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Windies legend Desmond Haynes named new chief selector

Charbel Coorey
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Windies legend Desmond Haynes named new chief selector

Cricket News: Windies legend Desmond Haynes named new chief selector | Desmond Haynes names new chief selector of West Indies

Former West Indies batting great Desmond Haynes was appointed the new chief selector of the West Indies Cricket team, replacing Roger Harper, removed from the post. Haynes, a veteran of 116 Tests for the West Indies, will be at the helm till 2024 and will oversee two T20 World Cups & a 50-over World Cup in the period.

The 65-year-old recently sat down for an interview with Betway to discuss his new role as a lead selector of the Men’s cricket team and the challenges that lie ahead in his next cricketing journey. Haynes, who had previously served in a similar capacity for Barbados Cricket in the late ’90s, says that he felt it was the time to give back to West Indies cricket, so he accepted the position.

The former opener believes that the knowledge of the game is a crucial ingredient to being successful as a chief selector. Haynes added that his essential task would be to identify the talent and get inputs from the coach co-selector to select the best team available to win a game of cricket. When asked about how he will deal with identifying the correct players for specific roles in the team, Desmond Haynes said he would look at the players’ commitment & character towards the team and his ability to use his talents to win games for the country.

Haynes, though he admitted that statistics play a significant role behind selecting a team, once again stressed the importance of selecting a player based on their character and kept a stance that he will be staying away from the coaching staff as he believes his role is to pick the best players in West Indies cricket. He further added that he would partly be responsible for the team’s performance on the field, whether good or bad. He highlighted that selecting a team is done by looking at a long-term objective. It will be essential to give the selected players a fair amount of time before deciding their replacement as he believes competition will bring the best out of the team.

Haynes felt that rotation of players, especially the pacers, would be necessary for this hectic cricketing calendar ahead when the new chief selector was asked to comment on the busy schedule. He also admitted that the players’ mental well-being will be essential but was hopeful that stringent bio-bubble rules will slowly relax, giving the player a much-needed breather to move around freely.

Haynes said he wants more players to be vying for a spot and the need to know how to balance between franchise cricket and playing for the country. This includes the leagues worldwide, barring the IPL, which has a specific window. While he welcomes the motives behind the cricketers choosing to play more leagues to have financial stability, Haynes believes it is also vital for them to grow as a player, developing themselves and gaining as much knowledge as he can. And that is why he says they need to strike the right balance.

The former swashbuckling opener feels that more and more multi-format players should come from West Indies cricket. He concluded by saying West Indies has talent but less than countries like India & Australia and believes that ICC will need to spend more money in countries with fewer resources to make cricket competitive globally.

You can read the main article here.

LAH vs PES Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 30

Charbel Coorey
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0
LAH vs PES Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 30

LAH vs PES Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 30 | LAH vs PES Dream11 Prediction Today | Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report

After some twists and turns – particularly in recent times – the anticipation grows further as the final four teams have been confirmed. Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi will take part in the quest for the PSL Title, with both sides doing battle today in one final hitout before the crunch matches.

Injuries and departures among overseas players has put a bit of a dampener on proceedings, but domestic talent is certainly exciting. One such talent is Zalmi’s Mohammad Haris, who has taken the PSL by storm. His latest knock – a brilliant 70 off 32 balls vs Islamabad – was as classy as it was dominant, and he will be looking to lead the way once again in Zalmi’s search for a fourth consecutive win.

It will take something nearly impossible for Zalmi to place Lahore in the PSL table. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s team has all but locked up second spot with consistent performances in recent times, with the latest being a 66-run hammering of Islamabad courtesy of Harry Brooks’ stunning century.

Now, Lahore will have to produce the goods without Rashid Khan, who has left for national duty. How they deal with his absence will be interesting to see, and the franchise will have the chance to test themselves before the playoffs.

Possible Playing 11

Rashid Khan has left the PSL to prepare for Afghanistan’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh.

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

Liam Livingstone is out of the remainder of PSL 2022 after suffering an injury. Sherfane Rutherford has flown home to be with his family, with Benny Howell joining the franchise after the BPL. Hazratullah Zazai will also take part on the series vs Bangladesh starting soon, so Kamran Akmal or Haider Ali could come back into the team.

Peshawar Zalmi: 1. Mohammad Haris (wk), 2. Kamran Akmal/Haider Ali, 3. Yasir Khan, 4. Shoaib Malik, 5. Hussain Talat, 6. Benny Howell, 7. Ben Cutting, 8. Wahab Riaz (c), 9. Matt Parkinson/Sameen Gul, 10. Usman Qadir, 11. Salman Irshad

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Lahore Qalandars:

  • Fakhar Zaman has struck an incredible seven 50+ scores in nine innings this season. This includes a 38-ball 66 against Zalmi.
  • What a knock it was last time out by Harry Brook. The Englishman smashed a superb 49-ball 102* vs Islamabad, and he will be looking to produce another impactful innings here. In fact, he has been strong this season, with 206 runs at a strike rate of 182.30.
  • Mohammad Hafeez has had a relatively quiet season in PSL 2022 (avg. 25), but he has some good numbers for Lahore against Zalmi: 6 inns, 151 runs, avg. 50.33, SR 145.19. He scored 37* (19) against them earlier this season.
  • David Wiese’s all-round ability will be key in the absence of Rashid Khan. Wiese’s 68 runs vs Zalmi since 2020 come at a strike rate of 178.95. He also has taken nine wickets in six matches against them at an average of 17.78 and economy rate of 8.42. This includes 2/11 earlier in PSL 2022.
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi has taken the most wickets in LAH-PES matches (15 wickets, avg. 13.87, econ. 6.12). He was superb against them earlier this season with his 2/19 in a high-scoring match. He also has the fourth-most wickets in PSL 2022 (14).
  • Zaman Khan has also taken 14 wickets this season, including 3/32 vs Zalmi.

Peshawar Zalmi:

  • All eyes on Mohammad Haris against Lahore’s strong attack. The classy batsman has been magnificent so far, smashing 148 runs in his three matches at an average of 49.33 and strike rate of 194.73.
  • Zalmi could look at bringing Kamran Akmal back into the XI. He has scored the most runs in LAH-PES matches, with 319 at an average of 31.90 and strike rate of 130.20.
  • Shoaib Malik has enjoyed an excellent season to date. The veteran has struck 314 runs (fifth-most of any player) at an average of 44.85 and strike rate of 142.08.
  • Malik also has some strong numbers against Lahore since the start of 2020 (5 inns, 207 runs, avg. 41.40, SR 139.86).
  • Ben Cutting missed out last match vs Islamabad, but he was in some fine form before that with scores of 24, 52*, 23, 26 and 36 in his previous five knocks. He is striking at 164.16 in nine matches this season (197 runs).
  • Wahab Riaz, like Shaheen, has 15 wickets in LAH-PES matches at an average of 25.67 and economy rate of 7.52. Also, after going wicketless in his first four matches of PSL 2022, Wahab has taken seven scalps in his next four outings.
  • Salman Irshad was outstanding last match vs Islamabad, taking 3/29 in a high-scoring match.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 14, Lahore 6, Peshawar 8.
  • Lahore (199/4) beat Peshawar (170) comfortably earlier in PSL 2022. Zaman Khan was player of the match (3/32).
  • Peshawar Zalmi have qualified for the playoffs in every PSL season to date.

Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Weather

Teams batting first have dominated matches at Lahore this season, winning nine of 14 matches. The average first innings score of 179.64, with the surface showing some signs of slowing down in yesterday’s lower-scoring matches.

Another clear and cool evening is forecast in 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.

Option 1:

LAH vs PES Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 30 | LAH vs PES Dream11 Prediction Today | Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Match 30: LAH vs PES Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

LAH vs PES Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 30 | LAH vs PES Dream11 Prediction Today | Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Match 30: LAH vs PES Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Haris
  • Batsmen: Fakhar Zaman, Shoaib Malik
  • All-rounders: Hussain Talat, Ben Cutting
  • Bowlers: Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Match Prediction

A tough one to pick as focus will be on the playoffs. Lahore start as favourites at home.

Also read: List of Australians sold in the IPL 2022 Mega Auction

QUE vs KAR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 28

Charbel Coorey
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0
QUE vs KAR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 28

QUE vs KAR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 28 | QUE vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Today | Quetta Gladiators vs Karachi Kings Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report

Even with Islamabad United’s heavy defeat yesterday to Lahore Qalandars, Quetta Gladiators’ season is hanging by the thinnest of threads due to one too many heavy defeats of their own. Their 117-run loss last game vs Multan Sultans was surely the final straw, as their net run rate is still far too behind Islamabad’s.

However, a big win today puts the pressure on United later today against top-of-the-table Sultans. To do that, Quetta’s bowling needs to hold firm after a series full tosses and poor deliveries against Multan against a Karachi Kings team coming off their first victory of the season courtesy of an excellent bowling display.

Looking at how Quetta played against Multan, the Kings will fancy their chances of finishing a very disappointing season on a high. With Chris Jordan listed to bat at nine, the Kings should play with freedom as a number of players are capable of scoring big. And, as Quetta have shown, regular wickets with the ball is possible.

Possible Playing 11

Quetta Gladiators: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Will Smeed/James Vince, 3. Ahsan Ali, 4. Umar Akmal, 5. Iftikhar Ahmed, 6. Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), 7. Sohail Tanvir, 8. Noor Ahmed, 9. Naseem Shah, 10. Ghulam Mudassar, 11. Mohammad Irfan

Karachi Kings: 1. Joe Clarke, 2. Babar Azam (c), 3. Sharjeel Khan, 4. Qasim Akram, 5. Rohail Nazir (wk), 6. Mohammad Nabi, 7. Imad Wasim, 8. Lewis Gregory, 9. Chris Jordan, 10. Usman Shinwari, 11. Mir Hamza

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Quetta Gladiators:

  • The last time these two teams met, Naseem Shah blew Karachi away with 5/20. He dismissed Mohammad Nabi, Lewis Gregory and Imad Wasim who will all likely be in Karachi’s XI today. Also, Naseem has taken five wickets in his last two matches, including 4/27 vs Zalmi.
  • Can Jason Roy finish the season on a high? He hasn’t quite fired since his century and half-century (0, 13, 38), but he is capable of a big knock today.
  • Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed has solid numbers against Karachi: 11 innings, 226 runs, avg. 56.50, SR 122.83.
  • Ahsan Ali is Quetta’s leading run-scorer this season and seventh overall in PSL 2022 (250, avg. 35.71, SR 138.88). This includes an unbeaten 57* off 43 balls vs Kings. Will Smeed has struck two 90s in a promising season.
  • Umar Akmal has looked in very promising touch this season. The much maligned right-hander’s 99 runs come at a strike rate of 186.79, including a half-century last match vs Sultans.
  • Sohail Tanvir has taken 12 wickets in 11 matches vs Karachi, including five scalps in three games for Quetta against Kings.

Karachi Kings:

  • Babar Azam has scored the most runs in KAR-QUE matches. The skipper has struck 321 runs in 11 innings vs Quetta at an average of 29.18 and strike rate of 106.64. Can he improve on this today?
  • It has been a disappointing season for Joe Clarke (avg. 20.33), but he is capable of turning it on today. Expect him to play with freedom in a game that counts for nothing.
  • Qasim Akram has added impetus in the Kings’ middle order. The right-hander has struck scores of 51*, 13 and 26 this season at a strike rate of 166.66.
  • Imad Wasim has been in good touch with the bat. The all-rounder has hit scores of 55, 32* and 8 in his past three knocks. He will be looking to improve on his average of 13.14 vs Quetta (92 runs) and just six wickets with the ball in 12 matches against them (avg. 43.83).
  • Chris Jordan is Karachi’s leading wicket-taker this season (9) and he will be key at the death again. He should draw some confidence after nailing yorkers against Lahore.
  • Mir Hamza was player of the match last match against Lahore thanks to his brilliant 4/27.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 13, Karachi Kings 5, Quetta Gladiators 8.
  • Gladiators (115/2) smashed Kings (113) earlier this season.
  • Sharjeel Khan has struck just 65 runs in five innings vs Quetta since the start of 2020 (avg. 13). Can he turn this around in the final match of the season?

Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Weather

Another game, another big score. Qalandars’ 197 yesterday courtesy of Harry Brook’s superb century takes the average first innings score at Lahore this season to 187. And, the team batting first has won nine of the 12 matches at Gaddafi Stadium in PSL 2022.

Another clear day is forecast, with a top of about 24 degrees.

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:

QUE vs KAR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 28 | QUE vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Today | Quetta Gladiators vs Karachi Kings Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Match 28: QUE vs KAR Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

QUE vs KAR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 28 | QUE vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Today | Quetta Gladiators vs Karachi Kings Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Match 28: QUE vs KAR Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Joe Clarke
  • Batsmen: Babar Azam, Jason Roy, Umar Akmal
  • All-rounders: Imad Wasim
  • Bowlers: Chris Jordan, Mir Hamza, Naseem Shah

Match Prediction

A 50/50 match. The team batting first should win, especially if they can notch up over 180.

LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 27

Charbel Coorey
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0
LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 27

LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 27 | LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction Today | Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report

A critical match in the top two race. Lahore Qalandars’ surprise defeat to Karachi Kings yesterday has left the door open for Islamabad United to snatch second place, and the two sides meet today in a test of nerves and composure.

And United are in need of a victory in a period of player departures and injuries. It is still unclear whether Colin Munro and Shadab Khan will be fit for this match, and their inclusion will be crucial as both elevate Islamabad to another level. A win today will likely take them up to second place as their net run rate (0.536) is only slightly below Lahore’s (0.543) despite a few losses in recent times including a 10-run defeat to Peshawar in the last match.

For Lahore, the equation is simple. Win today and second-place is all but theirs owing to their much superior net run rate over Zalmi’s -0.381. They have the chance today to bounce back after a poor performance yesterday, where they became the first team to lose to Karachi Kings this season. Eyes will be on their batting and death bowling – the two areas they were below-par yesterday.

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. Rashid Khan, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), 10. Haris Rauf, 11. Zaman Khan

Islamabad United: 1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2. Mubasir Khan, 3. Danish Aziz, 4. Azam Khan (wk), 5. Asif Ali (c), 6. Liam Dawson, 7. Faheem Ashraf, 8. Marchant de Lange, 9. Muhammad Musa, 10. Waqas Maqsood, 11. Zahir Khan

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Lahore Qalandars:

  • It was a rare failure yesterday for Fakhar Zaman (1) in a dream season (470 runs, avg. 58.75, SR 162.62). He scored 38 off 27 balls vs Islamabad earlier this season, part of 272 runs in 10 matches against them at an average of 27.20 and strike rate of 131.40.
  • Abdullah Shafique was in fine touch against Islamabad United earlier this season (44 off 24 balls). He has scored just 4, 19 and 8 in his last three innings, so he will be looking to rediscover some form today.
  • It has been a middling season for Mohammad Hafeez. The experienced all-rounder is averaging 29 with the bat this season. He has a score of 98 vs Islamabad since 2019, but has scored only 57 runs in the remaining five knocks against them in this period.
  • Harry Brook has struck 104 runs in three innings at an average of 52.00 and strike rate of 162.50. This includes an important 37 off 26 balls against Islamabad that elevated Lahore to a winning score of 170+.
  • Rashid Khan was in irresistible form yesterday vs Karachi Kings (4/17). The legspinner has taken 11 wickets in eight matches this season at an economy rate of just 6.43, including 1/21 in four overs vs Islamabad.
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi has the most wickets of any Lahore bowler against Islamabad. He has taken nine wickets in six matches against them at an average of 22.78 and economy rate of 8.54.
  • Zaman Khan is coming off a three-wicket haul yesterday vs Karachi. He will be key at the death once again. In fact, he won player of the match vs Islamabad earlier this season for his death bowling (1/29).

Islamabad United:

  • Azam Khan comes into this match off a brilliant 85* (45) last match vs Peshawar. The keeper-batsman has smashed 210 runs in PSL 2022 at an average of 35.00 and strike rate of 166.66.
  • If Munro and Shadab are still out, surely Asif Ali needs to bat up the order. The stand-in skipper has the most runs of any Islamabad player against Lahore, with 252 at an average of 31.50 and strike rate of 178.72.
  • Shadab Khan scored 52 and took 4/20 vs Lahore earlier this season. Colin Munro hit a 45-ball 60 in the same game. It remains to be seen if one or both play today.
  • Faheem Ashraf was finally back in the wickets last match vs Zalmi (3/33) after six consecutive wicketless matches. Faheem has an excellent record against Lahore, with 15 wickets in seven matches at an average of 11.67 and strike rate of 7.61.
  • Waqas Maqsood has been one of the positives of Islamabad’s season. The seamer has taken 11 wickets in just five matches in PSL 2022 at an economy rate of 8.25. This includes 4/35 vs Lahore.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 13, Islamabad 9, Lahore 4.
  • Lahore (174/9) beat Islamabad (166/5) earlier this season. Islamabad looked like they were going to win for all money, as they needed just 52 off the last seven overs with Munro and Shadab set.
  • Haris Rauf has taken eight wickets in six matches vs Islamabad (avg. 24.50).

Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Weather

Cracking batting pitch. The average first innings score on this ground this season is 186.09, bumped up by Multan’s incredible 245 yesterday. The team batting first has won eight of the 11 matches at Gaddafi Stadium in PSL 2022.

Another clear and cool evening is 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.

Option 1:

LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 27 | LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction Today | Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Match 27: LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 27 | LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction Today | Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Match 27: LAH vs ISL Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azam Khan
  • Batsmen: Fakhar Zaman
  • All-rounders: Mohammad Hafeez, Faheem Ashraf
  • Bowlers: Waqas Maqsood, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rashid Khan

Match Prediction

The result is likely to depend on the availability of Colin Munro and Shadab Khan for Islamabad. If both are out again, Lahore should win.

DC IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Will this be Delhi’s year?

Yash Mittal
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DC IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Will this be Delhi’s year?

Cricket News: DC IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Will this be Delhi’s year? | DC IPL 2022 Mega Auction Analysis: Key Strengths and Weaknesses

Delhi Capitals tried to regain most of their core as they bid for the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Ravichandran Ashwin and Kagiso Rabada but they were unsuccessful due to purse constraints.

However, they did manage to pull off a steal buy in the form of Australian swashbuckling opener David Warner for just Rs 6.25 Crore, ensuring that they won’t feel the absence of Dhawan.

Delhi lost Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer from their top four but they managed to rope in the Aussie duo of Warner and Mitchell Marsh, ensuring that in Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant and the aforementioned names, they still have a formidable top order.

Cricket News: "Bison" Mitch Marsh does a bull run after so much investment | Mitch Marsh produces a magnificent innings in the T20 World Cup
DC IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Mitch Marsh could prove to be a wonderful purchase.

They have also picked the likes of Yash Dhull, Mandeep Singh and Ashwin Hebbar as middle-order backups besides picking KS Bharat and Tim Seifert as covers for Pant.

One of the major reasons behind Delhi’s success in the last three years was the presence of finishers like Marcus Stoinis and Shimron Hetmyer. They tried to make up for it by roping Rovman Powell and uncapped Sarfaraz Khan.

Shardul Thakur proved to be their most expensive acquisition as they shelled out a whopping Rs 10.75 Crore. Thakur will not only serve as a middle-order striker; a role he played to perfection for the Chennai Super Kings, but he will also add batting depth alongside left-arm orthodox, Axar Patel.

DC have stacked their pace bowling with left-arm options by purchasing the likes of Mustaifzur Rahman, Chetan Sakariya and Khaleel Ahmed besides adding rookie right-arm seamer Kamlesh Nagarkoti and South African pacer Lungi Ngidi.

With Amit Mishra no longer a part of the set-up, they went for the services of Kuldeep Yadav and uncapped Pravin Dubey while U19 World Cup winner Vicky Ostwal has been picked as backup to Axar Patel.

Overall, the Pant-led unit shelled out Rs 47.4 Crores to avail the services of 17 Indians and seven overseas cricketers.

DC Squad for IPL 2022

Rishabh Pant (Rs 16 crore), Axar Patel (Rs 9 crore), Prithvi Shaw (Rs 7.5 crore), Anrich Nortje (Rs 6.5 crore), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (Rs 1.10 crore), David Warner (Rs 6.25 crore), Mitchell Marsh (Rs 6.50 crore), Mustafizur Rahman (Rs 2 crore), Shardul Thakur (Rs 10.75 crore), KS Bharat (Rs 2 crore), Kuldeep Yadav (Rs 2 crore), Sarfaraz Khan (Rs 20 lakh), Ashwin Hebbar (Rs 20 lakh), Mandeep Singh (Rs 1.1 crore), Khaleel Ahmed (Rs 5.25 crore), Chetan Sakariya (Rs 4.2 crore), Lalit Yadav (Rs 65 lakh), Ripal Patel (Rs 20 lakh), Yash Dhull (Rs 50 lakh), Rovman Powell (Rs 2.8 crore), Praveen Dubey (Rs 50 lakh), Lungi Ngidi (Rs 50 lakh), Tim Seifert (Rs 50 lakh), Vicky Ostwal (Rs 20 lakh).

DC Possible Playing 11 for IPL 2022

Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Mandeep Singh/Sarfaraz Khan, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya

DC IPL 2022 Mega Auction: Key Strengths

1. Formidable top four

Delhi have regained a dynamic top four despite losing the Indian duo of Dhawan and Iyer. They have replaced the Indian duo with the Australian pair of Warner and Marsh. 

With Warner and Prithvi set to open followed by Marsh at 3 and Pant at 4, their top-4 has all the makings of being the most destructive in the competition.

2. Batting depth + Middle overs strike bowler

The presence of Shardul Thakur and Axar Patel means that the Capitals have a deep batting line-up. Also, the acquisition of Thakur means that they will have someone who can give them wickets in the middle overs. Thakur played that role to perfection for CSK last season, especially in the final against KKR.

DC IPL 2022 Mega Auction: Weaknesses

1. Lack of power play strike bowlers + concerns over injury-prone Nortje and Marsh 

DC have compiled an array of fast bowling arsenal but none of them are powerplay specialists. Nortje will lead the attack but he is injury prone. Lungi Ngidi and Mustafizur Rahman are his backups but neither of them have enjoyed success up front. Also, their predictability and lack of express pace will make them vulnerable at the death.

Also, if Marsh is unavailable to bowl then it will leave them with just one bowling option in the form of Rovman Powell, in case one of their first-choice five bowlers suffer an off day.

2. Finishers?

DC had the likes of Shimron Hetmyer and Marcus Stoinis to perform the finishing duties till last season. They have picked Rovman Powell and Sarfaraz Khan to do the same job. However, it remains to be seen if they can do the same work like their predecessors did.

3. Lack of depth in the Wrist-spin department

Delhi had legendary Amit Mishra as their lead leg-spinner till last season. They have now replaced him with Kuldeep Yadav besides picking uncapped Pravin Dubey.

Kuldeep has been mediocre in both IPL as well as for India in the last 3 year, and if he fails to regain his mojo, then it can expose the lack of depth in the wrist-spin department.

Overall, DC have talent within their ranks. If they fire, they can gave the tournament a shake. However, one feels that they will need a good run with injuries and form to key players.

Written by Yash Mittal. Follow Yash on Twitter today.

ISL vs PES Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 24

Charbel Coorey
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0
ISL vs PES Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 24

ISL vs PES Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11: PSL 2022 Match 24 | ISL vs PES Dream11 Prediction Today | Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report

Peshawar Zalmi can take a big step towards to playoffs. Islamabad United need to win to keep pace with Lahore in the race for second spot.

However, the key strengths that held Islamabad in good stead in the first-half of PSL 2022 will not be present here. Skipper Shadab Khan, who is having a season to remember, is out with a groin injury. Alex Hales has pulled out of the tournament citing personal reasons, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz is with Afghanistan in Bangladesh. Also, Zeeshan Zameer is out with injury, so Islamabad need to dig deep to produce a good result today.

Zalmi have won their past two matches, with their batting firing nicely to notch up 193 and 185. They will be aiming for more of the same against a United side missing Shadab in what is an excellent opportunity to cement a top four spot.

Possible Playing 11

No Alex Hales (pulled out of PSL 7), Shadab Khan or Zeeshan Zameer (injuries) for Islamabad in this match. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is on national duty for Afghanistan in Bangladesh. However, Colin Munro is expected to play.

Asif Ali will captain the team, and is expected to play a key role with the bat. He could also bowl himself if the situation demands it.

Islamabad United: 1. Colin Munro, 2. Muhammad Akhlaq, 3. Asif Ali (c), 4. Azam Khan (wk), 5. Liam Dawson, 6. Faheem Ashraf, 7. Danish Aziz, 8. Hasan Ali, 9. Waqas Maqsood, 10. Mohammad Wasim, 11. Marchant de Lange

Hazratullah Zazai is in Afghanistan’s T20I squad for the Bangladesh tour.

Peshawar Zalmi: 1. Tom Kohler-Cadmore, 2. Mohammad Haris (wk), 3. Liam Livingstone, 4. Shoaib Malik, 5. Hussain Talat, 6. Sherfane Rutherford, 7. Ben Cutting, 8. Wahab Riaz (c), 9. Salman Irshad, 10. Usman Qadir, 11. Mohammad Umar

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Islamabad United:

  • If available, Colin Munro has a huge role to play in the absence of Hales, Shadab, Gurbaz and Stirling. He has scored 144 runs in three innings vs Peshawar at an average of 48.00 and strike rate of 156.52 since the beginning of 2020.
  • Asif Ali is likely to bat higher up the order today. The stand-in captain scored 28 off 11 last match, and took 2/27 with the ball to win player of the match against Karachi.
  • Asif has a superb strike rate against Peshawar (192.78), but will be looking to bump up his average of 20.78 (187 runs in 11 innings).
  • Faheem Ashraf is wicketless in his past six matches. His only two wickets came against Zalmi in their first match of the season (2/23). His batting form has been much better, with scores of 55 (28) and 29* (10) in his past two innings.
  • Hasan Ali is having a season to forget. His six wickets in PSL 2022 cost 50 runs apiece and he is conceding over 11 runs per over. He has taken six wickets in four matches at an average of 20.17 vs Zalmi since the start of 2021. This includes 2/34 this season.
  • Waqas Maqsood is Islamabad’s second-highest wicket-taker this season behind Shadab. Maqsood has taken an impressive nine wickets in four matches, and he will be key at the death once again.

Peshawar Zalmi:

  • Mohammad Haris has made a strong start to his PSL 2022 campaign with scores of 49 (27) and 29 (17).
  • Is this the day million dollar IPL man Liam Livingstone delivers with the bat? He has made a slow start to PSL 2022 with scores of 24, 6 and 0, but he can fire at any moment. He’s been strong with the ball, though, with figures of 1/22 and 1/24 in his last two matches.
  • Shoaib Malik has some terrific numbers against United since the beginning of 2020. He has struck 154 runs in four innings at an average of 77.00 and strike rate of 157.14 in this period. Also, Malik is enjoying a good PSL 2022 campaign, with 276 runs in eight innings at an average of 46.00 and strike rate of 139.39.
  • Hussain Talat had a terrific match last game vs Quetta. He smashed a 33-ball 51 and took 1/8 off two overs.
  • Ben Cutting is in some terrific batting form down the order. He has smashed 24, 52*, 23, 26 and 36 in his past five knocks. He is striking at 166.94 overall in PSL 2022.
  • Wahab Riaz has the most wickets in ISL-PES matches. He has 23 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 17.43 and economy rate of 6.82. Also, after five wicketless matches in PSL 2022, Wahab has taken five scalps in his last three outings.
  • Salman Irshad is Zalmi’s highest wicket-taker this season (9). Usman Qadir took 3/25 in the last match vs Quetta.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 17, Zalmi 8, United 8, N/R 1.
  • Islamabad (172/1) smashed Zalmi (168/6) by nine wickets earlier in PSL 2022. However, the chief destroyers Paul Stirling and Alex Hales are no longer available.
  • Sherfane Rutherford struck 70* off 46 balls in the match vs Islamabad earlier this season.

Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Weather

The team batting first has won five of eight matches so far in PSL 2022. The average first innings score is 180.88. On the three occasions that the team batting first lost, twice did they score below the average score.

Another clear and mild 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.

Option 1:

ISL vs PES Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11: PSL 2022 Match 24 | ISL vs PES Dream11 Prediction Today | Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Match 24: ISL vs PES Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

ISL vs PES Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11: PSL 2022 Match 24 | ISL vs PES Dream11 Prediction Today | Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Match 24: ISL vs PES Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Haris
  • Batsmen: Colin Munro, Shoaib Malik
  • All-rounders: Hussain Talat, Liam Livingstone
  • Bowlers: Wahab Riaz, Waqas Maqsood

Match Prediction

Peshawar Zalmi start as favourites with Islamabad missing key players. Zalmi to win.

Twitter reactions as South Africa rolled for 95: Matt Henry 7/23

Charbel Coorey
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0
Twitter reactions as South Africa rolled for 95: Matt Henry 7/23

Cricket News: Twitter reactions as South Africa rolled for 95: Matt Henry 7/23 | Matt Henry takes 7 as South Africa rolled for 95 in 1st Test vs NZ

South Africa have endured the worst possible start to their New Zealand tour, as they were rolled for 95 on the first day of the first Test in Christchurch. Seamer Matt Henry was the star, taking a brilliant 7/23 as the Proteas crumbled to their lowest ever score against New Zealand.

Henry, who is not a regular in New Zealand’s Test side, had the ball on a string. He moved the ball either way, and the tourists had little answer in a series of edges behind the wicket. Incredibly, Henry’s Test average has only now dropped to below 40 after a very slow start to his career, owing to both difficult bowling conditions at times and no prolonged run in the New Zealand side.

For South Africa, this feels like a big step backwards after the brilliant triumph at home to India in January. Fighting hard with the bat was a key part of their victory, but very little of the technique and temperament required was on show on the first day in New Zealand. Zubayr Hamza top scored with 25, with no other batsman crossing 20 on a wretched day.

Now, they face a huge task to fight back in the Christchurch Test on a pitch that is expected to flatten out. Henry hit the perfect length on a consistent basis, and the template is set for the Proteas’ attack to try and replicate.

Twitter reactions after Matt Henry took 7/23 to rout South Africa for just 95

PBKS IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Best of any team?

Tarkesh Jha
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0
PBKS IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Best of any team?

Cricket News: PBKS IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Best of any team? | IPL 2022 Mega Auction Analysis: Punjab Kings

With the IPL 2022 Mega Auction done and dusted, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) seem to have assembled a robust squad this time around.

Chasing their first ever title in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, PBKS came into the auction with the biggest purse amongst all franchises. Moreover, they seemed to have a clear strategy in place this year as well. The acquisitions of Liam Livingstone, Kagiso Rabada and Shikhar Dhawan dominated the headlines.

However, overall as well, the team seems to have done fairly well by forming a well-rounded roster of players. In this article, we look into detail into the moves made by the PBKS think-tank during the course of the last weekend. 

PBKS Squad for IPL 2022

Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odeon Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Angad Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Benny Howell

PBKS Possible Playing XIs for IPL 2022

  1. Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Rishi Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar.
  2. Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Raj Angad Bawa, Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar.

PBKS IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Key Strengths

1. Robust top-order

Cricket News: PBKS IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Best of any team? | IPL 2022 Mega Auction Analysis: Better season for Punjab Kings?
PBKS IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Jonny Bairstow is an excellent pickup for the Kings.

Punjab Kings have put together a formidable batting order in this auction. Replacing KL Rahul would have been a big ask at any point in time. However, Punjab roped in the duo of Jonny Bairstow and Shikhar Dhawan to fill that gaping hole at the top of the batting lineup.

Both Bairstow and Dhawan bring in bundles of experience with them. They are capable of playing long innings’, optimize the powerplay overs, attack right from the word go and are at ease against both pacers and spinners as well. Further, Punjab had already retained Mayank Agarwal.

The trio of Agarwal-Dhawan-Bairstow can very well wreak havoc against any bowling attack, in any given condition. The team management can be rest assured that they have done a good job replacing the charismatic presence of KL Rahul in the batting order.       

2. Explosiveness in the middle

However, just starting off well isn’t enough in the IPL. Teams are often prone to losing momentum during the middle-overs and Punjab has tried to address that by acquiring both Liam Livingstone and Shahrukh Khan.

The duo is in a good run of form currently. They can clear the ropes quite conveniently and are gradually developing a knack of finishing games off well.

None of them will be deterred by express hard length deliveries towards the back end of the innings either. This makes them tick all the boxes of the ideal middle-order batsmen in T20 cricket and hence it is of no surprise that PBKS shelled out around 21 crores to purchase their services. More importantly, they can roll their arms over and provide timely breakthroughs, too. 

3. Kagiso Rabada

Though their batting takes the cake, Punjab have bolstered their bowling by getting Kagiso Rabada in their ranks. Rabada had a rather middling season last year but his potent skillsets have never been in doubt.

He is an invaluable asset to possess at any stage of an innings. Rabada has the ability to produce the exact accurate delivery in key moments and gives an almost four over insurance against any batting lineup in the T20 format. Punjab couldn’t really have gotten anyone better to lead their bowling lineup this year. 

Also read:

PBKS IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Weaknesses

1. Lack of depth in lower-middle order

Successful IPL franchises usually have a long batting order. Their innings does not derail after successive fall of wickets in the middle-order. Punjab Kings do not look like they really have solidified their lower middle-order.

The likes of Odean Smith and Harpreet Brar are way too inexperienced to take the mantle for the side and deliver consistently right from the onset. Their top-order will more often than not bail the side out but that couldn’t be a guarantee in critical games as such.

Moreover, even the duo of Livingstone and Shahrukh are attracting all the praise more due to their reputation than anything else currently. They haven’t had breakthrough seasons in the IPL yet. Given these factors, Punjab is potentially staring at a long stretch of uncertainty following their opening trio.  

2. Underwhelming bowling support cast

Rabada steals the limelight in that bowling attack. However, Punjab might fall short of credible options after him. Arshdeep Singh has had a good couple of years but whether he has hit his ceiling already is always a point to ponder upon.

The likes of Rishi Dhawan and Sandeep Sharma aren’t really the most attractive bowling alternatives in the T20 format in the current day and age. Rahul Chahar’s form has been rather concerning recently and Harpreet Brar isn’t really a wicket-taking option.

Though Punjab has done a better job than other years this time around, there are still looming doubts over whether they have strengthened their batting at the expense of their bowling attack. Teams that strike a balance between these two are usually the ones that walk their way to the championship.

Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter

MUL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 23

Charbel Coorey
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0
MUL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 23

MUL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 23 | MUL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Today | Multan Sultans vs Karachi Kings Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report

It’s top vs bottom in match 23 of PSL 2022. If form and standings are anything to go by, then this won’t be a contest. However, that’s not always the way T20 works.

Multan Sultans have won all but one match so far this season, including an easy win over Karachi Kings back in the first match of the tournament. Mohammad Rizwan’s team will be aiming to bounce back today after a convincing defeat to Lahore Qalandars in their last match as they gear up for the playoffs.

For the Kings, well, it has truly been a season to forget. They became the first team to lose their first seven matches in PSL history, as they fell agonisingly short against a depleted Islamabad United attack missing the injured Shadab Khan and Zeeshan Zameer. Only pride is on offer today as their playoffs hopes are dashed, and they will be quite keen to avoid the possibility of losing all 10 matches this season.

Possible Playing 11

Multan Sultans: 1. Shan Masood, 2. Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), 3. Sohaib Maqsood, 4. Rilee Rossouw, 5. Tim David, 6. Khushdil Shah, 7. Anwar Ali, 8. Abbas Afridi, 9. Imran Tahir, 10. Blessing Muzarabani, 11. Shahnawaz Dahani

Karachi Kings: 1. Babar Azam (c), 2. Sharjeel Khan, 3. Joe Clarke (wk), 4. Mohammad Nabi, 5. Sahibzada Farhan, 6. Qasim Akram, 7. Imad Wasim, 8. Jordan Thompson, 9. Chris Jordan, 10. Umaid Asif, 11. Mir Hamza

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Multan Sultans:

  • It was a rare failure last match for Shan Masood last match (8 vs Qalandars). He still has the second-most runs of any player in PSL 2022 (351 runs, avg. 50.14, SR 147.47), including 26 off 18 balls vs Karachi.
  • Mohammad Rizwan has struck two half-centuries in three matches vs Karachi since the beginning of 2021. This includes a steady 52* off 46 balls earlier this season.
  • What a time for Tim David. He became Australia’s highest earner in the IPL 2022 Auction over the weekend, courtesy of his brilliant PSL form this season. He has scored 221 runs at a strike rate of 206.54.
  • Khushdil Shah’s economy rate of 6.57 is the second-best in the league among bowlers with at least three wickets. He took 1/8 against Karachi earlier this season, and he should have a key role to play today.
  • Imran Tahir dominated Karachi earlier in PSL 2022. He took 3/16 in a player of the match performance. Tahir now has the most wickets in MUL-KAR matches with nine scalps in five matches at an average of 13.33 and economy rate of 6.67.
  • Shahnawaz Dahani is Sultans’ leading wicket-taker among seamers this season (8). He will be aiming to bring down his expensive economy rate of 10.42, however.

Karachi Kings:

  • Babar Azam has the most runs in MUL-KAR matches. The skipper has 423 runs to his name against Multan at an average of 70.50 and strike rate of 127.03.
  • Babar is averaging 44.33 in PSL 2022 with a strike rate of 121.46. He could look to play with more freedom today as Karachi are no longer in the playoffs race.
  • Sharjeel Khan was Karachi’s top run-scorer against Multan earlier this season (43 off 31 balls). He currently averages 18.80 vs Sultans in five matches since the beginning of 2020.
  • Qasim Akram made a brilliant first impression with the bat in PSL 2022. He scored 51* off 26 balls against Islamabad a couple of nights ago.
  • Imad Wasim is also coming off a half-century vs Islamabad (55 off 28 balls). The all-rounder has six wickets in eight matches vs Sultans at an average of 26.67 and economy rate of 6.15.
  • Chris Jordan has taken six wickets in three matches so far this season. His economy rate of 9.66 is room for improvement, but wicket-taking remains important for Jordan and Karachi.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 10, Multan 3, Karachi 5, N/R 2.
  • Multan have won the past two matches against the teams.
  • Sultans have won six out of seven matches this season, while the Kings are still winless.

Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Weather

Teams batting first and second are in the match in what is an interesting second-leg of PSL 2022. The average first innings score is 181.86 in seven matches at Lahore this season. The team batting first has won five.

Another clear and mild evening is forecast in 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.

Option 1:

MUL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 23 | MUL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Today | Multan Sultans vs Karachi Kings Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Match 23: MUL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

MUL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: PSL 2022 Match 23 | MUL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Today | Multan Sultans vs Karachi Kings Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PSL 2022 Match 23: MUL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Rizwan
  • Batsmen: Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Tim David
  • All-rounders: Khushdil Shah
  • Bowlers: Imran Tahir, Chris Jordan

Match Prediction

Multan Sultans should win.

CSK IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Champions to go back-to-back?

Robin Rounder
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0
CSK IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Champions to go back-to-back?

Cricket News: CSK IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Champions to go back-to-back? | CSK IPL 2022 Mega Auction Analysis: Did CSK have a good auction?

The IPL 2022 Mega Auction is behind us, and all 10 teams have picked a squad ahead of the new season. This auction was special as this time there were 10 teams instead of eight, with Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants being the two new sides.

Fans and pundits were quite keen to see how the four-time winners and defending champions Chennai Super Kings approached the auction. Dhoni and CSK are known for thinking out of the box or doing something that defies cricketing logic. Indeed, it has proved to be very fruitful for the franchise.

They did the same to an extent in this auction as well. CSK picked the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa and Dwayne Bravo who will form the core of the team at least for this year’s IPL alongside MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali. This was a little surprising as all the other sides tried to go for young players, but CSK decided to stick with their tried and tested “Dad’s Army”.

Also, there were some “un-CSK” like picks as well in the likes of U19 India star Rajvardhan Hangregkar, Tushar Deshpande, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Chris Jordan and Dwaine Pretorius. CSK are known for not going for fast bowlers who can bowl above 140 consistently but this time they went for Milne who does exactly that. Deshpande and Simarjeet can clock 140 as well. They also bought in Shivam Dube as a LHB spin power hitter in the middle-order.

Also, they picked a lot of unknown young faces in their squad. Leg spinner Prashant Solanki, all-rounder Bhagath Verma, and batters Subhranshu Senapati and Mukesh Choudhary are the new faces at CSK. Therefore, they have a good mixture of experience and youth whom they can groom under the leadership of MS Dhoni.

IPL Mega Auction: Chennai Super Kings Squad for IPL 2022

Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c), Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dwayne Bravo, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, KM Asif, Shivam Dube, Maheesh Theekshana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Samarjeet Singh, Devon Conway, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Subhranshu Senapati, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, C Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Chris Jordan, K Bhagath Varma.

CSK’s Possible XI for IPL 2022

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Adam Milne, Tushar Deshpande/Rajvardhan Hangargekar

This XI has great batting depth and seven bowling options. Conway can play like Faf and be the aggressor in the powerplay. Plus, he plays spin well.

There is a lot of destruction in the middle with Moeen, Rayudu, and Dube. Jadeja will be the finisher assisted by Dhoni and Bravo. Chahar, Milne and Deshpande are more than handy with the bat, and can deliver with the ball.

CSK in the IPL Mega Auction: Key Strengths

1. Insane Batting Depth

The major change that CSK brought to their squad after the 2020 season was batting depth. Last season they built a squad that batted until number 11, resulting in a triumphant campaign. Batting depth allowed their batters to play freely and aggressively, especially in the middle-overs.

Despite losing Faf du Plessis, Shardul Thakur and Sam Curran this season, Dhoni has managed to keep that batting depth. The likes of Adam Milne and Tushar Deshpande are no mugs with the bat and one of them will bat at number 11 for CSK. Chris Jordan too is a proven hitter of the cricket ball.

CSK, in the worst case, will have batting until number 10 and it will be another season of super aggressiveness with willow in hand.

Cricket News: CSK IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Champions to go back-to-back? | CSK IPL 2022 Mega Auction Analysis: Did CSK have a good auction?
CSK IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Moeen was superb in 2021.

2. Lots of Bowling Options

Dhoni loves having a luxury of 6-7 bowlers in his side and this CSK squad has that. Apart from frontline bowlers such as Deepak Chahar and Adam Milne, the likes of Moeen Ali and Dwaine Pretorius can bowl four overs as well if required and Shivam Dube can provide a couple of overs with his medium bowling.

There is a good variety of bowlers as well. Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, Maheesh Theekshana, Mitchell Santner and Prashant Solanki form the spin department. Jadeja, Santner, and Moeen provide excellent control in the middle-overs while Theekshana with his mystery and Solanki with his leg-spin are attacking options.

Also, CSK always had a problem with their death bowling as they haven’t had a lot of high pace bowling options. Picking Adam Milne, Chris Jordan, Tushar Deshpande, and Simarjeet Singh looks to have solved that issue as well.

And, of course, Deepak Chahar is excellent with the new ball. So, overall it’s a complete bowling unit.

3. Experience

CSK have plenty of experience once again, which will hold them in good stead. Combine this with some young talent and MS Dhoni’s team will be one to watch once again.

Concerns

1. Vulnerability Against High Pace

While CSK has great batting depth, a number of them are vulnerable against high pace. Ruturaj, Rayudu, Dhoni, Bravo and even Moeen Ali have struggled against high pace and hard lengths. It will be a challenge for them as Devon Conway, Ravindra Jadeja alongside Uthappa can handle high pace of around 145-150.

It’s not as if they are completely clueless against it but it will be a challenge against teams with genuine pace. For example, CSK batters struggled a touch against Anrich Nortje and Avesh Khan last season. Teams can exploit this vulnerability by deploying high pace instead of spin in the middle-overs.

2. Over Reliance on Jadeja the “Finisher”

Jadeja has been exceptional as the finisher for CSK in the last couple of seasons. Since 2020, Jadeja averages 51.7 and strikes at a brilliant 195.7 in overs 16-20.

Jadeja is doing what Dhoni used to do in his prime form for CSK. However, it seems as if CSK are over-dependent on Jadeja for finishing duties. Dhoni is not who he used to be with the bat and it may be trouble for CSK if he’s out and the required run-rate is quite high. Dhoni showed in the first Qualifier of the last season that he still can finish games, but he lacks match practice. This could be decisive in close games.

There is an excellent mix of youth and experience under the leadership of their “Thalaivan”, who has defied all the cricketing logic and opinions from the experts in the last four years. This side has what it takes to lift the title for the fifth time under the leadership of MS Dhoni.

Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.

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