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IND vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Yash Mittal
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IND vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IND vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs New Zealand Key Players | Ranchi Pitch Report

After a scrappy five-wicket win in the first T20I, Team India will look to seal the three-match series against New Zealand in Ranchi on Friday [November 19].

The ‘new era’ of Indian T20I cricket under the leadership duo of Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid started on a positive note on Wednesday as the home side chased down the target of 165 in the final over.  India’s run-chase was led brilliantly by Sharma [48 off 36 balls] and Suryakumar Yadav [62 off 40 balls] but their untimely dismissals and scratchy knocks by Rishabh Pant (13* off 13 balls) and Shreyas Iyer (5 off 8 balls) meant that the game inexplicably went into the final over.

The decision to bat Shreyas at five left a lot to be desired given his weakness against pacers while Pant once once underwhelmed as a T20 batter. So, India will be looking for an improvement in this area in the second T20I.

In terms of bowling, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravichandran Ashwin were the pick of the bowlers while Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel endured a poor outing. Rohit missed the trick of not trying out Venkatesh given the fact that he is being looked at as a seam-bowling all-rounder, something the may look to try in Ranchi.

As for New Zealand, despite the absence of many first-choice players, the visitors ran India close in the first game.  Mark Chapman grabbed his opportunity with both hands as he made a well compiled 50-ball 63. Martin Guptill finally turned up to the party after a lean World Cup, finishing with a 42-ball 70.

However, New Zealand would hope that he and Daryll Mitchell make the most of the powerplay, something they didn’t do in the last game. The BlackCaps managed just 65 runs in the first 10 overs in Jaipur, which eventually proved to be decisive in the end, much like the World Cup final, a few days ago.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

India:

  • Rohit Sharma: The stylish opener looked in his elements in Jaipur as he dished out sumptuous strokeplay to whet the appetite of fans.
  • Sharma scored a 36-ball 48 with the help of five fours and a couple of sixes and he would ideally like to convert such a start into a big score in the second match.
  • KL Rahul: Rahul missed out in the last game, managing a 14-ball 15. But given his stellar T20 record, especially against New Zealand- 257 runs in 7 innings- we could be in for a special knock from him on Friday night. 
  • Suryakumar Yadav: SKY on Wednesday displayed just what India missed during their T20 World Cup game against New Zealand last month as he flayed their spinners to all corners of the ground.
  • He batted with the intent India missed in that WC game and ended up scoring a 40-ball 62. He was deservedly adjudged the ‘Player Of the Match’
  • Ravichandran Ashwin: The veteran spinner was at the height his powers in the last game as he bamboozled the likes of Chapman and Glenn Phillips with drift, turn and guile. Ashwin finished with figures of 2/23 in four overs.
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar: After a disappointing WC outing where he was left out after the game against Pakistan, Bhuvi showed signs of getting back close to his best in the first match.
  • He bowled Mitchell with a brilliant inswinger to kickstart the proceedings before claiming Mark Chapman at the backend to finish with figures of 2/24 in 4 overs.

New Zealand:

  • Martin Guptill: The veteran opener got off to a slow start but cashed in at the backend to finish with a 42-ball 70 with the help of three fours and four sixes.
  • However,  the visitors would want Guptill to show more intent in the powerplay,something that has been missing in the past few games.
  • Mark Chapman: The southpaw made the most of the opportunity and racked up a brilliant 50-ball 63. He will once again be the key to New Zealand’s fortunes during the middle overs.
  • Glenn Phillips: He missed out in the last game thanks to being completely undone by a carrom ball from Ashwin.
  • Phillips is key to New Zealand as far as exploiting the death overs is concerned, especially in the absence of James Neesham.
  • Mitchell Santner: The left-arm orthodox  once again proved to be a difficult customer to get away during the middle overs.
  • He gave away just 19 runs in four overs and claimed the prized scalp of Rahul.
  • Lockie Ferguson: The pacer impressed in his maiden outing after injury and while he didn’t claim a wicket, he ended up giving just 24 runs. He will once again be the key for the Kiwis in the death overs.

Stats and Facts

  • India have played a total of 2 T20Is in Ranchi and the ledger remains 2-0.
  • If India win the second T20I, then it will be their second consecutive bilateral series win over the Kiwis on home soil in the format. They won 2-1 under Virat Kohli back in 2017.
  • India have won six out of their previous seven T20Is against New Zealand.
  • New Zealand has never played a T20I in Ranchi.

Possible Playing 11

Axar Patel and Mohammed Siraj endured a poor outing in the last game but it looks unlikely India will change their playing XI after just one game.

India: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. KL Rahul, 3. Suryakumar Yadav, 4. Shreyas Iyer, 5. Rishabh Pant (wk), 6. Venkatesh Iyer, 7. Axar Patel/R Ashwin, 8. Harshal Patel, 9. Deepak Chahar/Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Avesh Khan/Mohammaed Siraj, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

The Kiwis rested some of their key players in the last game and handed out opportunities to the likes of Chapman, Ravindra and Todd Astle.

Astle underwhelmed and with the series on the line, the management might look to bring back Ish Sodhi.

New Zealand: 1. Martin Guptill, 2. Daryl Mitchell, 3. Tim Seifert, 4. Glenn Phillips (wk), 5. Mark Chapman, 6. Rachin Ravindra, 7. Mitchell Santner, 8. Tim Southee (c), 9. Lockie Ferguson, 10. Todd Astle/Ish Sodhi, 11. Trent Boult

Ranchi Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

Another flat pitch is likely to be the order of the day. However, once again dew could play a major role and captains would be motivated to field first. 

As far as the weather is concerned, it is expected to be clear in Ranchi on Friday. The temperatures will hover between 14-25 and humidity is set to be around 86%.

Dream11 Prediction

Team 01:

IND vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs New Zealand Key Players | Ranchi Pitch Report
IND vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction

Team 02:

IND vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs New Zealand Key Players | Ranchi Pitch Report
IND vs NZ 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Tim Seifert
  • Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Martin Guptill
  • All-rounders: Mitchell Santner, Daryl Mitchell
  • Bowlers: Trent Boult, Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Match Prediction

India will start as slight favorites but once again the toss could well play a decisive role.

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

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

BAN vs PAK 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs PAK 1st T20 Dream11Prediction Today | Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st T20 Key Players | Dhaka Pitch Report

Both Bangladesh and Pakistan will be looking to make a winning start to life after the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Bangladesh will fight with a new-look squad for the chance win against the in-form Pakistan team who have never lost a T20I to Bangladesh. Also, the home side will be looking to recover after a terrible T20 World Cup campaign, while Pakistan are aiming to put their heartbreaking Semi Final loss to Australia behind them.

Given Pakistan’s fighting spirit and Bangladesh desire to win the game, an interesting contest awaits with eyes on how the pitch performs as well.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Bangladesh:

  • Mahmudullah will be important in the absence of Shakib, Mushfiqur, Liton and Soumya. He has the most T20I runs of any player at Sher e Bangla Stadium: 688 runs, average: 43.00, strike rate 120.70.
  • But, he has a bad record vs Pakistan: 11 innings, 88 runs, average: 11.00.
  • Mohammad Naim has scored the most runs for Bangladesh in T20Is this year: 525 runs, average: 23.86, strike rate: 102.53.
  • Afif Hossain had a disappointing World Cup campaign. But, he showed some good form in T20Is at home against Australia. He has scored 235 runs in T20Is on this ground at an average of 26.11 and strike rate of 132.
  • Taskin Ahmed was brilliant in the past against Pakistan; he picked four wickets from three games. Also, he was impressive in the World Cup.
  • Nasum Ahmed took 16 wickets in 10 T20Is on this ground earlier this year (average 9.93, strike rate 12).
  • Mustafizur Rahman has taken 96 wickets in 67 matches at Sher e Bangla Stadium. He will be looking to bounce back after a tough World Cup campaign.

Pakistan:

  • Babar Azam consistently produces runs with his class batting and is the top batsman in T20 rankings. Babar has an average of 66 and strike rate of 143 against Bangladesh.
  • Mohammad Rizwan is having a great year. He is in-form, and can provide a great start coming from a strong World Cup.
  • Fakhar Zaman is an excellent striker of the ball, and with his experience in the game, he can handle any situation for his team. He is coming off a brilliant 55* vs Australia in the Semi Final.
  • Shadab Khan will be crucial if the pitch helps spinners and slower bowlers. He took 4/26 in a brilliant spell last match vs Australia.
  • Shaheen Afridi is bowling brilliantly and got regular wickets in the T20 World Cup. He has two wickets in two T20Is vs Bangladesh at a good economy of 5.63.
  • Haris Rauf is well known for his sharp pace, and he had an impressive World Cup campaign. He has taken two wickets in two matches vs Bangladesh.

Stats and Facts

  • Head to head: Matches 5, Bangladesh 0, Pakistan 5.
  • Babar Azam scored the most runs in the recent T20 World Cup.
  • Bangladesh beat Australia (4-1) and New Zealand (3-2) in T20Is at Dhaka before the World Cup.

Possible Playing 11

Bangladesh: 1. Mohammad Naim, 2. Saif Hassan, 3. Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4. Yasir Ali, 5. Mahmudullah (c), 6. Afif Hossain, 7. Nurul Hasan (wk), 8. Mahedi Hasan, 9. Nasum Ahmed, 10. Mustafizur Rahman, 11. Taskin Ahmed

Pakistan: 1. Babar Azam (c), 2. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 3. Fakhar Zaman, 4. Haider Ali, 5. Shoaib Malik, 6. Khushdil Shah, 7. Mohammad Nawaz, 8. Shadab Khan, 9. Hasan Ali, 10. Haris Rauf, 11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

Mirpur Dhaka Pitch Report and Weather

The pitch at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka will be a slower one. The pitch mainly assists spinners and batsmen can struggle to play big strokes due to pitch conditions. We might see a low-scoring game.

A clear and warm day is forecast for Dhaka.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

BAN vs PAK 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs PAK 1st T20 Dream11Prediction Today | Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st T20 Key Players | Dhaka Pitch Report
BAN vs PAK 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

BAN vs PAK 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs PAK 1st T20 Dream11Prediction Today | Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st T20 Key Players | Dhaka Pitch Report
BAN vs PAK 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Rizwan
  • Batsmen: Babar Azam, Mahmudullah
  • All-rounders: Mahedi Hasan, Shadab Khan
  • Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mustafizur Rahman

Match Prediction

Pakistan have a great record vs Bangladesh and should win vs this inexperienced Tigers team.

5 most impactful batting innings in the 2021 T20 World Cup

Debashish Sarangi
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5 most impactful batting innings in the 2021 T20 World Cup

5 most impactful batting innings in the 2021 T20 World Cup | Looking at the 5 best, most impactful batting knocks in the 2021 T20 World Cup

‘When the going gets tough, the tough gets going’.

We have seen an enormous number of batters taking advantage of great starts, but seldom have we seen a batter thriving under a critical situation. Their importance reaches zenith when a World Cup is at stake.

They are called ‘clutch players’ and a lot of eyeballs reside on them especially when they are subjected to crunch situations. Their impact is judged from the way they deal with such situations and rescue their teams.   

In the recently concluded T20 World Cup, there were some players who proved their worth by performing exceedingly well under extreme pressure. Their efforts need a special mention and, in this article, I am going to list five most impactful knocks played in this World Cup. Here we go.

James Neesham 27 (11) vs England

Most gave credit of New Zealand’s Semi Final victory to Daryl Mitchell, which he definitely deserved. But, the knock that turned the game in New Zealand’s favour James Neesham’s cameo of 27 runs off just 11.

New Zealand required 60 off 29 balls when Neesham joined Mitchell in the middle. The situation demanded a quickfire knock, which Neesham delivered with precision. He picked England’s best death bowler, Chris Jordan, for this purpose.

His brutal hitting put immense pressure on Jordan to get his Yorkers right in the 17th over. With two huge sixes and one boundary, Neesham scored 19 runs in that over. If this wasn’t enough, he went after Adil Rashid in the next over and hit another six in his very first delivery.

New Zealand scored 40 much-needed runs in just 17 balls during his short-stay in the middle. More importantly, his efforts brought the equation down to just 20 off 12 balls, which was easily achieved by Mitchell in the next over.

Jos Buttler 101* (67) vs Sri Lanka

Although England started as clear favourites against Sri Lanka, the Lankan bowlers had other ideas as they dismantled the English top order, which left them reeling at 47/3 at the end of 10 overs. It was gripping at Sharjah, some deliveries were keeping low and England needed someone to take the charge in order to finish their innings on a high note.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man!

Jos Buttler started playing his shots, with ample support from Eoin Morgan at the other end. He went after all the Sri Lankan bowlers especially their fast bowlers and destroyed their rhythm. He hit them all around the park and reached his century in 67 balls despite being 24 off 30 at one stage.

His fireworks enabled England to reach 166 which they defended successfully.

Matthew Wade 41* (17) vs Pakistan

Imagine needing 80 runs in 46 balls with just five wickets in hand against an in-form Pakistan? You are certainly under the pump.

Matthew Wade went to bat in that exact situation in the second Semi Final. Pakistan was nearing a one-sided victory and the jubilant celebrations of the Pakistani crowd had already begun in the stands in Dubai.

There was a lot of pressure on the Australian keeper-batsman and the way he dealt with it was magnificent. He was at 8 off 9 balls at the end of the 17th over, but was successful in targeting Hasan Ali in the very next over. He hit Hasan for a six and a four and took 13 off 4 balls in his over.

What followed next was sheer carnage. Wade smashed the premier fast bowler of Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi, for three consecutive sixes and won it for Australia single-handedly in the 19th over. He was adjudged the player of the match for his blistering knock.

Kane Williamson 85 (48) vs Australia

Kane Williamson didn’t have a great World Cup prior to the Final as he had scored just 131 runs at a strike rate of just 94.24.

But the World Cup Final against the mighty Aussies proved to be the ideal situation for the Kiwi-skipper to step up and show his class when it mattered the most, yet again.

Williamson joined hands with Martin Guptill after the fall of Mitchell’s wicket in the 4th over. Guptill was struggling to get going at the other end and pressure was building up on the experienced duo. Williamson started changing his gears and went bonkers soon after Guptill was dismissed.

He smashed Starc for three consecutive fours in the 11th over to start with and hit Maxwell for two consecutive sixes in the 13th over. His hitting prowess reached new levels when he hit 22 runs in the 16th over; Mitchell Starc being at the receiving end once again. He had a boundary percentage of almost 69 on his way to an outstanding knock of 85. Although it came in a losing cause, it was one of the finest innings I have ever seen in a Final.   

Mitchell Marsh 77* (50) vs New Zealand

A target of 173 certainly feels like 193 in a World Cup Final. Added to that, Australia started the chase in a poor manner as they lost an important wicket of Aaron Finch in the third over.

You would expect your batters to consolidate in such a situation. However, Mitchell Marsh smacked the very first ball he faced over square leg for a six. This was the proof of the plethora of confidence the man had at that moment. The next two balls went for two boundaries and he never looked back.

He was so comfortable and dominating that it didn’t seem like he was feeling the pressure of the final. He never let the asking rate increase and as a result, Australia chased the target with ease.

His knock of 77* off just 50 balls involved six fours and four humongous sixes and he was so attractive to watch in the night of the final. There was absolutely no wonder why he was adjudged the player of the match for his breath-taking knock.  

For a knock to be impactful, we need to consider the situation under which it is played as well as the dominance of the knock. Frankly, I don’t have any doubt regarding these five being the five most impactful knocks of this World Cup. Have your say!

Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today

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

Yash Mittal
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IND vs NZ 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IND vs NZ 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs New Zealand Key Players | Jaipur Pitch Report

The juggernaut of international cricket rolls as India and New Zealand gear up to lock horns in a three-match T20I series, starting November 17 in Jaipur.

It’s been just three days since the T20 World Cup came to a close in the UAE. New Zealand will look to move on from the heartbreak they suffered at the hands of Australia in the summit clash and start from scratch as they aim to build their side for the next World Cup, which starts in Australia in 11 months time. Kane Williamson has opted out of the series and in his absence, Tim Southee will take up the leadership reins.

India, on the other hand, will usher in a new era in the shortest format under the newly appointed leadership duo of captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid. The T20 World Cup proved to be nightmare for the ‘Men in Blue’ as they crashed out of the league stage following back-to-back defeats to Pakistan and New Zealand.

There are few new faces in the squad in the form of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel while Yuzvendra Chahal has earned a recall after being snubbed from the set-up ahead of the World Cup.

Also read: 3 ways India can revive their T20I cricket

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

India:

  • KL Rahul: The opener loves batting against the Kiwis in this format. In six innings, he has racked up 242 runs at an average of 48.40 and a strike rate of 141.52 with two 50+ scores.
  • Rohit Sharma: The new T20I skipper is the leading scorer among Indians against the Kiwis. In 14 innings, he has scored 352 runs at an average of 29.33 and a strike rate of 135.90 with 4 50+ scores.
  • SuryaKumar Yadav: The Mumbai batter missed out on a crucial game against the Kiwis in the WC due to injury. He didn’t have much to do in the tournament but the stylish batsman has had a stellar start to his international T20 career. He will be extremely crucial in the middle overs against the likes of Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner.
  • Shreyas Iyer: The right-hander has a solid T20I record vs New Zealand: 7 inns, 182 runs, avg. 36.40, SR 127.27.
  • Harshal Patel: The seamer is coming off a record-breaking IPL season, where he took the most wickets by an Indian bowler in a single edition (32).
  • Yuzvendra Chahal: The leg-spinner will have a point to prove in this series following his snub from the T20 WC squad. Chahal was brilliant during the second leg of the IPL. However, he managed just 1 wicket in 5 games in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament.

New Zealand:

  • Daryl Mitchell: Mitchell made full use of the opportunity to open the innings in the World Cup. With 208 runs in 7 innings at 34.66 and a strike rate of 140.54, Mitchell was the 2nd highest run-scorer for his side in the tournament which includes a match-winning 72* in the Semi Final against England.
  • Tim Seifert: Conway’s absence means Seifert will get an extended opportunity to showcase his credentials in the series. Since the start of 2020, he is the fifth highest run-getter for the Kiwis in the format: 395 runs in 16 innings at 32.91/128.24.
  • Ish Sodhi: Sodhi loves bowling to Indian batsmen. In 13 games, he has claimed 19 wickets at an average of 17.94 and an economy rate of 7.25. His figures of 2/17 in 4 overs in the T20 WC was one of the major reasons why India posted just 110 in 20 overs.
  • Mitchell Santner: The left-arm Orthodox is the second highest wicket-taker for NZ in T20Is against India.  In 13 innings, he has claimed 12 wickets at an average of 28.58 and an economy rate of 7.29.
  • Trent Boult deserves to be in the T20 World Cup team of the tournament. He took 13 wickets in the campaign, including 3/20 vs India.

Stats and Facts

  • Both sides have locked horns in 17 T20Is, with India winning 6 and losing 9.
  • Last time these two sides played a bilateral T20I series, India thumped the Kiwis 5-0.
  • This will be the first international match at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium since the 2013 India-Australia ODI.
  • Last time Rohit Sharma led India in a T20I series against New Zealand- February 2019- the Kiwis won 2-1.

Possible Playing 11

With Hardik Pandya not a part of the squad, it will be interesting to see how India balance their playing XI. Will they go with a spin all-rounder in the form of Axar Patel or will they punt on Venkatesh Iyer in the role of a seam bowler + finisher? Also, will Shreyas Iyer get a place in the starting XI or will they stick with Ishan Kishan? Also, if Kishan plays, will he slotted in the middle-order or will one of Rahul or Rohit get denoted to the middle-order spot?

India: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. KL Rahul, 3. SuryaKumar Yadav, 4. Shreyas Iyer, 5. Rishabh Pant (wk), 6. Venkatesh Iyer, 7. Axar Patel/R Ashwin, 8. Harshal Patel, 9. Deepak Chahar/Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Avesh Khan/Mohammaed Siraj, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Kane Williamson will miss the T20I series, as will Devon Conway. Also, it remains to be seen if Lockie Ferguson is fit enough to play after missing the World Cup.

New Zealand: 1. Martin Guptill, 2. Daryl Mitchell, 3. Tim Seifert (wk), 4. Glenn Phillips, 5. Mark Chapman, 6. James Neesham, 7. Mitchell Santner, 8. Tim Southee (c), 9. Lockie Ferguson/Adam Milne, 10. Ish Sodhi, 11. Trent Boult

Jaipur Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

The pitch at the Sawai Man Singh stadium has always been a batting paradise. Flat pitch and small ground, it is fair to say that bowlers will have their work cut out.

As far as the weather is concerned, it is expected to be partly cloudy in Jaipur on Wednesday. But the chance of rain playing spoilsport can be ruled out. The temperatures will hover between 13-26 and humidity is set to be around 32%.

Dream11 Prediction

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

Option 1:

IND vs NZ 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs New Zealand Key Players | Jaipur Pitch Report
IND vs NZ 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IND vs NZ 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs New Zealand Key Players | Jaipur Pitch Report
IND vs NZ 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

  • Wicket-keepers: Rishabh Pant
  • Batsmen: Daryl Mitchell, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul
  • All-rounders: James Neesham
  • Bowlers: Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Yuzvendra Chahal

Match Prediction

It’s not wise to predict in T20s. India will finish as slight favorites as they are playing on home soil but to be brutally honest, it’s 50-50. Since, it’s a night game, once again toss can prove to be decisive factor.

Also read: 3 ways India can revive their T20I cricket

How did Australia spark a turnaround in the T20 World Cup?

Tarkesh Jha
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How did Australia spark a turnaround in the T20 World Cup?

Cricket News: How did Australia spark a turnaround in the T20 World Cup? | How Australia ended up winning the T20 World Cup

There is a reason pre-tournament predictions aren’t taken as seriously by those who have a real understanding and stake in the game. They know that all the on-paper forecasts fall flat when players battle it out amidst intensifying pressure amongst thousands of people.

Only those who manage to hold their nerve in these crunch moments make it through the finishing line. It is in all manners, the survival of the fittest.

Nobody gave Australia much of a chance prior to the commencement of this edition of the T20 World Cup. The Aussies haven’t really put much focus on the shortest format internationally in recent times. Moreover, they came on the back of series defeats against West Indies and Bangladesh prior to this tournament.

They didn’t have a settled XI, and doubts were cast over the form of the batting lineup as well.

Then on 14th November, they set aside all those apprehensions by comfortably steamrolling over a very competent New Zealand side at the Dubai International Stadium.

How did the Aussies manage to do it? How did they finally laid their hands over the coveted T20 World Cup trophy?

They were pitted in the group of death and made it through to the Semi Finals on the back of a better net run rate as compared to South Africa.

They faced an immensely gifted Pakistan side in the Semi Finals and were put against the effervescent and in-form Kiwi unit for the showpiece game.

Australia shouldn’t really have won all these games as per conventional cricketing logic and their recent form. But they managed to get their act together in the difficult moments and sailed past the winning mark every single time.

Victory is as much of a habit as it is an achievement. When you win over and again all the time, the spirit to not give up during the tough moments gets ingrained in you permanently.

At that moment, the form doesn’t count. Neither does past record matter. What is important is how you deal with that particular situation at that point in time, and the end result takes care of itself.

That’s what happened with Australia across the tournament. Though their form wasn’t the best as compared to others, the Aussie spirit of not letting down in big moments came to the fore as the tournament progressed.

Warner, Zampa, Marsh, Hazlewood lead the way

Cricket News: How did Australia spark a turnaround in the T20 World Cup? | How Australia ended up winning the T20 World Cup

David Warner couldn’t buy a run for the love of money in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year. Yet, he managed to tame the supremely talented bowling attacks of Pakistan and New Zealand in the Semi Finals and Final respectively.

Josh Hazlewood didn’t play T20 internationals for a good four-and-a-half years from 2016 to late 2020. He didn’t play in the first leg of IPL 2021 either. Yet, he found his mojo back in the second leg and carried that on to the World Cup as well.

There is hardly a cricketer as maligned as Mitchell Marsh in the present day Australian cricketing setup. Yet, he came into this tournament on the back of a stellar turnaround of form. Glenn Maxwell said that he hasn’t seen anyone hit the ball better than what Marsh was doing prior to this T20 World Cup.

Still, not many seemed to give the all-rounder a chance to succeed as a specialist top-order batsman. Marsh proved the critics wrong handsomely, top-scoring in the Final and leading the Aussies home in style.

Australia defied logic and predictions

See, very little separates the very good teams from others in premium cricket tournaments like these. Especially in the limited overs format, on-paper predictions count for nothing as only the clutch players tend to possess the mettle, flair and the comprehensive ability to win their team big games.

Australia never seemed to be out of place whenever encountered with difficult moments through this World Cup. With Maxwell gone and over 12 RPO required in the semis, not many gave Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade a chance to steer the chase successfully.

But the duo remained undeterred. They seemed unfazed in a moment that most other sides would have collapsed in. They maintained a composed head over their shoulders and finished the game with more than an over to spare.

That’s legacy. Winning culture. The mental strength to be undisturbed any sort of acrimonious developments. Belief and confidence to turn around the game single-handedly. That’s the art of Australian cricket.

This is a moment to rejoice for Australia. They perhaps haven’t had the best of recent years in international cricket by their own high standards. But this victory is a clear testament that the blood of champions that run in their veins is still going strong. That’s a great news for both them, and world cricket as a whole as well!

Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter

4 players CSK should retain for IPL 2022

Robin Rounder
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4 players CSK should retain for IPL 2022

4 players CSK should retain for IPL 2022 | 4 players Chennai Super Kings should retain ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction

After the ICC T20 World Cup, the next big event in the world of white-ball cricket Mega Auction for IPL 2022, the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League. The auction will be in December this year and teams can only retain up to four players (3 Indian + 1 overseas or 2 Indian + 2 overseas players).

There will be two new franchises, Lucknow and Ahmedabad and no Right to Match (RTM) cards for this mega auction. The two new teams can select three players from the player pool before the auction.

The last date to submit the details of the retained players is 30 November. Teams will be sure to do all kinds of permutations and combinations before retaining the players.

We’ll list four players which we think every franchise should retain before the mega auction. Let’s start with the current and the 4-time champions, the Chennai Super Kings.

4 Players CSK Should Retain for IPL 2022

CSK is arguably the most consistent side in IPL history. They have won the title four times, are the runners-up on five occasions, and have qualified for the play-offs 11 times out of the 12  seasons they’ve played. They won the title this year after a very poor show in 2020.

CSK has a very settled squad and it will be a little tricky for them to choose their four retentions as most of their players are over 35 years old and teams generally build a core for the future in the mega auctions.

1. MS Dhoni

Cricket News: 4 players CSK should retain for IPL 2022 | 4 players Chennai Super Kings should retain ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction
Cricket News: 4 players CSK should retain for IPL 2022 – MS Dhoni

Harsha Bhogle once said, “Dhoni is CSK and CSK is Dhoni” and this statement is very true as everything about CSK revolves around their “Thala”. Dhoni is the face and heart of CSK. He has led CSK to four titles and has a phenomenal record as a captain and batsman in the IPL.

Although he isn’t the same as he used to be a few years ago with the bat, his leadership skills are unmatchable and CSK’s triumph in IPL 2021 is the best example of that. Plus, in Qualifier 1 against DC this year, he showed that he hasn’t completely lost his touch with the bat.

It is still unknown whether he’ll play the next season or not. However, if he decides to continue playing (which we assume will be the case), then he will be the first retained player for CSK for IPL 2022.

2. Ravindra Jadeja

Cricket News: 4 players CSK should retain for IPL 2022 | 4 players Chennai Super Kings should retain ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction
Cricket News: 4 players CSK should retain for IPL 2022 – Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja should be CSK’s second retention. Jadeja has been a very crucial part of CSK over the years and has been in terrific form for the last two seasons. He scored 227 runs in 12 innings in IPL 2021 at an excellent average of 75.66 and strike rate of 145.5.

He has been terrific with the bat and is doing what Dhoni used to do in the past, i.e. finishing games for CSK. Jadeja did well with the ball as well picking 13 wickets in 16 games at an economy of 7.06 in CSK’s successful campaign.

Jadeja is experienced and provides all-round value including his world class fielding. There should not be any doubts for the CSK management about retaining him.

3. Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad had a horrible start to his IPL career in 2020. Firstly, he got infected with the Coronavirus and then had a string of low scores to kickstart his career.

However, CSK management backed him despite that, and he finally showed “spark” in CSK’s last three games of IPL 2020, scoring consecutive half-centuries.

This wasn’t all. He then scored most runs in IPL 2021 and won the Orange cap. Ruturaj scored 635 in 16 matches at an average of 45.35 at a strike-rate of 136.26 including a brilliant century and four fifties.

Ruturaj is young and will be a great choice for the new core of Indian players for CSK and he will play in the yellow jersey in IPL 2022.

4. Moeen Ali

Cricket News: 4 players CSK should retain for IPL 2022 | 4 players Chennai Super Kings should retain ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction
Cricket News: 4 players CSK should retain for IPL 2022 – Moeen Ali

There is a lot of talk on who should CSK retain between Moeen Ali and Faf du Plessis. Faf had an exceptional IPL 2021. He was the second highest run-scorer, scoring 633 runs at an average of 45.21 and strike rate of 138.20 including six 50+ scores.

However, there are a few reasons why I think that CSK should retain Moeen Ali.

First is the value that Moeen Ali brings in the CSK 11. He batted at number three in the first half of IPL 2021 and did a great job. Moeen attacked from the word go and scored runs at a good average and a very high strike-rate in the middle-overs, which CSK lacked in IPL 2020. He bowls as well and now with Suresh Raina being out of form with the bat, CSK may look to replace him with Moeen at three.

Another reason is that it will be easier for CSK to buy back Faf from the auction as Moeen has been in red hot form recently and will most probably go at a higher price than Faf.

And, even if CSK fails to buy back Faf, then they can buy someone like Robin Uthappa who played a vital role in the crunch games of IPL 2021. Or, CSK could look at a young player like C Hari Nishanth who will come at a much cheaper price than Faf.

I myself being a hardcore CSK fan understand the connect that CSK fans have with the players that do well for the franchise and it’s hard to see them play for any other team but given the situation, retaining Moeen Ali over Faf seems to be the logical decision.

Also, if MS Dhoni decides to hang his boots from the IPL as well then CSK can retain Faf and Moeen both alongside Jadeja and Ruturaj Gaikwad. When the time comes, we will eventually get to know which four players CSK will retain and whether Dhoni will continue playing or not.

Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.

T20 World Cup 2021 Team of the Tournament

Charbel Coorey
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T20 World Cup 2021 Team of the Tournament

Cricket News: T20 World Cup 2021 Team of the Tournament | Putting together the best XI of the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE

Australia, who were outsiders in the eyes of many, won their first ever men’s T20 World Cup title thanks to magnificent performances in the crunch matches against Pakistan and New Zealand.

Throughout the tournament, we saw a number of magnificent performances in crunch stages. This is certainly bound to happen a tournament filled with world class players, which makes choosing a team of the tournament a very difficult task.

After much deliberation and thinking, here is CricBlog’s team of the tournament, with some reasoning for the each player’s selection.

CricBlog’s T20 World Cup 2021 team of the tournament

1. David Warner (Australia)

7 matches, 289 runs, average: 48.16, strike rate: 146.70

What a terrific little redemption story. After being cast aside by Sunrisers Hyderabad, there was some doubt as to what impact David Warner would have on the T20 World Cup.

But, Warner proved all those doubts wrong with a magnificent finish to the campaign. He smashed 89* (56) in a must-win game vs West Indies, 49 (30) without even being out vs Pakistan and 53 (39) to help Australia seal the title. All in all, it was a magnificent campaign from Australia’s outstanding white-ball opener.

2. Jos Buttler (England) (wk)

Cricket News: T20 World Cup 2021 Team of the Tournament | Putting together the best XI of the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE
T20 World Cup 2021 Team of the Tournament: Jos Buttler provided great impact.

6 matches, 269 runs, average: 89.66, strike rate: 151.12

Jos Buttler, Babar Azam or Mohammad Rizwan for the opening spot? Ultimately, Buttler’s strike rate of 151.12 trumps Babar’s 126.25 and Rizwan’s 127.72. Both Pakistani openers were outstanding in this World Cup, but Buttler’s ability to change gears so effectively was a feature of his campaign.

His superb 101* against Sri Lanka on a tough Sharjah pitch was the highlight after thumping eventual champions Australia to all parts the game before. As we need a keeper in this team, Buttler’s strike rate gets him in the team of the tournament.

3. Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka)

6 matches, 231 runs, average: 46.20, strike rate: 147.13

Charith Asalanka was without a doubt one of the surprise packets of this World Cup. The Sri Lankan left-hander is a fine player in the 50-over format, but was yet to make a mark in T20 cricket consistently even at a domestic level.

But, this tournament truly announced the arrival of a very talented batsman for the Lions. He batted with superb intent throughout the tournament, evident in his strike rate of 147.13 which is brilliant for a batsman coming in at three. He looked good in all his matches, with his performances against Bangladesh and West Indies particularly impressive.

4. Moeen Ali (England)

6 matches, 92 runs, average: 46.00, strike rate: 131.42, 7 wickets, average: 11.00, economy rate: 5.50

Moeen Ali is enjoying some year in white-ball cricket. After playing a key role in Chennai Super Kings’ IPL triumph, Moeen then went on to have a fine campaign for England in the World Cup.

Moeen batting up the order is a different beast in T20 cricket. smashing 37 and 51* in his last two matches. However, it was with the ball that Moeen was most impressive, providing England with a number of valuable overs and wickets particularly in the powerplay.

5. Aiden Markram (South Africa)

Cricket News: T20 World Cup 2021 Team of the Tournament | Putting together the best XI of the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE
T20 World Cup 2021 team of the tournament: Aiden Markram had a fine tournament.

5 matches, 162 runs, average: 54.00, strike rate: 145.94

What a player. And what a year he is having. South Africa have a gem in Aiden Markram, and he was one of their shining lights in this tournament.

His 24-ball 52* against England was particularly impressive, part of an overall strike rate of 145.94. Having a player like Markram come in at number four or five is a huge asset for any team given his ability to build momentum early in his innings.

6. Asif Ali (Pakistan)

5 matches, 57 runs, average: 57.00, strike rate 259.09

There are a few contenders for the number six role including Marcus Stoinis and David Wiese, but Asif Ali’s finishing was something else in this tournament. He led Pakistan to crucial wins vs New Zealand (27* off 12 balls) and Afghanistan (25* off 7 balls), hitting a total of seven sixes in the 19 deliveries he faced in those two matches.

In the end, Asif’s performances were crucial in helping Pakistan reach the Semi Finals.

7. Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)

Cricket News: T20 World Cup 2021 Team of the Tournament | Putting together the best XI of the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE
T20 World Cup 2021 team of the tournament: Wanindu Hasaranga was excellent.

8 matches, 16 wickets, average: 9.75, economy rate: 5.20, 119 runs, average: 23.80, strike rate: 148.75

What an outstanding cricketer. Wanindu Hasaranga finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, producing consistent performances right throughout the World Cup.

His 16 wickets included a hat-trick against South Africa to keep Sri Lanka’s hopes alive of Semi Final qualification before David Miller and Kagiso Rabada broke Sri Lankan hearts. In the end, the Lions fell short, but Hasaranga is a bright spot they can build their cricket around in the near future and beyond.

8. Adam Zampa (Australia)

7 matches, 11 wickets, average: 12.07, economy rate: 5.81

What a tournament. What a performance. Adam Zampa, who was Australia’s only specialist spinner, played a vital role in Australia’s triumph.

The leg-spinner conceded less than a run-a-ball and took the second-most wickets, only behind fellow leggie Wanindu Hasaranga. He came of age in this tournament, playing a vital role in the middle overs for Australia.

9. Anrich Nortje (South Africa)

5 matches, 9 wickets, average: 11.55, economy rate: 5.37

Anrich Nortje was a key part of South Africa’s excellent bowling effort in the Super 12s. He was terrific in all stages of the innings, resulting in a magnificent economy rate of just 5.37.

His pace was up, hurrying batsmen even on slower surfaces. Also, he was able to mix his pace and lengths effectively, which made him so difficult to get away.

10. Trent Boult (New Zealand)

7 matches, 13 wickets, average: 13.30, economy rate: 6.25

Yet another impressive performance from New Zealand’s impressive left-arm seamer. Boult conceded a little over a run-a-ball in the tournament (6.25), taking the equal second-most wickets in the process (13).

Boult was quite impressive at the death, keeping New Zealand in the game as opponents were often unable to get away freely. Also, he was the only New Zealand bowler to make an impact in the Final, taking impressive figures of 2/18 in a tough night for the Black Caps.

11. Josh Hazlewood (Australia)

Cricket News: T20 World Cup 2021 Team of the Tournament | Putting together the best XI of the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE
T20 World Cup 2021 team of the tournament: Josh Hazlewood was superb.

7 matches, 11 wickets, average: 15.90, economy rate: 7.29

Australia shaped their XI in such a way to cater for Josh Hazlewood. Often seen as more of a red-ball bowler, Hazlewood has had a magnificent year in T20 cricket, including playing a key role in CSK’s IPL win.

A key factor in Australia’s success was their powerplay bowling. Hazlewood was central to this, and often held his own in the backend of the innings as well. His 11 wickets cost just 15.90 apiece, which included a magnificent spell of 3/16 in the Final.

With such a number of world class players competing in a tournament, quality players are bound to miss out on the team of the tournament. A special mention to Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who fall short simply because of their strike rates. We can slot them in down the order, but they are most effective as openers.

Also, a special mention to Shaheen Shah Afridi who was magnificent in the powerplay against India and Australia. David Wiese also had a great tournament for Namibia, as did Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis for Australia.

“Bison” Mitch Marsh does a bull run after so much investment

Vishesh Monga
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“Bison” Mitch Marsh does a bull run after so much investment

Cricket News: “Bison” Mitch Marsh does a bull run after so much investment | Mitch Marsh produces a magnificent innings in the T20 World Cup

Mitch Marsh helped Australia claim the World’s biggest T20 title, but his success was an outcome of long term investing by Cricket Australia.

Goeff Marsh’s younger son and Shaun Marsh’s younger brother, Mitchell Marsh is a bearer of a legacy of 12,000 plus international runs for Australia. A descendant of one of the toughest families to play cricket for Australia, Mitch tasted early success in his career as he led Australia U19 team to Under 19 WC victory in 2010. As an excellent striker of the cricket ball since a young age, Mitch was earmarked to a big thing in Australian cricket in years to come

Unfortunately, Mitchell Marsh’s career for Australia has always been a stop and start journey with a good share of injuries. However, a fair share was attributed to him not seizing on the opportunities given on the big stage. The cycle of going back to domestic cricket, scoring runs, getting opportunities and then not grabbing them, kept going on.

However, there was something completely different that Marsh displayed in 2020 albeit in ODIs; was the fact that he was putting a price on his wicket. After glimpses versus South Africa, Marsh played a match winning 73 (100) in England as he displayed that his game awareness has grown and is not just about brute force.

Another injury playing the IPL in 2020 pushed his comeback to the international setup. After another successful BBL for the Scorchers as captain, Marsh was picked up for the national T20 side for the New Zealand tour, which a lot of Test regulars were not a part of. Subsequently, two more five-match series in West Indies and Bangladesh where a lot of regular suspects pulled out from.

CA gave plenty of opportunities to Wade, Carey, Christian, Henriques, Turner and Marsh, hoping that in absences of experienced white ball stalwarts, someone will put their hand up and win matches for Australia. While Australia ended up losing 11 those 15 T20Is, Marsh turned up and made these chances count and scored 442 runs at a healthy strike-rate despite matches on minefields in Bangladesh. 

All of a sudden, CA finally had an answer to the critical number 3-4 slot along to partner Smith.

Cricket News: "Bison" Mitch Marsh does a bull run after so much investment | Mitch Marsh produces a magnificent innings in the T20 World Cup
Mitch Marsh was Australia’s best in tough tours of West Indies and Bangladesh.

Mitch Marsh impressed in West Indies and Bangladesh batting at 3

It was really the series in the Caribbean where Marsh grabbed eye-balls of all stakeholders of Australian cricket as he looked head-and-shoulders above any batter in that series. Marsh smashed his way to 219 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 152 including 3 fifties batting at number 3/4. Had he got more support during the tour, Australia despite could have claimed stake to the series even with their second choice team.

His form and growth as a cricketer become more evident in Bangladesh as he grafted his way through to 156 runs in five matches on absolute rank turners and low scoring games. He established with evidence that he is far more than just a clean striker of the ball.

Furthermore, he was able to bowl a few overs whenever required, which was quite a progress following a series of hamstring injuries which troubled him in the past. All in all, these matches ensured that Australia found a hard-hitting polished batting all-rounder who could bat at number 3 ready for the World Cup.

Australia had a fair share of experience in not being able to accelerate in the middle overs and the aggressive Western Australian was just the solution to that. Thus, they made sure he had enough games under his in various conditions at the highest level.

During this time, Wade also pipped past Alex Carey the incumbent white ball keeper for Australia with marginally better returns. However, a lot of games under his belt meant that he was more than ready when his team needed him at the biggest stage of all.

Wade delivered for Australia in a crunch group match versus South Africa and made things even better when he provided them an extraordinary finish as he smashed Shaheen Afridi to all parts in a do-or-die Semi Final against Pakistan. In a spot of bother after 12.2 overs, Wade combined with Stoinis at 96/5 needing 81 in 7.4 overs against a fired up opposition playing in their own backyard. But once they got going, they chased it down with an over to spare with Wade clubbing three sixes in a row.

This was great to see from an Australian perspective. Positions 5-7 have been an area of weakness in their T20 team, and they delivered the goods when it mattered most.

Mitch Marsh delivers in the Final

Marsh turned up on the biggest stages of them all; the final. Walking in at a precarious 15/1 with Trent Boult in the middle of an outstanding spell, Marsh smashed 14 of his first three balls. He was proactive since the beginning and made sure that no loose ball was left unpunished. Along with Warner and then later Maxwell, he piled on spinner and seamer alike. While the winning runs took some time to come, Marsh ensure that there were no hiccups getting those as he finished with a magnificent 77(51), a knock to be remembered for ages to come.

While it would be a cliché to end by saying “Mitch Marsh, remember the name” it would rather be said “Mitch Marsh, carrying the name and carrying it well”.

Twitter reactions as Australia finally wins 1st T20 World Cup

Charbel Coorey
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Twitter reactions as Australia finally wins 1st T20 World Cup

Cricket News: Twitter reactions as Australia finally wins 1st T20 World Cup | Australia wins 1st ever T20 World Cup title after beating New Zealand

Australia are a different beast in World Cups. And they proved it yet again.

Heading into the tournament as outsiders in the eyes of many, Australia won their first ever T20 World Cup with an emphatic eight-wicket win over New Zealand at Dubai. And the reactions even before Glenn Maxwell’s switch hit reached the boundary said it all. Once David Warner (53 off 38 balls) and Mitchell Marsh (77* off 50 balls) started in brilliant fashion, the result was almost a set conclusion at the halfway mark given how they were taking apart the New Zealand attack.

This result is particularly special for both Warner and Marsh. Warner was cast aside by Sunrisers Hyderbad, but he bounced back in superb fashion to finish as the second-highest run-scorer for the tournament. Marsh has had to endure criticism and injury setbacks throughout his career, but this is his finest moment yet as he has made the number three position his own.

For New Zealand, it’s another near miss in a white-ball tournament. Losing the toss was crucial, but scoring just 56 in the first 10 overs left them with plenty to do. Kane Williamson (85 off 48 balls) was outstanding, taking Mitchell Starc apart (0/60) to give New Zealand a competitive total. In the end, though, only Trent Boult stood up from a bowling perspective, as New Zealand’s typically efficient attack was taken apart.

It is now time for Australia to celebrate. The T20 World Cup was the one trophy that eluded a nation with five ODI World Cups and two ICC Champions Trophies, and now they can add it to a cabinet that is looking mighty impressive indeed.

Twitter reactions to Australia winning their first ever T20 World Cup

6 things that happened for the 1st time in a T20 World Cup

Debashish Sarangi
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6 things that happened for the 1st time in a T20 World Cup

Cricket News: 6 things that happened for the 1st time in a T20 World Cup | A look at how history was made in the 2021 T20 World Cup

It was quite the wait between the sixth and seventh editions of the T20 World Cup. In this tournament, we saw some terrific and quite remarkable moments, and quite a few for the very first time.

This World Cup will be remembered at least partly for these unique events. In this article, I am going to mention six such events that occurred for the very first time in this T20 World Cup. Here we go.

Scotland became the first Associate nation to win all games in a group stage

6 things that happened for the 1st time in a T20 World Cup: Scotland had a great first round.

There was a lot of hope for some strong performances from the Associate nations in this World Cup and Scotland didn’t disappoint us. Although they failed to win a single game in the Super 12s stage, they came with flying colours from the group stage, which they will remember for a long time.

They won all their three games in the group stage, including a magical victory over Bangladesh. It was the first instance of an Associate team proceeding to the Super 12s stage undefeated in the history of the mega event.

Pakistan beat India

6 things that happened for the 1st time in a T20 World Cup: Pakistan beat India

The rivalry between India and Pakistan is well known to everyone. The atmosphere on the ground remains electric and the players from both sides remain under huge pressure whenever these two sides face each other. The expectations were sky-high for a breath-taking contest this time as well.

But, Pakistan proved to be too good for the Indian team and went on to win the game by 10 wickets, thanks to a brilliant new ball spell from Shaheen Afridi and an authoritative opening stand of 152 runs by Mohammed Rizwan and Babar Azam. Thus, Pakistan broke a five-match losing streak against India in T20 World Cups.

Chris Gayle had a strike rate of less than 100

Chris Gayle is regarded as the best ever batsman to play the shortest format of the game. The legend has smashed over 14,000 runs with more than 20 hundreds in T20 cricket, which is nothing but incredible.

Gayle had scored 920 runs at a strike rate of almost 147 in the six T20 World Cups he played in prior to this one. However, in this World Cup, he managed to score just 45 runs in five games with a highest score of just 15. His strike rate was just 91.84, which was less than 100 for the very first time in a T20 World Cup.

Namibia won a match a global ICC tournament

6 things that happened for the 1st time in a T20 World Cup: Namibia impressed in this World Cup

Apart from Scotland, the Associate nation that was extremely impressive in this World Cup was Namibia. The African country worked hard to reach the group stage of this World Cup, and managed to proceed to the Super 12s stage by defeating Netherlands and Ireland.

In the process, they won a game in an ICC event for the very first time. Further, they went on to beat Scotland in the Super 12s stage. This sort of a strong performance will definitely play a crucial role in the development of Namibian cricket and they will cherish these victories forever.

Virat Kohli was not India’s leading run-scorer

Virat Kohli has been the backbone of the Indian batting for a long time now. Kohli was the highest run-getter for India in all the three T20 World Cups he had played prior to this one.

However, the legend had a quiet World Cup this time as he managed to score just 68 runs. His average and strike rate were below 40 and 120 for the very first time in a T20 World Cup. We can’t really blame him for his overall runs as he batted just three times in five games. Also, he came into the middle against Scotland when India had almost sealed the game.

But anyhow, he wasn’t India’s leading run scorer in a T20 World Cup for the very first time. This also shows how prolific he has been in the previous editions of the mega event.

Either New Zealand or Australia will win the title for the first time

Before this tournament, New Zealand had never even reached a T20 World Cup Final. Australia had only reached the Final once previously, back in 2010 against England.

Australia were soundly beaten on that day, which meant the T20 World Cup is the major limited overs trophy that still eludes them. For New Zealand, they have the chance to build on their 2019 ODI World Cup Final appearance and World Test Championship triumph.

Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today

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