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IND vs SL 1st Test Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

Yash Mittal
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IND vs SL 1st Test Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

IND vs SL 1st Test Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IND vs SL 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Key Players | Mohali Pitch Report

All roads will lead to the I.S Bindra Stadium in Mohali on March 4 when India locks horns with Sri Lanka in former skipper, Virat Kohli’s landmark 100th Test.

This will be the first time that India will play Test cricket post the heartbreak in South Africa earlier this winter where they squandered a 1-0 advantage and ended up losing 2-1.

That series proved to be the last time Kohli captained India in the longest format as the country’s most successful skipper relinquished leadership duties post the heart-wrenching defeat.

On Friday, Kohli will add another jewel to his crown as he’ll become the 71st cricketer and 12th Indian to represent his country in 100 matches. The legendary cricketer has not scored an international hundred in his last 70 innings. Will he score his 71st in 71st on occasion of him becoming the 71st man to play 100 games?

Landmark aside, this Test will be crucial for India in more ways than one. It will officially be the start of a new era with the team led by a name not named Virat and the middle-order not having the presence of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

The veteran duo have finally been dropped from the squad following an extended lean patch and this offers a chance for the likes of Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer to stake their claim in the middle-order.

As for Sri Lanka, the Dimuth Karunaratne-led unit got off to a brilliant start to their WTC 2023 campaign as they swept aside the West Indies at home with ease last winter. But, the visitors know that a tougher challenge awaits them in the form of India. Sri Lanka have never won a Test match in India in 20 attempts and the gulf between the two teams in the last decade has increased even more.

In the last three series between India and Lanka, the former has six out of nine games, including consecutive wins in the island nation (2-1 in 2015 & 3-0 in 2017).

But Sri Lanka do have lot of pedigree in their squad  to challenge India. Skipper Karunaratne has been in magnificent form in the past 12 months as have Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne and Dhananjaya De Silva. The trio, along with the senior duo of Angelo Matthews and Dinesh Chandimal will have to shoulder the responsibility of spearheading the batting against an all-round Indian attack, especially Ashwin-Jadeja.

With Ramesh Mendia and Mahesh Theekshana not available, the spin attack will be dependent on Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrema while Dushmantha Chameera and Suranga Lakmal will lead the pace attack.

Possible Playing 11

Rohit is back in the side after missing the last two series and it will be interesting to see who partners him at the top in the absence of KL Rahul. Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal are the two contenders but the latter’s brilliant home record could sway the balance in his favour.

Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin will lead the spin attack while the third spot will go to one of Jayant Yadav or Kuldeep Yadav- If at all India decide to go with three spinners.

It will be interesting to see who partners Jasprit Bumrah in the seam-bowling department if the home side decided to go with just two pacers, with Mohammed Siraj, Shami and Umesh Yadav all available for selection.

India:

Rohit Sharma ©, Mayank Agarwal/Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav/Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami/ Mohammad Siraj

Sri Lanka:

Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Chamika Karunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrema, Dushmantha Chameera

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

India:

  • Rohit Sharma: Sharma has been India’s best Test batsman alongside Rishabh Pant in the last 12 months and he will be looking to continue with the same on Test captaincy. He loves batting in India, and especially when the opposition is Sri Lanka. Back in 2017, he hammered 217 runs in three innings against them.
  • Virat Kohli: All eyes will be on Kohli in his landmark Test. He may not have scored a 100 in the last 18-20 months but Kohli has shown increasing signs of getting back to his best in his recent outings against South Africa.
  • He has scored four 50s in his last nine innings. Kohli’s record vs Lanka in India: 610 runs in five innings @ 152.50, including three tons.
  • Mayank Agarwal: He may not have scored that many runs in South Africa but a stellar home record makes his case strong for selection in the 1st Test. Agarwal is averaging 83.90 in seven home Tests with the help of four hundreds. He scored a series-winning ton against New Zealand in his last home outing.
  • Shreyas Iyer: The Mumbai lad is at the peak of his powers currently across formats. He scored a century on Test debut against New Zealand besides scoring three consecutive unbeaten 50s in the recent T20I series against Lanka. With No.5 spot up for grabs, Iyer will look to seal it with good performances in this series.
  • R Ashwin: The legendary spinner did not have a great time in South Africa but in familiar conditions, he will once again be India’s prime arsenal. His record vs Sri Lanka: 50 wickets in 17 innings @ 23.58.
  • R Jadeja: The all-rounder has missed a lot of Test cricket in the last 12 months due to injury and his bowling too has taken a bit of a hit. However, on home tracks, he will still be tough to handle as New Zealand discovered last year. Also his batting form has been as good as anyone’s in the last four years.

Sri Lanka:

  • Dimuth Karunaratne: Having racked up 902 runs in 13 innings at an average of 69.4 in the last 12 months, Karunaratne will come into this series on the back of a good year in Test cricket.
  • He struggled during the last tour back in 2017, managing just 91 runs in six innings. The skipper will look to make amends for it this time.
  • Pathum Nissanka: The young batsman has had a good start to his career. In 10 innings, he has scored 423 runs @ 43.30 apiece. This series will, however, be a huge test of his physical and mental skills.
  • Dinesh Chandimal: The former skipper is likely to carry out the wicketkeeping duties in the first Test and he will hope to do an encore of his performances from 2017. Back then, he racked up 366 runs in six innings @ 61 apiece with the help of two half-centuries and one hundred.
  • Dhananjaya de Silva: The vice-captain will come in this series with 530 runs in his last 10 innings at an average of nearly 60. He will have fond memories of India as he scored a brilliant hundred in one of the two innings he played in that series.
  • Angelo Matthews: The veteran all-rounder will add a much-needed solidity to the middle-order. However, he will look to improve on his Test record in the country.  In 11 innings since his first trip in 2009, Matthews has managed just 345 runs at an average of 31.36 with a lone hundred.
  • Lasith Embuldeniya: With 32 wickets in 11 innings since the start of 2021, Embuldeniya is the leading wicket-taker for his side and once again the onus will be on him and Praveen Jayawickrama to lead the spin-bowling attack.

Stats & Facts

  • Sri Lanka have never won a Test in India. In 20 attempts, they have lost 11 times while the rest have ended in a draw.
  • India have lost just two Tests at home since January 2013.
  • India’s record in Mohali: 7 wins and 1 defeat in 13 games.
  • This will be the first Test that Mohali will host since December 2016, where they hosted England.
  • Virat Kohli is 38 runs away from breaching the 8000-run barrier in Test cricket. He will be only the 6th Indian to achieve the landmark.
  • No Indian has ever scored a 100 in his 100th Test. Will Kohli become the first?

Mohali Pitch Report & Weather conditions

Mohali’s pitch is traditionally a very good one for batting as true bounce and good enough pace aids shot-making. Runs scoring is likely to be fast. However, as the game progresses, spinners as well as pacers with their reverse swing will come into the game.

The average 1st innings & 2nd innings scores here are 355 and 379 respectively and teams bowling first have won five out of 13 games as compared to three by the side batting first.

As far as the weather is concerned, it is expected to be overcast but chances of rain are minimal. The temperatures are likely to hover between 14-24 degree Celsius while the humidity is set to be around 60 per cent.

Dream11 and Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Rishabh Pant
  • Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Dimuth Karunaratne
  • All-rounders: R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja
  • Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Embuldinya

Match Prediction

Team India will start as massive favorites.

NZ-W vs WI-W Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: Women’s World Cup 2022 Match 1

Charbel Coorey
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NZ-W vs WI-W Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: Women’s World Cup 2022 Match 1

NZ-W vs WI-W Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: Women’s World Cup 2022 Match 1 | NZ-W vs WI-W Dream11 Prediction Today | Mount Maunganui Pitch Report

After a wait of an extra year due to COVID-19, the highly-anticipated Women’s ODI World Cup is upon us, and it promises to be a terrific tournament. Defending champions England will be looking to overturn some recent poor form, while Australia start as favourites once again.

One team that can challenge for the title is New Zealand. Led by the likes of Amelia Kerr, New Zealand have been magnificent in recent times, with a 4-1 series win over India and solid warm up performances headlining their preparation for the tournament. Also, the fact that they play the World Cup on their home turf can be a significant advantage, with knowledge of the conditions and home support sure to drive Sophie Devine’s team.

However, the pressure of a home World Cup has undone teams in the past, and New Zealand will be aiming for the perfect start against West Indies. The Windies remain inconsistent, but possess a number of talented players in their lineup who can cause any team trouble on their day. Indeed, the experienced core of Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor, Hayley Matthews and Anisa Mohammed need to lead the way if they are to cause an in-form New Zealand trouble on the tournament’s opening day.

Possible Playing 11

Lauren Down is out of the tournament with a thumb injury.

New Zealand: 1. Suzie Bates, 2. Sophie Devine (c), 3. Amelia Kerr, 4. Amy Satterthwaite, 5. Maddy Green, 6. Katey Martin (wk), 7. Hayley Jensen, 8. Frances Mackay, 9. Hannah Rowe/Jess Kerr, 10. Rosemary Mair, 11. Lea Tahuhu

West Indies: 1. Aaliyah Alleyne, 2. Deandra Dottin, 3. Kycia Knight (wk), 4. Stafanie Taylor (c), 5. Hayley Matthews, 6. Shemaine Campbelle, 7. Chedean Nation, 8. Chinelle Henry, 9. Cherry-Ann Fraser/Shakera Selman, 10. Anisa Mohammed, 11. Shamilia Connell

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

New Zealand:

  • Amelia Kerr is in the form of her life. She smashed 353 runs in five ODIs vs India, along with seven wickets with the ball. She then hammered 92* off 75 balls to seal an incredible chase of 322 with nine wickets to spare in the warm up vs Australia.
  • The world class Sophie Devine smashed 161* off 117 balls in the same warm up match. It was a welcome return to form after a bit of a quiet series vs India with the bat (112 runs, avg. 22.40). Against West Indies, Devine has struck 532 runs in 15 ODIs at an average of 40.92. She will also be key with the ball.
  • Suzie Bates has the most runs for any New Zealand player against West Indies in ODIs. The former captain has hit 664 runs in 16 ODIs at a brilliant average of 51.07 with three half-centuries and two centuries. She also struck a century in the recent series vs India.
  • Jess Kerr took seven wickets in three ODIs against India recently at an average of 13.14 and economy rate of 4.45.
  • Hayley Jensen took a wicket every 26 deliveries against India (six wickets in four ODIs).

West Indies:

  • Skipper Stafanie Taylor will be key to the Windies’ hopes. She has a terrific record with bat and ball against New Zealand, with 728 runs in 16 ODIs at an average of 52.00, including four half-centuries and a century. She also has 24 wickets to her name at an excellent average of 17.37.
  • Also, Taylor took 3/51 and scored 66 in her last warm up game against Australia.
  • Can Deandra Dottin make an immediate impact? The all-rounder has struck three half-centuries in 13 ODIs vs New Zealand at an overall average of 29.27. She also has seven wickets in nine innings at an average of 30.28.
  • Kycia Knight has the third-most runs for any West Indies player against New Zealand: 13 ODIs, 286 runs, avg. 22.00.
  • Hayley Matthews will also be key for the Windies. She does not have good career numbers in four matches against New Zealand (batting average 18 and bowling average 72), but she is capable of turning this around. She scored 44 and 24 in the warm ups.
  • Anisa Mohammed has some excellent numbers against New Zealand. The off-spinner has taken 17 wickets in 13 ODIs against the White Ferns at an average of 20.58 and economy rate of 4.02.

Stats and Facts

  • New Zealand have won their past four ODIs against West Indies, with the last meeting between the teams taking place in 2018.
  • New Zealand are coming off an impressive 4-1 series win vs India and then chasing 322 with nine wickets in hand in a warm up vs Australia.
  • West Indies beat Pakistan 3-0 late in 2021, before losing 2-1 in South Africa last month.
  • Amy Satterthwaite averages 21.09 in 12 ODIs vs West Indies. However, she has scored three half-centuries in her past six innings, including 80 vs Pakistan in the warm up match.

Mount Maunganui Pitch Report and Weather

Mount Maunganui is typically a good, easy-paced batting surface, and we can expect the same in this match. Bangladesh beat New Zealand in a men’s Test match in January on a pitch that was slow in nature. The match will start at 2:00pm local time, with clear conditions forecast.

Dream11 Prediction

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:

NZ-W vs WI-W Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11: Women's World Cup 2022 Match 1 | NZ-W vs WI-W Dream11 Today | Mount Maunganui Pitch
Women’s World Cup 2022 Match 1: NZ-W vs WI-W Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

NZ-W vs WI-W Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11: Women's World Cup 2022 Match 1 | NZ-W vs WI-W Dream11 Today | Mount Maunganui Pitch
Women’s World Cup 2022 Match 1: NZ-W vs WI-W Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Katey Martin
  • Batters: Deandra Dottin, Suzie Bates
  • All-rounders: Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr, Stafanie Taylor
  • Bowlers: Jess Kerr

Match Prediction

New Zealand come into this match full of confidence and good form. The White Ferns should win.

Also read: Australia’s possible XI for the first Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi

BAN vs AFG 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
BAN vs AFG 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

BAN vs AFG 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs AFG 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Bangladesh vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Key Players | Mirpur Pitch Report

Six or so months ago as Bangladesh beat Australia and New Zealand in their home den, optimism grew among their passionate fanbase that something special would ensue at the World Cup. However, it was quite the opposite, with the Tigers enduring a poor tournament, followed by a 3-0 defeat at home to Pakistan in December.

So, Mahmdullah’s team come into this match off the back of eight straight defeats in T20 Internationals. It is a format they have never really nailed, unlike the ODIs where they sit atop the Super League table after beating Afghanistan 2-1 in the recent series. Senior players will be on deck to lead the team, while eyes will also be on some youngsters looking to make a mark in this two-match series.

And it won’t be an easy task. Afghanistan enjoy T20 cricket, with a number of their players now seasoned professionals around the globe. A key part of their success has been their spin attack, and if Bangladesh produce a Mirpur track anything like we saw against Australia and New Zealand last year, the Afghan spinners will have a field day. So, can Afghanistan build on their victory in the third ODI and start the T20I series with a win?

Possible Playing 11

Munim Shahriar has been named in Bangladesh’s T20 squad, and he could make his debut.

Bangladesh: 1. Mohammad Naim/Munim Shahriar, 2. Liton Das, 3. Shakib Al Hasan, 4. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5. Mahmudullah (c), 6. Afif Hossain, 7. Yasir Ali/Shoriful Islam, 8. Mahedi Hasan, 9. Taskin Ahmed, 10. Nasum Ahmed, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Afghanistan: 1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2. Hazratullah Zazai, 3. Darwish Rasooli, 4. Najibullah Zadran, 5. Mohammad Nabi (c), 6. Azmatullah Omarzai, 7. Karim Janat, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10. Fazalhaq Farooqi, 11. Farid Ahmed

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Bangladesh:

  • Bangladesh needs some firepower at the top, and Munim Shahriar could provide that. The 23-year old right-hander struck 178 runs in six matches in the recent BPL at an impressive strike rate of 152.13.
  • Shakib Al Hasan will be looking to make an impact after a relatively quiet ODI series. He has struck 123 runs in six T20Is vs Afghanistan (avg. 30.75) and has eight wickets too (avg. 15.25). Also, Shakib has now taken 152 wickets in 118 T20s at Mirpur.
  • Liton Das was Bangladesh’s shining light in the ODI series. He struck a fifty and century in the three matches, so he comes into this match in great form.
  • Mahmudullah has the most runs in BAN-AFG T20Is: 5 inns, 138 runs, avg. 27.60, SR 116.95. He also has the most runs in T20Is at Mirpur, with 719 runs at an average of 37.84 and strike rate of 117.86.
  • Mustafizur Rahman took the most wickets in the recent BPL (19). Also, he loves bowling at this ground, with 110 wickets in 75 innings at an average of 15.76 and strike rate of 15.10. He has just the one wicket in two matches vs Afghanistan so far.
  • Mahedi Hasan (54 wickets in 66 innings at Mirpur) and Nasum Ahmed (44 wickets in 49 innings at Mirpur) were terrific against Australia and New Zealand last year. Both will be key if the pitch provides some spin.

Afghanistan:

  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz comes into this T20I off the back of a classy, unbeaten century in the third ODI. He made scores of 29 and 0 vs Bangladesh in T20Is in 2019.
  • Hazratullah Zazai has scores of 47 and 1 to his name vs Bangladesh. The left-hander has the ability to take the game away from opponents with a career T20 strike rate of 143.96 in 77 matches.
  • Skipper Mohammad Nabi has the most runs for an Afghanistan player against Bangladesh. He has scored 125 runs at an average of 31.25, which includes a brilliant 84* on this ground in 2019. He also has four wickets in six matches vs Bangladesh (avg. 26.50, econ. 5.30).
  • Rashid Khan will be a factor, as always. The great leg-spinner has the most wickets in BAN-AFG T20Is, with 12 wickets in five matches at an average of 8.20 and economy rate of 5.50.
  • Mujeeb ur Rahman has done plenty of bowling in Bangladesh lately with the BPL and ODI series. He was excellent in the recent BPL, taking 10 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of just 5.81. Also, Mujeeb has taken seven wickets in five matches vs Bangladesh at an economy rate of just 4.70.
  • Fazalhaq Farooqi was the top wicket-taker in the ODI series (6).

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 6, Bangladesh 2, Afghanistan 4.
  • Bangladesh have lost their past eight T20Is.
  • Mushfiqur Rahim has the most T20 runs at Mirpur: 110 inns, 2,693 runs, avg. 32.84, SR 125.61. He averages 23.80 in five innings vs Afghanistan.

Shere Bangla Stadium Mirpur Pitch Report and Weather

Bangladesh will be well served not producing sharp turning pitches against Afghanistan’s potent spin attack. So, we could see a truer, pacier pitch than what was on offer in 2021.

The average first innings score in the recent BPL was 145.1. The chasing team had a better time of things, winning six of the 10 matches.

A clear afternoon and evening is forecast in Mirpur.

Dream11 Prediction

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:

BAN vs AFG 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs AFG 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Bangladesh vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Key Players | Mirpur Pitch Report
BAN vs AFG 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

BAN vs AFG 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs AFG 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Bangladesh vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Key Players | Mirpur Pitch Report
BAN vs AFG 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Liton Das
  • Batsmen: Najibullah Zadran
  • All-rounders: Mohammad Nabi, Shakib Al Hasan
  • Bowlers: Mustafizur Rahman, Rashid Khan

Match Prediction

Bangladesh at home in white-ball cricket is always a tricky proposition. However, Afghanistan look to be more clear on their T20 approach. Afghanistan to win.

Incredible Kagiso Rabada: The stats putting him among the best

Charbel Coorey
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Incredible Kagiso Rabada: The stats putting him among the best

Incredible Kagiso Rabada: The stats putting him among the best | The remarkable stats by Kagiso Rabada that places him among the best bowlers ever

Kagiso Rabada starred once again for South Africa as the Proteas executed a magnificent fightback to level the Test series 1-1 in New Zealand. His superb eight-wicket haul with the ball and contributions with the bat blew the Black Caps away, keeping South Africa’s record of never losing a Test series to New Zealand intact after an embarrassing first Test.

It was another chapter in the wonderful story that Kagiso Rabada’s Test career. He is now just seven wickets away from 250 Test wickets at 26 years of age, and he is showing no signs of stopping as he continues to take wickets for fun.

Remarkable Kagiso Rabada Test stats

Rabada’s incredible numbers put him on par with some of the best bowlers the game has ever seen. Below are some of his mind-boggling statistics that are worthy of applause.

1. Best strike rate in Test history (minimum 200 wickets)

Rabada’s strike rate of 40.7 is the best in history among bowlers with at least 200 Test wickets. He takes a wicket nearly two deliveries less on average than his fellow countryman Dale Steyn, who finished his career with a strike rate of 42.3 that is marvelled by many around the world to this day.

Also, Rabada’s strike rate is the fourth-best in history among all bowlers. However, none of the top three players on the list (George Lohmann 34.9, John Ferris 37.7 and Shane Bond 38.9) played 20 Tests. Rabada has played 52.

Among Rabada’s current rivals in the exciting, young pace-bowling core, Pat Cummins strikes every 45.9 deliveries, Shaheen Shah Afridi every 47.7 and Bumrah every 51.5.

Incredible Kagiso Rabada: The stats putting him among the best | The remarkable stats by Kagiso Rabada that places him among the best bowlers ever

2. Fourth-most wickets in Test history among pacers before 27th birthday

Rabada’s 243 wickets puts him fourth for most wickets among pace bowlers before turning 27. Kapil Dev (281), Waqar Younis (267) and Ian Botham (251) are ahead of him at this stage.

Rabada has more wickets at this stage than the likes of Wasim Akram (186 in 48 Tests) and Malcolm Marshall (171 in 38 Tests).

Should he not be available for a part of the IPL, Rabada is set to play two Tests at home to Bangladesh in late March and early April. So, he should cross Botham’s 251 before he turns 27 on May 25th.

3. Seventh-most wickets for South Africa

At just 26, Kagiso Rabada is already seventh on the list for most Test wickets for South Africa. Dale Steyn (439), Shaun Pollock (421), Makhaya Ntini (390), Allan Donald (330), Morne Morkel (309) and Jaques Kallis (291) are in his sights.

If Rabada continues on the same path (4.67 wickets per Test), he will overtake Dale Steyn’s record in around 42 Tests. Should he stay largely injury-free, the star pacer is every chance of finishing his career as South Africa’s most prolific Test bowler.

Australia Possible XI for first Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi

Charbel Coorey
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0
Australia Possible XI for first Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi

Cricket News: Australia Possible XI for first Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi | Australia Possible Playing XI for first Test vs Pakistan

Australia have touched down in Pakistan ahead of their historic tour; their first of the country since 1998. The series has been met with great anticipation and excitement, with a high-profile series taking place in a nation that has been starved of cricket since 2009.

Also, it is Australia’s first Test tour since the 2019 Ashes. They enter the three-match series as the number one Test team after routing England 4-0 at the same time India fell 2-1 to South Africa. Pat Cummins will lead the team in his first assignment abroad, which is Australia’s first Test series since Justin Langer’s resignation.

With plenty of speculation around the conditions, Australia are mulling over their team combination for the first Test in Rawalpindi. Pakistan typically suits pace more so than other subcontinent nations, but whether Australia plays Cameron Green as a third seamer remains to be seen.

On first glance, the Rawalpindi track looks devoid of grass and is a bat first surface. Such a track is sure to suit spin later in the match, so Australia could look at two spin options for the first Test against Babar Azam’s Pakistan.

Australia possible XI for first Test vs Pakistan

1. David Warner

A given. David Warner struck 335* in his last assignment vs Pakistan in 2019, and he will be aiming to make an impact.

Whether he can improve on his overseas Test average of 33.17 should make for interesting viewing.

2. Usman Khawaja

Marcus Harris continues to churn out the runs in Sheffield Shield cricket, but Usman Khawaja should get the nod for the opening spot in the first Test.

Khawaja cemented his place in the team with brilliant twin centuries at the SCG in January. Plus, this will be a special occasion for Khawaja in his country of birth.

3. Marnus Labuschagne

Australia’s number three has made a brilliant start to his Test career. Now, a huge year awaits him with the Pakistan tour the first of a number of Tests in the subcontinent this year.

Of course, Marnus has been prepararing in true Marnus fashion.

4. Steve Smith

Surprisingly, Steve Smith failed to score a century in the recent Ashes series, where his career average also dipped below 60. He will be crucial to Australia’s chances in this series.

5. Travis Head

The player of the series in the Ashes. Travis Head had a magnificent series, despite missing the SCG Test due to COVID-19.

However, Pakistan will have kept a close eye on how Head plays the short ball, and they will be looking to target that aspect of his game.

6. Cameron Green

Australia’s up-and-coming all-rounder grew into the recent Ashes series, where he scored two half-centuries in the final two Tests and took 13 wickets in the series at 15.76.

There is great anticipation as to how Green will fare in his first overseas series. Also, there is a growing possibility that Green could play as the third seamer.

7. Alex Carey (wk)

The incumbent keeper. Carey did quite well with the gloves in the Ashes, with some handy contributions down the order with the bat.

8. Pat Cummins (c)

A given. The world’s best Test bowler.

However, this will be Cummins’ biggest test as captain so far with England offering very little resistance at home. How well will he juggle the responsibility of lead pacer and captain?

9. Mitchell Swepson

A dry Rawalpindi wicket that looks devoid of grass could prompt Australia to play with two frontline spinners. Leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson is considered next in line to replace Nathan Lyon down the line, so here is a good opportunity to play him if Australia choose a twin-spin attack.

10. Nathan Lyon

Australia’s most prolific off-spinner no longer has the burden of chasing his 400th Test wicket. Lyon will have a crucial role to play as the lead spinner as he will aim to lead Australia to wins late in the Tests.

11. Josh Hazlewood

If Australia do choose two frontline spinners, the biggest decision could come down to Mitchell Starc vs Josh Hazlewood. A dry surface is likely to bring reverse swing into play, which makes Starc a dangerous proposition. However, Australia could opt for greater control, and Hazlewood’s skillset can offer plenty.

Reactions: India equal record for most consecutive T20I wins

Charbel Coorey
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0
Reactions: India equal record for most consecutive T20I wins

Cricket News: Reactions: India equal record for most consecutive T20I wins | Twitter reactions after India win 12th consecutive T20I

India became the third team after Afghanistan and Romania to notch up 12 consecutive T20I wins after beating Sri Lanka convincingly once again in Dharamasala. Shreyas Iyer continued his dream run of form, taking his opportunity to bat at three with both hands, as he smashed his third straight half-century to win the player of the series award.

India’s feat is a welcome occurrence after heavy defeats to Pakistan and New Zealand in the T20 World Cup. Since that eight-wicket defeat to the Black Caps, India beat Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia in the World Cup followed by clean sweeps of New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka.

While India expect to beat most of those teams, it is the renewed style of play that provides a sense of optimism. Also, the performances of the likes of Shreyas Iyer provides India with some selection headaches going forward, and skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed that in his post-match press conference.

“We do understand at times that we’ve held back but it’s important to tell the guys that you don’t have to worry about your positions in the team,” said Rohit.

“We want to fill whatever gaps we have and we do have. We just want to move forward, It’s going to be a big challenge but it’s nice to have guys in form rather than not in form.”

Player of the series Shreyas was thrilled to get an opportunity and took heart in the way he was able to perform after an injury. He outshone Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka, who himself had a wonderful series with the bat.

“You require just one ball to get in form. I’m really happy with whatever opportunities I got this series,“ said Iyer in the post-match press conference.

“To come out of injury and perform at this level is really heartening for me.”

Twitter reactions to India notching up 12th straight T20I win

Below are some of the reactions to India’s feat, as well as Shreyas Iyer’s magnificent series.

MUL vs LAH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Final

Charbel Coorey
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0
MUL vs LAH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Final

MUL vs LAH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Final | MUL vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Today | Multan Sultans vs Lahore Qalandars Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report

Two teams who are never down and out will contest the PSL 2022 Final. Lahore Qalandars looked gone on a few occasions in Eliminator 2 a couple of nights ago, before stirring fightbacks late on with bat and ball sealed an incredible six-run victory over Islamabad.

And that is Lahore’s key strength. With David Wiese batting down at eight, the Qalandars can pounce with the bat at any time, as the 27-run final over showed. With the ball, as they achieved twice vs Islamabad this season, they can bring things back at the death when a loss is looking the likely result.

It makes the Final against Multan Sultans one not to miss. These two franchises have been the top teams this season, with Multan winning an incredible 10 off 11 matches in PSL 2022. However, the pressure is on, and if they can’t seal the deal tonight, all that great cricket throughout the season will feel to no avail.

Sultans’ bowlers choked Lahore in the Qualifier last week, and they will be aiming for more of the same against a team that has faltered in the middle overs in recent teams. Lahore, on the other hand, will need to make inroads into Sultans’ top order that will now include Tim David as he has recovered from COVID-19.

Sultans will be aiming for back-to-back titles. Qalandars are gunning for their first. Bring it on.

Possible Playing 11

Multan Sultans: 1. Shan Masood, 2. Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), 3. Aamer Azmat, 4. Rilee Rossouw, 5. Tim David, 6. Khushdil Shah, 7. David Willey, 8. Asif Afridi, 9. Rumman Raees, 10. Imran Tahir, 11. Shahnawaz Dahani 

Lahore Qalandars: 1. Fakhar Zaman, 2. Abdullah Shafique, 3. Kamran Ghulam, 4. Mohammad Hafeez, 5. Phil Salt (wk), 6. Harry Brook, 7. David Wiese, 8. Samit Patel, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), 10. Haris Rauf, 11. Zaman Khan

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Multan Sultans:

  • Mohammad Rizwan is a big-game player. The Sultans’ skipper has struck four half-centuries in a row, even hanging tight in the Qualifier vs Lahore as he struggled at times (he finished with 53* off 51 balls).
  • Rizwan scored 69 (42), 20 (27) and 53* (51) vs Lahore in PSL 2022, part of 535 runs at an average of 76.00 and strike rate of 126.96 this season.
  • How good was Rilee Rossouw in the Qualifier? His 65* off 42 balls gave the Sultans’ innings crucial momentum, and it boosted his average vs Lahore up to 30.00 (150 runs).
  • Can Shan Masood overcome a bit of a lean run of form? The left-hander has struck scores of 8, 45, 57, 4 and 2 in his last five knocks, and was out cheaply to Mohammad Hafeez in the Qualifier. He averages 31.00 in eight matches vs Lahore.
  • Tim David is set to return. Australia’s highest IPL earner has the potential to take the game away from Lahore with a strike rate of 199.20 in PSL 2022 (251 runs). He scored 24 off 12 balls in his last game vs Lahore.
  • Shahnawaz Dahani was absolutely outstanding in the Qualifier against Lahore, with his 3/19 turning the match in Multan’s favour. He now has 11 wickets in five matches vs Lahore at an average of 12.55 and economy rate of 7.60.
  • Khushdil Shah is PSL 2022’s third-highest wicket-taker (16), along with Imran Tahir. Both are conceding under seven runs per over. Tahir has nine wickets in eight matches vs Lahore at an average of 23.67 and economy rate of 7.26.

Lahore Qalandars:

  • Disbelief rung out around Lahore as Fakhar Zaman cut one to third man for 1 in Eliminator 2 vs Islamabad. PSL 2022’s leading run-scorer (585) can bounce back today against a team whom he usually scores well against (12 inns, 524 runs, avg. 43.67, SR 154.12), including three half-centuries in all three matches against Multan this season.
  • Abdullah Shafique struck form with an excellent 28-ball 52 in the Eliminator vs Islamabad. He struck just 24, 4 and 5 vs Multan this season. Can he improve on this?
  • Kamran Gulham vs Lahore this season: 43 (31), 42 (38) and 20 (17).
  • David Wiese was player of the match in Eliminator 2 in an incredible display at the death (28* off 8 balls and 1/20). He has scored 160 runs at an average of 40.00 and strike rate of 181.82 vs Multan, along with seven wickets at an average of 28.00.
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi has 22 wickets in 12 matches vs Multan, and he will be crucial in the powerplay. He went wicketless vs Sultans in the Qualifier (0/31).
  • Haris Rauf historically struggles against Multan (10 inns, 9 wickets, avg. 41.78, econ. 10.16). Lahore will be hoping he can improve on this today.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 12, Multan 7, Lahore 5.
  • Lahore is the only team to have beaten Multan this season. Multan lead Lahore 2-1 this season.
  • David Willey has taken 12 wickets in seven matches this season, including three scalps in two matches vs Lahore.
  • No team has ever won back-to-back PSL titles. Multan Sultans are aiming to become the first team to achieve this.
  • Lahore Qalandars are yet to win the PSL.

Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Weather

Bowlers are in the game more as the pressure increases. The average first innings score in the last six matches is 154.83, compared to the previous 12 matches which was a much higher 187. Teams batting first have won 13 of the 17 matches at Lahore this season, which makes runs on the board crucial in the Final.

Another mild and clear evening is forecast for Lahore.

Dream11 Prediction

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:

MUL vs LAH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Final | MUL vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Today | Multan Sultans vs Lahore Qalandars Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Final: MUL vs LAH Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

MUL vs LAH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Final | MUL vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Today | Multan Sultans vs Lahore Qalandars Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Final: MUL vs LAH Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Rizwan
  • Batsmen: Fakhar Zaman
  • All-rounders: Mohammad Hafeez, David Willey
  • Bowlers: Shahnawaz Dahani, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Match Prediction

This has the makings of a great final. Multan Sultans start as favourites, but any score around 170 will be a very tough chase in a pressure match.

LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Eliminator 2

Charbel Coorey
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0
LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Eliminator 2

LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Eliminator 2 | LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction Today | Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report

It’s all to play for now, and this one should be a beauty. Islamabad United are right back in title contention courtesy of wonderful performances from their returning stars, with Alex Hales and Hasan Ali particularly impressive in their win over a Peshawar side that came into the game with momentum.

It was a performance that should give United plenty of confidence. Teams batting first have dominated the Lahore leg of PSL 2022, but their finishing and six-hitting under pressure can hold them in great stead. Also, with Hasan Ali in much improved bowling form, United will be aiming to go one better than last season and reach the Final this time around.

To do that, they will need to get past Lahore Qalandars. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s team missed an opportunity against Sultans, with their batting in the middle overs costing them dearly. There was a lack of adequate support for Fakhar Zaman as the Qalandars fell prey to Shahnawaz Dahani and David Willey, and they will now be out for a much improved showing in the finishing department with both bat and ball.

Possible Playing 11

Lahore Qalandars: 1. Fakhar Zaman, 2. Abdullah Shafique, 3. Kamran Ghulam, 4. Mohammad Hafeez, 5. Phil Salt (wk), 6. Harry Brook, 7. David Wiese, 8. Samit Patel, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), 10. Haris Rauf, 11. Zaman Khan

Islamabad United: 1. Alex Hales, 2. Will Jacks, 3. Shadab Khan (c), 4. Azam Khan (wk), 5. Asif Ali, 6. Faheem Ashraf, 7. Liam Dawson, 8. Hasan Ali, 9. Athar Mahmood, 10. Zahid Mahmood, 11. Waqas Maqsood 

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Lahore Qalandars:

  • Fakhar Zaman looked like taking the game away from Sultans a couple of days ago. His 63 off 45 balls is part of a superb season, where he has struck 584 runs at an average of 53.09 and strike rate of 155.31, with eight 50+ scores in 11 matches.
  • Fakhar scored 38 (27) and 51 (41) vs Islamabad in the league stage. He has the most runs in LAH-ISL T20s with 323 runs at an average of 29.36 and strike rate of 130.24.
  • Kamran Ghulam has looked in decent form of late (last six scores: 42, 55*, 13, 0, 25, 20). Can he build on a start today? He scored 0 and 1 vs Islamabad in the league stage.
  • Mohammad Hafeez was terrific with the ball vs Multan (1/16), but Lahore need more from him with the bat. He is averaging just 25.11 this season and averages 31.40 in seven matches vs Islamabad since the start of 2019.
  • Harry Brook smashed 102 off 49 balls against Islamabad last week. Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan were unavailable in that match, so it will be interesting to see how Brook fares here.
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi will be looking to lead from the front. The skipper has taken 11 wickets in seven matches vs United at an average of 21.18, including three wickets in two matches this season. He dismissed Alex Hales in the first meeting vs Islamabad in PSL 2022.
  • Haris Rauf took four wickets in two matches vs Islamabad in the league stage. He has 10 wickets against them overall in seven matches at an average of 22.90 and economy rate of 8.81.

Islamabad United:

  • Welcome back, Alex Hales. The star batsman made an immediate impact in his return yesterday, striking an important 62 off 49 balls vs Peshawar. Key player.
  • Shadab Khan will be better for the run yesterday. He looked good for more runs (21) and bowled decently (1/30). Incredibly, he still has the most wickets of any bowler in PSL 2022 (18) and is striking at 161.78 with the bat (254 runs).
  • Shadab has taken 17 wickets in 11 matches vs Lahore at an average of 15.06. This includes a superb spell of 4/20 earlier this season, where he dismissed Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Hafeez and Phil Salt.
  • Azam Khan’s 256 runs this season come at a strike rate of 141.43 with 17 sixes. His six-hitting could be crucial once again.
  • Faheem Ashraf is in excellent form. After a wicket-taking drought, he has now taken seven wickets in his last three matches. Also, he enjoys playing Lahore, with 18 wickets in eight matches at an average of 11.28, including 3/28 last week.
  • Liam Dawson could be a key X-factor today. He can float around in the batting order and can hit the ball long, as his 10 off two balls to seal the Eliminator 1 showed. He also took 3/16 with the ball two games ago vs Sultans.
  • Hasan Ali was back to his best yesterday. The seamer took 3/30 vs Zalmi, and he will be looking to back that up today against a franchise whom he has taken 15 wickets against in 10 career matches (econ. 7.90).

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 14, Islamabad 9, Lahore 5.
  • Lahore beat Islamabad twice this season (8 runs and 66 runs).
  • Asif Ali vs Lahore: 12 inns, 264 runs, avg. 29.33, SR 176.00.

Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Weather

The bowlers have been in the game more in recent matches, with spinners finding turn and pacers rewarded for their accuracy. The average first innings score in the first 12 matches of the Lahore leg was 187, and the average score in the last five matches has dropped to 152.2.

Teams batting first have won 12 of the 16 matches at Lahore this season, which makes Islamabad’s chase against Peshawar all-the-more impressive.

Dream11 Prediction

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:

LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Eliminator 2 | LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction Today | Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Eliminator 2: LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Eliminator 2 | LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction Today | Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Eliminator 2: LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Azam Khan
  • Batsmen: Fakhar Zaman, Alex Hales
  • All-rounders: Shadab Khan
  • Bowlers: Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Match Prediction

Tough match to pick. A score of 175+ could be a very tough chase, so all eyes will be on the first innings.

Also read: List of Australians sold in the IPL Auction

IND vs SL 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
IND vs SL 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

IND vs SL 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IND vs SL 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I Key Players | Lucknow Pitch Report

The cricket world continues to rotate at a rapid rate, with India and Sri Lanka going head-to-head less than a week after their last assignments.

Sri Lanka were in Australia merely four days ago, where they picked up a morale-boosting, consolation victory in the final T20I. They displayed positive signs right throughout the five-match series, which they will be aiming to build on in this three-match assignment. However, Wanindu Hasaranga could be out of the entire series due to COVID-19, and Kusal Mendis and Maheesh Theekshana have been reportedly struck down by injuries.

Combine those absentees with the fact that Sri Lanka are winless in their last seven completed T20Is in India, and it is an even tougher ask. India are without stars of their own, but their depth continues to shine through. Also, the fact they won matches against the West Indies when batting first is cause for encouragement, as this was an area they struggled in badly in last year’s World Cup.

Possible Playing 11

Suryakumar Yadav and Deepak Chahar will miss this series due to injury. Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Shardul Thakur are rested. Rohit Sharma batted at four in the third T20I vs West Indies, so it remains to be seen if he opens today.

India: 1. Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2. Rohit Sharma (c), 3. Shreyas Iyer, 4. Ishan Kishan (wk), 5. Sanju Samson/Deepak Hooda, 6. Venkatesh Iyer, 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Harshal Patel, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Kusal Mendis and Maheesh Theekshana are reportedly out of the first T20I at least with injuries. Wanindu Hasaranga tested positive for COVID-19 again, and could miss the whole series.

Sri Lanka: 1. Pathum Nissanka, 2. Dinushka Gunathilaka, 3. Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 4. Charith Asalanka, 5. Janith Liyanage, 6. Dasun Shanaka (c), 7. Chamika Karunaratne, 8. Dushmantha Chameera, 9. Praveen Jayawickrama, 10. Jeffrey Vandersay, 11. Lahiru Kumara/Binura Fernando 

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

India:

  • Surprisingly, Rohit Sharma averages just 22.33 in 15 T20Is vs Sri Lanka. He does have a century against them, and is capable of firing. Also, Rohit scored 111* off 61 balls in his only T20 at Lucknow.
  • Expect Shreyas Iyer to occupy the number three spot in the absence of Virat Kohli. Shreyas was looking good in the final T20I against West Indies, before giving his wicket away for a 16-ball 25.
  • It’s a big opportunity for Ruturaj Gaikwad. He scored 21 and 14 in his T20Is vs Sri Lanka last year, before a wonderful IPL where he scored the second-most runs behind Faf du Plessis.
  • Venkatesh Iyer had an excellent series against West Indies in the finishing role. The all-rounder struck 92 runs at a strike rate of 184.00, and was dismissed just once in three matches. He also chipped in with two wickets.
  • Yuzvendra Chahal has the most wickets in IND-SL T20Is. The leg-spinner has taken 15 wickets in just seven matches against them.
  • Jasprit Bumrah is back and looking to fire right away. He concedes just 6.17 runs per over vs Sri Lanka, with eight wickets in nine T20Is.
  • Harshal Patel took the most wickets for India in the recent series against West Indies (5). His ability to bowl at the death will always mean he is a chance to take wickets, particularly against Sri Lanka’s inexperienced middle order.

Sri Lanka:

  • Pathum Nissanka scored the most runs of any player in the recent AUS-SL series (187, avg. 36.80). He will be key in holding the innings together for Sri Lanka.
  • Charith Asalanka had a disappointing series in Australia, where he averaged just 12.80. He had a superb World Cup last year, and struck 44 off 26 balls in his only T20I vs India before the tournament.
  • Skipper Dasun Shanaka has a key role to play. He averages just 13.55 with the bat in 15 matches vs India (149 runs), but has nine wickets in eight innings. Can he deliver with bat and ball?
  • Dushmantha Chameera has some good numbers against India. The seamer, who took seven wickets in five matches in the Australia series, has taken 14 scalps in 12 matches at an average of 23.36 and economy rate of 7.46.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 22, India 14, Sri Lanka 7, 1 N/R.
  • India have won the last seven completed T20Is vs Sri Lanka at home.
  • Sri Lanka beat India 2-1 last year, but the Indian squad was decimated by COVID-19.
  • Ishan Kishan struck at just 85 in the series vs West Indies. Big game for him.

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow Pitch Report and Weather

A warm day is forecast for Lucknow. There is a chance of haze and dew in the evening, so expect the captain who wins the toss to choose to chase.

Lucknow played host to 10 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches in November 2021. The average first innings score was 153.5, with both the team chasing and setting a score winning five matches each.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time.

Option 1:

IND vs SL 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IND vs SL 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Lucknow Pitch Report
IND vs SL 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IND vs SL 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IND vs SL 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Lucknow Pitch Report
IND vs SL 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Ishan Kishan
  • Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, Pathum Nissanka
  • All-rounders: Venkatesh Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja
  • Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Harshal Patel, Dushmantha Chameera

Match Prediction

India to win.

Gujarat Titans IPL 2022 Season Preview: Can the new team make a mark?

Debashish Sarangi
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Gujarat Titans IPL 2022 Season Preview: Can the new team make a mark?

Cricket News: Gujarat Titans IPL 2022 Season Preview: Can the new team make a mark? | Gujarat Titans 2022 IPL Team Preview: Looking at their auction

The Gujarat Titans were introduced as the tenth team in the most luxurious T20 league, the Indian Premier League. They picked dynamic Indian allrounder Hardik Pandya as their skipper, drafted the legendary Rashid Khan as their lead spinner, as well as the talented Shubman Gill as a key batsman prior to the mega auction.

They had a budget of 52 crores before the auction, but I feel they didn’t use this amount in the most convincing manner. They had to pick their fast bowlers, allrounders, keepers and an opener. They had some good buys in the form of Lockie Ferguson, Sai Kishore, David Miller, Mohammed Shami and Jason Roy, but they couldn’t pick renowned domestic middle-order batters and seamers.

Gujarat Titans IPL 2022 full squad

Hardik Pandya (c), Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami, David Miller, Jason Roy, Wriddhiman Saha, Matthew Wade, Lockie Ferguson, Abhinav Manohar, Rahul Tewatia, Noor Ahmad, R Sai Kishore, Dominic Drakes, Vijay Shankar, Jayant Yadav, Darshan Nalkande, Yash Dayal, B Sai Sudharsan, Gurkeerat Singh, Alzarri Joseph, Varun Aaron, Pradeep Sangwan.

Gujarat Titans IPL 2022 Possible XI

Roy, Rashid and Ferguson are three certain overseas players that the Gujarat Titans should start with. As they don’t have great domestic middle-order batters, I would like them to go with David Miller as their finisher alongside Hardik. As a result, Saha should get the nod over Wade for the keeping position.

Saha can be used properly at the top, so I would like them to use Gill at number 3. Roy and Saha should be asked to capitalize on the field restrictions and Gill can deal with the spinners in an appropriate manner.

My preferred XI for the Gujarat Titans is:

Jason Roy, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Hardik Pandya, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Aaron, Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson

Cricket News: Gujarat Titans IPL 2022 Season Preview: Can the new team make a mark? | Gujarat Titans 2022 IPL Team Preview: Looking at their auction
Gujarat Titans IPL 2022 Season Preview: Shubman Gill for a big season?

Gujarat Titans IPL 2022 Auction Analysis: Strengths

Their primary strength in batting is their finishing department as they have two really good finishers in David Miller and Hardik Pandya. Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan can also provide some handy contributions coming lower down the order. Their spin bowling department looks very good as they have all types of bowlers in Rashid, Sai Kishore, Rahul Tewatia, Jayant Yadav, Noor Ahmad etc. whom they can use as per the opposition.

Gujarat Titans IPL 2022 Auction Analysis: Weaknesses

Their top four doesn’t seem to be the most convincing one. Jason Roy, though being an English superstar, has played only 13 IPL games. Shubman Gill hasn’t been at his best for quite some time now. Wriddhiman Saha and Matthew Wade both don’t come under the category of first-choice wk-batsman options. Vijay Shankar has had an underwhelming IPL career so far. The other domestic options like Abhinav Manohar and Sai Sudharsan are untested in the IPL. They will certainly hope that these guys give some impactful performances up the order, which will make things easier for the likes of Hardik and Miller.

Talking about their bowling department, they will struggle to find Lockie Ferguson’s partner in the death overs. Shami’s numbers in death overs haven’t been encouraging, and Aaron and Sangwan rarely play matches in the IPL.

To counter this, they have to use the four overs of Rashid wisely and if possible, they should try to keep 1-2 overs of the spin maestro for the death overs.

Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today

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