Joseph (OS)
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Delhi Capitals:
David Warner averages 30.56 with a strike rate of 122.59 in 31 matches on this ground. Also, he has scored an impressive 99 runs off 68 balls against Mohammed Shami in T20s, dismissed twice.
Prithvi Shaw also has solid numbers against Shami. He has been dismissed once, but has scored 40 off 28 balls.
Shaw at Feroz Shah Kotla: 14 inns, 364 runs, avg. 26.00, SR 143.31.
Mitchell Marsh had a superb recent ODI series against India. He smashed 194 runs in three matches at a strike rate of 131.08.
Khaleel Ahmed was impressive in the powerplay against LSG. He will be key against Shubman Gill, whom he has dismissed twice in 25 deliveries in the IPL (38 runs). He has also dismissed Hardik Pandya twice in eight balls.
Kuldeep Yadav has taken 28 wickets in 22 T20s since the start of 2022. He is averaging 20.71, and he should enjoy conditions at Delhi.
Gujarat Titans:
Shubman Gill started IPL 2023 in strong fashion with 63 vs CSK. Last season against DC, he smashed 84 off 46 balls. Overall against Delhi, Gill has scored 352 runs in ten matches at an average of 35.20 and strike rate of 129.89.
Gill has never been dismissed by DC’s spin duo Axar (72 off 51 balls) and Kuldeep (29 off 18 balls). So, getting through the powerplay will be key.
Hardik Pandya, who struck the fourth-most runs in IPL 2022 (487), strikes at 195.71 in eight innings at the Feroz Shah Kotla (137 runs).
Gujarat may keep overs for Rashid Khan to use against Rovman Powell. Since the start of 2022, Powell has been dismissed 12 times in 202 deliveries against legspin (247 runs).
Mohammed Shami has taken 22 wickets in 17 IPL innings since the start of 2022. He is striking every 17.7 deliveries.
12 of Shami’s 22 wickets have come in the powerplay. He is conceding just 6.60 per over in this phase. So, his battle against the DC top order promises to be fascinating.
Alzarri Joseph has taken 59 wickets in just 41 T20s since the start of 2022. 18 of these wickets have come between overs 7-16, where he was excellent in the first game against CSK.
Other Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 1, DC 0, GT 1.
David Warner has never faced Rashid Khan in T20s. In ODIs, he has faced 26 balls and scored 30 runs without dismissal.
Rovman Powell is striking at 200 between overs 17 and 20 in franchise T20s this year.
Hardik Pandya (SR 116), Vijay Shankar (SR 114) and Rahul Tewatia (SR 56) have been slow against left-arm spin since IPL 2019. So, watch out for Axar Patel.
Wriddhiman Saha has a strike rate of 134.74 in 14 innings against Delhi Capitals. He has scored 25 off 14 balls against Kuldeep in the IPL (one dismissal).
Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium Delhi Pitch Report and Weather
How the Delhi surface plays early in IPL 2023 will be interesting to see. A fresh, true pitch is expected. Last year, South Africa chased 212 in a T20I against India.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in November 2021, the average first innings score was 140.56.
There is a chance of some showers in Delhi on Tuesday, but the match should hopefully be unaffected.
IPL 2023 Match 7: DC vs GT Dream11 Prediction Today Match 4 April 2023
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:
Option 2:
Fan2Play Prediction
Base team:
Wicket-keepers: Wriddhiman Saha
Batters: Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, David Warner
All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel
Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Anrich Nortje
IPL 2023 Match 7: DC vs GT Match Prediction – Who will win?
Tough match to predict. This one can be close. The chasing team is likely to have the advantage.
On The CricBlog Podcast, we shared our predictions for the IPL season. Watch here or below!
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views 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.
