3 players SRH should retain for IPL 2022 | A look at 3 players Sunrisers Hyderabad should retain in the IPL 2022 Mega Auction
Sunrisers Hyderabad has been a consistent side in the IPL. They won the title in 2016 and were the runners-up in 2018 but last season was a nightmare for them as they finished at the bottom of the points table.
They won only three games out of 14 and their performance in that season was below average. They failed to play as a unit and had a big off-field controversy as well when David Warner was sacked from the captaincy mid-season and was dropped from the playing eleven as well.
With the mega auction next month, SRH will look to come back in style by building a strong squad for IPL 2022 in the mega auction. And just like all the other teams, they too will have the option of retaining four players before the auction. SRH have quite a few quality players in their squad and it may be a little tricky for them in selecting the four players.
Here are the three players we think SRH should retain for IPL 2022.
Who SRH should retain for IPL 2022
1. Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan is arguably the most popular player in franchise cricket leagues around the globe. He is the superstar of the shortest format. Rashid is arguably the best spinner in T20s, as he is a genuine wicket-taker and has shown his class in every corner of the world and in every T20 league he has played.
Rashid has been an excellent performer for SRH over the years in the IPL. He picked 18 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 6.69 in IPL 2021, and he should be a key player for SRH going forward.
The Afghan leggie bowls in all the phases of the game. He’s the go to bowler for SRH when they need a wicket and more often than not, he delivers. Rashid Khan is a champion bowler and the Sunrisers Hyderabad shouldn’t even think twice before retaining him for IPL 2022. He is more than handy with the bat as well and can tonk the ball big.
2. Kane Williamson
3 players SRH should retain for IPL 2022: Kane Williamson.
Kane Williamson is among the top batters at the moment. He is very consistent with the bat and SRH should retain him for IPL 2022.
Williamson won the Orange Cap in 2018, leading the side to an appearance in the Final. In IPL 2021, Williamson scored 266 runs in 10 innings at an average of 44.33 and strike rate of 113.19. The strike rate was on the slower side, but he is a quality player and now with David Warner most probably out, Kane should open for SRH which the best position for him to bat in T20s.
Williamson has done well as the skipper of SRH. Last season was bad all-round by SRH, but he is a fine captain and has done well leading the Black Caps. SRH should retain him as he’s one of the top batters of the tournament and will lead the side as well.
3. Abdul Samad
3 players SRH should retain for IPL 2022: Abdul Samad
Abdul Samad is a very promising young player in SRH. The lower-order batter from Jammu & Kashmir is known for his hard hitting in the domestic circuit. Samad has shown a little glimpse of his hitting ability in the IPL as well and can be a great prospect for SRH if groomed properly.
He has scored 222 runs in 23 matches in the IPL at an average of 15.85 and strike rate of 146.05. Samad comes to bat very low for SRH and hence hasn’t faced a lot of deliveries. His strike rate in IPL 2020 after 12 games was 170.76 at an average of 22.20.
Till now he hasn’t performed up to his true potential, but SRH have not used him properly. He is very promising and can be the perfect finisher for SRH. He is uncapped as well so retaining him will be very cheaper for SRH, which is another positive.
Other than these three, SRH have quite a few players who they can retain like the young Umran Malik who bowls consistently at 150 kph or someone like Jason Holder. But, they could buy them back at a cheaper price at the auction. So, Rashid Khan, Kane Williamson, and Abdul Samad are the players that we think Sunrisers Hyderabad should retain for IPL 2022.
Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.
Cricket News: Pat Cummins unveiled as Australia’s 47th Test captain | Pat Cummins named as Australia Test captain
Pat Cummins, the world’s number one ranked Test bowler, has officially been named Australia’s new Test captain. The pace bowler will take over from Tim Paine, who resigned from the role last week, with former captain Steve Smith named as his deputy.
Cummins has been plying his trade as vice captain of the Test side under Paine’s leadership. The decision to make Cummins captain is a historic one, as it is the first time that a pace bowler is named as full-time skipper in Australian men’s Test history. Also, Cummins is the first bowler overall to captain the men’s Test side since the late, great Richie Benaud.
Cummins will lead Australia in the upcoming Ashes as well as the big subcontinent tours next year, including India. While there is a risk associated with naming a lead pace bowler as captain, those within Australian circles know the value of Cummins both as a cricketer and person.
“Honoured to accept this role” – Cummins
Pat Cummins, in a statement, said that he is honoured to be the captain. While it is unexpected, it is a role he is looking forward to ahead of some huge Tests.
“I am honoured to accept this role ahead of what will be a massive Ashes summer,” Cummins said.
“I hope I can provide the same leadership Tim (Paine) has given the group in the past few years.
“With Steve and I as captains, a number of very senior players in this squad and some great young talent coming through we are a strong and tightly knit group.
“This is an unexpected privilege which I am very grateful for and am very much looking forward to.”
“Pleased to return to the leadership” – Steve Smith
After a break of nearly four years since the ball tampering scandal in Cape Town, star batsman Steve Smith is officially back as part of the leadership group. Smith, who will be key to Australia’s Ashes and Asia campaigns, has been named as vice captain.
“I am pleased to return to the leadership of the team and look forward to helping and assisting Pat in any way I can,” Smith said in a statement.
“Pat and I have played together for a long time, so we know our respective styles well.We are also great friends, as is the whole group. As a team, we want to play good, positive cricket and also really enjoy each other’s company.
“There are exciting times ahead as we focus on the Ashes and beyond.”
The first Test against England starts on December 8 at the Gabba.
Cricket News: Tim Paine takes indefinite break from all forms of cricket | Wicket-keeper Tim Paine out of first Test at least after taking break
Australian keeper-batsman Tim Paine is out of the first Ashes Test at least after deciding to take an indefinite mental health break from all forms of cricket.
After resigning from the captaincy last week due to a sexting scandal, Paine said he would still make himself available for the Australian side as a player. Playing for Tasmania’s second XI, he looked in good form with the gloves, snapping up six catches in the first innings. However, he clearly struggled with the bat, and will now take a break from the game after what has been a whirlwind week.
Cricket Tasmania released a statement on Friday morning announcing Paine’s decision to take a break. More importantly, Paine will receive the support he needs.
“Following discussions over the last 24 hours, Tim Paine has advised Cricket Tasmania that he will be taking a leave of absence from all forms of cricket for the foreseeable future,” the statement read.
“Tim’s decision makes him unavailable for selection for today’s Marsh One-Day Cup match against Western Australia. His place in the squad will be taken by Charlie Wakim.
“Cricket Tasmania will continue to support Tim and his family both professionally and personally over the summer.”
Tim Paine to miss at least the first Ashes Test
James Henderson, Paine’s manager, tweeted that Paine is to take an “indefinite mental health break”, and that he is “extremely concerned for his and (wife) Bonnie’s well-being”.
Confirming that @tdpaine36 is stepping away from cricket for an indefinite mental health break. We are extremely concerned for his and Bonnie’s well-being and will be making no further comment at this time.
Up until last Friday, Paine was captain of the side and was gearing up to lead the side in their quest to retain the Ashes on home soil. However, a bombshell emerged as a sexting scandal from 2017 surfaced publicly, resulting in him resigning from the captaincy just weeks out from the big series.
Now, it is unclear whether Paine will don the baggy green ever again. The keeper-batsman will miss at least the first Test, but given the mental toll of the past seven days and how close each Test match is, one has to wonder whether there is any realistic chance of Paine featuring in the series at all.
This opens the door for the likes of Alex Carey and Josh Inglis, who are the frontrunners for the Australian keeper-batsman position. Both average in the mid-30s in First Class cricket, but Inglis could be slightly ahead in the pecking order due to better recent form.
From the depths of 0-8 to 2-1 x3 – the stats behind India’s Test rise | A look at India’s Test rise from 2011 through to 2021
“I strongly want to see the Indian team dominate for at least five or six years. We certainly have the talent. We certainly have the ability. All that it will take is how you manage that and keep them together.’’
This is what Virat Kohli said back in 2015 when he succeeded MS Dhoni as Test captain.
Before I delve into this statement, let me turn the clock back to 2011/12. Well, as soon as you read 2011/12, I’m pretty sure the horrors of 0-8 in England and Australia would have come storming back in your mind.
Well, let me tell you about how I felt at the time.
July 21, 2011. The first morning of the much-anticipated Test series between the No.1 ranked India and a red-hot English side, fresh from a historic 3-1 Ashes triumph Down Under. Leading into the series, I still remember former England seamer Darren Gough predicting a 4-0 victory for the home team.
When I first heard that, I was like; “Come on Goughy! Didn’t you see how India performed in South Africa last winter?”
Well, Goughy was right. India got absolutely hammered in England and seeds for that were sewed on the very first morning when Zaheer Khan pulled his hamstring and was ruled out of the entire series.
By the time the second season started, MS Dhoni had removed his keeping pads and was marking his bowling run-up. That pretty much summed up our fast bowling reserves at the time, didn’t it?
Or was it when the team-management called up RP Singh, who was vacationing in the US at the time, to play in the remaining Tests?
Either way, it was pretty clear at the time that our fast bowling stocks were lower than the water table of a desert.
“Okay, at least we have our famed batting to ensure that we draw a few matches” I thought.
Batting future looked bright, but pace bowling remained a worry
Little did I realise that the batting unit had crossed its sell-by date and it was truly evident over the course of the eight Tests in England and Australia (Dravid being a notable exception in England)
However, I was still not concerned about our batting future. With the likes of Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma, I still felt that we’ll be back to our best in that facet of the game when the golden generation retires.
It was our bowling – especially fast bowling – that concerned me (and I am sure, every Indian fan) the most.
“How the hell are we going to take 20 wickets overseas after Zak (Zaheer Khan)?” The mere thought of Team India post Zaheer used to scare the hell out of me.
And, it was quite evident during the 2013/14 overseas cycle where our batters were pretty decent (barring last three Tests in England), but bowlers constantly squandered opportunities.
Yes, Ishant Sharma was there, and we did have the talent in Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami. But, then, talent has never been an issue in Indian cricket.
Throughout the 2000s and even before that, Indian cricket had enough promising fast bowlers in their system. But, they were never nurtured. They started off as fast bowlers but due to a combination of injuries and poor management, ended up becoming medium pacers before slowly disappearing into oblivion.
How a change in focus drove India’s Test rise overseas
Nine years later, the Indian team landed in Australia to play a four-match Test series without their senior most bowler in Ishant Sharma.
To make matters worse, Mohammed Shami had his arm broken by a Pat Cummins bouncer in a horrible first Test for India, and was ruled out for the remaining Tests.
It didn’t stop there. Umesh Yadav pulled up during his follow through in the second Test and was consigned to the bench. Jasprit Bumrah got injured in the next Test and was ruled out of the decider at the Gabba.
India’s fast bowling-unit at the Gabba consisted of Mohammed Siraj (2 Tests), T Natarajan (debut), Shardul Thakur (1 Test) and an injured Navdeep Saini (1 Test). They’d taken a combined 13 wickets and were up against one of the greatest fast bowling attacks of the modern-era: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
A mismatch of epic proportions, right? Of course it was. But not for one moment did it look like that over the course of the next five days as the rookies outbowled their famed counterparts to lead India to a historic series win.
More than the final result and the wickets they took. It was the body language of Siraj, Shardul and Natarajan that stood out.
In the past, there are several examples of inexperienced Indian seamers who used to get overwhelmed bowling in overseas conditions. But these group of men made it look like they have been playing top-level cricket for decades.
India’s Test rise: Siraj and Rishabh Pant celebrating their great win in Australia in 2020/21
So, what changed from 2011 to 2021?
Well, there are a bunch of reasons apart from the most obvious ones such as unreal improvement in infrastructure right from the grassroots, and the increased exposure of the fringe players to overseas conditions via A tours.
Firstly, let’s go back to the statement Virat made in 2015, I mentioned at the beginning of this piece.
India were ranked number 7 in the world when Virat took over the leadership duties from Dhoni during the 2014/15 Australian tour. In that series, our fast bowling got marmilized to the hilt by the likes of David Warner and a certain Steven Smith, who was at the peak of his powers [Well, he still is].
In his first home series against South Africa, India dished out rank-turners and pumped the then No.1 ranked side 3-0. But, that wasn’t a new thing, right? Beating a non-Asian team on spin-friendly tracks on home soil is hardly a feat to be proud of. It’s normal service.
But, Virat knew that if India were to become an all-conditions Test team, they needed to take 20 wickets and that wasn’t possible without a battery of pacers.
So, when the 2016/17 home season arrived, we saw India dish out flat tracks to the likes of New Zealand and England, and still won comprehensively. Umesh Yadav feasted on the opposition batters with reverse-swing while Ishant Sharma performed the role of a workhorse. Ashwin and Jadeja did their thing despite lack of substantial assistance from the surfaces.
India pulverized every opposition during their extended home season and while they got challenged by Australia, they still managed to win the four-match rubber 2-1. They were crowned the No.1 ranked team in the world during the home season, but stiffer challenges awaited the team as tours of South Africa, England and Australia loomed.
And, thus started the golden phase of Indian seam bowling.
How Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri and Bharat Arun helped drive a culture of fast bowling
India’s Test rise: Celebrating the 2-1 series win in Australia in 2018/19
One of the biggest legacy of Virat the Test captain is the fact that he instilled a fitness culture in the set-up, which ultimately benefited the fast bowlers. Of course, the fact that he was always willing to play one batter less for a bowler, helped immensely.
In all this, let us not forget the role that former bowling coach Bharat Arun and coach Shastri played. The success of the current Test team is built on its imperious fast bowling unit and the quality reserves it has on the bench – something that was on full display in Australia last winter. Arun is perhaps the hidden diamond in the crown of this Test team, who needs to be appreciated more than he is.
And, perhaps, the turning point in India’s fast bowling revolution came in South Africa in 2018 when Virat and Shastri took a punt on Jasprit Bumrah by handing him his maiden Test cap in Cape Town.
It was a decision that was met with a lot of apprehension, even from former cricketers like Michael Holding.
Well, over the course of the next three years, Bumrah proved it was a masterstroke for the ages as the Indian seam-bowling had its X-Factor it was desperately craving for decades. Also, the incarnation of Ishant 2.0 following his fruitful County stint and Mohammed Shami”s improved fitness ensured that India now had a seam-bowling trio to die for.
India went on to lose in South Africa (1-2) and in England (1-4) due to the inability of their batsmen to win key moments and dare I say, the struggles of their bowlers in dismissing the tail.
But, the signs were promising. The fast bowling unit dominated and sometimes outbowled their counterparts. It continued its stellar work in Australia and this time, they were supported by their batsmen. As a result, Virat became the first Asian captain to script a Test series win in Australia.
Performance of India in Tests since 2018
And, it’s the pacers who laid the cornerstone for that triumph, just like they did in Australia earlier this year and then in England last summer.
Performance of some of the leading seam bowling attacks since the start of 2018:
Team
Matches
Wickets
Average
S/R
England
46
540
26.07
54.6
India
37
415
23.50
47.1
New Zealand
25
369
24.75
54.5
South Africa
27
362
24.02
45.3
India’s Test rise: Great seam bowling average since start of 2018.
Under Virat, India remained the No.1 Test team for 42 consecutive months and their success wasn’t only a byproduct of their incredible home dominance but also brilliant performances overseas.
And, the tables below vindicate that point to the hilt.
Teams with best W/L ratio in Tests since Jan 2016:
Team
Matches
Won
Loss
Draw
W/L
India
60
37
14
9
2.64
NZ
43
24
12
8
2
Australia
49
24
18
7
1.33
SA
48
25
19
4
1.315
England
74
33
30
11
1.1
India’s Test rise: Best W/L ratio since 2016
In home conditions, India have built a fortress like no other. While they were always a dominant force at home, one significant change that took place under Virat was that the team didn’t contend with winning just one Test and playing for draws in the rest to eke out a series win.
India have been absolutely ruthless in their own backyard, crushing opposition to the hilt.
Since Virat took over the Test captaincy, India have dropped just two Tests – vs Australia in 2017 & vs England in 2021 – and their W/L ratio is a ridiculous 11.
Teams with best W/L ratio on home soil since January 2016:
Team
Matches
Won
Lost
Draw
W/L
India
28
22
2
4
11
NZ
25
17
3
5
5.6
Australia
27
17
6
4
2.8
SA
29
19
8
2
2.3
England
39
21
12
6
1.75
India’s Test rise: India dominate at home.
As far as performance away from home during the said period is concerned, India have beaten West Indies (2-0, 2-0 in 2016, 19), Sri Lanka (3-0 in 2017), Australia (2-1 & 2-1 in 2018/19 and 2020/21) and are 2-1 up in England.
Teams with best W/L ratio overseas since January 2016
Team
Matches
Won
Loss
Draw
W/L
India
31
15
11
5
1.363
England
35
12
18
5
0.666
Australia
20
7
11
2
0.636
South Africa
19
6
11
2
0.545
Sri Lanka
30
7
13
10
0.538
India’s Test rise: India also excellent away from home
Yes, there have been set-backs like the 1-2 and 0-2 defeat in South Africa (2018) New Zealand (2020)) and the WTC final loss to the same opposition earlier this year.
But, just like this last summer where this team right the wrongs of 2018 in England, they will have another golden opportunity to further cement their legacy when they travel to South Africa next month.
A maiden series win in South Africa will make Virat Kohli the first Indian skipper to win a Test rubber in Australia, and the rainbow nation and it would be fitting if he achieves the feat in what will be his 100th Test at the Wanderers – the venue for the third Test of the series.
This is the greatest Indian Test team ever assembled on the face of earth, and a win in South Africa will further seal their legacy, if it hasn’t already!
Cricket News: 4 players RCB should retain for IPL 2022 | Which players should RCB look to retain for the IPL 2022 season?
The perennial underachievers of the Indian Premier League, Royal Challengers Bangalore, will look to build a strong and balanced squad in the upcoming Mega Auction before IPL 2022.
RCB had a pretty balanced squad in IPL 2021 but they lost to KKR in the Eliminator. The likes of Glenn Maxwell and Harshal Patel stepped up to the plate and led the way for RCB in IPL 2021. But like all teams, RCB too can retain a maximum of four players for IPL 2022 before going into the auction.
The RCB management will have to look at various aspects as Virat Kohli has already announced that he’ll step down as captain. Also, the great AB de Villiers has recently retired from all forms cricket so he will be a major absence as well. So, which four players RCB should retain for IPL 2022?
Players RCB could aim to retain for IPL 2022:
1. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has been at RCB from the start of the Indian Premier League. He is the face of RCB and there’s no doubt that he will be the first player RCB will retain for IPL 2022.
Kohli is the highest run-scorer in IPL history with 6,283 runs in 207 matches at an average of 37.39. Virat is one of the best batters in all the three formats. He scored 405 runs in 15 games at an average of 28.92 and striking at 119.46 in IPL 2021. He clearly wasn’t at his best but he is a champion player and shouldn’t be underestimated at all. Virat now can play freely as the workload of captaincy is off his shoulders.
2. Glenn Maxwell
4 players RCB should retain for IPL 2022: Glenn Maxwell.
Glenn Maxwell, after struggling for a few years, finally performed up to expectations in IPL 2021. He scored 513 in 14 innings at an average of 42.75 and strike rate of 144.10.
Maxwell was the backbone of RCB’s batting unit and scored runs very consistently particularly in the middle overs – an area of concern for RCB in previous years. RCB used him really well by assigning him the role of number four and allowing him to play his natural game. He is one of the most aggressive batters in the shortest format and RCB should retain him for IPL 2022 especially with AB now retired.
3. Harshal Patel
4 players RCB should retain for IPL 2022: Mohammed Siraj
Harshal Patel had a phenomenal campaign in IPL 2021 with the ball. He was the highest wicket-taker with 32 wickets in 15 games – a record for an Indian in a single IPL season. His economy rate was 8.14 with a strike rate of 10.5, which are terrific numbers considering he regularly bowled at the death.
He was exceptional in this period with his dipping slower deliveries and yorkers. Harshal picked wickets whenever the captain needed him to. He recently made his debut for India in T20is and continued his good form. Plus, Harshal is more than handy with the bat as well.
Death bowling has been an issue for RCB for quite some time now and Harshal seems to have fixed that issue for them. His economy in overs 16-20 in IPL 2021 was just 8.73 in 31.1 overs. His strike-rate was just 7.5 during that phase. Harshal with his outstanding performance has secured his place in RCB for at least one more season as RCB should retain him before going into the Mega Auction.
It will be a really tough call to pick between Mohammad Siraj and Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal has been one of the best players for RCB in the last few years, but Siraj has improved a lot in recent seasons.
Chahal picked 18 wickets in IPL 2021 while Siraj was brilliant in IPL 2021 leading the bowling attack with plenty of intensity. He bowled well with the new ball and in the death overs as well, with his economy rate the key feature. He picked four wickets in the first six overs in 15 matches of IPL 2021 at an economy of 6.44 while he took six wickets in the death overs at an economy of just 7.53.
Siraj alongside Harshal Patel can be a very lethal combination in the death overs, in addition to Siraj’s ability in the powerplay. He picked 11 wickets at an economy of just 6.78 after 15 matches in IPL 2021. Siraj and Chahal for RCB’s 4th retention could divide opinion, but RCB should retain Siraj as a good Indian fast bowler is very valuable in the IPL.
These were our four players that RCB should retain for IPL 2021. Virat, Maxwell, Harshal, and Siraj is a very solid core of players. Harshal and Siraj will be an excellent pace bowling duo for RCB in the future, allowing them to use an overseas slot for an all-rounder or good batter.
Thanks for reading.
Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.
IND vs NZ 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs NZ 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today| India vs New Zealand 1st Test Match Key Players| Kanpur Pitch Report
Two months and 18 days since they ‘conquered’ London in the most stunning fashion possible, the Indian Test team will return on the field on Thursday to lock horns with the reigning world Test champions, New Zealand.
The first Test will take place at the iconic Green Park in Kanpur. Last time these two sides met in a Test match, New Zealand showed just why they are such an impregnable side in swinging conditions. They were crowned inaugural world Test champions in Southampton at the expense of India and they will now look to assert their supremacy in conditions that are completely alien to their style of play.
Much has been talked about New Zealand’s rise as a Test powerhouse. While their admirers have lauded them (and rightfully so) for making the most of their limited resources to become one of the powerhouse teams in the longest format, their detractors often point to their listless away record to shrug off their rise.
The upcoming two-match series is a great opportunity for Kane Williamson’s men to show everyone that they are an all-conditions side but they will have to be at the top of their game to ensure they compete in India’s fortress.
New Zealand have never won a Test series in India. In fact, they haven’t even won a Test in India since 1988. They got blanked 0-2 and 0-3 during their last two visits in 2012 and 2016 but to be fair, they have performed admirably in the subcontinent in the last three years.
They beat Pakistan in the UAE in 2018 and managed a 1-1 draw in Sri Lanka in 2019. However, facing India in India will be a different kettle of fish altogether even though the home side is without the services of the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami and Rishabh Pant.
The spin trio of Ashwin, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja will provide a stern test to their batters as will Umesh Yadav, who is as good as anyone with the old SG ball. That India will be without their six match-winners in Kanpur and still start as favorites tells you the depth of their cricket at the moment.
But, New Zealand will fancy their chances against a batting-unit sans Rohit, KL and Virat and given the fact that Cheteshwar Pujara and stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane haven’t really set the stage on fire consistently in the last two years, they would be hoping to break into the middle order as quickly as possible.
Last time, these two sides played in Kanpur, the visitors were smashed by 197 runs thanks to the spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja, who claimed 16 wickets between them. Will the script be any different this time around?
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
India:
Mayank Agarwal: The sample size may be small but it is fair to say that Mayank Agarwal loves batting in home conditions. In six innings on home soil, Mayank is averaging 99.50, having scored 597 runs with the help of three hundreds. It also includes a couple of double tons against South Africa and Bangladesh.
Shubman Gill: It has been an interesting year for young Gill. He started off his Test career with a brilliant tour of Australia but struggled in home conditions against England. His main struggle came against James Anderson. The likes of Tim Southee would look to exploit the same weakness in the upcoming Tests.
Ajinkya Rahane: Last time New Zealand toured India, Rahane smashed his career best score of 188 in Indore to take his average past 50 in his 29th Test.
Five years and close to 50 Tests later, Rahane’s average has dropped below 40 and he is in the midst of his worst phase in Test cricket. In 19 innings this year, Rahane has managed just 372 runs at an average of 19.57.
Cheteshwar Pujara: The modern day ‘Wall’ of Indian cricket showed signs of regaining his form during the backend of the England tour.
Pujara hasn’t scored a Test ton since January 2019 and while he has chipped in with decent match-winning contributions, he will be hoping for a three figure score in this series.
Pujara surprisingly had a poor series at home against England earlier this year as he managed just 133 runs in six innings at 22.16 and he will be looking to shrug off the blip against New Zealand.
His record vs New Zealand on home soil: 589 runs in 9 innings at 73.62 with three 50s and a couple of hundreds.
Ravichandran Ashwin: The champion spinner has been at the peak of his powers across formats in the last 12 months. In Test cricket, Ashwin has taken 38 wickets in six games at an average of 18.02.
Ashwin loves bowling against New Zealand. In seven games against them, he has taken 52 wickets at an average of 16.53 with six five-wicket hauls and three ten-for. He was the ‘Player of the series’ in the last two home series against the Kiwis.
Axar Patel: Patel obliterated the English batters albeit in favorable conditions earlier this year. In three Tests, he claimed 27 wickets at 10.59.
Ravindra Jadeja: The all-rounder has been one of India’s biggest match-winners in Test cricket on home soil since his debut in 2012. Since the start of 2016, Jadeja has claimed 107 wickets in 24 Tests at 23.57 besides scoring 1,000 runs at an average of 47.61.
New Zealand:
Tom Latham: The southpaw is one of the best Test openers going around and his role will become even more crucial this time given the fact that New Zealand are without Devon Conway.
His record vs India: 384 runs in 14 innings at an average of 29.53 with five 50+ scores.
Kane Williamson: The Kiwi skipper made a brilliant hundred on his Test debut against India back in 2010. But since then, he has been rather ordinary against India in the longest format.
Overall, Kane is averaging 39.47 in 22 innings against India. The average drops to 35.46 when it comes to Indian conditions. If New Zealand have to pose a serious challenge, they will need their talisman at the peak of his powers.
Ross Taylor: Like Williamson, Ross Taylor has an underwhelming record against India, especially away from home. In 15 innings in Indian conditions, Taylor has just 382 runs at an average of 25.46 with just one hundred.
Ajaz Patel: The left-arm orthodox played a stellar role in New Zealand’s Test series win over Pakistan back in 2018. In three games, he claimed 13 wickets, including a match-winning five-wicket haul in Abu Dhabi. He will be extremely key to the visitor’s fortunes.
Tim Southee: The veteran seamer has an incredible record in Asia: 40 wickets in 20 innings at 25.12. In India, he has played three Tests, claiming 12 wickets at 29.66.
Neil Wagner: The left-arm pacer has 21 wickets against India in six Tests, out of which five have come in the opposition’s den. It will be interesting to see how he fares this time around.
Stats and Facts
New Zealand haven’t won a Test series in India in 66 years. Last time they won a Test in India was way back in 1988.
India have dropped just two out of their last 38 home Tests, winning 31 in the process.
India are yet to drop a Test series on home soil since losing to England 1-2 in 2012/13.
India’s Test record in Kanpur: 7 wins and 3 defeats in 22 outings.
Possible Playing 11
India:
Ajinkya Rahane confirmed that Shreyas Iyer will make his Test debut. The top-six pick themselves with Agarwal, Gill opening followed by Pujara, Rahane, debutant Iyer and Jadeja as spin-bowling all-rounder.
Three spinners are likely to be the order of the day and with Umesh Yadav a lock in home conditions, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Siraj will likely fight it out for the second seamer’s spot.
It will be interesting to see if New Zealand go with three seamers + two spinners combination or will they bank on having three spinners.
In case, they play three spinners, then Mitchell Santner could replace Kyle Jamieson. WIll Young will likely replace injured Conway at the top of the order while Tom Blundell will take over the wicket keeping duties after the retirement of BJ Watling.
Green Park has traditionally been a safe haven for spinners. Last time these two sides played here, Ashwin and Jadeja claimed 16 wickets between them. Another spin friendly track may well be in the offing.
As far as the weather is concerned, it is expected to be a sunny day with temperatures set to hover between 13-27 degree celsius. Humidity is around 64 per cent and chances of rain is minimal.
Dream11 Prediction
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time.
Option 1:
IND vs NZ 1st Test Dream11 Prediction
Team 02:
IND vs NZ 1st Test Dream11 Prediction
Fan2Play Prediction
Base team:
Wicket-keepers: Wriddhiman Saha
Batsmen: Kane Williamson, Cheteshwar Pujara
All-rounders: R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja
Bowlers: Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee
Match Prediction
India will start as massive favorites and should win despite their habit of starting a Test series slowly..
4 teams who will go after David Warner in the IPL Mega Auction | Which franchise will purchase David Warner in the IPL 2022 Mega Auction?
Sometimes cricket can be very cruel. You might be the most valuable asset for your team someday, but can find yourself out of the team the next day.
The David Warner saga is another example of poor man management in recent times. The legendary Australian batsman played the most important role for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) over the years, but after a couple of under-par performances in IPL 2021, Warner was cast aside.
As a result, it is certain that IPL teams will compete to land Warner in the auction. In this article, I am going to mention four such teams.
4 teams who could sign David Warner in the IPL Mega Auction
1. Kolkata Knight Riders
After many experiments, KKR found a balanced top four in IPL 2021. But they most probably won’t retain players like Nitish Rana and Rahul Tripathi as they have more impactful players like Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell to choose from. Further, the abysmal returns of Eoin Morgan in IPL 2021 will make him out of favour. So, it’s quite probable that they will release some of their top order batters as well the current skipper.
David Warner would be a great pick for them, considering his dynamic batting at the top as well as exemplary leadership. If they buy Warner in the mega auction, they can get a solid opener and a brilliant captain to lead the side. Therefore, I see a big possibility of KKR bidding for the legendary Aussie batter.
2. Royal Challengers Bangalore
RCB had another strong IPL this season as they qualified for the playoffs for the second consecutive year. But unfortunately, this was Virat Kohli’s last season as a captain after he decided not to lead the team anymore.
Further, the performance of Devdutt Padikkal hasn’t been encouraging enough. He has struggled to get going particularly outside the powerplay. There is a great chance of RCB releasing Padikkal into the auction and looking for a more aggressive opening option against both pace and spin right at the top.
So, David Warner could prove to be the solution to both of their problems. He can be a complete package as an opener as well as the leader of the side.
3. Punjab Kings
Punjab’s opening combination of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal has been magnificent over the past couple of seasons. However, there are some reports suggesting that Rahul doesn’t want to represent PBKS and he will make himself available for the Mega Auction ahead of IPL 2022.
If he does so, Punjab will be devoid of an opening batsman and their captain. Therefore, there will be a huge possibility of PBKS bidding really big for David Warner. The duo of Mayank and Warner will be a great one to capitalize on the field restrictions in the first six overs and they are very capable against the spinners as well. They can compliment each other superbly.
4. Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals are the nearly men over the past couple of seasons, and no one can deny their improvement in this period.
Rishabh Pant, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada are the three names that come to mind first if I talk about the probable players whom DC might want to retain. Shikhar Dhawan didn’t have his best time in the UAE, and DC may wish to retain the young Prithvi Shaw.
Also, there have been some poor on-field calls by Rishabh Pant that have cost DC some matches including the all-important first Qualifier. Therefore, DC might look to go for Warner in the mega auction which will provide them a solid opener as well as a better on-field tactician. If they do so, Ricky Ponting and Warner can work collaboratively to develop the Australian mindset in the dressing room, which might take DC to new heights.
Apart from these four teams, Rajasthan Royals are also expected to bid for Warner if any of their international stars are unavailable.
This is my list of four IPL teams those will go to a great extent to get David Warner in the Mega Auction ahead of IPL 2022. Have your say!
What makes AB de Villiers the best all-format batter ever? | A look at what made AB de Villiers more than just a great batsman
Mr.360 degrees and a modern day classic batter best known for his clean striking and counter-attacking approach, here is a note on AB de Villiers, the man who would do anything for his team, always.
A…B…D, A…B…D, A…B…D………………
These were chants from Wankhade Stadium in an ODI series decider (Ind Vs SA, 2015) where South Africa is belting Indian bowlers to all parts of the grounds. The Mumbai crowd, including the famous North-Stand gang goes berserk chanting ABD despite their local hero Rohit Sharma fielding on the boundary.
Such was the love India had for this extraordinary cricketer.
As a batter there wasn’t anything that AB de Villiers couldn’t do on the cricket field. He has scored 25 runs in 244 balls in the attempt to save a Test (slowest innings of all time for min. 25 runs) as well as the fastest 100 in ODI cricket of just 31 balls. While his abilities were beyond comparison it was when and how he applied himself made him even more special.
In Test matches, he has batted at all positions from 1 to 8, and played more than 15 innings at five different positions, fulfilling whatever role he was asked to. His most prolific runs came at number five where he played the most and scored nearly 4000 runs at an average of 62.11 (best in cricket history). But what is more important that less than half of his aggregate came at that position.
The SA Sports Awards, Sandton International Convention Centre, Johannesburg, 30/11/2014. Siyasanga Mbambani/DoC
In the South African team post Mark Boucher’s retirement, to accommodate an extra batter in the lineup, he was also given the full time responsibility of keeping wickets in Tests along with being the main batter in the side. This was despite the fact that he was the best fielder in the side by a stretch. Keeping over time took a toll on his back and he had to opt for sabbaticals and was forced an earlier than expected retirement due to that. Yet, he never complained about it.
Even in the IPL, then 36 year-old ABD took the gloves again for a similar cause, to accommodate another batter in Devdutt Padikkal at RCB. All this inspite of wicket-keeping having had tolls on his fitness in the past. He kept for a season and a have including his last season (2021) and yet continued to flourish with the bat for RCB.
In 2016, due to fitness concerns he took a sabbatical from international cricket. At that point he was the captain of the South African cricket team. The leadership was passed to Faf du Plessis in his absence. Later, when AB returned to the national side he was asked to lead again by the board. However, de Villiers made a point that Faf was doing a wonderful job leading the side and should continue doing so (after captaining for a few games) and he shouldn’t be the captain just by the virtue of being the incumbent leader.
He retired from international cricket in 2018 due to not being able to manage his workload and injuries. It was not that he couldn’t play for South Africa, but he did not want to be “selectively available” for the team. He always was a 100% guy and didn’t want to give anything short of a cent to any side he played.
The great AB de Villiers excelled no matter what he was faced with.
Later when the South African team was not doing too well particularly in T20Is, the new management approached AB to come out of retirement to play the T20 WC as he was doing so well in the IPL. De Villiers initially agreed, but later went on to tell the board that it would be unfair to the cricketer who had filled his place in the South African cricket team that if he walks in at the cost of him, whosoever that may be.
Because, he thought beyond getting results for the team but also for the culture of the team and the individuals in it.
He could walk into the side, but found it wrong to take someone’s pace who had done the hard yards and performed for South Africa.
And lastly, few days back he retired from all forms of cricket which was mainly the IPL. It is of worthy context that two new teams are being added to the IPL, and a mega auction is scheduled for the upcoming season. All players (expect at most four players retained per franchise) will be going under the hammer for the new cycle of 3-4 years.
AB de Villiers has been a vital part of the RCB (his franchise in IPL) not just as a player but as a part of the RCB brand and ethos. Virat Kohli and he together for 10 years built a partnership beyond cricket. RCB, for most fans, was merely Kohli and De Villiers.
Now with only four retentions allowed, with maximum of two overseas players, choosing those players would have been tough for the RCB franchise. These four players would form their core for the next 3-4 years. RCB couldn’t have let De Villiers go into the auction, as they would not want him anywhere else. But ABD wouldn’t certainly have been around for next three years. For the franchise that means so much to him, he wouldn’t have wanted to block a key retention slot for them as they built for the future. While all this is speculation, AB De Villiers has probably retired for the betterment of his team for years to come.
While a lot of cricketers do everything for their team, ABD is one of the unique few who has done good things for his team by not playing too. The world will always remember ABD as a great cricketer, but one can be quite certain that he would love to be remembered as a great team man.
Cricket News: Questions India need to address for Tests vs New Zealand | 4 questions India need to answer ahead of Tests against New Zealand
Team India started the second cycle of the World Test Championship on a positive note as they overcame their toughest challenge in this Test cycle against England. India leads the Test Series versus England at 2-1 with one match left in the series which will be played next year, after a brilliant victory at The Oval.
After completing the England series, India moves back to their comfort zone at home to face their ICC events-spoilers New Zealand in a two-match Test series after a plethora of white-ball cricket.
Both sides will land in Kanpur for the opening Test match, which kicks off on November 25 at the Green Park Stadium. The series will end at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Given India’s history against New Zealand, their home dominance in red-ball cricket in the last few years and their insane schedule over the past year or so, India has opted to rest their key players.
Virat Kohli is rested for the first Test while Mohammed Shami, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah are going to miss the entire series. This itself suggests that even in the absence of a few senior players, India are confident of doing well in the series against the Black Caps. But there are some questions that the new-look team management needs to address before the start of the series. Here we look at the same in this article:
India vs New Zealand: Key questions for India
1. Who will bat at number four in Virat Kohli’s absence?
Virat Kohli’s unavailability for the first Test definitely leaves a gaping hole at number four. Kohli has cemented that place for himself and his record is terrific, accumulating over 6,000 Test runs at an average of 55.32 in 119 innings in this position.
It is a tough ask for the team management to slot in a player who can do the job for the team as Kohli has done over the years. The Kanpur Test will provide the opportunity for someone like Shreyas Iyer who has played a good amount of first-class cricket. Having scored more than 4,500 runs at an average of over 50 in first-class games, he seems to be the perfect option for the Kanpur Test.
The other option for India is elevating the stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane to number four. He produced a monumental hundred at four in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne when Kohli had to leave the Australian series midway.
2. Who will don the gloves?
Rishabh Pant has been rested from the Test series. Once termed as the number one choice wicket-keeper batsman, Wriddhiman Saha looks most likely to play as the wicket-keeper. Saha is a mighty fine wicket-keeper and has a good record with the bat in home conditions.
However, the team also has uncapped keeper batsman KS Bharat in the squad, who’s been in good form with the bat. Now it’s up to the management whether they go for a superior wicketkeeper in Saha or a superior batsman in Bharat.
3. What will be the bowling attack?
Umesh Yadav and KL Rahul will be key for India against New Zealand
India will miss the services of lead pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami. These two bowlers have been the leaders of India’s pace bowling unit, but their absence will provide an opportunity for others to make a mark.
Team India have four options in the form of Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav & the uncapped Prasidh Krishna in the squad. Among these, Umesh Yadav has been the most impactful bowler for India in home conditions. His record in India speaks for him; he is expected to be India’s lead bowler in the series. He has the skill to swing both the new and old ball and the same goes with the other two pacers – Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Siraj.
Considering the conditions in India and how the pitches play here, it is highly unlikely that Prasidh Krishna will get to make his Test debut in this series. We believe Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav should start for India with Ravichandran Ashwin & Ravindra Jadeja being the spin bowling options. There will be a toss between Axar Patel and Jayant Yadav for the third spinner’s place.
4. Who will partner KL Rahul at the top?
Since Rohit’s comeback into the Test team, he’s been a force to reckoned with at the top of the order and his record in India is next only to Don Bradman. Rohit’s partner KL Rahul impressed as an opener in the four Tests in England and he’ll definitely play the entirety of the series against New Zealand.
But, who partners him is still a big question. Mayank Agarwal is back in the Test fold and so is Shubman Gill; of these two, only one will open with Rahul. Before the emergence of Gill in Australia, Mayank was India’s first choice for opening the innings. But, a form slump saw him sit out of the playing XI and opened the gates for Gill.
Shubman also played the WTC final against New Zealand and was then ruled out of the England Test series with an unfortunate injury. Thus, he’s most likely to retain his place at the top which he never lost.
BAN vs PAK 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BAN vs PAK 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Bangladesh vs Pakistan 3rd T20I Key Players | Mirpur Pitch Report
Pakistan have already won the series with a game in the hand, thanks to the Pakistan bowling unit that has been quite impressive in limitingBangladesh over the course of the first two matches. There are some fantastic spinners on both sides that expect to perform in slower conditions, but Pakistan have outperformed their opponents.
Bangladesh’s top order has not fired and has put the team on the backfoot due to powerplay wickets. Bangladesh are always a chance in thir home conditions, but it will be a tough job to beat Pakistan who is a confident team with continuous winning momentum. Bangladesh bowlers should give their best to get wickets of the in form Pakistani batsmen.
Last game Pakistan won the match with the return of pacer Shaheen Afridi who took a wicket yet again in his first ever. Now, they could look at some squad rotation given the series is over.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Bangladesh:
Mohammad Naim remains Bangladesh’s top scorer in T20Is this year (528, avg. 22), but he needs to bounce back after two failures this series.
N Hossain Shanto handles bat at one down. He scored 40 runs from 34 balls in the last match. If he performs the same here, the team can set a markable total to defend or chase.
Mahmudullah averages just 10.60 in 14 T20Is vs Pakistan. But, he still has the most T20I runs of any player on this ground: 706 runs, average: 39.22, strike rate: 118.45.
Afif Hossain has scored 36 and 20 in this series so far. His 291 runs on this ground come at an average of 26.45.
Mahedi Hasan is a key all-rounder for Bangladesh. He performed well in the first T20I (30 and 1/17), and Bangladesh will be hoping for some of the same today.
Mustafizur Rahman has taken 98 wickets in 70 T20 matches on this ground. He has two wickets in two matches this series.
Pakistan:
Babar Azam has had a quiet series to date, but can bounce back at any stage. He recently scored the most runs in the T20 World Cup.
Fakhar Zaman was player of the match last game with an unbeaten half-century. He also scored an unbeaten half-century in the T20 World Cup Final last week.
Mohammad Rizwan has six dismissals as wicket-keeper so far in this series, and is coming off a steady but unspectacular 39 in the second T20I. He is the only player with at least 1,000 T20I runs this year.
Shadab Khan was excellent again in the second T20I after playing a match-winning role in the first match. He has a total of three wickets in these two matches, with his googly tough to handle.
Mohammad Wasim will be a crucial bowler and is a talented young pacer looking to impress further. He has taken three wickets in two matches this series.
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. Aminul Islam/Kamrul Islam Rabbi, 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. Shadab Khan, 8. Mohammad Nawaz, 9. Hassan Ali, 10. Mohammad Wasim, 11. Haris Rauf/Shaheen Afridi
Mirpur Dhaka Pitch Report and Weather
Slow and sluggish is the case in Dhaka. The pitch at Sher-e-Bangla national stadium in Dhaka will be on the slower side as we have seen in last two matches. The pitch assists spinners and batsmen struggle to play freely. Expect scores to be on the lower side again.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
BAN vs PAK 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
BAN vs PAK 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction
Fan2Play Prediction
Base team:
Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Rizwan
Batsmen: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman
All-rounders: Mahedi Hasan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz
Bowlers: Mohammad Wasim, Taskin Ahmed
Match Prediction
Pakistan start as favourites and should win again. Any score between 130 and 150 will be very competitive.
