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?
Pat Cummins has revealed why he will miss the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Test skipper managed to play just one out of the five Ashes Tests recently, contributing to Australia’s series-defining win at Adelaide, due to a back injury suffered during the tour of West Indies last year.
Pat Cummins aims to play every Test after ruled out of T20 World Cup
Cummins said that the recovery period between the Adelaide Test and T20 World Cup was too tight. With a massive schedule coming up, Cummins said management of the injury is crucial.
“It was really unfortunate,” Cummins told AAP, as quoted by cricket.com.au. “I feel pretty good, just a minor setback and just ran out of time really.
“I’ll rest up for a few weeks and go from there. We knew after the (Adelaide) Test match we were going to need somewhere between four and eight weeks to let the bone settle right down before then building back up.
“Initially, we thought it might only be four weeks, because I was feeling really good, but just had a follow-up scan.
“They thought it probably needs another couple of weeks, so the timeline just became a bit too tight.”
Australia have a huge schedule starting in August. Pat Cummins’ team will play Bangladesh in two Top End Tests in August, before a highly-anticipated three-Test and three-ODI tour of South Africa.
The Australians then host New Zealand for four Tests before embarking on a five-match tour of India in January 2027. They will then aim to defend their World Cup title in South Africa.
Following that tournament, Australia play England in the 150th anniversary Test at the MCG in March. Later in the year, Australia will travel to England for the Ashes plus a possible World Test Championship Final.
“We thought the first half of the year was a pretty good time to be conservative with the amount of cricket that’s coming up,” Cummins said.
“We’ll get it right, then hopefully that will mean you won’t have to worry about it, and you can just go out and play all those Test matches.
‘Whereas, if you’re not careful with it now and it flares up, you’re chasing your tail a bit.”
Cummins also said his participation in the 2026 Indian Premier League will depend on upcoming scans. He is due to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad once again.
“We’ll just be guided by my back. We’ll have another scan in a few weeks, and if it’s good, then we’ll have a slow build-up,” he said.
“T20s are a little bit easier to get up for (than Tests), that’s why I was so close to getting up for this World Cup.”
In yet another potential blow for the Australian cricket team, premium fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is likely to miss the initial stages of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
Sean Abbott has been added as a travelling reserve. While Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, and Nathan Ellis will join the squad in Colombo on February 3 after missing the recently concluded three-match T20I series in Pakistan, Hazlewood will stay back in Sydney as he continues to recover from an Achilles issue.
Josh Hazlewood faces race to be fit for later stages of 2026 T20 World Cup
The past few months have been frustrating for Hazlewood. He was initially ruled out of the first half of the home Ashes series due to a hamstring injury, before picking up an achilles issue.
He was confident of joining the team in time for the T20 World Cup. However, that will not be the case as Australian selectors continue to take a cautious approach with their premier fast bowler.
“We felt with Josh it was more practical and beneficial for him to continue his rehabilitation at home in a familiar environment before travelling to Sri Lanka. With Nathan [Ellis] also completing his return to play, we decided to bring Sean with us as a fast bowling cover, should anything come up at short notice,” selector Tony Dodemaide said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“Sean is an accomplished and versatile international player who has experienced numerous World Cup campaigns. It made sense for him to stay with the group following the Pakistan tour.”
Australia would hope that Hazlewood joins the squad before the business end of the tournament begins. The former World Champions are already without Pat Cummins, who was recently ruled out after needing more time to recover from the back injury that forced him to miss four out of the five Test matches against England. Ben Dwarshuis has been added as his replacement.
Australia’s injury problems don’t end here. T20 specialists Nathan Ellis and Tim David are coming off layoffs due to their respective hamstring injuries. Glenn Maxwell is currently managing his previously broken ankle.
Wristspinner Adam Zampa bowled just two overs in the third T20I against Pakistan. He did not come out to bat due to “groin tightness.”
Australia are scheduled to play a warm-up match against the Netherlands on February 5. They will open their campaign against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.
As Australia produced terrible performances in Pakistan, selectors decided against selecting Steve Smith in their final squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Instead, Matt Renshaw won a place as a middle order replacement ahead of Matt Short. Ben Dwarshuis for the injured Pat Cummins was the other squad change.
Australia’s issues against spin were on full display in Pakistan, collapsing to totals of 108 and 96 in the final two T20Is which they lost by 90 and 111 runs respectively. The Pakistan spinners combined for 22 wickets in the three matches as the Australians couldn’t get going.
As the carnage unfolded, fans wondered why selectors passed on Steve Smith given his ability against spin. George Bailey is on record of saying that Australia’s top order is settled, while selector Tony Dodemaide echoed similar thoughts.
“Matt (Renshaw) has impressed in all formats of late, including in multiple roles in white ball formats for Australia, Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat,” he said, as quoted by cricket.com.au.
“With the top order settled and spin heavy conditions expected in the pool stages in Sri Lanka, we also feel Matt provides extra middle-order support, with Tim David completing his return-to-play program in the early phase of the tournament.
“As a left-hander, he (Renshaw) also offers a point of difference to the middle order batting.”
Steve Smith not picked in 2026 T20 World Cup squad: Fans react
Smith was outstanding in the recent 2025/26 Big Bash League (BBL) season. He smashed 299 runs at an average of 59.80 and strike rate of 167.97. He achieved these numbers as opener, and that’s how the selectors view his role rather than batting him at three.
However, fans are not convinced, especially as a number of the current squad members are out of form. Australia will play their group games in Sri Lanka where spin is very likely to play a key role.
“Aust can still win the T20 World Cup but there are worrying issues. Several batsmen are out of form at the wrong time.(Maxwell, Inglis,Connolly) and several key players carrying injuries. (Ellis, David, Hazelwood) and our best player Smith is not in the squad,” wrote former Australian cricketer and current Fox Cricket commentator Mark Waugh.
“Australia look awful against the spinners in this series and our best player of spin bowling, Steve Smith, isn’t going to the World Cup,” wrote Andrew Menzcel, co-host of the Cricket Unfiltered Podcast.
Here are some of the other reactions.
Aust can still win the T20 World Cup but there are worrying issues. Several batsmen are out of form at the wrong time.(Maxwell, Inglis,Connolly) and several key players carrying injuries. (Ellis, David, Hazelwood) and our best player Smith is not in the squad.🤞
There is not one batsman in that squad who should have been picked ahead of Smith. As the media you should be calling out the selectors, not trying to justify their selections.
Playing flops like Matthew Short, Matt Renshaw, and Josh Inglis over Steve Smith in Australia’s T20 World Cup team is the biggest joke man. I don’t know who the clown is in the selector role for Australia. 💀🤡 pic.twitter.com/ztdZEMsAJo
Imagine looking at this and thinking you don’t need the best batsman in the world. No Steve Smith is one of the worst selection blunders in Australian cricket history 🙃 https://t.co/VHDopmluLdpic.twitter.com/csJ8UMBxao
In his 9 T20i matches so far for Australia, Cooper Connolly has scored 14 runs at an average of 2.8 and taken 2 wickets at an average of 89. But it's a good thing they didn't pick old man Steve Smith
I mean absolutely no offence to Matt Renshaw, but just clarifying, the selectors chose him over Steve Smith as a late Addison to Australia’s T20 World Cup squad yeah?
Horrible World Cup prep for Australia, I cannot beleive Smith is just sat at home. Needed to be in the squad at the very least. You cannot ignore that sort of form, class and experience.
We don’t need Steve Smith. We already have the best openers. We have Matt Renshaw and Josh Inglis supposedly our best players of spin.
Like… WTF? Embarrassing performance by Australia and an absolute shocker of a selection call from Bailey. Honestly, no words left. 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/KEf4uoPHx1
Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign begins on February 11 against Ireland in Colombo.
Australia squad: Mitch Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Australia’s trial by spin in the next month or so began in Lahore, with Pakistan’s spinners combining to inspire a 22-run win in the opening T20I on Thursday.
Australia are expected to welcome back key players for the second T20I, but the task remains the same – overcoming spin. It is an area Adam Zampa has sent a warning about after the Australians lost all their wickets (excluding run outs) to Pakistan’s spin quartet.
For Pakistan, the template remains the same. Quick runs at the top is vital in these conditions, and Saim Ayub showed the way two days ago. However, whether they can get enough impact from their middle order remains to be seen, but their spin attack will be confident of restricting Australia despite the power in their lineup.
PAK vs AUS 2nd T20 2026 Possible Playing XIs
Pakistan could stick with the same XI unless they replace Fakhar Zaman who struggled at number five. Also, Faheem Ashraf or Naseem Shah for Shaheen Shah Afridi is an option.
Pakistan: 1. Sahibzada Farhan, 2. Saim Ayub, 3. Salman Agha (c), 4. Babar Azam, 5. Fakhar Zaman, 6. Usman Khan (wk), 7. Mohammad Nawaz, 8. Shadab Khan, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi/Naseem Shah, 10. Salman Mirza, 11. Abrar Ahmed
Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis could all return after the trio were rested for the opening T20I.
Australia: 1. Travis Head, 2. Mitchell Marsh (c), 3. Josh Inglis (wk), 4. Cameron Green, 5. Cooper Connolly, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Matt Short/Mitch Owen, 8. Jack Edwards, 9. Xavier Bartlett, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Mahli Beardman
Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Weather
Pakistan’s four spinners (Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz) took a combined 6/89 off 14 overs to derail Australia’s chase. Adam Zampa took four wickets for the visitors.
That spinners had joy in the first T20I didn’t come as much of a surprise. Before the opening match, spinners had taken 201 T20 wickets at Gaddafi Stadium since the start of 2022 at an average of 24.41 and economy of 7.73. Pace bowlers took a much larger 433 wickets but at a higher economy of 8.99.
Another cool and mostly cloudy afternoon is forecast. No rain is expected according to AccuWeather.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for PAK vs AUS 2nd T20 2026: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Top wicketkeeper picks:
Josh Inglis will likely bat in the top three, making him the best value pick for fantasy cricket among the wicketkeepers. In all T20s since the start of 2025, Inglis has scored 421 runs batting at number three at an average of 28.1 and strike rate of 174.1.
Key batter picks:
Travis Head looked in promising form in the opening T20I before he holed out to long off for 23 off 13 balls. Powerplay runs will be vital and Head will look to go hard from the outset. Since the start of 2025, Head has scored 501 T20 runs at a modest average of 23.9 (SR 153.7), so he’ll be after a big score.
Mitchell Marsh is crucial to Australia’s chances. The captain has been in terrific touch in all T20s in the past year, scoring 1,441 T20 runs (avg. 37.9, SR 152.8) since the start of 2025.
Top allrounder picks:
Saim Ayub is the most popular captaincy option in Dream11. He opens the batting and bowling and offers impact in both disciplines. He was awarded man of the match in the opening T20I with 40 (22) and 2/29 from three overs, where he dismissed the openers.
Cameron Green looked in promising touch in the first T20I, despite a middle overs slowdown. He bowled just the one over but remains a crucial cog at number four in Australia’s batting lineup.
Salman Ali Agha batting at number three offers good fantasy value. The captain looked good in the first T20I for his 26-ball 39. Plus, there is the possibility he brings himself on to bowl given the importance of spin in these conditions.
Top bowler picks:
Adam Zampa was the star for Australia in the first T20I, taking 4/24. He has taken 16 wickets in 12 T20Is against Pakistan at an average of 17.93 and economy of 6.52, including a strong record against Babar Azam (see below).
Abrar Ahmed will test the Australians with his variations. He has taken 50 T20 wickets since the start of 2025 at an average of 18.5 and economy of 6.78.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams
Babar Azam will be motivated to perform against Australia after a tough BBL, but he needs to make the number four position his own.
Sahibzada Farhan missed out in the opening match, but he was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer last year (771, avg. 30.84, SR 133.62) and is key against the new ball where batting should be easiest.
Xavier Bartlett is a powerplay wicket-taker and he can provide lower order runs.
Mohammad Nawaz picked up from where he left off in 2025. He was Pakistan’s top wicket-taker in T20Is last year with 36 at an economy of 6.56.
Cooper Connolly is struggling with the bat but will play a key role with the ball in these conditions.
Mahli Beardman bowls in the crunch death overs which brings wicket-taking opportunities, as the first T20I showed. The youngster also has a host of variations.
Other Stats and Important Matchups
Head-to-head: Matches 29, Pakistan 14, Australia 14, N/R 1.
Mitchell Marsh against spin in all T20s since 2025: 449 runs, avg. 64.1, SR 146.3.
Adam Zampa vs Babar Azam in T20Is: 77 balls, 78 runs, four wickets.
PAK vs AUS 2nd T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today Match
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:
PAK vs AUS 2nd T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today Match
Option 2:
PAK vs AUS 2nd T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today Match
PAK vs AUS 2nd T20 2026 Match Prediction – Who will win?
Expect a tight match. Australia have it in them to bounce back. Perhaps the team batting first will win this.
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.
Wrist-spinner Adam Zampa has warned his Australian batters of more trial by spin in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after the tourists suffered a 22-run defeat to Pakistan in the first T20I of the three-match series in Lahore on Thursday.
Chasing 169, the Australian batting unit, in the absence of Glenn Maxwell, captain Mitch Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, and Tim David, succumbed to the Pakistani spin quartet of Shadab Khan (1/25 in 3 overs), Sami Ayub (2/29 in 3 overs), Abrar Ahmed (2/10 in 4 overs), and Mohammad Nawaz (1/25 in 4 overs), eventually falling short by 22 runs.
Adam Zampa spin warning as Australia will play their T20 World Cup Group games in Sri Lanka
Australia are set to play their Group matches in Sri Lanka, with their first two matches taking place in Colombo (against Ireland and Zimbabwe on February 11 and 13, respectively), followed by an encounter with the co-hosts in Pallekele on February 16.
The events in Lahore is an indication of what’s in store for the Australians when they travel to Sri Lanka for the opening stage of the T20 World Cup, feels Zampa.
However, he believes that the return of senior batters in the lineup will hold the Aussies in good stead. He also feels that the challenge in the ongoing series in Pakistan will be a good learning curve for the likes of Matthew Short, Cooper Connolly, Matt Renshaw, and Co.
“Definitely in Sri Lanka. If anything, the challenge in Pakistan is the low bounce; in Sri Lanka, it probably spins and bounces a little bit more. Tonight, I think the challenge was definitely slow off the wicket, and then the low bounce gets you on the bottom of the bat. It’s pretty alien for some of the young guys, particularly in the group,” Zampa said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“Obviously, we’ve got a very different squad in this series as to what we’ll have in the World Cup. A lot more experience comes back then, but exposing those guys in the middle order, particularly to conditions like those tonight, it’s going to be good for them in the long run.
“The conditions will change throughout the World Cup. The first stage of the tournament, particularly in Sri Lanka, the spinners will play a huge role, but it’ll change, definitely in India, where my experience is that it’s totally different — good batting wickets as you’ve seen in the latest series with New Zealand there.”
The Aussies will look to bounce back from the 22-run defeat on Thursday and force a series decider when they take on the hosts in the 2nd T20I at the same venue on Saturday afternoon.
New Zealand registered their first win of this series, and more importantly generated some momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup.
A batting display set up by Tim Seifert and finished by Daryl Mitchell ensured the Black Caps struck their second 200+ score in this series. This time, it was enough as the bowlers restricted India to 165 courtesy of early wickets including the prized scalp of Abhishek Sharma first ball.
Can New Zealand follow up the win with another in Thiruvananthapuram? They are set to welcome back some experience as India seek to bounce back after a disappointing display in the third T20 where Shivam Dube’s 23-ball 65 was the shining light.
India’s powerplay bowling will be under the spotlight once again with Finn Allen and Tim Seifert expected to open. Also, India conceded 52 in the final four overs in the last match, so that is an area for improvement as well especially as they operate pretty well in the middle overs.
IND vs NZ 5th T20 2026 Possible Playing XIs
India experimented with their XI in the fourth T20I but may choose an XI closer to what they’ll field in the T20 World Cup. Ishan Kishan missed the third match with a niggle and could return. Axar Patel is also a chance of featuring.
“Arshdeep comes in for Ishan Kishan, who picked up a niggle in the last game. Axar Patel still needs a bit more time, so hopefully we’ll see him in the next game,” said Suryakumar Yadav at the toss a few nights ago.
Finn Allen is set to return in this match. He could come in for Rachin Ravindra who is struggling. Also, Lockie Ferguson and James Neesham could feature in today’s game.
New Zealand: 1. Finn Allen, 2. Tim Seifert (wk), 3. Rachin Ravindra/Devon Conway, 4. Glenn Phillips, 5. Mark Chapman, 6. Daryl Mitchell, 7. Mitchell Santner (c), 8. Zak Foulkes/James Neesham, 9. Matt Henry, 10. Ish Sodhi, 11. Jacob Duffy/Lockie Ferguson
Greenfield International Stadium Thiruvananthapuram Pitch Report and Weather
Thiruvananthapuram has hosted four T20Is to date. The average first innings score is 144.5 at a run rate of 8.50. Teams batting first and second have won two games each.
In these T20Is, pace bowlers have taken 28 wickets at an average of 24.39 and economy of 8.84. Spinners have picked up 13 wickets at 31.85/7.75.
A clear evening is forecast with temperatures around 24 degrees. Dew is possible, so chasing may be preferred once again.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for IND vs NZ 5th T20 2026: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Top wicketkeeper picks:
Finn Allen is in outstanding form. He recently smashed the most runs in the BBL (466) at a strike rate of 184.18 with 38 sixes.
Tim Seifert took on India’s attack in the 4th T20I and won. His 36-ball 62 was key in New Zealand’s victory. Overall, Seifert has 420 runs against India at an average of 35.00 and strike rate of 148.40.
Ishan Kishan was in magnificent form before missing the last match with a niggle. He hit 112 runs in the opening three T20Is of this series at a strike rate of 224.
Key batter picks:
Abhishek Sharma had a rare failure in the 4th T20I. His 152 runs in this series come at a strike rate of 266.66. Abhishek is striking at 191.2 in the powerplay in all T20s since the start of 2025.
Suryakumar Yadav will also be seeking to bounce back. The Indian skipper has the second-most runs in IND-NZ T20Is (463) at an average of 57.87 and strike rate of 166.54.
Top allrounder picks:
Mitchell Santner produced his best performance with the ball in the last match (3/26). The skipper has also been excellent with the bat (105 runs, SR 166.66), resulting in 350 Dream11 points so far in the series.
Hardik Pandya didn’t bowl in the last match with India opting to stick with five specialist bowlers. Keep an eye on the make up of India’s XI for this match which will indicate whether Hardik will bowl, making him a strong fantasy pick.
Glenn Phillips is the second-highest run-scorer this series (169). The all-rounder is striking at 155.04 with a fifty.
Top bowler picks:
Expect Varun Chakravarthy to return with the T20 World Cup fast approaching. He was India’s premier bowler in T20Is in 2025 (36 wickets) and he also took three wickets in the first two matches of this series.
Jasprit Bumrah bowls in the crunch overs and is often economical against New Zealand, despite his expensive final over in the 4th T20I. He has 16 wickets against the Black Caps at an average of 19.75 and economy of 6.44.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams
Shivam Dube produced a magnificent performance in the last match (65 off 23 balls). He is capable of six-hitting – especially against spin – making him a good differential pick in fantasy cricket. He has ammassed 343 Dream11 points so far in this series.
The spotlight is on Sanju Samson in what has been a difficult series. He has the potential to produce on his day which makes him one to consider for fantasy cricket.
Daryl Mitchell is more dangerous batting up the order, but he can still contribute lower down as he showed in the 4th T20I (39* off 18 balls).
Jacob Duffy is the leading wicket-taker this series with five scalps. Ish Sodhi also has five wickets and the most wickets overall in IND-NZ T20Is (30, SR 16.20).
Other Stats and Important Matchups
Arshdeep Singh vs New Zealand: 8 inns, 12 wickets, avg. 21.41, SR 14.
Arshdeep Singh vs Tim Seifert in T20Is: 14 balls, 36 runs, one wicket.
Matt Henry vs Abhishek Sharma in T20Is: Four balls, nine runs, one wicket.
Lockie Ferguson vs Suryakumar Yadav in all T20s: 39 balls, 87 runs, no wickets.
Mitchell Santner vs Suryakumar Yadav in all T20s: 73 balls, 79 runs, four wickets.
Hardik Pandya vs Tim Seifert in all T20s: 24 balls, 44 runs, one wicket.
IND vs NZ 5th T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today
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.
Option1:
IND vs NZ 5th T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today
Option 2:
IND vs NZ 5th T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today
IND vs NZ 5th T20 2026 Match Prediction – Who will win?
Expect New Zealand to give another good fight. However, I believe India will prevail and take the series 4-1.
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.
Australia’s cost of living is expected to increase in 2026, and one of the reasons provided by Betashares chief economist David Bassanese is quite interesting.
According to Bassanese, the Barmy Army’s visit down under for the Ashes is a driving force for the jump in inflation.
Australia and England went head-to-head from November 21st to January 8th. There were record attendances across the five Tests, with the English travelling contingent playing a significant part in the excellent crowds across the country.
Barmy Army said to be a factor in inflation surge in Australia
According to a report in The Nightly, holiday costs increased 7.4 per cent in the final two months of 2025, coinciding with the Ashes. Economists believe The Barmy Army’s spending on flights, accommodation and hospitality helped drive up inflation.
“To some extent, the hospitality and travel costs were a one-off due to the Ashes and Barmy Army [spending by the touring fans],” Bassanese said.
“The airlines also never miss an opportunity to jack up prices when demand surges. But that’s only the caveat, the overall picture is that underlying inflation has been very strong since the September quarter.”
Kayo Sports reported on the news via social media. “England’s cricket supporters spent heavily on hotels, hospitality and flights during the Ashes tour in Australia, with economists crediting their spending as a factor in tourism rising by almost 10% and inflation lifting to 3.8% in December. As if the rivalry needed any extra fuel,” read the Facebook post.
Predictably, it drew plenty of reaction from fans, as did a feature by 7 News (below).
“Yeah nah has nothing to do with rampant federal and state governments spending…. It’s all few thousand of the barmy army spending money,” wrote one fan.
“If travelling cricket supporters can influence your economy THAT much… there are MUCH bigger issues, cos that is one fragile economy! Maybe it has something to do with those services like hotels etc hiking their prices over holidays???” wrote another.
English cricket fans could be getting their revenge, following their Ashes tour loss. The Barmy Army spent so much this summer that they're being blamed for nudging up inflation, leading to a possible interest rate rise. @ChrisReason7pic.twitter.com/FfZ1gXjjcp
Finn Allen is set to play in the 5th T20 against India at Thiruvananthapuram. The match will mark his first T20I for New Zealand since March 2025 against Pakistan. He smashed 50 (20) and 27 (12) in his last two matches in Mount Maunganui and Wellington respectively.
The star opener arrives to India after playing a key role in Perth Scorchers’ sixth Big Bash League (BBL) Title.
Allen finished the tournament as the highest run-scorer with 466. He averaged 42.36 with a magnificent strike rate of 184.18. His tally of 38 sixes was a record for a single BBL season.
Finn Allen in BBL :
– Highest run scorer of the tournament with 466 runs @ 42.36, striking at 184
Finn Allen set to play 5th T20 against India ahead of huge few months ahead for star opener
Allen is officially part of the New Zealand squad for the 5th T20. He will have a key role to play in ensuring the Black Caps finish the five-match series with two wins. Then, he and New Zealand embark on what promises to be an exciting T20 World Cup campaign.
“Kristian Clarke and Tim Robinson have been released from the BLACKCAPS T20 squad in India, with James Neesham, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert now in camp. Finn Allen will be the final squad member to join the side on Thursday in Trivandrum,” New Zealand Cricket wrote on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week.
Allen’s form will be crucial to New Zealand’s hopes in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Black Caps are in the “group of death” alongside South Africa, Afghanistan, UAE and Canada in Group D. The top two teams from each group qualify for the Super Eights stage.
Following the World Cup, Allen will join the Kolkata Knight Riders’ squad for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). The INR 2 crore price tag looks like a bargain given the opener’s form, and he is excited to join the three-time IPL winners.
“Any time you get to play in the IPL it’s exciting and to be with a franchise like Kolkata. They’ve had a lot of success in the past. And we’ve got an extremely experienced list as well and a good group of boys,” Allen said in a recent interview for CricBlog.
“I’m excited to go over there and see what we can do.”
Thiruvananthapuram’s Greenfield International Stadium will host the 5th T20 between India and New Zealand on Saturday January 31.
Left-arm orthodox bowling all-rounder Sophie Molineux has been announced as the Australian women’s new all-format captain. The 28-year-old will begin her stint at the helm in the upcoming three-match T20I series against India.
Sophie will succeed wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy. Healy will retire from international cricket after the multi-format series against the Women in Blue.
Molineux has represented Australia Women in three Tests, 17 ODIs, and 38 T20Is since her debut in 2018. She led her WBBL franchise, Melbourne Renegades, to their first triumph in 2024 and has also been the captain of Victoria since 2022. However, she has not featured in a Test or T20I since 2024.
Molineux has been chosen ahead of all-format vice-captain Tahlia McGrath and senior batting all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner, who has been named as a second vice-captain. The 28-year-old is understandably thrilled to receive the honour and is looking forward to working with what she described as a “really strong group with plenty of natural leaders.”
“It’s a real honour to be named Australian captain and something I’m incredibly proud of, especially following on from Alyssa, who’s had such a huge impact on this team and the game,” she said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“We’ve got a really strong group with plenty of natural leaders, alongside a lot of exciting talent coming through. And I’m really looking forward to working together as we keep evolving and pushing ourselves to the next level, while staying true to the identity that makes this team so special.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the trust that’s been shown in me, and I’m excited to grow alongside this group of players and see what we can achieve together with Tahlia, Ash, and the rest of the team.”
Reactions: Sophie Molineux unveiled as 21st captain of the Australian women’s team
Given that Molineux is clearly a left-field pick, the news of her appointment as Australia Women’s 21st captain has taken fans by surprise, with many casting doubts on her eligibility for the role.
Check out the reactions below:
Sophie is a good player but not a skipper. Ash should be the go to given her tremendous experience
Sophie Molineux – quality cricketer and wish her the best in the captaincy role. She's captained Victoria and led Melbourne Renegades to a WBBL title, so she has the leadership experience and capabilities.
The surprise is related to her injury record IMO. Hope she has a long…
Her leadership is exceptional. The only knock is that she's perhaps not a lock in every XI. Been cruelled by injuries. I was surprised but I think her credentials are outstanding.
She’s not even in the top 15 Aussie players across all 3 formats…the Aussies have just lost their “one day and 20/20” world titles and now this…this is a huge step in the wrong direction…
Preparations for the T20 World Cup now ramp up with Pakistan and Australia going head-to-head in three T20Is. However, hosts Pakistan will have the benefit of playing their expected XI for the World Cup, and they will be looking to gain momentum against a new-look Australia squad.
Australia will be without a host of regulars in this match with a number of players featuring in Sunday’s BBL Final. Also, the likes of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will return from their respective injuries in the T20 World Cup, with others including Glenn Maxwell and Nathan Ellis rested.
However, this is an opportunity for those on the fringes of Australia’s first-choice team to stake a claim. Spots will open up in the future, so now is a great chance to make an impression.
For Pakistan, a lot of the spotlight is on Babar Azam after a tough BBL. His strike rate of 103.06 is the lowest for any player who scored at least 200 runs in a season. He was denied a single by Steve Smith and has been criticised by a lot of the Australian public, so motivation will surely be high to perform here.
PAK vs AUS 1st T20 2026 Possible Playing XIs
According to ESPNcricinfo, Khawaja Nafay is expected to line up in the XI. Also, it could be a choice between Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah.
Pakistan: 1. Sahibzada Farhan, 2. Saim Ayub, 3. Babar Azam, 4. Fakhar Zaman/Shadab Khan, 5. Salman Agha (c), 6. Mohammad Nawaz, 7. Khawaja Nafay (wk), 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi/Naseem Shah, 10. Salman Mirza, 11. Abrar Ahmed
According to reports, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis are unavailable for this match. It remains to be seen which players from the BBL Final will feature in this opening T20I.
Australia: 1. Travis Head (c), 2. Matt Short, 3. Matt Renshaw, 4. Cameron Green, 5. Cooper Connolly, 6. Mitchell Owen/Jack Edwards, 7. Josh Philippe (wk), 8. Xavier Bartlett, 9. Sean Abbott/Ben Dwarshuis, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Mahli Beardman/Matt Kuhnemann
Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Weather
In all T20s since the start of 2022, pace bowlers have taken 433 wickets here at an average of 26.04 and economy of 8.99. Spinners have fared well, taking 201 wickets at an average of 24.41 and economy of 7.73.
In PSL 2025, the average first innings score was 171.29. Scores picked up as the season went on with three 200+ scores in the final four matches. Chasing teams won eight of the 14 games.
A cold afternoon is forecast for this 4pm match. No rain is expected. “I didn’t pack too many jumpers; I wasn’t aware Pakistan got this cold,” said Mitch Marsh, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for PAK vs AUS 1st T20 2026: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Top wicketkeeper picks:
Josh Philippe looks the safest pick but his output depends on where he bats in the order. He hit 292 runs in the recent BBL (avg. 24.33, SR 137.08).
Key batter picks:
Travis Head holds the key and can get Australia off to a flyer. Since the start of 2024, Head has scored 1,920 runs in all T20s at an average of 34.9 and strike rate of 173.8.
Babar Azam will be determined to perform well in this match. Since the start of 2022, Babar has scored 683 T20 runs at Gaddafi Stadium at an average of 56.92 and strike rate of 137.42.
Sahibzada Farhan struck the most T20I runs for Pakistan in 2025 (avg. 30.84, SR 133.62). He has performed solidly in T20s on this ground in the past three years: 12 inns, 394 runs, avg. 39.4, SR 135.86.
Top allrounder picks:
Cameron Green had a difficult Ashes but he is an excellent pick in fantasy cricket given his white-ball credentials. In the past two years, Green has struck 637 T20 runs at an average of 39.8 and strike rate of 150.6. Against spin, the average bumps up to 66.8 with a strike rate of 145.1.
Saim Ayub is hot and cold with the bat but often provides overs, enhancing his Dream11 value. One thing to keep in mind is Ayub typically fares better chasing in T20Is (avg. 24.2 in 2025) compared to batting first (avg. 17.8 in 2025).
Key bowler picks:
Adam Zampa has taken 12 wickets in 11 T20Is against Pakistan at an economy of 6.57. He has an excellent head-to-head record against Babar Azam (see below).
Shaheen Shah Afridi is coming back from injury after a difficult BBL. He has 12 wickets in nine T20Is against Australia (avg. 24.16, SR 16).
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams
Mohammad Nawaz is picked in just 20.16% of Dream11 players. He was Pakistan’s top wicket-taker in T20Is in 2025 with 36 at an economy of 6.56.
Cooper Connolly’s bowling was a real strength of his in the BBL. He fell away with the bat, but still offers all-round value. Keep an eye on where he is listed in the team.
Agha Salman is a popular pick in Dream11 (63.6%) but he had a strike rate of 115.31 in T20Is in 2025 (581 runs, avg. 26.04).
Abrar Ahmed in T20Is in 2025: 22 inns, 28 wickets, avg. 19.25, SR 17.53.
Fakhar Zaman in T20Is against Australia: 9 inns, 252 runs, avg. 31.50, SR 153.65.
Matt Short can provide a fast start in the powerplay but his batting against spin is cause for improvement.
Other Stats and Important Matchups
Head-to-head: Matches 28, Pakistan 13, Australia 14, N/R 1.
Saim Ayub in T20s at Lahore since 2022: 10 inns, 260 runs, avg. 26.00, SR 153.85.
Babar Azam has the most runs in PAK-AUS T20Is: 11 inns, 430 runs, avg. 47.77, SR 128.35.
Shaheen Shah Afridi vs Travis Head in T20Is: 16 balls, 28 runs, no wickets.
Adam Zampa vs Babar Azam in T20Is: 69 balls, 69 runs, three wickets.
PAK vs AUS 1st T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today
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:
PAK vs AUS 1st T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today
Option 2:
PAK vs AUS 1st T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today
PAK vs AUS 1st T20 2026 Match Prediction – Who will win?
Given Pakistan will field their near first-choice team, they should win this game.
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.
