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PAK vs AUS 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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PAK vs AUS 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report

PAK vs AUS 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | PAK vs AUS 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Pakistan vs Australia 1st ODI Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report

Soon after an energy-sapping, emotionally-charged Test series that saw Australia prevail 1-0 in the final session, attention turns to the ODI Super League where both Pakistan and Australia will play their first ODI in quite some time.

To make matters all the more challenging for Australia, they will be without a number of their first-team regulars due to a variety of reasons. However, it is an opportunity for others to step up and make a mark, especially given an ODI World Cup is a little over a year away. They currently sit sixth in the ODI Super League table, only because they have played such limited ODI cricket since the start of the pandemic. They have beaten England, India and West Indies in this period, and will be looking to add Pakistan to the list.

For Babar Azam’s team, this will be their first ODI since July last year where they were beaten 3-0 by a new-look England team. They are certainly favourites on paper given the experience Australia is missing, so it is important for the home side to start well and improve the mood after a Test series defeat at home last week.

Possible Playing 11

Shadab Khan could be out of the first two ODIs due to the groin injury he picked up in the PSL. Also, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Imad Wasim are not in the Pakistan ODI squad.

Pakistan: 1. Imam-ul-Haq, 2. Fakhar Zaman, 3. Babar Azam (c), 4. Abdullah Shafique, 5. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 6. Mohammad Haris, 7. Faheem Ashraf, 8. Asif Afridi, 9. Hasan Ali, 10. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11. Haris Rauf

For Australia, a number of frontline players, including David Warner and Pat Cummins, are rested. Steve Smith is out of the series due to his troublesome elbow, while Mitch Marsh is out of the first ODI at least due to a hip injury. Josh Inglis and Ashton Agar are not up for selection after testing positive for COVID-19.

Australia could look to play a second spinner in the form of Mitch Swepson with Stoinis and Green available. Also, it remains to be seen if Australia open with Travis Head or Ben McDermott.

Australia: 1. Aaron Finch (c), 2. Ben McDermott, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Travis Head, 5. Marcus Stoinis, 6. Cameron Green, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Sean Abbott/Mitch Swepson, 9. Jason Behrendorff, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Nathan Ellis

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Pakistan:

  • Babar Azam was outstanding in the Tests, and he returns to arguably his favourite format where he averages 56.92 in 83 ODIs. The skipper averages 52 in six ODIs vs Australia (312 runs), with a half-century and century to his name.
  • Fakhar Zaman was outstanding in the recent PSL. The left-hander struck 588 runs (the most of any player) at an average of 45.23 and strike rate of 152.72.
  • Mohammad Rizwan is without a doubt one of Pakistan’s best white-ball players currently. He too was excellent in the recent PSL, with 546 runs at an average of 68.45 and strike rate of 126.68. He will be key in the middle order here.
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi recently led Lahore to their first PSL Title on this ground. He has played just the one ODI against Australia so far (2/70 in the 2019 World Cup), but his ability to swing the ball early could cause issues for Australia, particularly Aaron Finch. Remember the 2021 T20 World Cup Semi Final?
  • Hasan Ali much prefers bowling first in ODIs. In games where Pakistan have bowled first, Ali has taken 64 wickets in 28 ODIs at an average of 22.95. When bowling second, the average balloons up to 45.64 (25 wickets in 27 ODI innings).

Australia:

  • It’s a big series for the under pressure Aaron Finch. The skipper needs to lead the way with the bat in an inexperienced Aussie side. He had a magnificent series against Pakistan in the UAE in 2019 (5 inns, 451 runs, avg. 112.75) and averages 63 in 10 ODIs overall against Pakistan.
  • Travis Head has a century and half-century to his name in five ODIs against Pakistan (total of 270 runs, avg. 67.50). Also, Australia could look to play him as opener given his past success in the role. He has scored 493 runs in 12 innings at an average of 41.08 with five 50+ scores.
  • Marnus Labuschagne has made a strong impression in his ODI career so far, with 473 runs in 13 matches at an average of 39.41 and strike rate of 91.43. This includes a century and three half-centuries.
  • Also, Aaron Finch has hinted that Labuschagne could be used as an all-rounder. So, we could expect to see some overs out of Marnus.
  • Adam Zampa will be key for Australia, especially when it comes to taking wickets in the middle overs. He is three wickets away from 100 in ODIs, with this set to be his 65th match. He has taken 11 wickets in seven ODIs against Pakistan (avg. 34).
  • Jason Behrendorff will be key upfront with his ability to swing the ball. Australia will need early wickets, and Behrendorff could be the player to deliver.

Stats and Facts

  • The last time these two teams met in a bilateral ODI series was in 2019 in the UAE. Australia won 5-0.
  • Australia sit seventh and Pakistan tenth in the ODI Super League table. Both teams have played nine matches so far.
  • This will be the first ODI at Lahore since Zimbabwe’s momentous visit in 2015 that broke a six-year hiatus of international cricket in Pakistan. The last ODI before that was in 2009.

Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report and Weather

Expect a dry but good batting surface on a ground which typically favours the batsmen. The pitches were excellent for batting in the PSL, and then again in the recent Test match. There could be dew in the evening, so chasing could be the way to go even though it is a very hot day in Lahore (37 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. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

PAK vs AUS 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

PAK vs AUS 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | PAK vs AUS 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Pakistan vs Australia 1st ODI Key Players | Lahore Pitch Report
PAK vs AUS 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Rizwan
  • Batsmen: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Marnus Labuschagne
  • All-rounders: Ashton Agar
  • Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Adam Zampa

Match Prediction

Pakistan should win given the gulf in experience between the teams.

SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 5

Charbel Coorey
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0
SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 5

SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 5 | SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | Pune Pitch Report

Two teams with plenty to prove will kickstart their respective campaigns with a clash that can set the tone for their season. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals disappointed in IPL 2021, with both missing out on the playoffs.

Sunrisers were comfortably the most disappointing, finishing bottom of the table in a wretched season where they hit the self-destruct button. David Warner and Rashid Khan, two of the franchise’s greatest ever players, are no longer around, which provides the opportunity for others to make their mark. Those others include Nicholas Pooran, who is yet to find consistency in the IPL, as well as Aiden Markram, Abdul Samad and Umran Malik who all have the game to lead SRH to wins this season.

And they will have a good test right away. Rajasthan Royals had a strong auction, where they put together an experienced bowling attack to complement an exciting batting lineup. R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal could be the best spin partnership in the league, while Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna, who had a wonderful ODI series vs West Indies last month, is an exciting pace partnership.

However, how well the Royals can bury the demons of recent years will be key. They have always been thereabouts when it comes to playoffs qualification, but they have not been able to raise their game that extra level to properly challenge for their first title since 2008. With a long batting lineup and experienced attack, here is their chance to make a mark.

Possible Playing 11

Kane Williamson will lead a new-look Hyderabad team that will likely have the inconsistent-but-talented Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram in the middle order.

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

In a pre-match media conference, Royals captain Sanju Samson confirmed that Riyan Parag will bat in the middle order and will likely face a maximum of 10-20 deliveries. Details here.

It remains to be seen whether Yashasvi Jaiswal or Devdutt Padikkal opens with Jos Buttler. Also, there is an all-rounder spot up for grabs, with Jimmy Neesham or Nathan Coulter-Nile to make the XI.

Rajasthan Royals: 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2. Jos Buttler, 3. Devdutt Padikkal, 4. Sanju Samson (c & wk), 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Riyan Parag, 7. James Neesham/Nathan Coulter-Nile, 8. R Ashwin, 9. Yuzvendra Chahal, 10. Trent Boult, 11. Prasidh Krishna

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Sunrisers Hyderabad:

  • Kane Williamson will be key for Hyderabad. The skipper has a solid record against RR, with 219 runs in seven innings at an average of 54.75 and strike rate of 124.43.
  • However, this is a new-look Royals attack, so the battles will be interesting. Williamson has scored 65 runs in 49 balls against Ashwin in T20s without being dismissed. He has scored 22 runs off 14 balls against Boult in the IPL for one dismissal. The figure against Chahal is 54 runs in 54 deliveries for one dismissal.
  • Rahul Tripathi produced some gems in IPL 2021, scoring a total of 397 runs at a strike rate above 140. His battle with Trent Boult will be key, as the Kiwi quick has conceded just 14 runs off 15 deliveries to Tripathi with one dismissal.
  • It is a big tournament for Nicholas Pooran. The West Indian was purchased for over 10 crores, and now needs to repay the faith after a poor 2021 campaign. He was superb against India in the T20Is last month, making scores of 61, 62 and 61.
  • Washington Sundar could be an important asset for SRH in the powerplay. The Royals have three left-handers in their top six. Interestingly, Sundar averages 22 per wicket when he bowls under 90km/h (econ. 8.08) compared to 33 when he bowls 90 or above (econ. 6.75).
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken 10 wickets in nine matches vs Royals at an average of 27.60 and economy rate of 7.77. Kumar has never dismissed Jos Buttler in the IPL (29 balls, 35 runs), but has taken his wicket three times in 29 deliveries in T20 Internationals (28 balls).

Rajasthan Royals:

  • Skipper Sanju Samson has the most runs in RR-SRH matches. He has struck 512 runs in 14 matches at an excellent average of 42.67 and strike rate of 130.28. Also, Samson has scored a century on this ground; 102 off 63 balls vs Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017.
  • Jos Buttler has struck 120 runs in four matches on this ground at an average of 60.00 and strike rate of 162.16. The Englishman has a century against SRH (124), but just 46 runs in his remaining five innings against them. Can he produce a big knock here?
  • Buttler has excellent numbers at all stages of an innings in the IPL. He strikes at 135 in the powerplay (avg. 40), 138 in overs 7-11 (avg. 46), 153 in overs 12-16 (avg. 31) and 213 at the death (avg. 44).
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal struck at 148.21 in his first full IPL season last year. He strikes at 151 between overs 7-11, so it will be interesting to see where the Royals bat him. He made scores of 36 and 13 vs SRH last year at a strike rate of 133.33.
  • Shimron Hetmyer is an excellent spin-hitter. He strikes at 144 against spin bowled faster than 90km/h in the IPL. Also, he is coming off a superb IPL 2021 campaign, where he struck 242 runs at an average of 34.57 and strike rate of 168.05.
  • Yuzvendra Chahal has a solid record against SRH. The leg-spinner has taken 17 wickets in 16 matches against them at an average of 27.18 and strike rate of 21.59. He will be key in the middle overs, where he averages around 20 in the IPL and concedes less than eight per over.
  • Can Trent Boult make an immediate impact, especially at the death? He has taken nine wickets in eight matches against SRH at an average of 28.78 and economy rate of 8.49.
  • Prasidh Krishna’s excellent ODI series vs West Indies (2/29, 4/12, 3/27) reminded everyone of his potential. He followed this up with 15 wickets in two First Class matches a month ago. But, whether he can improve his poor IPL numbers remains to be seen. His best period is overs 12-16, where he averages 16.3 and concedes 8.5 per over.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 15, SRH 8, RR 7.
  • Kane Williamson’s strike rate in the powerplay in the IPL is just 99. It is only slightly better (101) between overs 7-11. However, it jumps up to 154 in overs 12-16 and 175 at the death. So, the Royals need his wicket as early as possible.
  • Rahul Tripathi vs Prasidh Krishna in the IPL: 8 deliveries, 21 runs, 0 dismissals.
  • Abhishek Sharma struck at 176.92 in his two innings as an IPL opener last season (46 runs).
  • Devdutt Padikkal averages just 14 and strikes at 104 against high pace. His battle vs Umran Malik will be one to watch. Conversely, he averages 83 and strikes at 136 against left-arm spin, so expect Abhishek Sharma to be held back if Padikkal is at the crease.
  • The absence of a legspin option could hurt SRH against Buttler. The Englishman averages 36 vs medium pace (SR 145), 51 vs high pace (SR 150), 54 vs left-arm spin (SR 133) and 54 vs off-spin (SR 140).
  • Trent Boult has taken the most powerplay wickets in the IPL since the start of 2020 (21). R Ashwin has taken the most wickets in the powerplay among spinners in the same period (8).

Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium Pune Pitch Report and Weather

The last IPL matches on this ground were played in 2018 as CSK played home matches in Pune. The average first innings score then was 173.83, with the chasing team winning four of the six matches in that tournament.

Expect another good batting track here, as has been the case in the tournament so far. However, the new ball bowlers have had success so far, and that is a possibility here on a fresh pitch.

Expect the captain who wins the toss to choose to chase on a very hot, clear evening. Temperatures will be around 40 degrees in Pune during the day.

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:

SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 5 | SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | Pune Pitch Report
SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction: IPL 2022 Match 5

Option 2:

SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 5 | SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | Pune Pitch Report
SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction: IPL 2022 Match 5

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Nicholas Pooran
  • Batsmen: Kane Williamson
  • All-rounders: Abhishek Sharma, Washington Sundar
  • Bowlers: Trent Boult, Bhuvneshar Kumar

Match Prediction

Should be a cracking match. Rajasthan Royals have performed well in the opening match at times over the past few years, and they start as favourites here against an unpredictable SRH team. However, it could come down to chasing once again, so the team batting first will be aiming for 170+ at least.

IPL 2022 could be breakthrough year for Riyan Parag – Sanju Samson

Charbel Coorey
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0
IPL 2022 could be breakthrough year for Riyan Parag – Sanju Samson

Cricket News: IPL 2022 could be breakthrough year for Riyan Parag – Sanju Samson | Sanju Samson talks about Riyan Parag and Lasith Malinga

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson is expecting big things from all-rounder Riyan Parag in IPL 2022. Speaking in a media conference on the Royals’ Facebook page ahead of their season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday, Samson heaped praise on the youngster, who has impressed in the practice matches.

Answering a question from CricBlog about whether this could be Riyan Parag’s breakthrough year, Samson said, “Absolutely. I think he joined us at the age of 17 from that time I think myself and every person in the leadership group was really excited about the way he plays.”

I think naturally people are talking a lot about him because he has that potential; something big can happen in the coming future. It’s all about trusting him and knowing that he has the game within himself and letting him go out and play,“ Samson added.

Riyan Parag might be facing 10, 15, 20 balls maximum but can win matches for the Royals – Samson

Samson also spoke of Riyan Parag’s role, which could be quite similar to the type of knock Odean Smith played to get over the line against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The Royals captain sees Parag as someone who will come down the order and be tasked with playing those crucial knocks at the backend of the innings.

“I think he is someone who might come in the middle order for us. I think he is someone who might be facing 10 to 15 or maximum 20 balls so the opportunity of scoring big runs for him is very less,” Samson said.

The role which he has, those 20, 25, 30 runs are the matchwinning runs. So, the pressure is high on someone so young like him to accept that role happily to go out there and win matches for his team.”

“That itself shows his character, so I am very much excited for him this season.”

“Lasith Malinga makes bowling sound simple and easy” – Samson

Samson also spoke of the impact new bowling coach Lasith Malinga is having. Death bowling will be key to the Royals’ hopes of a first title since 2008, and Malinga’s clear messages help significantly.

“Whatever chats we have had in these meetings, he makes bowling sound so simple and so easy,” said the Royals’ captain. “That gives a lot of clarity to almost every bowler in the side.”

Samson then went on to explain just how simple the Sri Lankan legend keeps things.

“I heard something interesting from him; I had never heard this before. He said there is only two types of batsmen in the world; one is right-handed, one is left-handed. We just need to learn how to bowl to two batsmen.”

“He is making things a lot easier for me as a captain; understanding the bowlers, their mindset, their strengths and weaknesses.”

The Royals, who boast of a skilled bowling attack featuring the likes of Trent Boult, R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, will start their highly-anticipated IPL 2022 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 29.

You can watch Sanju Samson’s full media conference via Facebook here.

GT vs LSG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 4

Charbel Coorey
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0
GT vs LSG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 4

GT vs LKN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 4 | GT vs LSG Dream11 Prediction Today | Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants Key Players | Wankhede Pitch Report

Here we go. It’s time for the two newest teams to grace the IPL, and the beauty of this contest is that we can have almost no idea how it will transpire.

Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans will be looking to write their own classic narratives in IPL 2022. Both sides have plenty to look forward to, with proven talent and experience on show. Lucknow’s opening pair of KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock is one to die for. The Lockie Ferguson-Rashid Khan-Mohammed Shami trio could prove wonders for Gujarat. And, the Pandya brothers will go head-to-head for the first time.

Those factors alone make for an eyecatching battle.

The key here is how quickly both sides can shake off the nerves and get into their stride. KL Rahul will be hoping for a new lease of life after a frustrating time as skipper of the Punjab Kings, while attention will be fixed on how Hardik Pandya leads Gujarat both with his all-round cricket and man management skills.

This should be fun.

Possible Playing 11

It remains to be seen who Gujarat play at number three.

Gujarat Titans: 1. Shubman Gill, 2. Matthew Wade (wk), 3. Wriddhiman Saha/Vijay Shankar, 4. Abhinav Manohar, 5. David Miller, 6. Hardik Pandya (c), 7. Rahul Tewatia, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. R Sai Kishore, 10. Lockie Ferguson, 11. Mohammed Shami

Lucknow don’t have Marcus Stoinis, Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers available yet due to national commitments.

Lucknow Super Giants: 1. KL Rahul (c), 2. Quinton de Kock (wk), 3. Manish Pandey, 4. Deepak Hooda, 5. Manan Vohra, 6. Krunal Pandya, 7. Ankit Rajpoot, 8. Krishnappa Gowtham, 9. Ravi Bishnoi, 10. Dushmantha Chameera, 11. Avesh Khan

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Gujarat Titans:

  • Is this the season where Shubman Gill fulfills his potential? He has shown glimpses of his brilliance in the IPL, without prolonged periods of consistency. He averages 32.97 in 37 innings as opener in the IPL, with a strike rate of 122.38.
  • Gill has an excellent record against pace bowling between 140 and 150km/h in the IPL. He has scored 204 runs off 144 balls at an average of 68.00. Dushmantha Chameera and Avesh Khan are likely to play for LSG, so keep an eye on this battle.
  • Gujarat will be hoping for Matthew Wade to show some of the form he showed in last year’s T20 World Cup. He much prefers to bat first in T20s (77 inns, 2,320 runs, avg. 36.83, SR 148.81) compared to second (73 inns, 1,082 runs, avg. 17.17, SR 116.22).
  • What a huge occasion it is for Hardik Pandya. He has plenty of experience playing at the Wankhede, with 777 runs in 37 innings at an average of 33.78 and strike rate of 135.13.
  • Also, Hardik strikes at 200 in overs 17-20 in the IPL. Watch out if he is set at this stage.
  • Expect Gujarat to use the great Rashid Khan in the powerplay and between overs 12 and 20. He has a wonderful record against KL Rahul in the IPL (30 balls, 18 runs, three wickets). Also, he concedes just 6.8 runs per over in phase 12-16 and just 8.0 per over in the death overs.
  • Lockie Ferguson has taken 19 wickets in his last 13 IPL matches at an economy rate of just 7.46. He is a genuine wicket-taker and will be key against LSG’s middle order that has a lot to prove.
  • Mohammed Shami has a solid record at the Wankhede, with 10 wickets in six T20s at an average of 18.90 and strike rate of 14.40.

Lucknow Super Giants:

  • KL Rahul, of course. The Lucknow skipper has had a prolific last three seasons of the IPL, scoring 1,889 runs at an average of 57.24 and strike rate of 134.26 since the beginning of IPL 2019. Also, Rahul has an outstanding record at the Wankhede, with 494 runs in nine matches at an average of 61.75 and strike rate of 146.15.
  • Rahul averages 64 and strikes at 130 in the powerplay in the IPL. The average and strike rate drop to 40 and 121 between overs 7-11, before the strike rate explodes to 185 between overs 17-20. Gujarat need his wicket by the middle part of the innings at the latest.
  • Rahul’s partnership with Quinton de Kock is one of the most exciting aspects of Lucknow this season. de Kock strikes at 144 in the powerplay in the IPL, and has an excellent record at the Wankhe: 10 inns, 391 runs, avg. 43.44, SR 143.75.
  • It’s a big season for Manish Pandey. He too has some solid numbers at the Wankhede, with 215 runs in eight knocks at an average of 35.83 and strike rate of 130.30.
  • Krunal Pandya’s experience at the Wankhede will be key for Lucknow. The left-arm spinner has taken 26 wickets in 28 innings on this ground at an economy rate of just 6.67. He has also struck 375 runs at a strike rate of 136.36.
  • Eyes will be fixed on Ravi Bishnoi. The leg-spinner was terrific in IPL 2021, taking 12 wickets in nine matches at an economy rate of just 6.38. Also, he won player of the match vs West Indies last month for his 2/17.
  • Avesh Khan took the second-most wickets in IPL 2021 (24, avg. 18.75, econ. 7.37).

Stats and Facts

  • Abhinav Manohar could be one to watch. He struck 70*, 19, 27 and 46 at an overall strike rate of 150 in the Syed Ali Mushtaq Trophy in November last year.
  • Quinton de Kock strikes at 124 between overs 7-11 and Manish Pandey strikes at just 112 in the same period. If Gujarat dismiss KL Rahul early, they can build pressure from there.
  • Avesh Khan averages 16.2 runs per wicket in the powerplay in the IPL, at an economy rate of just 6.2. Also, expect Lucknow to use Avesh between overs 12-16, as he averages just 14.6 in this period at an economy rate of 6.9.
  • Hardik Pandya is two away from 100 sixes in the IPL.

Wankhede Stadium Mumbai Pitch Report and Weather

Swing and seam was on offer in the IPL 2022 opener between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. Umesh Yadav exploited the conditions perfectly, winning player of the match for his brilliant 2/20. The pitch also offered turn, but expect the powerplay bowlers to play a key role once again.

Since 2020, the chasing team has won 14 of the 20 T20s at the Wankhede. Expect the captain who wins the toss to choose to chase as the team batting second has won all three games so far in this IPL.

Another clear and warm evening is forecast in Mumbai.

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:

GT vs LKN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 4 | GT vs LSG Dream11 Prediction Today | Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants Key Players | Wankhede Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 4: GT vs LSG Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

GT vs LKN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 4 | GT vs LSG Dream11 Prediction Today | Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants Key Players | Wankhede Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 4: GT vs LSG Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock
  • Batsmen: Manish Pandey, Shubman Gill
  • All-rounders: Hardik Pandya
  • Bowlers: Mohammed Shami, Rashid Khan, Avesh Khan

Match Prediction

What an intriguing battle this promises to be between the two new teams. Lucknow look strong this season, while Gujarat are sprinkled with talent too. Lucknow should win, but the team batting first needs 170+ to feel competitive.

WI vs ENG: The stats that will make England fans laugh or cry

Charbel Coorey
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0
WI vs ENG: The stats that will make England fans laugh or cry

Cricket News: WI vs ENG: The stats that will make England fans laugh or cry | England flop again in Test cricket, with a 1-0 series defeat in West Indies – the stats

As soon as Joshua Da Silva and Alzarri Joseph dropped anchor in the West Indies’ first innings, any England fan could have been forgiven for thinking the worst. By the time Craig Overton broke the 49-run stand for the eighth wicket, England were only in front by 27, certainly not enough to feel safe after with England’s regular habit of batting collapses in Test cricket.

And they obliged. Joe Root’s team followed up their first innings collapse of 90/8 with 120 in the second to surrender the series. Batting coach Marcus Trescothick pleaded for calm and not to judge England’s batting progress by “one bad day”, but such a comment is laughable given their batting woes of the past few years.

Sure, they scored big in Antigua and Barbados, but the pitches were so flat that Kraigg Brathwaite could have still been batting today. Grenada was the first instance of helpful bowling conditions in the series, and England’s array of loose techniques, lack of temperament and reliance on Root were duly exposed.

Not by Kemar Roach. Nor Alzarri Joseph, Jason Holder or Jayden Seales. But by the medium pace of Kyle Mayers. His 5/9 on the third evening was characterised by skilful seam bowling on a helpful track, but it was another example of England succumbing to bowling they should be better against. Remember, a little over three years ago, Roston Chase’s steady-but-unspectacular off-breaks yielded 8/60 in a 381-run victory for the Windies.

The numbers make for horrible reading from an England perspective. Here are some of the stats highlights from another failed Test series for a team well and truly on the slide.

WI vs ENG: The stats underpinning horrible England in Test cricket:

No Test series win for England in West Indies since 2004

West Indies have largely struggled for consistency in Test cricket, except when England come to town. The Windies have lost just two Tests out of 13 against England at home since 2004, with the tourists failing to win any of the four Test assignments in this period.

Worse, England have won just one series in the Caribbean since 1968. They have toured West Indies 11 times since, and while the home side’s domination in the 1980s and 1990s is understandable, England’s struggles since 2004 is of great concern.

Embed from Getty Images

One win in last 17 Tests overall

England’s brilliant win over India in Chennai last year brought a renewed sense of hope that this team can climb up the rankings. That victory followed a 2-0 series win in Sri Lanka, where Joe Root and the spinners led the way.

However, it was the calm before a huge storm. Joe Root’s team have won just one of their next 17 Tests, including none in their past nine, namely the final three Tests in India, 1-0 and 2-1 defeats to New Zealand and India at home, before getting blanked 4-0 in the Ashes and 1-0 in West Indies.

Alex Lees scores nearly half of England’s top seven runs

England’s top seven contributed 127 runs in the entire Test, averaging just 9.07 runs per wicket. Worse, Alex Lees contributed to nearly 50% of those runs (62), with only Jonny Bairstow crossing double figures in either innings (22 in the second innings).

It was a new ball pitch, but it was an extremely poor effort by England’s frontline batsmen. They were shown up by Jack Leach (41) and Saqib Mahmood (49) who put 90 for the last wicket in the first innings.

England’s 3rd lowest 3rd innings score in West Indies

England’s abysmal 120 in the second innings is their third-lowest score in the third innings in the Caribbean. This effort sits behind their 51 all-out in Kingston in 2009 and 103 in Kingston in 1935.

Kyle Mayers 5/18 among the cheapest 5-fers for West Indies against England

Kyle Mayers’ 5/18 is the third-cheapest five-wicket haul for any West Indian bowler against England. It is some stat when you consider the number of incredible pace bowlers to come out of the Caribbean.

Mayers sits behind Jerome Taylor (5/11, Kingston 2009), Michael Holding (5/17, Old Trafford 1976) and Kemar Roach (5/17, Barbados 2019).

In the final analysis, it is a wonderful series win for West Indies. Such are few and far between for them, which makes England’s performance all the more disappointing.

Joe Root’s position as captain must be under greater threat now, but the state of their batting is a much bigger issue. England’s supporters in the West Indies are certainly forgiven for travelling to the West Indies for the vibes rather than the cricket. It is truly a shambles.

Twitter reactions: Umesh Yadav leads KKR to easy win vs CSK

Charbel Coorey
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Twitter reactions: Umesh Yadav leads KKR to easy win vs CSK

Cricket News: Twitter reactions: Umesh Yadav leads KKR to easy win vs CSK | KKR beat CSK by 6 wickets in the opening match in IPL 2022

Kolkata Knight Riders enjoyed the perfect start to IPL 2022, courtesy of another excellent performance by powerplay specialist Umesh Yadav. Umesh, whose powerplay record is on par with Deepak Chahar’s, wowed viewers and tormented CSK’s batsmen with a terrific display of swing and seam bowling to finish with 2/20.

In the end, CSK finished at just 138/5, with only MS Dhoni, who wound back the clock with his 38-ball 50, finding any sort of rhythm for the defending champions. Umesh Yadav won his ninth player of the match award in IPL – the most among seamers – with spinners Varun Chakravarthy (1/23) and Sunil Narine (0/15) also terrific in limiting CSK on a pitch that had some turn.

In response, new recruit Ajinkya Rahane (44 off 34 balls) led the way, with new skipper Shreyas Iyer finishing unbeaten on 20*. The six-wicket win represents a good start to the season for KKR, who are aiming to go one better than their defeat in the IPL 2021 Final.

In the post-match presentation, Umesh Yadav spoke about how the focus is on him to bowl well in the powerplay. “Wickets in the powerplay is important. Team’s role is what I carried out today. Usually I’ve been focusing on my rhythm,” said Umesh.

“I’m thankful to my trainers for keeping me in shape.”

Twitter reactions: Umesh Yadav stars for KKR in victory over CSK

The IPL 2022 opener didn’t deliver the most thrilling contest, but Umesh’s noteworthy performance captured the attention of fans and pundits on Twitter. Here are some of the Twitter reactions to KKR’s six-wicket win over CSK.

PBKS vs RCB Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 3

Charbel Coorey
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PBKS vs RCB Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 3 | PBKS vs BLR Dream11 Prediction Today | Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Key Players | DY Patil Pitch Report

Two teams chasing a maiden title will do battle in one of the more intriguing matches early on in IPL 2022. Both Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore had busy auctions, with the former in particular entering the 2022 season with a new-look team.

We won’t see it in this match – the second of the day – as Jonny Bairstow is on national duty, but the Kings’ top order is a key strength of theirs this season. Also, when Kagiso Rabada starts his campaign after quarantine, their bowling attack will have a more potent feel to it. However, even without Bairstow and Rabada, there is plenty to look forward to for the Kings, with a number of domestic and overseas players looking to make a mark right away.

They will need to be on their game against an RCB team that looks to have one of the best bowling attacks on paper. Unlike seasons gone by, RCB have now focused on a strong bowling core, with Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel ones to watch.

And, there is the small measure of Faf du Plessis’ first game as an RCB player and captain. He is tasked with bringing glory to the franchise that has made some positive steps in the past two seasons, with his role as batsman and skipper to be under the spotlight. Also under the spotlight is Virat Kohli who is searching for his best form, as well as RCB’s middle order that could be a weakness this season with the great AB de Villiers now retired.

Possible Playing 11

Jonny Bairstow (England duty) and Kagiso Rabada (quarantine) will be unavailable for this match. So, two of Benny Howell, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Nathan Ellis could get a game here.

Punjab Kings: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Mayank Agarwal (c), 3. Liam Livingstone, 4. Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 5. Shahrukh Khan, 6. Benny Howell/Bhanuka Rajapaksa/Rishi Dhawan, 7. Odean Smith, 8. Harpreet Brar/Ishan Porel/Sandeep Sharma, 9. Arshdeep Singh, 10. Rahul Chahar, 11. Nathan Ellis

Faf du Plessis will lead RCB in their quest of a maiden title. They have the option of opening the batting with Virat Kohli, with Sherfane Rutherford, Wanindu Hasaranga and David Willey all potential overseas options alongside du Plessis. Also, Finn Allen is available.

Australians Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood and Jason Behrendorff are unavailable as they are on national duty.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1. Faf du Plessis (c), 2. Anuj Rawat, 3. Virat Kohli, 4. Mahipal Lomror, 5. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6. Sherfane Rutherford, 7. Wanindu Hasaranga, 8. David Willey, 9. Harshal Patel, 10. Shahbaz Ahmed, 11. Mohammed Siraj

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Punjab Kings:

  • Shikhar Dhawan was a great pick by the Kings in the auction. Dhawan has been one of the most consistent players in recent seasons – he scored the fourth-most runs in IPL 2019 (521), the second-most in 2020 (618) and fourth-most again in 2021 (587) at an overall average of 39.23 and strike rate of 134.63 in this period.
  • Dhawan has solid numbers against RCB, with 656 runs in 25 innings at an average of 32.80 and strike rate of 121.48.
  • Mayank Agarwal will now lead PBKS, and it is a huge season for him. He has struck 865 runs in the past two seasons at an overall average of 39.32 and strike rate of 147.86. Agarwal has struck 195 runs in seven innings against RCB at an average of of 27.86 and strike rate of 145.52. Can he build on those numbers here?
  • Agarwal’s prowess against good-length deliveries is a feature of his game. He has scored 321 runs off 216 deliveries against such deliveries from pacers in the IPL, as well as 232 off 167 off good-length deliveries to the spinners.
  • Can Liam Livingstone make an immediate impact after a disappointing IPL 2021? He was one of the top players in all short-form cricket last year, with 1,301 runs at an average of 37.17 and strike rate of 155.07.
  • Odean Smith is one to watch with bat and ball. He struck quickfire 36 and 24 in the recent ODI series vs India, and took 22 wickets in 14 T20s in 2021.
  • Arshdeep Singh will be one of Punjab’s key bowlers this season, particularly at the death. The left-armer has not enjoyed bowling against RCB so far, with just the one wicket in two matches at an economy rate of 12.40. However, watch out for his wide line outside off, as he concedes just 7.20 per over and averages 20 per wicket with this type of delivery in the IPL.
  • Harpreet Brar was player of the match against RCB in India last season: 25* (17) and 3/19.

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

  • Faf du Plessis had a dream season in 2021 (633 runs, avg. 45.21, SR 138.20), and RCB fans will be hoping for more of the same. He has an outstanding record against Punjab (15 inns, 660 runs, avg. 60.00, SR 144.74).
  • Expect PBKS to employ spin early as du Plessis strikes at just 114 vs wristspin, 116 vs slow left arm and 106 vs off spin in the IPL.
  • Virat Kohli also has similar strike rates against spin, with his batting in the middle overs under the spotlight (SR of 103 between overs 7-11 in the IPL). Virat has the second-highest runs ever in RCB-PBKS matches (741) at an average of 29.64 and strike rate of 126.88. It will be interesting to see how Virat fares without the pressure of captaincy.
  • Mahipal Lomror was an important purchase for RCB given his ability to attack spin in the middle overs. He averages 70 and strikes at 136 between overs 7-11 and will want to improve on his 25/128 in overs 12-16.
  • Dinesh Karthik has a solid career record vs PBKS: 26 inns, 580 runs, avg. 32.22, SR 142.16.
  • What a season Harshal Patel had in 2021. The seamer took the most wickets by an Indian in IPL history (32) and will be looking for more of the same this season.
  • Mohammed Siraj’s battle against PBKS’s top order could be key to the result. He concedes just 6.8 per over in the powerplay in IPL, but has taken just two scalps in five matches vs PBKS at an average of 86.00 and economy rate of 10.12.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 28, PBKS 15, RCB 13.
  • RCB need to dismiss Mayank Agarwal early. The right-hander strikes at 169 between overs 7-11 in the IPL at an average of 36 in this period.
  • Shahrukh Khan averages 27 and strikes at 184 between overs 17-20 in the IPL.
  • Harpreet Brar concedes just 6.05 runs per over off good-length deliveries in the IPL (114 balls, 115 runs, four wickets).
  • Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli strike at 219 and 218 respectively between overs 17-20. If one of them bats deep, RCB will be in a good state.

Dr DY Patil Sports Academy Mumbai Pitch Report and Weather

Teams batting second have won 10 of 17 matches on this ground. It is typically a pitch that has something in it for the pacers early, before slowing up throughout the match. The powerplay bowlers will certainly be key.

A warm and sunny day is forecast in Mumbai. A clear evening will likely mean dew. Expect the captain who wins the toss to choose to chase.

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:

PBKS vs RCB Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 3 | PBKS vs BLR Dream11 Prediction Today | Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Key Players | DY Patil Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 3: PBKS vs RCB Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

PBKS vs RCB Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 3 | PBKS vs BLR Dream11 Prediction Today | Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Key Players | DY Patil Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 3: PBKS vs RCB Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Dinesh Karthik
  • Batsmen: Faf du Plessis, Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal
  • All-rounders: Liam Livingstone, Wanindu Hasaranga
  • Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh

Match Prediction

Both teams are missing some key players. Chasing will likely be the way to go in the early matches, so the team who bats first needs to muster 170+ at least. RCB start as favourites, though, courtesy of their attack.

DC vs MI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 2

Charbel Coorey
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DC vs MI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 2

DC vs MI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 2 | DC vs MI Dream11 Prediction Today | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians Key Players | Brabourne Pitch Report

The first day game of IPL 2022 sees two teams who have featured at the business end of the tournament regularly in recent seasons. It is becoming a rivalry of sorts, with both sides engaging in unpredictable, exciting and action-packed battles.

It will certainly be interesting to see whether Mumbai Indians can right the wrongs of a very disappointing 2021. The back-to-back champions of 2019 and 2020 missed the playoffs altogether, as their batting never got going until the last two games where it was too late.

On paper, Mumbai look very strong, particularly in the batting department. They have two finishers who can complement an excellent top order, with eyes to be fixed on the most expensive Australian, Tim David. Also, in Jasprit Bumrah and Tymal Mills, they have two of the best death bowlers going around, which puts MI in a good position to dominate the death overs with both bat and ball.

However, can they take enough wickets in the powerplay and middle overs with their spin options? Is there enough support for Jasprit Bumrah? Can the top order play with greater fluency than they did in a disappointing 2020 campaign? MI face these questions and more in their quest to return to the playoffs in what looks a very competitive IPL 2022.

Delhi Capitals, who have been consistent in recent campaigns, have questions of their own. They will be without most of their overseas stars for their first few matches, which puts the onus on their domestic stars to deliver. There is still talent in Delhi’s possible XI for this match, and it will be a huge confidence boost if they can come away with a victory here.

Possible Playing 11

It will be a challenging start to the season for Delhi Capitals in terms of putting their best team together. David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Lungi Ngidi and Mustafizur Rahman are unavailable due to national commitments, while Anrich Nortje is still recovering from injury. More details here.

Delhi have a number of left-arm bowling options, so they could look to play Kamlesh Nagarkoti as another right-arm pace option.

Delhi Capitals: 1. Prithvi Shaw, 2. Tim Seifert, 3. Sarfaraz Khan/Yash Dhull, 4. Rishabh Pant (c & wk), 5. Rovman Powell, 6. Lalit Yadav, 7. Axar Patel, 8. Shardul Thakur, 9. Khaleel Ahmed/Kamlesh Nagarkoti, 10. Kuldeep Yadav, 11. Chetan Sakariya

Suryakumar Yadav is set to miss the first match as he recovers from injury. Tim David, Kieron Pollard, Fabian Allen and Tymal Mills are likely to be MI’s four overseas players for this match, unless they opt for Daniel Sams.

19-year old Tilak Varma could slot in at three. He has made a promising start to his T20 career, with 381 runs in 15 innings at an average of 29.30 and strike rate of 143.77.

Mumbai Indians: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. Ishan Kishan (wk), 3. Tilak Varma, 4. Rahul Buddhi, 5. Tim David, 6. Kieron Pollard, 7. Fabian Allen/Daniel Sams, 8. Jaydev Unadkat, 9. Tymal Mills, 10. Murugan Ashwin/Mayank Markande, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Delhi Capitals:

  • Prithvi Shaw has big responsibility in the absence of DC’s overseas stars. The opener loves batting in India in the IPL, with 905 runs in 623 deliveries (strike rate 145). However, he has an awful record vs Mumbai Indians (8 inns, 66 runs, avg. 8.25), with spinners (Jayant Yadav and Krunal Pandya) dismissing him last season. So, MI could look to employ spin early, i.e. Fabian Allen.
  • What a huge match it is for skipper Rishabh Pant. His IPL record in India is magnificent (1,396 runs, avg. 40, SR 156) compared to the UAE (551 runs, avg. 34, SR 112). He has scored 332 runs against MI at an average of 30.18 and strike rate of 143.72, including a magnificent 78 off 36 balls in the IPL 2019 opener.
  • Pant’s battle with Jasprit Bumrah will be key. Bumrah has bowled 42 balls to Pant in the IPL, where the DC skipper has scored 47 runs for one dismissal. Pant comes into the tournament in great form, with runs against South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka across formats.
  • Rovman Powell announced himself with a brilliant century against England earlier this year. He scored 147 runs in three matches at an average of 73.50 and strike rate of 193.42 in that series.
  • Axar Patel was player of the match the last time DC played MI (3/21). He has six wickets in as many matches against MI at an average of 24.00 and economy rate of 7.00. How he fares on the Brabourne pitch compared to Sharjah will be interesting to see.
  • Shardul Thakur is a contender for the Purple Cap in 2022. He is a genuine wicket-taker, and DC need him to deliver in the crunch stages. Overall vs MI, Thakur has taken seven wickets in nine matches at an economy rate of 9.45. Can he improve on this?
  • Kamlesh Nagarkoti took seven wickets in six matches at an economy rate of 7.09 in the Syed Ali Mushtaq Trophy late last year.

Mumbai Indians:

  • Rohit Sharma has the most runs of any player in MI-DC matches (684, avg. 32.57, SR 130.53). He scored 44 (30) and 7 (10) against them last season.
  • Ishan Kishan has an outstanding record as an opener in the IPL. He has struck 555 runs in 13 innings at an average of 55.50 and strike rate of 155.90. Also, he enjoys batting against DC, with 263 runs in seven innings at an average of 65.75 and strike rate of 150.29.
  • Eyes will be fixed on Tim David. The million dollar man is coming off a magnificent PSL campaign with Multan, where he scored 278 runs at an average of 39.78 and incredible strike rate of 194.40.
  • David much prefers to bat first in T20s. He averages 47.41 and strikes at 167.10 when batting first compared to just 22.80 and 147.41 batting second.
  • Kieron Pollard’s under-par season in 2021 hurt Mumbai. He will be aiming for a big season, starting with DC, whom he has scored 360 runs against at an average of 22.50 and strike rate of 137.93. Today could be his day as DC are filled with left-arm bowlers and he has a great record vs left-armers in IPL: 179 runs, strike rate: 185.87.
  • Pollard has a better record chasing in the IPL (1,449 runs, avg. 31.5, SR 156.5) compared to batting first (1,819 runs, avg. 28.9, SR 144.8).
  • Jasprit Bumrah has the most wickets in MI-DC matches among active players. The world-class bowler has taken 20 wickets in 17 matches vs DC at an average of 23.55 and economy rate of 7.36.
  • Tymal Mills could be a great addition for MI. He took 38 wickets in 27 short-form matches in 2021 at an economy rate of 6.97. His partnership with Bumrah at the death will be key.
  • Jaydev Unadkat took 13 wickets in six wickets in the Syed Ali Mushtaq Trophy in late 2021 at an average of 11.84 and economy rate of 6.84. Also, he has a wonderful record against DC, with 19 wickets in nine matches against them.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 30, DC 14, MI 16.
  • Delhi Capitals beat Mumbai Indians twice in 2021.
  • Mumbai Indians have not won their first match in an IPL since 2013.
  • Tim Seifert strikes at 138.80 when batting first in T20s compared to 117.45 when batting second.
  • Rishabh Pant strikes at 122.00 against good length deliveries in the IPL compared to 171 against full and 132 against short. MI should look to employ the good length as much as possible to the dynamic keeper-batsman.
  • Rohit Sharma strikes at 180 against short-pitches deliveries in the IPL (243 runs off 135 balls).
  • Jasprit Bumrah concedes just 5.25 an over against left-handers in the IPL. DC have a lot of right-handers, but expect MI to use Bumrah a lot against Pant.

Brabourne Stadium Mumbai Pitch Report and Weather

There hasn’t been a top level T20 match on this ground since a T20I between Australia Women and England Women back in 2018. Australia smashed 209 batting first in that match.

In terms of the IPL, there were four matches on this ground in 2014/15. The average first innings score was a high 190.5 in these matches, with the team batting first winning three out of the four games.

A hot and sunny day is forecast in Mumbai for this clash, with a top of about 32 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. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

DC vs MI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 2 | DC vs MI Dream11 Prediction Today | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians Key Players | Brabourne Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 2: DC vs MI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

DC vs MI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 2 | DC vs MI Dream11 Prediction Today | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians Key Players | Brabourne Pitch Report
IPL 2022 Match 2: DC vs MI Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant
  • Batsmen: Rohit Sharma
  • All-rounders: Axar Patel
  • Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur

Match Prediction

Mumbai Indians have a terrible record in the first match of an IPL season. They have not won any of their first matches since 2013. However, this is arguably their best chance with Delhi Capitals missing many of their overseas stars. in saying that, a score over 180 by the team batting first could be a challenging chase.

Pat Cummins aces first major test as Australia captain

Charbel Coorey
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Pat Cummins aces first major test as Australia captain

Cricket News: Pat Cummins aces first major test as Australia captain | Cummins leads Australia to 1-0 Test series win in Pakistan

Pat Cummins, in his first assignment as Test captain in Asia, has led Australia to a superb 1-0 series win in Pakistan. Faced with challenging bowling conditions in all three Tests, Cummins himself, who finished with 12 wickets at a remarkable average of 22.50, led the way as Australia fought successfully till the very end.

What makes the achievement all the more special is that it was far from smooth sailing. Australia endured some of their worst ever Test numbers in the Rawalpindi draw, before they were left heartbroken after 171.4 overs of toil for no reward in Karachi.

Such a predicament is difficult for any leader, let alone a new captain who has only had a feeble England to deal with so far. Not only do you need to focus on your own game, but you need to be able to keep the spirits up of those around you.

Cummins did that brilliantly. And he deservedly holds the series trophy aloft.

Pat Cummins’ brilliant declaration a sign of his cricketing smarts

Cummins’ decision to declare with a lead of 350 raised a few eyebrows. Nerves had spread far and wide across Australia as the Pakistanis went to the close on day four at 73/0. Remember, Pakistan scored 443/7 in the fourth innings on a similar kind of pitch in Karachi.

However, it was a masterstroke. As the late, great Shane Warne would say, you have to risk losing to win. Cummins put those words to practice as he dangled the carrot in front of Pakistan which would bring about more strokeplay, and thus more wicket-taking opportunities. And, importantly, you need as much time as you can get on a pitch where reverse swing was still the most prominent threat.

Also, Cummins made excellent decisions along the way. He started day five with Cameron Green, who picked up the first wicket – that of the ever resolute Abdullah Shafique. He persisted with the struggling Steve Smith in the slips, who ended up taking a blinder off his toes to dismiss Babar Azam. It was the wicket that opened the door for an Australia victory.

And, he rotated the bowlers well and had clear plans in the field. “In the first innings, the way we batted and got ahead of the game was fantastic. Thought 350, if they batted really well they were in the game, but thought if we bowled to our potential it was a long way away. Glad we got there in the end,” said Cummins in the post-match presentation.

Nathan Lyon delivers on the 5th day for Australia

Another positive for Australia was the performance of lead spinner Nathan Lyon. The spotlight was shining bright on Australia’s most prolific off-spinner, who has, in recent years, fallen short of delivering victories for Australia on the fifth day.

This time around, Lyon was rewarded for his consistency. He maintained a solid line outside off stump, as he finished the series with an economy rate of 2.46. Such numbers have been a key feature of Lyon’s career as he allows the pacers to operate at the other end, but this time he was able to pick up the crucial wickets, with the most important scalp being that of skipper Babar Azam.

Usman Khawaja wins player of the series after stunning performance

It was always going to special series emotionally for Usman Khawaja. Australia’s historic series in Khawaja’s home country brought the best out of him as he finished the series with a remarkable 496 runs in three Tests at an average of 165.33. It raises questions as to why he wasn’t brought back into the side earlier, such as Australia’s home series against India just over 12 months ago.

Khawaja has made up for lost time. He has struck scores of 137, 101*, 6, 11, 97, 160, 44*, 91 and 104* since his return to the Test side.

“Just want to thank Pakistan and the fans. We’ve had a great time. Everyone has been really welcoming,” said Khawaja in the post-match presentation.

“To win this game is the icing on the cake. I think 350 with four sessions was a good target. I didn’t really think they could get that score. There was enough in that wicket.”

Khawaja also said the Lahore track was difficult to bat on.

“Was the hardest wicket I’d batted on. Felt like the hardest hundred I’d got.”

First series win in Asia for Australia since 2011

Unsuccessful tours of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have caused heartache for Australia in Asia since their 1-0 triumph in Sri Lanka in 2011. It was the series where Nathan Lyon dismissed Kumar Sangakkara with his first delivery in Test cricket, and now 11 years later, he bowled Australia to victory in Pat Cummins’ first series as captain in Asia.

This win is particularly sweet for Australia. Wickets were hard to come by all series. In fact, Pakistan had scored 695/7 in the second innings of the Rawalpindi and Karachi Tests combined, so Australia needed to put all that behind them.

That they did. Led by captain and bowler Cummins, Australia will leave Pakistan with a terrific series win.

DC possible XI vs MI without overseas stars

Debashish Sarangi
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DC possible XI vs MI without overseas stars

Cricket News: Delhi Capitals possible XI vs MI without Warner and Marsh | The DC possible XI in the absense of their key players

The most lucrative T20 league, the Indian Premier League, is upon us. As we know, this time it’s going be a ten-team battle for the prestigious trophy and therefore, the fans are eagerly waiting to witness a greater number of thrilling encounters.

Meanwhile, one of the most improved IPL team in recent times, the Delhi Capitals are on a spot of bother as they are going to miss five of their star players in the first few games due to several reasons. While David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Lungi Ngidi and Mustafizur Rehman will miss the first few games owing to national commitment, Anrich Nortje is also doubtful to be available as he hasn’t recovered from hip injury yet. Therefore, a lot of discussion is surfaced regarding the best possible starting XI of DC in the absence of these key overseas players.

Let’s find out the same by considering some crucial factors.

DC Possible XI for first match of IPL 2022 against MI

Openers: Prithvi Shaw and Tim Seifert

Honestly, Delhi can’t ask for a more destructive opening pair. Although they have domestic options in Mandeep Singh and Yash Dhull, I feel they should consider Tim Seifert for the opener’s job in the absence of David Warner. Seifert is someone who can capitalize on the powerplay to the utmost extent and moreover, he is a fearless batter.

As DC don’t have a formidable bowling attack in the absence of their star overseas bowlers, they need to be aggressive up front with the bat and Seifert is the best available option for them in this regard.

Number 3: Sarfaraz Khan  

Some of you might disagree with me on choosing Sarfaraz Khan to bat at 3, but the kind of form he is in right now, he should be given a chance to prove his worth. In the ongoing Ranji Trophy, the dynamic Mumbai batter amassed 551 runs from just six innings and is currently occupying third spot in the list of highest run-getters in the tournament.

Sarfaraz is a brilliant batter against spin, has the ability of playing unorthodox shots all around the park and moreover, he is the best domestic option to be used at 3.

Middle order: Rishabh Pant, Rovman Powell, Lalit Yadav

Rishabh Pant is obviously going to be slotted at number 4. I would like DC to have Rovman Powell and Lalit Yadav as finishers. Powell recently rose to fame after his blistering T20I hundred against England this year. The West Indian is famous for his ability of hitting nonchalant sixes. On the other hand, Lalit Yadav is an obvious first choice for the batting allrounder’s spot in the absence of Mitchell Marsh as he can score some handy runs coming lower down the order and act as the sixth bowling option as well.

5 bowlers: Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya

Unlike previous years, the bowling line up of DC is going to be their nemesis this time in the first few games as they will be missing their overseas bowlers. Still, they have to resolve this issue any way, for which I feel the mentioned names are going to be their first-choice bowlers. Axar and Kuldeep will be the key for the Delhi side in the middle overs. The job of Khaleel and Sakariya will be to provide early breakthroughs in the powerplay, with Shardul’s variation playing an important role in the death overs.

In the absence of key stars, Shardul, who is a strong contender for the Purple Cap, needs to deliver.

DC possible playing XI vs MI:

Prithvi Shaw, Tim Seifert, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Rovman Powell, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya

Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today

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