Home Blog Page 248

GT vs MI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 51

Charbel Coorey
-
0
GT vs MI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 51

GT vs MI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 51 | GT vs MI Dream11 Prediction Today | Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians Key Players | Brabourne Pitch Report

If someone had told you at the start of the season that Gujarat Titans will be on top with eight wins from 10 matches and five-time champions Mumbai Indians bottom with one win after nine, you may have laughed in their face.

However, it’s now no joke. The Titans are all but set for a playoffs berth in their first season, and will now look towards a top two finish. For Mumbai, they are now officially out of the playoffs race, and can only play spoilsport for the other teams. Rohit’s men finally got on the board in their last match with a victory over the Royals, and will be aiming for more of the same here.

For Hardik Pandya’s team, it is about bouncing back after a disappointing display against Punjab Kings. The Titans skipper wanted to test his team by batting first, but the batting lineup didn’t respond and were caught well short. Against an MI attack that has largely struggled this season, here is a chance for the likes of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya in particular to rediscover their mojo.

Possible Playing 11

Gujarat may look to go with the same team, unless Yash Dayal is fit.

Gujarat Titans: 1. Shubman Gill, 2. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3. Sai Sudharsan, 4. Hardik Pandya (c), 5. David Miller, 6. Rahul Tewatia, 7. Rashid Khan, 8. Alzarri Joseph, 9. Lockie Ferguson, 10. Mohammed Shami, 11. Pradeep Sangwan/Yash Dayal

Mumbai Indians: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. Ishan Kishan (wk), 3. Suryakumar Yadav, 4. Tilak Varma, 5. Kieron Pollard, 6. Tim David, 7. Daniel Sams, 8. Kumar Kartikeya Singh, 9. Hrithik Shokeen, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Riley Meredith

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Gujarat Titans:

  • Hardik Pandya will come up against MI for the first time. It is the perfect opportunity to rediscover his form after scores of 10, 3 and 1 in his past three matches. He is still GT’s top run-scorer this season: 9 inns, 309 runs, avg. 44.14, SR 132.05.
  • Wriddhiman Saha has struck 112 runs in the powerplay in IPL 2022 at a strike rate of 138.27. He has only been dismissed once in this period. Also, Saha has strong numbers against MI: 13 inns, 350 runs, avg. 38.89, SR 127.74.
  • David Miller has struck 287 runs at an average of 57.40 and strike rate of 145.68 in IPL 2022. Rahul Tewatia has smashed 131 runs off 65 deliveries in the death overs this season. Given that MI are conceding 12 runs per over at the death (second-worst in the league), both Miller and Tewatia have an opportunity to pounce.
  • Rashid Khan takes a wicket every four overs on average vs MI. He has the wood over Rohit Sharma in the IPL, with two dismissals for just 19 in 16 deliveries. Also, he has conceded just 55 runs in 66 deliveries against Pollard in the IPL (one dismissal).
  • Mohammed Shami has dismissed Rohit twice in 40 deliveries, whilst conceding just 46. He has also dismissed Suryakumar Yadav once in 14 balls (21 runs). Overall, he has taken 12 wickets in 10 matches vs MI at a strike rate of 18.50.

Mumbai Indians:

  • It has been a disappointing season for Ishan Kishan, but this could be his game as he has solid head-to-head numbers against GT’s key bowlers. He has scored 30 off 25 vs Shami (no dismissal) and 64 off 51 vs Rashid (no dismissal).
  • Tilak Varma has been a shining light for MI. He is their highest run-scorer with 307 runs in nine innings at an average of 43.85 and strike rate of 137.05. He has scored 36, 26, 51*, 38 and 35 in his past five knocks.
  • Suryakumar Yadav has also been strong. His 290 runs this season come at an average of 48.33 and strike rate of 147.20. GT has a pace-predominant attack, and Suryakumar has been magnificent vs pace this season: 163 runs, SR 171.57, one dismissal.
  • Jasprit Bumrah just has the five wickets this season, but he will be key against GT’s key players today. He has dismissed Shubman Gill once in 20 deliveries, whilst conceding just 24. Also, he has conceded just 37 off 44 balls against Saha (one dismissal).
  • Riley Meredith has taken five wickets in three matches this season, including four in his last two outings.
  • If the pitch assists spinners, watch out for Kumar Kartikeya Singh, who took 1/19 vs Royals with his wrist-spin variations. Also, off-spinner Hrithik Shokeen has been getting nice shape on the ball.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Rohit Sharma does have a century to his name on this ground. However, he has scored just 103 runs in his remaining six knocks at Brabourne.
  • Hardik vs Daniel Sams in T20s: 15 balls faced, 39 runs scored, zero dismissals.
  • Kieron Pollard vs Mohammed Shami in T20s: 33 balls faced, 50 runs scored, zero dismissals.
  • Lockie Ferguson has dismissed Ishan Kishan once in four deliveries in the IPL (two runs).
  • Rashid Khan has never dismissed Suryakumar Yadav in the IPL (32 off 28), but GT could look to use him against the MI batsman. Suryakumar has been dismissed by spin four times for a total of 127 runs and strike rate of 124.50.
  • Shubman Gill averages 25.8 batting first in the IPL compared to 37.5 batting second.

Brabourne Pitch Report and Weather

The Brabourne pitch can aid seamers in the powerplay and then spinners, with an average first innings score of 142.5 in the past four matches (before the DC-SRH match), which includes totals of 68 (by RCB vs SRH) and 115 (by Punjab against DC).

A humid evening is forecast, so chasing could be the way to go. A win for Gujarat will set them up for a top two finish (check out the scenarios here).

GT vs MI Dream11 Prediction 6 May 2022

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:

GT vs MI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 51 | GT vs MI Dream11 Prediction Today | Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians Key Players | Brabourne Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 51: GT vs MI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

GT vs MI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 51 | GT vs MI Dream11 Prediction Today | Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians Key Players | Brabourne Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 51: GT vs MI Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Wriddhiman Saha
  • Batsmen: Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, David Miller
  • All-rounders: Hardik Pandya
  • Bowlers: Mohammed Shami, Rashid Khan

Match Prediction

Both teams’ best chance seems to be when chasing. So, the team batting first needs 170+ to feel in the game, otherwise the chasing team should win.

DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 50

Charbel Coorey
-
0
DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 50

DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 50 | DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today | Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Key Players | Brabourne Pitch Report

David Warner has surely been waiting for this one. Sunrisers Hyderabad, Warner’s former team whom he fell out with last season, will meet Delhi Capitals for the first time this season in a crucial match in the IPL 2022 playoffs race.

The Capitals have had their moments this season, but have been inconsistent. Injuries and COVID-19 have played a part, but with their full team pretty much on deck now, Rishabh Pant and his team must deliver if they intend to play in the playoffs. A win for DC today will put them just two points behind fourth-placed RCB with a game in hand and much superior net run rate.

Sunrisers, on the other hand, have been more consistent, but in bursts. They lost their first two, won their next five and have lost their next two again. A key part of the recent defeats has been conceding big totals, as Gujarat chased down 190+ and CSK struck over 200 against them. With DC a team capable of making a big score, SRH’s bowlers need to get back into the swing of things.

And, of course, there is the small issue of Kane Williamson’s sub-100 strike rate in IPL 2022. Can he fire, and will the others around him keep the pressure on DC’s up-and-down attack? Crucial game.

Possible Playing 11

Delhi Capitals: 1. David Warner, 2. Prithvi Shaw, 3. Mitchell Marsh, 4. Rishabh Pant (c & wk), 5. Lalit Yadav, 6. Rovman Powell, 7. Axar Patel, 8. Shardul Thakur, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Mustafizur Rahman, 11. Chetan Sakariya

Washington Sundar split a webbing in his hand once again, but there has been no official word yet on his availability. Also, T Natarajan had a niggle against CSK, but he did come back to bowl his overs.

Also, the spotlight is on Kane Williamson’s strike rate. According to CricViz, his batting impact this season is -73 (details here).

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1. Kane Williamson (c), 2. Abhishek Sharma, 3. Rahul Tripathi, 4. Aiden Markram, 5. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 6 Shashank Singh, 7 Washington Sundar/J Suchith, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Marco Jansen, 10 Umran Malik, 11 T Natarajan/Kartik Tyagi

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Delhi Capitals:

  • What will David Warner produce? He has struck two half-centuries in four matches at Brabourne, and he will be keen for a third against his former team. In fact, he has struck scores of 60* (30) and 61 (45) at this venue in IPL 2022.
  • Warner is DC’s leading run-scorer this season. The left-hander has scored 264 runs in seven innings at an average of 44.00 and strike rate of 156.21.
  • Prithvi Shaw and Warner average 48 together this season at a run rate of 10.23. Shaw also has good numbers at Brabourne, with 130 runs in three innings at an average of 43.33 and strike rate of 178.08.
  • Mitchell Marsh looked in magnificent touch last game against Lucknow (37 off 19 balls) before walking despite not nicking the ball to the keeper. Since the start of 2021, Marsh has scored 1245 runs in 42 T20s at an average of 40.16 and a strike rate of 138.48.
  • Rishabh Pant has brilliant numbers against SRH. The DC skipper has smashed 466 runs in 14 innings at an average of 46.60 and strike rate of 147.94. He has struck 79 off 33 vs Bhuvneshwar (one dismissal) and 21 off 18 against Natarajan (no dismissal).
  • Axar Patel is striking at 166.66 with the bat this season. Against SRH, he has taken six wickets in eight matches at an average of 33.50 and economy rate of 7.18. He will also be key in the field.
  • Kuldeep Yadav as a fantasy cricket captaincy option? Kuldeep has been magnificent at Brabourne this season, with nine wickets at an average of 8.55 and economy of 6.41.

Sunrisers Hyderabad:

  • Abhishek Sharma has been one of the surprise packets of IPL 2022. He has scored the fourth-most runs this season (324, SR 134.43) and can move to third above Shikhar Dhawan if he scores 46+ today.
  • Kane Williamson has been a shadow of his usual self this season. However, today could be the day he fires as he has magnificent numbers against the Capitals: 12 inns, 489 runs, avg. 61.13, SR 130.40.
  • Aiden Markram is Sunrisers’ second-highest run-scorer this season, with 263 runs in seven innings at an outstanding average/strike rate of 87.66/149.43. Nicholas Pooran has also been strong when he has got the opportunity (180 runs, avg. 60.00, SR 139.53), including 64* off 33 last game vs Capitals.
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be key against DC’s opening pair. The seamer has dismissed Shaw twice in 35 deliveries (35 runs) and Warner once in 19 deliveries (13 runs). Also, Kumar has the third-most wickets at the death this season (7).
  • T Natarajan has the second-most wickets at the death in IPL 2022 (8). He is the fourth-highest wicket-taker this season, with 17 wickets in nine matches at an average of 17.82 and economy rate of 8.65.
  • Umran Malik went wicketless last game vs CSK, but that takes nothing away from the brilliant season he is having. He will be key as a middle overs enforcer against a DC team that can lose wickets at this stage. The speedster has 15 scalps to his name in IPL 2022, including 12 in four matches before his last game.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 20, DC 9, SRH 11.
  • Rahul Tripathi has a strike rate of 172 this season. This is the highest among any Sunrisers batsman with at least 180 runs. Also, he has scored 34 runs off 14 balls (one dismissal) against Kuldeep.
  • Shardul Thakur took all of DC’s wickets last game vs LSG. He has blown hot and cold this season, but he can deliver with both ball and bat, as knocks of 22 (11) and 29 (11) have shown.
  • Abhishek Sharma has the joint-most 30+ scores this season (6). Also, he has scored 120 runs at a strike rate of 169.01 with three dismissals against spin in IPL 2022.
  • Kuldeep Yadav has won player of the match in each of DC’s three matches at Brabourne this season.
  • Rovman Powell has smashed 104 runs off 52 balls in the last three matches.

Brabourne Pitch Report and Weather

DC have won three of their four matches on this ground. SRH have won both of theirs. The Brabourne pitch can aid seamers in the powerplay and then spinners, with an average first innings score of 142.5 in the past four matches, which includes totals of 68 (by RCB vs SRH) and 115 (by Punjab against DC).

A humid evening is forecast, so chasing could be the way to go. Delhi need to win this match to get right back into playoffs contention (check out the scenarios here).

DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction 5 May 2022

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:

DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 50 | DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today | Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Key Players | Brabourne Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 50: DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 50 | DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today | Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Key Players | Brabourne Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 50: DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Rishabh Pant
  • Batsmen: David Warner, Abhishek Sharma
  • All-rounders: Aiden Markram, Axar Patel
  • Bowlers: T Natarajan, Umran Malik, Kuldeep Yadav

Match Prediction

Chasing team to win this crucial affair.

IPL 2022 Scenarios: Which teams will qualify for the playoffs?

Yash Mittal
-
0
IPL 2022 Scenarios: Which teams will qualify for the playoffs?

Cricket News: IPL 2022 Scenarios: Which teams will qualify for the playoffs? | IPL 2022 Playoff Qualification Scenarios for all teams in contention

It’s that time of the season in the Indian Premier League where cricket fans turn into mathematicians and calculate the chances of their favourite franchises as far as qualification for the playoffs is concerned.

On that note, here’s a look at the qualification scenarios for all 10 teams.

IPL 2022 Qualification Scenarios

Gujarat Titans

  • Current Spot: 1
  • Points: 20
  • NRR: +0.391
  • Games remaining: 1
  • Opponents: RCB

Gujarat became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2022 playoffs after a thumping 62-run win over Lucknow. They have sealed top spot with a game to spare.

Also read: 3 key reasons why Gujarat Titans have had a brilliant IPL 2022 campaign

IPL 2022 Scenarios: Gujarat Titans have been excellent

Lucknow Supergiants

  • Current Spot: 2
  • Points: 18
  • NRR: +0.251
  • Games remaining: N/A

The Supergiants have had a season to remember, with their final match against KKR certainly one of the IPL classics. They are currently in second place, but need Rajasthan Royals to lose to CSK as the Royals have a better net run rate.

Cricket News: IPL 2022 Scenarios: Which teams will qualify for the playoffs? | IPL 2022 Playoff Qualification Scenarios for all teams in contention
IPL 2022 Scenarios: Lucknow Supergiants have had a good season.

Rajasthan Royals

  • Current Spot: 3
  • Points: 16
  • NRR: +0.304
  • Games remaining: 2
  • Opponents: CSK

Beat CSK and finish in the top two. That will be the key focus for RR.

The only way they could incredibly miss the playoffs is if they get thrashed by CSK, RCB thrash GT and DC beat MI. Unlikely.

Cricket News: 3 incredible feats underpinning Rajasthan Royals IPL 2022 campaign | Rajasthan Royals records so far in IPL 2022
IPL 2022 Scenarios: Can the Royals rediscover their best form?

Delhi Capitals

  • Current Spot: 4
  • Points: 14
  • NRR: +0.255
  • Games remaining: 1
  • Opponents: MI

In a season filled with COVID and injury distractions, Delhi Capitals now have their fate in their own hands. Beat last-placed MI and they will qualify for the playoffs.

IPL 2022 Scenarios: Rishabh Pant has looked good at times.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

  • Current Spot: 5
  • Points: 14
  • NRR: -0.323
  • Games remaining: 1
  • Opponents: GT

RCB are in trouble. They must beat GT on May 19 and hope Mumbai topples Delhi.

Cricket News: IPL 2022 Scenarios: Which teams will qualify for the playoffs? | IPL 2022 Playoff Qualification Scenarios for all teams in contention
IPL 2022 Scenarios: RCB need strong performances in their final game

Kolkata Knight Riders

  • Current Spot: 6
  • Points: 12
  • NRR: +0.146
  • Games remaining: N/A

It is officially season over for KKR after a heartbreaking defeat to LSG. Their mid-season rut hurt them badly.

Cricket News: PBKS & KKR are teams to watch out for in IPL 2022 - Neesham | Jimmy Neesham says Punjab and Kolkata will be tough to beat in IPL 2022
IPL 2022 Scenarios: 5 straight losses hurt KKR badly.

Punjab Kings

  • Current Spot: 7
  • Points: 12
  • NRR: -0.043
  • Games remaining: 1
  • Opponents: SRH

Punjab’s record of no consecutive wins in IPL 2022 has hurt them. Their loss to Delhi in a crucial match looks to have ended their hopes.

To qualify, they must beat SRH by a good margin. Also, they need GT to beat RCB and DC to lose to MI by a decent margin.

IPL 2022 Scenarios: Liam Livingstone will be key for Punjab Kings

SunRisers Hyderabad

  • Current Spot: 8
  • Points: 12
  • NRR: -0.230
  • Games remaining: 1
  • Opponents: PBKS

SRH are all-but-gone in IPL 2022. They must beat PBKS by a hefty margin, and hope GT to beat RCB and DC to lose to MI by a big margin too. Their net run rate of -0.230 looks too much to overcome.

Cricket News: IPL 2022 Scenarios: Which teams will qualify for the playoffs? | IPL 2022 Playoff Qualification Scenarios for all teams in contention
IPL 2022 Scenarios: Kane Williamson needs to step up.

Chennai Super Kings

  • Current Spot: 9
  • Points: 8
  • NRR: -0.206
  • Games remaining: 1
  • Opponents: RR

It is officially season over for 2021 champions CSK. All they can hope for is to deny RR a top-two finish.

IPL 2022 Scenarios: Can CSK pull off a miracle?

Mumbai Indians

  • Current Spot: 10
  • Points: 6
  • NRR: -0.577
  • Games remaining: 1
  • Opponents: DC

The five-time champions became the first team to be officially knocked out of the 15th season. They are ruing their decision to drop Tim David after their first two matches, as he has come back with a bang.

MI can deny DC a playoffs spot.

Cricket News: 3 reasons why MI have struggled so far in IPL 2022 | Looking at why MI have lost their first 3 games of the 2022 IPL
IPL 2022 Scenarios: It has been the season from hell for MI in 2022.

Written by Yash Mittal. Follow Yash on Twitter today.

Good fight with the ball despite defeats – Sanju Samson

Yash Mittal
-
0
Good fight with the ball despite defeats – Sanju Samson

Cricket News: Good fight with the ball despite defeats – Sanju Samson | RR skipper said his team are fighting well

Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson lauded his teams’ energy and their bowling effort following a seven-wicket defeat against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday night.

Speaking after the game, Samson said: “It was a great effort (with the ball), we showed some real fight in the game and the energy was really amazing” as quoted by Royals’ official website.

The inaugural champions suffered their defeat in a row on Monday following a poor effort with the bat that saw them scrap their way past the 150-run mark.

In-form opener Jos Buttler once again played an unusual knock where he struggled for timing throughout. The Lancashire cricketer played 25 deliveries but could only manage 22 runs before getting dismissed by Tim Southee.

It didn’t help Rajasthan’s cause that skipper Samson wasn’t at his free-flowing best either. The 27-year-old did score a half-century (54 off 49 deliveries) but failed to up the tempo of the knock when needed.

It took a whirlwind 13-ball 27* from Shimron Hetmyer and a brisk 12-ball 19 from Riyan Parag to take their total to 152.

“It was a great effort (with the ball), we showed some real fight in the game and the energy was really amazing”

Sanju Samson

Rajasthan bowling attack made KKR work extremely hard for the target as the likes of Aaron Finch and Sunil Narine endured another failure.

Skipper Shreyas also struggled during his 32-ball 34 but an unbeaten 37-ball 48 from Nitish Rana and a whirlwind 42* (23) from Rinku Singh ensured that the two-time champions broke their five-match losing streak in the last over.

The Royals’ have now lost consecutive games to struggling teams and they will now look to get back on the winning track in their next fixture against Punjab Kings on May 7. It is now a critical match for the Royals after Punjab’s big win over Gujarat puts them close behind Samson’s team on the points table.

Written by Yash Mittal. Follow Yash on Twitter today.

RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 49

Charbel Coorey
-
0
RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 49

RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 49 | BLR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Pune Pitch Report

Two franchises with arguably the most passionate fanbases in the league go head-to-head in a crucial battle in the race for the top four. Royal Challengers Bangalore, who were well placed just a few games ago, have slipped quite badly, while Chennai Super Kings have started to pick themselves up and will want to start sprinting.

A win for RCB puts them back in the top four. And they desperately need it after three straight defeats. Sunrisers Hyderabad will have two games in hand over them, but points on the board is vital to put pressure on the other teams. Rajat Patidar was the star for RCB with the bat against Gujarat over the weekend, while more is required from Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli, who himself picked up a long-awaited half-century.

A win for CSK puts them four points behind fourth-placed SRH in the IPL 2022 table. Such a situation may have been unthinkable a few games ago, but as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway showed in a huge onslaught the other night, CSK can turn it on at any moment. MS Dhoni is back at the helm, and if he can help continue the resurgence as leader and captain, it might end up being one of his brilliant achievements. Long way to go yet, however.

Possible Playing 11

RCB are likely to go in with an unchanged XI.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1. Faf du Plessis (c), 2. Virat Kohli, 3. Rajat Patidar, 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6. Shahbaz Ahmed, 7. Mahipal Lomror, 8. Wanindu Hasaranga, 9. Harshal Patel, 10. Josh Hazlewood, 11. Mohammed Siraj

Dwayne Bravo is a chance of returning after missing the last match with injury. Also Moeen Ali is reportedly back in training after an injury concern.

Chennai Super Kings: 1. Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2. Devon Conway, 3. Robin Uthappa, 4. Ambati Rayudu, 5. Ravindra Jadeja, 6. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 7. Mitchell Santner/Dwayne Bravo, 8. Simarjeet Singh, 9. Dwaine Pretorius, 10. Mukesh Choudhary, 11. Maheesh Theekshana

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • 184 of Faf du Plessis’ 278 runs this season have come in two innings. RCB need him to perform against his former side today. He has a poor record at Pune (8 inns, 143 runs, avg. 17.88, SR 98.62). Can he turn this around?
  • du Plessis was out to the left-arm seam of Sangwan on the weekend, so his battle with Mukesh Choudhary will be key. One feels Faf needs to get through the powerplay, as he has struggled in this period in 2022: 104 runs, avg. 20.80, SR 85.24.
  • Virat Kohli, who scored 58 vs GT, is 37 runs away from 1,000 against CSK. He averages 38.52 with a strike rate of 126.71. Rajat Patidar also scored a half-century vs GT, and it was more impactful (52 off 32 balls).
  • Dinesh Karthik has struck four 20+ scores in his past five innings vs CSK. Even though DK has fallen away in recent matches, his overall numbers this season are still fantastic (218 runs at a strike rate of 194.64), with 163 of those coming against pace at a strike rate of 236.23 and one dismissal.
  • Wanindu Hasaranga (15 wickets) is only behind Kagiso Rabada (17) in terms of wickets by overseas bowlers this season. He has taken 13 wickets at an economy rate of 7.60 in the middle overs – a period where CSK look to accelerate.
  • Josh Hazlewood vs Gaikwad will be a key battle. He dismissed him earlier this season. In fact, nine of Hazlewood’s 10 wickets this season have been right-handers. He averages 8.33 against them at an economy of 5.42.
  • Harshal Patel for RCB vs CSK: 5 matches, 9 wickets, avg. 16.56, econ. 7.84.

Chennai Super Kings:

  • Ruturaj Gaikwad was in sublime form on Sunday against a capable SRH attack, smashing 99 off 57 balls on this ground. He also struck 73 (48) at Pune earlier in IPL 2022, so he enjoys batting at his home ground.
  • Gaikwad has struck 153 runs in four innings vs RCB at an average of 51.00 and strike rate of 129.66. He has taken 37 off 28 against Mohammed Siraj without dismissal.
  • Devon Conway’s 55-ball 85* gave CSK the kind of impetus they have been missing this season. He is capable of firing again when you consider only one of Hazlewood’s 10 wickets have been left-handers this season.
  • Robin Uthappa smashed 88 off 50 balls against RCB earlier this season. He has the second-most runs of any player at Pune, with 543 in 20 innings at an average of 28.58 and strike rate of 123.97.
  • Can Ravindra Jadeja deliver without the captaincy? He has excellent head-to-head matchups against RCB’s key players. With the bat, he has scored 56 off 23 against Harshal (no dismissal), 19 off 21 vs Siraj (no dismissal) and 25 off 9 vs Hazlewood (no dismissal).
  • With the ball, Jadeja has dismissed Maxwell seven times in 53 deliveries. He has also dismissed Kohli thrice (123 deliveries, batting SR 108.1) and Karthik thrice (75 deliveries, batting SR 158.7).
  • Mukesh Choudhary took four wickets in the last match, taking his tally for the season to 11 wickets. He will be key against RCB’s up-and-down top order in the powerplay. Maheesh Theekshana could also be key, as he took 4/33 against RCB earlier in the season with two wickets in the powerplay including skipper du Plessis.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 30, CSK 20, RCB 9, N/R 1.
  • CSK (216/4) beat RCB (193/9) earlier this season. Shivam Dube struck 95* off 46 balls.
  • MS Dhoni has magnificent numbers for CSK against RCB. The captain has smashed 748 runs in 27 innings at an average of 41.56 and strike rate of 145.53.
  • RCB have struggled against top eight batsmen in overs 17-20. Harshal has an economy rate of 11.52, Siraj 16 and Hazlewood 15.23.
  • Ambati Rayudu vs RCB since 2018: 8 inns, 298 runs, avg. 37.25, SR 121.63. He has struck scores of 46, 40 and 78 in his past three innings in IPL 2022.
  • Glenn Maxwell is yet to make the same impact as he did last season. He has crossed double figures five times in his past six innings, but has gone past 30 just twice. Maxwell did look good against CSK earlier this season, before losing his wicket against the run of play. He scored 26 off 11 balls.
  • Wanindu Hasaranga has taken five wickets in three matches on this ground at an economy rate of 6.50.

Maharashtra Cricket Association Pune Pitch Report and Weather

CSK belted 202/2 on a terrific batting surface at Pune on Sunday. SRH replied with 189/6. The average first innings score on this ground this season is 173.22, with the team batting first winning six of the nine matches, including the past three.

According to Cricbuzz, humidity is expected to be lower at around 31%. So, there could be less dew.

RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction 4 May 2022

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:

RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 49 | BLR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Pune Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 49: RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 49 | BLR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Pune Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 49: RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Dinesh Karthik
  • Batsmen: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli
  • All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Glenn Maxwell
  • Bowlers: Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewood, Mukesh Choudhary

Match Prediction

Tough match to predict given CSK are on the up while RCB can turn things around. A score of 170-180 might be tough to chase, so the team batting first needs to put up a good total.

“14cr!” Kane Williamson’s strike rate hurting SRH in IPL 2022

Yash Mittal
-
0
“14cr!” Kane Williamson’s strike rate hurting SRH in IPL 2022

Cricket News: “14cr!” Kane Williamson’s low strike rate hurting SRH in IPL 2022 | Kane Williamson struggling for fluency in IPL 2022

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League is in full flow and one of the recurring themes thus far as far as batsmen are concerned is the struggle of anchor top-order batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Kane Williamson, Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli.

Williamson, especially, has looked a pale shadow of his former self following his return to competitive cricket after recovering from tennis elbow injury. The Kiwi batsman, who was retained as their skipper by the ‘Orange Army’ ahead of the mega-auction has managed just 199 runs in 11 innings at an average of 19.90.

But, more than the average, it’s his strike rate that’s been the biggest cause of concern, and in many ways, it has negatively impacted his team.

In a side filled with intent merchants like Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Abhishek Sharma and Nicholas Pooran, Williamson’s knocks have pegged SRH back, especially when they are chasing. In fact, he is the only player to have faced 150+ balls and have a strike rate below 100 in IPL 2022.

In the fixture against the Chennai Super Kings, Williamson scored 47 off 37 deliveries with the help of two fours and as many sixes.

Now, such a knock might look good in isolation, but if one considers the context of the game, it proved to be a match-losing knock for the former champions.

SunRisers were chasing 203 in 20 overs, and with Sharma and Rahul Tripathi getting dismissed in quick succession, SRH needed their skipper to up the ante during the middle-overs and spearhead the innings.

But, that wasn’t to be. Williamson, who had managed 18 runs off his first 12 deliveries in the powerplay, scored just 13 off the next 13 before eventually getting dismissed for 47 off 37.

SRH in IPL 2022: Kane Williamson’s batting impact is -73

This is not the only knock from Williamson that has severely impacted SRH’s fortunes this season. 

In fact, according to CricViz, the net impact of Kane’s knocks this season was minus 73 after nine games.

Having won five out of their first nine games, SunRisers have had a brilliant season so far. However, that’s largely due to their brilliant seam attack and the intentful batting from Sharma, Tripathi and Markram.

The trio has consistently managed to cover up for Kane’s poor knocks but SRH witnessed the harsh reality of what happens when they get dismissed early, as it happened in the last game.

Williamson is in the midst of a poor form but he is far too good a batsman to not recover from it. SRH will hope that their talismanic skipper regains his past mojo as the season approaches its business end.

Written by Yash Mittal. Follow Yash on Twitter today.

3 reasons why Gujarat Titans have had a brilliant IPL 2022 campaign

Debashish Sarangi
-
0
3 reasons why Gujarat Titans have had a brilliant IPL 2022 campaign

Cricket News: 3 reasons why Gujarat Titans have had a brilliant IPL 2022 campaign | Why have Gujarat Titans performed so well?

The journey of the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2022 has been nothing short of exceptional. The Hardik Pandya-led side currently occupies the top position in the points table winning eight of their first nine encounters.

After the completion of the mega auction, many cricket pundits had written off the Titans as their team didn’t seem balanced on paper. Jason Roy pulled out of the tournament before it started. There were doubts over Hardik Pandya’s fitness, and David Miller is no longer the same player he once used to be. So, it was natural for all the experts to rate the Titans lower than their counterparts.

However, they have managed to silence their critics in a grand style by playing some fabulous cricket. Here’s an attempt to find the reasons behind GT’s success in this IPL.

1. Captain Hardik leading from the front

The biggest factor that has contributed to GT’s success is the renaissance of Hardik Pandya as a world-class allrounder. He was struggling badly with both form as well as fitness since 2020, but we have seen a different Hardik altogether in IPL 2022. The table drawn below shows how improved a batsman Hardik has been in this season as compared to the previous one.

 InningsRunsAverageStrike rate
IPL 20211112714.11113.39
IPL 2022830851.33135.68

(Hardik’s batting performance in IPL 2021 and 2022)

Apart from his batting, Hardik’s bowling has been one of the biggest positives for the Titans. He didn’t bowl a single delivery in the last two IPL seasons owing to injury issues, but he was seen consistently clocking the 140kph-mark this season. Hardik has picked four wickets at an economy of 7.57 in IPL 2022, his best ever since his IPL debut. His numbers with the ball in powerplay have been extraordinary, as presented in the table below.

Balls bowledRuns concededWickets takenBPBDot percentage
36292958.33

Added to his brilliant all-round performance, Hardik has been accurate with his on-field calls. His leadership skills have been highly praised by the experts.

2. Improved performance by Shami in powerplay

Mohammed Shami has been used as a powerplay bowler in the majority of his IPL career. Although he kept it tight in the powerplay while playing for the Punjab Kings, his wicket-taking ability was a matter of concern for the side.

However, Shami has been a much-improved powerplay bowler this time as he is getting early wickets for the Titans with the new ball. The stats below clearly indicate a significant development in Shami’s wicket taking ability in the powerplay.

 OversRunsWicketsAverageStrike rateEconomyDot percentage
For PBKS855971442.6436.427.0253.52
For GT23155819.3717.256.7458.33
(Shami’s performance in PP for PBKS and GT)

His economy and dot ball-percentage has also improved, which signifies that he has been able to prevent the opposition from getting a flying start.

3. The heroics of David Miller and Rahul Tewatia

Both David Miller and Rahul Tewatia have been magnificent for the Titans as they have guided the side to perfection while chasing challenging totals. Miller has managed to roll the clock back with his solid hitting, as evident from the stats below.

 InnsRunsAverageStrike rate
From IPL 2017-20212649424.7117.33
In IPL 2022927669150.82
(A comparison of David Miller’s numbers with the bat in IPL 2022 with those between IPL 2017-2021)

On the other hand, Tewatia has showcased his extraordinary finishing skills on multiple occasions. Overall, the dynamic southpaw averages 44.75 and has struck at a tremendous rate of 161.26 this season. He has scored 142 of his total 179 runs at a glorious strike rate of 163.2 while chasing.

Further, he has amassed 150 runs facing just 72 balls in the slog overs at an unbelievable strike rate of 208.3. The allrounder has taken just three balls to hit a boundary at the death and has a dot ball-percentage of just 25 in this phase. These extraordinary numbers clearly show how crucial a player he has been for the Titans in this season.

Apart from these factors, some exceptional individual performances such as Shubman Gill’s consecutive 80-plus scores against DC and PBKS, Wriddhiman Saha’s impactful knock of 68 versus SRH and Rashid Khan’s blistering cameos of 40(21) and 31(11), respectively, against CSK and SRH have helped GT immensely to pull off some iconic victories.

Can the Titans go all the way and clinch the title in their very first season? Have your say.

 Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today

GT vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 48

Charbel Coorey
-
0
GT vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 48

GT vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 48 | GT vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today | Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings Key Players | DY Patil Pitch Report

The last time these two teams met, we witnessed one of the great finishes in IPL history. Gujarat Titans pulled off one of their heists, with Rahul Tewatia hitting two sixes off the last two balls to seal an incredible victory. They have continued to pull off heists since, with their never-say-die attitude holding them in great stead.

Last game against RCB, they looked in trouble. It didn’t matter. They pulled it off in the end. The game before, Rashid Khan and Tewatia struck 22 off the final over to beat SRH. Two games earlier, CSK felt the full force of GT’s heist power. “The way they are batting, it gives me the confidence that even our No. 8, 9 and 10 can win us the game,” said captain Hardik after their win against RCB. Spot on.

On the other side of the coin, Punjab Kings are aiming for consistency to keep their season alive. Last game against LSG, they had the chance to win consecutive matches for the first time in IPL 2022, but they fell away badly in the chase. With eight points and a net run rate of -0.470, they must win this match to get back in the playoffs race.

Possible Playing 11

Pradeep Sangwan was excellent against RCB. However, if Yash Dayal is fit, Gujarat may have a difficult decision to make.

Gujarat Titans: 1. Shubman Gill, 2. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3. Hardik Pandya (c), 4. Sai Sudharsan, 5. David Miller, 6. Rahul Tewatia, 7. Rashid Khan, 8. Pradeep Sangwan/Yash Dayal, 9. Alzarri Joseph, 10. Lockie Ferguson, 11. Mohammed Shami

Punjab Kings: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Mayank Agarwal (c), 3. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 4. Liam Livingstone, 5. Jonny Bairstow, 6. Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7. Rishi Dhawan, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Rahul Chahar, 10. Arshdeep Singh, 11. Sandeep Sharma

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Gujarat Titans:

  • Since his 96 against PBKS earlier in IPL 2022, Shubman Gill has struck just 80 runs in his last six innings at a strike rate of 98.76. He has made starts in his last two knocks (22 and 31), so can he go on with it?
  • Gill averages 26.3 batting first in the IPL compared to 37.5 batting second.
  • What a season David Miller is having. He has scored 276 runs at an average of 69.00 and a strike rate of 150.81, including scores of 31*, 94*, 27, 17 and 39* in his last five knocks.
  • Hardik Pandya has scored just 13 runs in his past two knocks, but he is capable of bouncing back. He is still GT’s top run-scorer this season with 308 runs in eight innings at an average of 51.33 and strike rate of 135.68.
  • Also, Hardik has struck three half-centuries in as many innings at the DY Patil Stadium. He has a total of 204 runs at a strike rate of 142.66, and has been dismissed just once.
  • What does Rahul Tewatia have in store for us tonight? He has struck 179 runs at an average of 44.75 and strike rate of 161.25. He has struck 27 boundaries (18 fours, nine sixes) in 111 deliveries.
  • GT could look at using Rashid Khan in the powerplay. He has dismissed Shikhar Dhawan four times in 44 deliveries, whilst conceding just 41. Also, Mayank Agarwal has scored 23 off 23 vs Rashid, with one dismissal. He took 3/22 vs Punjab earlier this season.
  • Also, Rashid has never gone wicketless against the Kings. He has taken 21 wickets in 11 matches against them. Also, he has smashed 31* (11) and 40 (21) with the bat in recent matches.
  • Mohammed Shami, GT’s leading wicket-taker (14), will be key. He has never dismissed either Shikhar Dhawan (69 balls) or Mayank Agarwal (9 balls) in the IPL – will today be the day?

Punjab Kings:

  • Shikhar Dhawan has struck 108 runs off 69 deliveries against Shami without dismissal. He is Punjab’s leading run-scorer in IPL 2022, with 307 runs in nine innings at an average of 38.37 and strike rate of 126.33.
  • Liam Livingstone smashed a 27-ball 64 against GT earlier this season. He has a strike rate of 178.91 between overs 7-15 in IPL 2022.
  • Bhanuka Rajapaksa is striking at 178.66 this season. He has made three 30+ scores in five matches in IPL 2022.
  • Kagiso Rabada, who took four wickets last match, will be crucial today. He has dismissed Gill twice in 32 balls, whilst only conceding 20. Also, Rabada, who has 13 wickets in eight matches in IPL 2022, has taken at least one wicket in every match except one.
  • Rahul Chahar is Punjab’s second-highest wicket-taker this season (12), and he striking every 16.7 deliveries. He has taken three wickets in two matches on this ground at an economy rate of just 6.25.

Other Stats and Facts

  • GT (190/4) beat PBKS (189/9) in a thriller earlier this season. Rahul Tewatia hit two sixes off the final two balls to win the match.
  • David Miller and Rahul Tewatia have scored 236 runs together in six innings at an average of 59 and run rate of 10.48. Among non-opening combinations, this is the second-most runs after Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma (276).
  • Lockie Ferguson has gone quiet in recent matches. He did take 3/23 against the Royals on this ground earlier in IPL 2022. Also, he has dismissed Shikhar Dhawan thrice in 46 balls.
  • Wriddhiman Saha has struck 91 runs at a strike rate of 142.18 without dismissal in the powerplay this season.
  • Gujarat Titans have won five chases in the final over. Only CSK in 2018 and RR in 2019 have won as many such games in a single edition of the IPL.

DY Patil Pitch Report and Weather

The last match at DY Patil was between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians on Sunday. It was a slowish surface, with RR fighting their way to 158/6 before MI chased it down in the final over.

The average first innings score in the past three matches is 156.33, with the chasing team winning twice. It is forecast to be a humid evening, so expect the captain who wins the toss to choose to chase with dew around.

GT vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction 3 May 2022

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:

GT vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 48 | GT vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today | Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings Key Players | DY Patil Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 48: GT vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

GT vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 48 | GT vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today | Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings Key Players | DY Patil Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 48: GT vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Wriddhiman Saha
  • Batsmen: Shikhar Dhawan
  • All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Liam Livingstone
  • Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami

Match Prediction

Have a feeling the chasing team will win this match.

NBA star Chris Paul & NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald invest in the Rajasthan Royals

Charbel Coorey
-
0
NBA star Chris Paul & NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald invest in the Rajasthan Royals

Cricket News: NBA star Chris Paul & NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald invest in the Rajasthan Royals | Chris Paul, Larry Fitzgerald and Kelvin Beachum invest in RR

NBA star Chris Paul, NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald and NFL star Kelvin Beachum have dipped their toe in the world of cricket. The trio are the newest investers in IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, the inaugural winners of the showpiece tournament.

Paul, Fitzgerald and Beachum will become minority investors in the Royals franchise through Emerging Media Ventures, the vehicle 100% controlled by Manoj Badale. Rajasthan Royals, who own the Barbados Royals, spoke in a press release of their excitement about the partnership.

“We are extremely excited about the partnership with the Rajasthan Royals family. We believe this collaboration with the Rajasthan Royals will further advance cricket in Barbados and the region. This is a dream come true for all of us at CMG Companies, a team of Indian origin entrepreneurs with strong connections to India,” said the Rajasthan Royals in a press release.

“Excited to have become one of the first US athletes to see the value and scope for growth in the IPL” – NBA star and Royals investor Chris Paul

Chris Paul, one of the greatest defenders to have graced the NBA with 11 NBA All-Star team appearances, two Olympic Gold medals, and more recently taking the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Final, said he is excited to become one of the first USA athletes to invest in the IPL.

“I am excited to have become one of the first US athletes to see the value and scope for growth in the IPL,” said Paul. “With a variety of components, including stadium experience and fan engagement still left to fulfill their course, I see myself contributing world-class experience through this strategic investment.”

NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald mirrored Paul’s enthusiasm, stating his admiration for India’s sporting culture. Fitzgerald, who is known as a serious investor and philanthropist, played with the Arizona Cardinals for 17 seasons and received countless accolades including 11 Pro Bowl appearances and the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2016.

“I love the idea of building a professional franchise with a clear social purpose and look forward to working with this team to challenge the realms of possibility by expanding to new horizons as a franchise. India has a passionate sports culture and I’m excited to invest in one of the most sought-after teams in the country,” said Fitzgerald.

Kelvin Beachum is a 10-year NFL veteran who currently plays for the Arizona Cardinals. An active investor, especially in technology, and a board member at NFL Players Association, Beachum sees the potential of cricket on an international scale.

“I am keenly aware of the popularity of cricket internationally and am thrilled to join the Rajasthan Royals franchise as an investor. I respect the global reach of the IPL and am committed to supporting the Royals.”

The eyewatering value of the Indian Premier League continues to grow

“We are extremely pleased to have Chris, Larry and Kelvin join us as investors who have seen the vision of the Royals as a truly global brand” said Manoj Badale, the lead owner, as he welcomed the US trio as investors in the franchise.

Speaking of brands, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has continued to attract huge viewership from across the globe. The recent addition of the two new teams – Lucknow Super Kings and Gujarat Titans – that were sold for a cumulative US$1.7bn highlights this. Also, the league sold all of its sponsorship slots for the first time, including Aramco, the world’s second-most valuable company behind Apple, for the IPL Orange and Purple Caps.

Cricket News: NBA star Chris Paul & NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald invest in the Rajasthan Royals | Chris Paul, Larry Fitzgerald and Kelvin Beachum invest in RR
Cricket News: NBA star Chris Paul & NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald invest in the Rajasthan Royals

KKR vs RR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 47

Charbel Coorey
-
0
KKR vs RR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 47

KKR vs RR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 47 | KOL vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | Wankhede Pitch Report

After a promising start to IPL 2022, it’s almost now or never for Kolkata Knight Riders. Five consecutive losses has put their season on life support, and the Rajasthan Royals have the task of turning the machine off.

The Royals themselves will be licking their wounds a little after becoming Mumbai Indians’ first victim of the season. They have had a terrific campaign so far led by the likes of Jos Buttler, Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin, but a 10-team league means that even a 6-3 record does not mean a top two spot – or place in the playoffs for that matter – is set in stone. The positive is that they have the opportunity to bounce back quickly, and they need to do so if they have visions of finishing in the top two.

For KKR, the stakes are far more desperate than that. At time of writing (before the CSK-SRH match), they sit four points outside the top four having played an extra game than fourth-placed SRH. They are in total freefall at the moment, with too much reliance on the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Andre Russell with the bat. If this continues, they will surely kiss their fading playoffs’ hopes goodbye sooner rather than later.

The previous match between the teams was one of the all-time IPL classics. Jos Buttler scored a century, Yuzvendra Chahal took a hat-trick and KKR fell just seven short of RR”s 217. If we get anything like that match, we will be in for a real treat.

Possible Playing 11

KKR to bring Varun Chakravarthy back in the XI? The mystery spinner has struggled this season, but they could bring him back given his potential.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Aaron Finch, 2. Venkatesh Iyer, 3. Shreyas Iyer (c), 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Baba Indrajith (wk), 6. Andre Russell, 7. Sunil Narine, 8. Rinku Singh/Varun Chakravarthy, 9. Tim Southee, 10. Umesh Yadav, 11. Harshit Rana

Daryl Mitchell’s spot in the RR team is under the spotlight after a slow batting innings and expensive over that went for 20 against MI.

Rajasthan Royals: 1. Jos Buttler, 2. Devdutt Padikkal, 3. Sanju Samson (c & wk), 4. Shimron Hetmyer, 5. Daryl Mitchell/Jimmy Neesham, 6. Riyan Parag, 7. R Ashwin, 8. Trent Boult, 9. Yuzvendra Chahal, 10. Prasidh Krishna, 11. Kuldeep Sen

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Kolkata Knight Riders:

  • Shreyas Iyer is KKR’s leading run-scorer in IPL 2022 with 290 runs at an average of 36.25 and strike rate of 137.44. This includes a brilliant 51-ball 85 against the Royals earlier this season. In fact, his last three scores vs RR reads: 85, 43 and 53.
  • Shreyas has struck 176 runs against pace this season at an average of 58.66 and a strike rate of 145.45. So, the Royals could look to employ spin early to keep him as quiet as possible. However, Shreyas does have good numbers vs Chahal (78 off 58), despite the leg-spinner picking up his wicket earlier in IPL 2022.
  • Aaron Finch smashed 58 off 28 balls against RR in IPL 2022. If picked, Finch will have a key role to play. Also, whether he can get past the left-arm seam of Trent Boult will make for interesting viewing given his struggles against this type of bowling.
  • Andre Russell has been superb this season. His 227 runs come at a strike rate of 175.96 and he also has 10 wickets at a strike rate of 9.4. Also, he has smashed scores of 54 (22) and 70* (31) in his last two matches at the Wankhede.
  • Umesh Yadav has taken nine wickets in three matches at the Wankhede this season at a brilliant average of 7.44 and strike rate of eight. He has never dismissed Jos Buttler in the IPL – will today be the day?
  • Sunil Narine took 2/21 in a high-scoring match vs RR in IPL 2022. He dismissed Devdutt Padikkal in the middle overs and then Riyan Parag at the death. He has taken 13 wickets in 12 matches at Wankhede (avg. 23.46, econ. 6.47) and 12 wickets in 16 matches vs Royals (avg. 38.83).
  • KKR could look to bring Shivam Mavi back in their team. He has taken 12 wickets in seven matches against the Royals at an average of 16.08 and economy rate of 7.10.

Rajasthan Royals:

  • Jos Buttler continues to produce the goods. Despite an early struggle against MI, the Orange Cap holder (566 runs, avg. 70.75, SR 155.06) finished with a 52-ball 67. Also, he hit one of his three centuries in IPL 2022 against KKR (103 off 61 balls).
  • Buttler has a magnificent record at the Wankhede. In his last 10 matches on this ground, he has struck 471 runs at an average of 58.88 and a strike rate of 162.98. 
  • Ian Bishop said that Sanju Samson is “wasting good form”. And he is right. Samson has looked good on most occasions in IPL 2022, without going on to make the big scores. The RR captain struck a 19-ball 38 vs KKR earlier this season, part of 286 runs against them at an average of just 23.83 and strike rate of 117.70.
  • Samson is striking at 205.08 against spin this season (avg. 40.33). His battle with Sunil Narine, who has figures of 3/51 in 64 deliveries against him, could be interesting.
  • KKR are conceding 11.57 runs per over at the death this season. Shimron Hetmyer is striking at 216.43 between overs 16 and 20. After struggling to a 14-ball 6* against MI, Hetmyer will be after a big performance here.
  • R Ashwin has picked up seven wickets in his last four matches. Also, he has made scores of 21 (9) and 17 (9). He has 24 wickets in 23 games at an economy of 7.92 vs KKR (joint second-most).
  • Yuzvendra Chahal took a memorable hat-trick against KKR earlier this season (5/40). He has dismissed Nitish Rana five times in 65 deliveries in the IPL, whilst conceding just 85.
  • Prasidh Krishna has the most wickets of any RR seamer this season (11). He took figures of 4-1-22-3 in his last match at the Wankhede.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 26, RR 13, KKR 12, N/R 1.
  • KKR concede 11.57 per over at the death in IPL 2022. Only RCB, MI and CSK fare worse. RR are not far behind with an economy rate of 11.28.
  • R Ashwin is in brilliant form, but in Nitish Rana, KKR have a player who likes to take him on. Rana has struck 76 runs off 38 deliveries against Ashwin without dismissal.
  • KKR could look to use Sunil Narine to Jos Buttler. The mystery spinner has figures of 2/61 in 54 deliveries vs Buttler in the IPL.

Wankhede Pitch Report and Weather

LSG smashed 195 on this ground on Sunday. The average first innings score on this ground in IPL 2022 is 171.83, with the team batting second winning six of the first 11 matches.

A warm and clear evening forecast, with dew likely.

KKR vs MI Dream11 Prediction 2 May 2022

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:

KKR vs RR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 47 | KOL vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | Wankhede Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 47: KKR vs RR Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

KKR vs RR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 47 | KOL vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | Wankhede Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 47: KKR vs RR Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson
  • Batsmen: Shreyas Iyer
  • All-rounders: Andre Russell, R Ashwin
  • Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Umesh Yadav

Match Prediction

The team batting first needs 165 to 170 to feel safe. Rajasthan Royals certainly look more capable of achieving this.

1...247248249...504Page 248 of 504