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IPL 2021 Qualification Scenarios: What does each team need to do?

Vaibhav Tripathi
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IPL 2021 Qualification Scenarios: What does each team need to do?

Cricket News: IPL 2021 Qualification Scenarios: What does each team need to do? | A look at IPL 2021 Qualification Scenarios for the playoffs

The World’s toughest T20 league is only getting interesting with each passing day. As we’re slowly heading to the business end of the tournament, the race to the playoffs is on with 4 teams still in the hunt for one qualification spot.

The League stage of the IPL 2021 is all set for a grand finish as the cash-rich league heads into a frenzy mode with four teams battling out for one final spot in the playoffs. Three teams- Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have already qualified for the playoffs while the only team that’s been officially eliminated is the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals are the contenders for the final playoffs berth.

We take a look at what are the possible scenarios for the teams to qualify for the IPL 2021 playoffs.

Delhi Capitals

Games- 13, Points- 20, NRR- +0.526

Delhi Capitals have confirmed their place in the top two with a tough victory over CSK, led by Axar Patel and Shimron Hetmyer. They sit very well positioned with 20 points in 13 games with a positive net run rate of +0.526.

Upcoming fixtures: RCB on October 8

Chennai Super Kings

Games-12, Points- 18, NRR- +0.739

MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings to become the first team to book their place in the round of the final four. CSK have had a fine season, but have lost their last two matches and will want to get back on track. Victory in their final game against Punjab Kings should seal a top two spot given their much superior net run rate (+0.739) compared to RCB’s -0.157.

Upcoming matches: PBKS on October 7

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Games- 12, Points- 16, NRR- -0.157

Royal Challengers Bangalore became the third team to qualify for the IPL 2021 playoffs. Virat Kohli’s RCB entered the play-offs after reaching 16 points from 12 matches. RCB also has a chance to finish in the top 2. They have to win their next two matches by a big margin or hope CSK lose their next match as RCB’s poor NRR might not allow them to finish inside the top 2.

Upcoming fixtures: SRH on October 6, DC on October 8

Kolkata Knight Riders

Games-13, Points-12, NRR- +0.294

After a much-needed win against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, KKR’s chances of reaching the play-offs received a huge boost. The Knights now stand with 12 points in 13 games with a positive net run rate which is better than the other teams who are in contention to qualify for the final spot.

All KKR needs to do is win their final match of the league stage and if they manage to win it by a big margin, the doors will be automatically closed on the other three teams who are in contention for the final spot.

Upcoming match: RR on October 7

Punjab Kings

Games- 13, Points- 10, NRR- -0.241

Punjab Kings had a fair chance to finish in the top 4 but the harrowing defeat against RCB has certainly dented their chances to qualify. Now, with only 10 points in 13 games they’ll have to rely on multiple factors. The best case scenario for PBKS is 12 points with a NRR that is marginally better than RR and MI, which will happen only if they win their last league game against CSK.

For Punjab to qualify, KKR need lose their next match to Rajasthan Royals and MI should beat RR on October 5. This alone won’t work as RR and MI also have to lose their other match by a big margin to help PBKS sneak through.

Upcoming match: CSK on October 7

Rajasthan Royals

Games-12, Points- 10, NRR- -0.337

The equation is pretty simple for Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals. RR has no options of losing; they have to win the remaining games against MI and KKR on October 5 and October 7 respectively to reach the play-offs. RR’s fate is in their hands as they play KKR as well, and after the last win against the table toppers CSK, they’ll be high on confidence to seal the number 4 birth.

Upcoming matches: MI on October 5, KKR on October 7

Mumbai Indians

Games- 12, Points- 10, NRR- -0.453

It is safe to say that the defending champions are struggling big time to secure their place in the top 4 of the points table. Mumbai Indians need to beat Rajasthan Royals on October 5 and Sunrisers Hyderabad on October 8. Also, they need to win those two matches by a big margin to get their net run rate into the positive territory which looks like an uphill task for Rohit Sharma’s men.

MI’s net run rate of -0.453 is the worst among the 4 teams in contention for the final play-offs spot. MI can get into the playoffs by winning only one of the remaining two fixtures but it would require a lot of other results to go their way, which is looking difficult at the moment.

Upcoming matches: RR on October 5, SRH on October 8

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Games- 12, Points- 4, NRR- -0.475

Since 2016, SRH played all the Playoffs and were the most consistent team until last year. However, this was their worst ever season as they struggled throughout be it the first phase in India or the second phase in UAE. The Orange army became the first team to get eliminated from the tournament.

Written by Vaibhav Tripathi. Follow Vaibhav on Twitter today.

Why has SRH had such a poor season in IPL 2021?

Tarkesh Jha
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Why has SRH had such a poor season in IPL 2021?

Cricket News: Why has SRH had such a poor season in IPL 2021? | A look at why Sunrisers Hyderabad have been so poor in IPL 2021

The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have had a torrid campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year. Having been one of the finest competitors in the league over the years, SRH are expected to live up to their high standards at all times.

However, at the time of writing this article, they have won only two out of their 12 games and sit at the bottom of the standings.

They have gone through very tumultuous times in this edition particularly, having dropped former skipper David Warner from the lineup yet failing to strike the right balance needed to cross over the finishing line time and again.

However, it is certainly arguable that SRH’s disappointing run this year is an accumulation of all of their errors in the last few years. In fact, it can be said that they have been somewhat fortunate to have qualified to the playoffs in the preceding two campaigns with only 12 and 14 points in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

Why SRH were consistent in previous years

They set very high standards in 2018, finishing the atop the points table with 18 points but a close observer could very well point out that the impact that they were having that year was diminishing gradually these three seasons.

And their failure this year could be attributed to the fact that they didn’t embark on course-correction despite there being ample evidences of the necessity to do so.

Their success in 2018 was built on the success of a very fine bowling attack. The bowling unit wasn’t menacing as such. However, it was mighty effective for the major part of that campaign.

The likes of Siddarth Kaul and Sandeep Sharma had emerged as dark horses who efficiently employed their skills to extract great returns for a limited period of time.

However, it isn’t difficult to decipher that their overall skillsets were conveniently unfolded by their adversaries gradually. Hence, if one remembers correctly, even that year the SRH bowling attack performed optimally only until the fag end of the campaign. They were in fact clobbered by CSK in the finale who chased down 179 runs by losing merely two wickets with relative ease.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan were the other two pillars of the bowling lineup. However, Bhuvi has sort of blown hot and cold in recent times and there is only so much that Rashid can do all alone.

Why SRH have struggled badly in IPL 2021

However, SRH didn’t choose to modify their attack with the changing times. Instead, they have stuck to the 2018 formula until recently, with limited success that has been invigorated through the sustained brilliance of their Afghan wizard.

On the other hand, the success of any IPL team is actually largely driven by the success of one Indian batsman. That Indian player is supposed to be the fulcrum holding the entire batting order together, and has to be supplemented by certain other overseas performers.

But for a key Indian batter to hold the lineup together is of an utmost necessity.

Contrastingly, SRH have instead relied on their international batsmen to do most of the work. Yes, the likes of David Warner, Johnny Bairstow and Kane Williamson form an unbelievable trio that any team would be envious of.

However, playing all of them together hampers the balance of the team, leaving the middle-order very feeble. Moreover, it also takes a lot of sheen away from the bowling unit as well, making the team very top-heavy.

It is not entirely SRH’s fault though. They picked up Manish Pandey for big bucks in the mega auction and have depended on him to deliver the goods. Pandey hasn’t really lived up to the expectations though and neither did SRH pick up any reasonable alternatives to fulfill this criterion in the following auctions.

Instead, in recent months, they have looked up to the likes of Abhishek Sharma and Abdul Samad to do that role, both of them vastly inexperienced to carry out such a responsibility in a consistent manner.

The less talked about David Warner’s exclusion, the better it would be too. The Aussie didn’t perform up to his levels but seeing a guy who played so hard for the badge out of the XI seems quite odd too.

However, that storm could have been weathered with a better core group of domestic batsmen.

It’s more or less time for SRH to hit the reboot button completely. Foreign players are anyways prized assets and they can buy back/retain some of the existing ones or buy others in the mega auction. But it is the Indian core that they need to improve upon exponentially.

They will have to buy more assets who can give fixed returns over a long period of time than try and hit the homerun with fringe players. The thing with underdogs is that their gross value tends to recede gradually whereas other fundamentally strong players can collectively take up the team’s level next year.

Moreover, they need to learn to be more flexible in both their approach and ideas, something for which the backroom staff would have to be responsible for. They have been one of the more consistent units in the history of the IPL and are undergoing an off season like most teams do.

But, they will have to learn from the errors, correct them and then stand a chance to come back stronger.

Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter

IPL 2021 Match 50: CSK vs DC Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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IPL 2021 Match 50: CSK vs DC Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2021 Match 50: CSK vs DC Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | DC vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

As opposed to other contests in IPL 2021 that have a direct impact on playoffs qualification, this one has a bit of a different feel. Both Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals have already qualified as both teams have enjoyed excellent seasons respectively.

However, this doesn’t mean the 50th match of IPL 2021 isn’t an important one. Victory here will confirm a top two finish, and as history shows in IPL, winning the first qualifier often means winning the whole competition.

Also, this is a great chance for both teams to build momentum and confidence ahead of the playoffs. This could potentially be the first of three matches between the teams between now and the end of IPL 2021, so it will be interesting to see the tactics and approach. CSK have transformed their fortunes in 2021, but will be seeking a bounce back after a high-scoring loss to the Royals, while Delhi are coming off a hard-fought victory against the struggling Mumbai Indians.

Bring it on. This should be a good one.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Delhi Capitals:

  • Shikhar Dhawan is on a bit of a lean run in the UAE leg (8, 24, 8 in his last three knocks). Today, he meets a team he loves playing against, with 387 runs in eight innings for DC vs CSK at an average of 64.50 and strike rate of 140.22. This includes a 54-ball 82 earlier in IPL 2021.
  • Shikhar has a century vs CSK and a century at Dubai. Overall at this ground, Dhawan has struck 326 runs in 12 matches at an average of 29.64 and strike rate of 139.32.
  • Prithvi Shaw is also in need of some runs (11, 10 and 6 in the UAE leg so far). He was absoutely outstanding against CSK earlier this season, smashing a 38-ball 72. He and Shikhar Dhawan put on 138 in 13.3 overs for the opening partnership.
  • Shreyas Iyer has been brilliant in the UAE leg of IPL 2021. The right-hander has made scores of 47*, 43, 1 and 33*. Against CSK, he has scored 233 runs at an average 29.13 and strike rate of 113.11.
  • Iyer has a solid record at Dubai. In 10 innings on this ground, he has scored 299 runs at an average of 37.78 and strike rate of 114.12.
  • Rishabh Pant has an outstanding record vs CSK. In seven innings, the DC skipper has smashed 237 runs at an average of 47.40 and strike rate of 159.06. Also, Pant has been in solid form in the UAE leg, with scores of 35*, 24, 39 and 26. He was particularly aggressive against MI, so it will be interesting to see his approach today.
  • At Dubai, Pant has scored 270 runs in nine innings at an average of 38.57 and strike rate of 119.47.
  • Avesh Khan is having some season. He has taken the second-most wickets in 2021: 21 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 15 and brilliant economy rate of just seven runs per over.
  • Avesh has taken six wickets in the powerplay, eight wickets in the middle-overs and seven at the death. More impressive is the fact he has an economy-rate of 5.56, 6.50 and 8.68 respectively in all three phases.
  • Kagiso Rabada has taken five wickets in three matches vs CSK (avg. 17.00), as well as five wickets in four matches in the UAE leg. Also, Rabada enjoys bowling at Dubai, with 16 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 20.31 and strike rate of 14.25.

Chennai Super Kings:

  • Ruturaj Gaikwad continues to amaze. After a slow start to IPL 2021, Gaikwad has been unstoppable, with his latest innings a brilliant 101* vs RR.
  • Gaikwad has the second-most runs in IPL 2021, with 508 runs in 12 innings at an average of 50.80 and strike rate of 140.33. Also, Gaikwad has a terrific record at Dubai, with 230 runs in four matches at an average of 115 and strike rate of 133.72. This includes three half-centuries.
  • A 30+ score coming for Faf du Plessis? The right-hander has made starts galore in the UAE leg, with 31, 43, 41 and 25 in his last four knocks. Also, du Plessis averages similar for CSK vs DC, with 323 runs in 10 innings at an average of 32.30 and strike rate of 117.88.
  • Moeen Ali will be key against DC’s excellent middle overs bowling. He scored a 24-ball 36 against them last season, part of 299 runs this season at an average of 27.18 and strike rate of 139.71.
  • Ravindra Jadeja has been absolutely brilliant with the bat since the start of IPL 2020, striking 443 runs in this period at an average of 54.13 and strike rate of 162.87. Also, Jadeja has a solid all-round record for CSK against DC, with 187 runs (avg. 31.17, SR 148.41) and 12 wickets in 14 innings (avg. 25.67).
  • Jadeja at Dubai with the bat: 10 inns, 187 runs, avg. 46.75, SR 136.50. With the ball: 7 wickets, avg. 31.14, SR 23.14.
  • Dwayne Bravo is important to CSK as the men-in-yellow have missed his presence. He has figures of 3/25, 3/24 and 2/17 in phase two of IPL 2021, and has 15 wickets in 14 innings vs DC at an average of 23.40.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 24, CSK 15, DC 9.
  • DC (190/3) beat CSK (188/7) by seven wickets in the second match of IPL 2021.
  • Suresh Raina hit a 36-ball 54 vs DC earlier this season. No player has more runs in CSK-DC matches than Raina, with 552 in 22 matches at an average of 29.05 and strike rate of 132.06.
  • Steve Smith averages 35.22 in 12 matches vs CSK (317 runs). However, Smith has a poor record at Dubai, with 108 runs in seven matches at an average of 15.43.
  • Deepak Chahar has a dominant record vs Prithvi Shaw in IPL: 50 balls, 55 runs, five dismissals.

Possible Playing 11

Delhi Capitals: 1. Prithvi Shaw, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Steve Smith, 4. Rishabh Pant (c & wk), 5. Shreyas Iyer, 6. Shimron Hetmyer, 7. Axar Patel, 8. R Ashwin, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Anrich Nortje, 11. Avesh Khan

Chennai Super Kings: 1. Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Moeen Ali, 4. Ambati Rayudu, 5. Suresh Raina, 6. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Shardul Thakur, 10. Deepak Chahar, 11. Josh Hazlewood/Sam Curran

Dubai Pitch Report and Weather

It was a tough, low-scoring match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders yesterday. Overall at Dubai this season, the average first innings score is 154.13, and the chasing team has won the last four matches (and five of the last six matches).

The forecast is for more warm and clear weather.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

IPL 2021 Match 50: CSK vs DC Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | DC vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 50: CSK vs DC Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IPL 2021 Match 50: CSK vs DC Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | DC vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 50: CSK vs DC Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Base team:

  • Wicket-keeper: Rishabh Pant
  • Batsmen: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer
  • All-rounders: Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja
  • Bowlers: Avesh Khan, Deepak Chahar

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

This has the potential to be a cracking match. CSK’s finishing capabilities give them the edge, but the team who wins the powerplay period may well go on to win this match.

Analysing the rise of CSK from IPL 2020 to 2021

Robin Rounder
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Analysing the rise of CSK from IPL 2020 to 2021

Analysing the rise of CSK from IPL 2020 to 2021 | Looking at how CSK turned things around in IPL 2021 after a bad 2020 season

IPL 2020 was a horrific season for the Chennai Super Kings and their fans. The team looked in all-sorts for almost all the 14 games. It was the first time in 10 years that the Chennai Super Kings failed to qualify for the play-offs.

In the post match presentation after their last league match in 2020, Harsha Bhogle asked MS Dhoni if he has any message for the fans. Dhoni’s reply to this was “We’ll come back strong, that’s what we are known for.”

Almost a year later, CSK came back strong as promised.

CSK was the first team to be out of the play-offs race in 2020 and they are the first team in 2021 to have qualified for the play-offs. The way CSK bounced back after a disappointing campaign in IPL 2020 is truly applaudable.

CSK didn’t made a lot of changes to their squad after IPL 2020 instead they rectified a few things and made improvements in the areas where they lacked last season. Here we’ll talk about things that MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming did that helped CSK in making a strong comeback in IPL 2021.

Backing the Players

MS Dhoni is not known for making a lot of changes to playing 11 even if the team loses. Dhoni’s and Fleming’s backing to the players give them the much needed confidence and the sense of security that is needed for someone going through a bad phase. Even after a poor IPL 2020, Dhoni trusted his players and backed them to do well in IPL 2021.

Apart from releasing Kedar Jadhav and Harbhajan Singh, Shane Watson’s retirement, most of the squad remained the same for IPL 2021. One perfect example is Ruturaj Gaikwad who after struggling badly in his initial games in IPL 2020 found his mojo in the last three games of that season. He had a poor start in IPL 2021 as well but has been unbelievable since, with 508 runs in 12 games at an average of 50.80 and strike rate above 140.

Most of the teams would have made quite a few changes at least after how 2020 went for CSK. But Dhoni and Fleming trusted their players and made a few minor changes in the team combination in IPL 2021 which proved to be on point for them. Dhoni backing and trusting his players is nothing new and out of the box but it’s just one of those simple things that did the job for him and CSK this season.

Role Clarity

After IPL 2020, CSK brought in Moeen Ali which proved to be an extremely good signing. Moeen is a very destructive T20 batter but he wasn’t utilized well by franchises he played for and even the English cricket team in the shortest format. Moeen was asked to bat at number 3 for CSK even with Suresh Raina in the eleven who has been the number 3 batter for CSK for all these years.

Moeen at 3 proved to be a masterstroke for CSK as the southpaw has 278 runs in 10 games at an average of 27.8 and striking at 141. Moeen started attacking from ball one and completely shifted the momentum in CSK’s favor in a span of 2-3 overs. He solved CSK’s issue of batting slow in the middle-overs and was exceptional for them especially in the first-half of IPL 2021.

Suresh Raina despite being in poor form is a great player of spin bowling and Moeen at 3 allowed Raina to bat in the middle-phase where he’ll get to play more overs from the spinners and can attack them.

Ambati Rayudu was slotted to bat at 5 for CSK in IPL 2021 and he has played this role really well. He has been super aggressive and has played some really crucial knocks for CSK. Rayudu is a good player of spin bowling and can attack pacers as well. He has the license to play freely and has done his job with perfection. Rayudu has 195 runs at an average of 32.5 and is striking at an impressive 169.56!

The clear communication from players and role clarity that what the team wants from them is another simple yet very important thing CSK did perfectly in IPL 2021. MS Dhoni also utilized his resources really well and it proved to be match-winning for them.

Players played their roles really well as CSK has 7 different players winning man of the match out of their 9 wins in IPL 2021. This shows how trusting the players and having a clear communication with them can be very fruitful.

Analysing the rise of CSK from IPL 2020 to 2021 | Looking at how CSK turned things around in IPL 2021 after a bad 2020 season
Twitter: CricCrazyJohns

Batting Depth

The main reason for CSK’s poor performance in IPL 2020 was their batting. CSK batters failed to exploit the powerplay and were slow in the middle-overs as well. They also failed to finish the innings well and failed to chase targets due to this. But in IPL 2021 Dhoni and Fleming did something which was never done before.

They assembled a playing eleven which had a batting depth up to 10 or 11. Deepak Chahar bats at number 10 for CSK who is more than handy with the bat and if someday Dhoni decides to play both Sam Curran and Dwayne Bravo in the playing 11 then they’ll have a playing eleven where all of their 11 players will be capable of batting. This is the major change CSK did in IPL 2021 and is the biggest reason for their exceptional performance this season.

This mad level batting depth has allowed the batters to play freely and players like Moeen Ali and Ambati Rayudu have done exactly that. This also has allowed MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina who hasn’t been in good form with the bat to not become a liability to the team and play their natural game.

Here are CSK’s batting performance in different phases of an innings in IPL 2021:

Powerplay

Analysing the rise of CSK from IPL 2020 to 2021 | Looking at how CSK turned things around in IPL 2021 after a bad 2020 season
Twitter: FlashCric

Middle-Overs

Analysing the rise of CSK from IPL 2020 to 2021 | Looking at how CSK turned things around in IPL 2021 after a bad 2020 season
Stat Credit: TheCricketPanda (twitter)

Death Overs

Analysing the rise of CSK from IPL 2020 to 2021 | Looking at how CSK turned things around in IPL 2021 after a bad 2020 season
Twitter: FlashCric

The charts above show that CSK are still a little slow in the power play but they are not that slow when compared to the other teams. They score at almost the highest rate in the middle-overs and are on another level in the death overs scoring more than 12 runs per over. The batting depth allows flexibility and they can play according to the situation. This CSK batting can post huge totals and can chase big targets as well.

Captain MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni the captain has been invaluable for CSK in IPL 2021. Despite going through a poor form with the bat, Dhoni has played the most important role for CSK’s turnaround in IPL 2021. He is arguably the best white-ball captain in Cricket. Dhoni’s decision as captain to play Moeen at 3, Rayudu at 5, having a crazy batting depth up to number 10-11 proved to be the main reason for CSK’s success this year.

Obviously, Stephen Fleming too deserves all the appreciation as the coach of the team but Dhoni has been as usual brilliant in leading the team. His field placements on the field, rotation of bowlers, and most importantly the game awareness and knowing what needs to be done in a certain situation is CSK’s biggest strength. Having a smart captain like Dhoni has played a very crucial role for CSK over the years and their performance in this season shows his value as the captain when runs are not coming off his bat.

CSK management and the fans will hope that he lifts the trophy once again in 2021 and leads CSK to their 4th title.

Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.

Twitter reactions as RR beat CSK in high-scoring thriller

Nash Sant
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Twitter reactions as RR beat CSK in high-scoring thriller

Cricket News: Twitter reactions as RR beat CSK in high-scoring thriller | RR beat CSK in high-scoring match at Abu Dhabi: Twitter reactions

Until now, IPL 2021 phase 2 had been what some fans would call, “boring”. Slow and low pitches are not exactly the recipe for a T20 tournament and pitches in the UAE have provided at best sub-par totals in all the games played so far. 

That changed last night when fans were treated to an absolute run fest by Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. It all started when CSK’s golden boy this season so far, Ruturaj Gaikwad, played the innings of his lifetime supported by his team-mates around him. Gaikwad got his first IPL century on the last ball of the innings when he hit a six off Mustafizur. 

But that innings was quickly overshadowed when Rajasthan got off to a flier with Yashaswi Jaiswal hitting it to all parts of the ground. RR, at the end of the powerplay were 81/1 and then Shivam Dube finished off with 64 from 42. With that, now there are 4 teams on 10 points vying for the 4th playoff spot. 

RR beat CSK Twitter reactions

Written by Nash Sant. Follow Nash on Twitter today

IPL 2021 Match 49: KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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IPL 2021 Match 49: KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2021 Match 49: KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KOL vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

It’s on. Four teams, level on 10 points, are in the race for a playoffs berth.

Kolkata Knight Riders are best placed thanks to their superior net run rate, but they will want to leave no stone unturned in this crucial game. Their fielding was a major let down against fellow playoff rivals Punjab Kings last time out, after they fought hard to stay in the game. The absence of Andre Russell and Lockie Ferguson didn’t help, and if they are out again, KKR will need their big guns to step up even further in this time of need.

Sunrisers Hyderabad, who have had a terrible season, have the chance here to play party-pooper. In fact, they were the side to end KKR’s playoffs hopes last season with victory over Mumbai Indians, and they will be aiming to be of nuisance value once again. While their batting has been a major letdown, they have shown positive signs with the ball in recent games. Given KKR’s up and down middle order – particularly if Russell is unavailable again – any inroads into the top order gives SRH a strong foothold in the contest.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Kolkata Knight Riders:

  • Venkatesh Iyer has been central to KKR’s improvement in phase two of IPL 2021. The left-hander has struck two half-centuries in five matches, with a total of 193 runs at an average of 48.25 and strike rate of 141.91.
  • He has also taken three wickets in the last two matches, and features in the death overs. Given SRH’s middle order struggles, Iyer could be in the wickets again today.
  • It is disappointing to see Shubman Gill averaging less than 20 in IPL 2021 (avg. 19.91). It has been a mixed bag for Gill in phase two of IPL 2021, with two 30+ scores and three below 15.
  • Gill has a decent record vs SRH, with 170 runs at an average of 35 and strike rate of 112.90. Also, Gill prefers to bat second in IPL, with an average of 37.9 compared to 24.9 batting first.
  • Rahul Tripathi has shown signs of his best form in phase two (scores of 74*, 45, 9 and 34). He has two half-centuries in six innings vs SRH, including a 29-ball 53 earlier this season.
  • Nitish Rana was player of the match against SRH earlier in IPL 2021 (80 off 56 balls). Like Tripathi, Rana is in some decent form of late, with scores of 37*, 36* and 31 in his last three matches.
  • Against SRH, Rana has struck 315 runs in 10 innings at an average of 31.50 and strike rate of 136.36. Rana also has similar stats in Dubai, with 140 runs at an average of 35.00 and strike rate of 144.33.
  • Sunil Narine has been terrific in the UAE leg (0/20, 1/20, 3/41, 2/18, 1/34). However, Narine has historically struggled against SRH, with just 10 wickets in 17 matches at an average of 44.00 and strike rate of 39.60. Also, Narine strikes every 40 deliveries in five IPL matches at Dubai. Can he turn these numbers around?
  • Varun Chakravarthy’s UAE leg has followed a certain trend. He has gone wicketless every two matches (3/13, 0/22, 1/22, 0/24 and 2/24). Can he break that trend here? He has two wickets in three matches vs SRH (SR 36), but he enjoys bowling at Dubai, with eight wickets in four matches at an average of 11.13 and strike rate of 12.00.

Sunrisers Hyderabad:

  • Is this the game SRH bring Manish Pandey back? The right-hander scored a 44-ball 61* against KKR earlier this season, part of 155 runs for SRH vs KKR at an average of 38.75 and strike rate of 122.05.
  • Also, Pandey enjoys batting at Dubai. He has scored 329 runs in 10 innings on this ground at an average of 41.13 and strike rate of 122.76.
  • Wriddhiman Saha hasn’t found the fluency he had in IPL 2020. Could today be the day? He strikes at 139.76 in 15 career knocks vs KKR, at an average of 32.64.
  • Jason Roy smashed 60 off 42 balls in a player of the match performance two games ago vs RR on this ground. Dubai is a truer surface than Sharjah, so Roy will be looking to play aggressively from the get go.
  • Kane Williamson has been below par by his standards in the UAE leg. Also, he has a modest record vs KKR, with 197 runs at an average of 28.14 and strike rate of 129.61.
  • However, Williamson has a fine record at Dubai. He has scored 188 runs in seven innings at an average of 62.67 and strike rate of 124.50.
  • Jason Holder has taken 3/19 and 3/27 in his last three matches. However, those bowling performances were on the slower pitches of Sharjah. He strikes every 19.83 balls at Dubai (six wickets in five matches).
  • Rashid Khan has 11 wickets in 11 innings vs KKR (avg. 25.91). Also, Rashid has taken one wicket in each match in the UAE leg.
  • Also, SRH could look to use Rashid as a pinch hitter. His 35 runs vs KKR come at a strike rate of 269.23.
  • No bowler has more wickets in SRH-KKR matches than Bhuvneshwar Kumar (20 in 17 matches, avg. 25.35). However, Bhuvi has been in poor form, with just the two wickets in four matches so far in the UAE leg whilst being a little expensive.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 20, KKR 13, SRH 7.
  • KKR have won four of the past five matches vs SRH, including by 10 runs earlier this year.
  • If Andre Russell is fit, he will have to improve on a poor record vs SRH. In 10 innings, he has scored just 116 runs at an average of 12.89 and strike rate of 148.72.
  • Eoin Morgan is in horrible form, but KKR and England fans hope today is his day. He has scored 134 runs in five innings vs SRH at an average of 33.50 and strike rate of 157.65.
  • Dinesh Karthik is five runs away from 4,000 in IPL.

Possible Playing 11

It remains to be seen if Andre Russell and Lockie Ferguson are fit for this clash. Also, KKR could look to play Shakib Al Hasan over Tim Seifert.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Shubman Gill, 2. Venkatesh Iyer, 3. Rahul Tripathi, 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Eoin Morgan (c), 6. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7. Tim Seifert/Shakib Al Hasan, 8. Sunil Narine, 9. Tim Southee/Lockie Ferguson, 10. Prasidh Krishna/Sandeep Warrier, 11. Varun Chakravarthy

Sunrisers Hyderabad could look to bring Manish Pandey back into the XI.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3. Kane Williamson (c), 4. Priyam Garg/Manish Pandey, 5. Abhishek Sharma, 6. Jason Holder, 7. Abdul Samad, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Siddarth Kaul, 11. Sandeep Sharma

Dubai Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score at Dubai in IPL 2021 is 159.71. The chasing team has had more success in recent matches, with three victories in a row for the team batting second (and four of the last five).

Out of the three grounds, Dubai looks the best for batting. The forecast is for more clear and warm conditions.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

IPL 2021 Match 49: KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KOL vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 49: KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IPL 2021 Match 49: KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KOL vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 49: KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Base team:

IPL 2021 Match 49: KKR vs SRH Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KOL vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 49: KKR vs SRH Fan2Play

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

SRH have nothing to lose, which makes them a dangerous proposition. KKR will be hoping at least one of Russell and Ferguson are fit enough to play. KKR start as favourites, but will need to bat well to win.

IPL 2021 Match 48: RCB vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Yash Mittal
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0
IPL 2021 Match 48: RCB vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2021 Match 48: RCB vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BLR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Punjab Kings Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report

With just two spots up for grabs, the race for the IPL 2021 playoffs is heating up. In that regard, the upcoming fixture between Punjab Kings and the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Sharjah on Sunday will be extremely crucial for the wider scheme of things.

With 14 points in the bank after 11 games, the Royal Challengers Bangalore are better placed as compared to their opponents but given their recent record against PBKS – three defeats in as many games – they can’t afford to take the KL Rahul-led unit lightly.

Punjab Kings, on the other hand, basically need to win every game from herein to give themselves the best chance to qualify for the playoffs. They scrapped to a five-wicket win against KKR on Friday but Rahul’s conservative approach and a misfiring middle-order still remains a cause of worry for them.

Can PBKS make it three-in-three against RCB in the UAE or will Virat’s men register their third consecutive win of the second leg?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Punjab Kings

  • KL Rahul: The stylish opener’s conservative approach in the last couple of seasons has been one of the biggest talking points, but one thing no one can deny is his consistency.
  • He scored yet another 50 in the last game and the Karnataka lad loves batting against his home franchise. In 9 innings, he has scored 460 runs at an average of 92 and a strike rate of 155.4 with three 50+ scores and a hundred.
  • Mayank Agarwal: With Rahul playing the anchor role, Mayank, courtesy of his intentful batting, has proved to be the real MVP with the bat for his side.
  • Agarwal has scored 202 runs in 9 innings against RCB at an average of 22.4. However, he is coming off a brilliant 27-ball 40 in the last game and his record at Sharjah read: 161 runs in 4 innings at 40.2 and a strike rate of 176.9 with one hundred.
  • Shah Rukh Khan: The hard-hitting batsman smashed an unbeaten 9-ball 22 in the last game and he could well prove to be the clincher for his team if it boils down to a tricky situation at the death.
  • Ravi Bishnoi: The young leg-spinner claimed 2/22 in four overs in the last game and has taken a total of 11 wickets in 7 games this season.
  • His record against RCB: 5 wickets in three games at an average of 15.6 and an economy rate of 7.09.
  • Arshdeep Singh: The young left-arm seamer has turned out to be a revelation for the Punjab Kings. In 10 games, he has claimed 16 wickets with three of them coming in the last game.
  • His record in Sharjah: 2 wickets in 3 games. He has played just 1 game against RCB in which he registered figures of 1/20.

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

  • Virat Kohli: The skipper may have scored a couple of half centuries in the UAE leg but he hasn’t looked at his flamboyant best, especially against the spinners.
  • His record vs PBKS: 716 runs in 26 innings at 27.53 at a strike rate of 127.85. His record at Sharjah: 221 runs in 6 innings at an average of 55.2 and a strike rate of 125.6 with one 50+ score.
  • Devdutt Padikkal: The young southpaw has endured a couple of average outings following his 50-ball 70 against CSK and he will be looking to once again notch up a big score.
  • His record at Sharjah: 125 runs in 4 innings at an average of 31.2 and a strike rate of 134.4 with one 50+ score.
  • Glenn Maxwell: The swashbuckler has notched up back-to-back match-winning half-centuries- 56 (37) vs MI, 50* (30) vs RR- and he will be looking to make it three in a row against his former franchise.
  • He managed a golden duck in his last outing against PBKS earlier this season. Maxwell’s record at Sharjah: 208 runs in 4 innings at an average of 69.3 and a strike rate of 196.2 with two 50+ scores.
  • AB de Villiers: He may have had a poor time in the UAE leg thus far but expect the champion cricket to storm back in the upcoming games.
  • His record against Punjab: 710 runs in 22 innings at an average of 32.27 and a strike rate of 158.8. De Villiers has batted 5 times in Sharjah, scoring 122 runs at an average of 30.5 and a strike rate of 143.5.
  • Harshal Patel: The leading wicket-taker of the ongoing season, Harshal has bamboozled one and all with his deadly slower ball.
  • He claimed three wickets in the last game and a hat-trick prior to that. With the pitch in Sharjah expected to be sluggish, the seamer could once again be in business at the backend.
  • Yuzvendra Chahal: The Haryana leggie seems to have regained his mojo in the UAE leg. He claimed a match-winning 3-wicket haul against MI and backed it up with an equally good performance against Rajasthan- 2/18 in four overs.
  • His record vs Punjab: 22 wickets in 15 games. He has claimed 7 wickets in 6 outings in Sharjah at an average of 18.9 and an economy rate of 5.91.

Stats and Facts

  • Both sides have locked horns 27 times with Punjab leading the ledger 15-12.
  • Punjab have won each of their last three fixtures against RCB including their previous encounter in Sharjah last year.
  • Yuzvendra Chahal (22) has the most wickets in PBKS-RCB fixtures.

Possible Playing XI

Punjab Kings: 1. KL Rahul (c & wk), 2. Mayank Agarwal, 3. Nicholas Pooran, 4. Aiden Markram, 5. Deepak Hooda, 6. Shah Rukh Khan, 7. Fabian Allen, 8. Nathan Ellis/Chris Jordan, 9. Mohammed Shami, 10. Ravi Bishnoi, 11. Arshdeep Singh

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1. Virat Kohli (c), 2. Devdutt Padikkal, 3. KS Bharat (wk), 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. AB de Villiers, 6. Daniel Christian, 7. George Garton, 8. Shahbaz Ahmed, 9. Harshal Patel, 10. Mohammed Siraj, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Sharjah pitch report and weather conditions

The newly relaid pitch at Sharjah has proved to be slow and sluggish thus far with batsmen having a tough time against the change of pace. Much of the same should be the case in the forthcoming games.

As far as the weather is concerned, it is expected to be dry and sunny. The temperatures are set to hover between 30-38 degrees Celsius. Humidity is set to be around 51 percent.

Dream11 & Fan2Play Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Base team:

IPL 2021 Match 48: RCB vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BLR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Punjab Kings Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report

2, 3, 4 player teams

IPL 2021 Match 48: RCB vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BLR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Punjab Kings Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

Both sides are extremely unpredictable. But given the edge that PBKS hold over RCB in recent encounters, they will start as slight favorites.

IPL 2021 Match 47: RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
IPL 2021 Match 47: RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2021 Match 47: RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

Both Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings had a disappointing season in 2020, finishing seventh and eighth respectively. Fast forward a year later, and one side has completely transformed their fortunes, while the other is clinging on after yet another disappointing display.

The Royals have felt the absence of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. However, the international talent in their ranks remains strong, but unfortunately Chris Morris and Liam Livingstone – two high-profile T20 cricketers – have not been up to the mark. Also, lots depends on the top order, with the middle unable to produce the goods, which was on show last game vs RCB as RR crawled to just 149/9 after a strong start.

KKR’s defeat yesterday keeps the door open for the Royals, but they will have to do it the hard way with the Super Kings, Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians to come in their final three games. Defeat here will surely make it too difficult for Sanju Samson’s men to qualify for the playoffs in a season that promised plenty.

To keep their hopes alive, they will have to get past a strong CSK team. MS Dhoni’s men are firing on all cylinders, with their depth allowing their batsmen to play with total freedom. Also, their prowess at the death this season, led by the likes of Dwayne Bravo and Shardul Thakur, makes them even harder to beat. Victory here will almost guarantee CSK a top-two finish, which is important in IPL cricket.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Rajasthan Royals:

  • Evin Lewis is crucial to RR’s hopes. After a strong CPL 2021 campaign, Lewis has started well in the UAE leg of IPL, hitting scores of 36, 6 and 58. His 58 vs RCB came off just 37 balls.
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal has been another positive in RR’s UAE campaign, with scores of 49, 5, 36 and 31. Can he make another start and this time carry on for a 50+ score?
  • Sanju Samson has the third-most runs of any player in IPL 2021 (452, avg. 50.22, SR 141.25), including two half-centuries in his last three matches. RR will be hoping Samson improves on a poor record vs CSK that reads: 11 inns 165 runs, avg. 15, SR 127.91. However, he did score 74 against them last season.
  • Samson has two half-centuries in nine innings at Abu Dhabi (201 runs, avg. 28.71, SR 132.24).
  • Rahul Tewatia has five wickets in three matches for RR vs CSK at an average of 15.20. He is wicketless in his last two IPL 2021 matches and has just the two wickets in 20 overs at Abu Dhabi, however.
  • Mustafizur Rahman has been RR’s biggest positive with the ball since the resumption. He has taken five wickets in his last three matches (2/22, 1/26, 2/20).
  • Chetan Sakariya took 3/36 vs CSK earlier this season. The left-arm seamer will be key in providing powerplay breakthroughs against CSK’s strong opening partnership.

Chennai Super Kings:

  • Ruturaj Gaikwad has been consistent and classy in equal measure in the UAE leg. Since the resumption, Gaikwad has struck scores of 88* (58), 38 (26), 40 (28) and 45 (38).
  • Also, Gaikwad enjoys batting at Abu Dhabi. In two matches on this ground, Gaikwad has made scores of 62* and 40.
  • Faf du Plessis to make another 30+ score? The CSK opener has scored 31, 43 and 41 in his last three matches. Also, he averages 30 overall in nine matches vs RR (270 runs, avg. 134.33), and 40 in six innings at Abu Dhabi (200 runs).
  • Moeen Ali was player of the match vs RR earlier this season, with 26 (20) and 3/7. Moeen’s role with the ball has been limited in the UAE leg, but today could be the day he bowls more overs given the presence of more left-handers in the RR lineup.
  • Ambati Rayudu has been excellent in the middle overs for CSK, striking at 169.56 in IPL 2021. He will be aiming to improve on his record for CSK vs RR, which reads: 6 inns, 121 runs, avg. 20.33, SR 112.96.
  • Ravindra Jadeja has been absolutely brilliant with the bat since the start of IPL 2020, striking 411 runs in this period at an average of 51.38 and strike rate of 159.92.
  • Against RR, Jadeja has struck 140 runs in 11 innings at an average of 35.00 and strike rate of 117.65. Also, he has 17 wickets in 16 matches against them, including 2/28 earlier this season.
  • Dwayne Bravo is in brilliant form, with figures of 3/25, 3/24 and 2/17 in phase two of IPL 2021. Against RR, Bravo has 16 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 23.94.
  • Deepak Chahar has nine wickets in six matches vs RR at an average of 18.11. He has also taken nine wickets in the powerplay this season – the most of any bowler.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 25, CSK 15, RR 10.
  • CSK (188/9) beat RR (143/9) with ease earlier in IPL 2021.
  • No player has more runs in CSK-RR matches than Suresh Raina (656, avg. 28.52, SR 134.98). Given that RR lack express pace in their attack (if they don’t pick Oshane Thomas), this could be the day that Raina finds some runs.
  • Shardul Thakur is yet to go wicketless in the UAE leg (1/29, 2/29, 2/20, 1/37). Josh Hazlewood was player of the match last game vs SRH, with 3/24.

Possible Playing 11

Rajasthan Royals have decisions to make. Chris Morris and Liam Livingstone have not delivered as hoped in the second leg, which may prompt changes. Also, Riyan Parag is under pressure to hold his spot given he has scored just 93 runs in 10 innings this season.

Rajasthan Royals: 1. Evin Lewis, 2. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3. Sanju Samson (c & wk), 4. Liam Livingstone/Glenn Phillips/David Miller, 5. Mahipal Lomror, 6. Riyan Parag/Shivam Dube, 7. Rahul Tewatia, 8. Chris Morris/Tabraiz Shamsi/Oshane Thomas, 9. Chetan Sakariya, 10. Kartik Tyagi, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Chennai Super Kings are looking much more settled. The only changes may come about if CSK choose to rotate players.

Chennai Super Kings: 1. Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Moeen Ali, 4. Suresh Raina, 5. Ambati Rayudu, 6. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Shardul Thakur, 10. Deepak Chahar, 11. Josh Hazlewood

Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score at Abu Dhabi this season is 141.4. Abu Dhabi is a good chasing ground, with the teams batting second winning four of five matches this year.

The forecast is for more clear and warm weather.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

IPL 2021 Match 47: RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 47: RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IPL 2021 Match 47: RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 47: RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Base team:

IPL 2021 Match 47: RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 47: RR vs CSK Fan2Play

2, 3, 4 player challenge teams

IPL 2021 Match 47: RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 47: RR vs CSK Fan2Play

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

Desperation may bring the best out of Rajasthan. However, CSK have too much depth and quality. CSK to win.

IPL 2021 Match 46: MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
IPL 2021 Match 46: MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2021 Match 46: MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report

The two finalists of 2020 meet in a crucial clash in 2021. Champions Mumbai Indians have been well below their best this season, but remain in contention for the playoffs. And, of course, they can beat anyone on their day. Delhi Capitals, who suffered a poor run at the backend of last season, will be looking to avoid the same here after defeat last time out against KKR.

The heat is on at Sharjah, both literally and figuratively speaking.

Mumbai are coming off a crucial win over Punjab, doing enough with both bat and ball to seal victory. At the time of writing on Friday evening, Kolkata Knight Riders were yet to finish their battle with Punjab, but regardless, Rohit Sharma’s men desperately need the two points in the pointy end of the season.

For Delhi, the playoffs race is much smoother for them in terms of a top four finish. However, this match is also important in the sense that Royal Challengers Bangalore are sneaking up slowly for a top two spot. Given how important the advantage of winning the first qualifier is in IPL cricket, Rishabh Pant’s team can afford no slip ups here.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Mumbai Indians:

  • No player has more runs in MI-DC matches than Rohit Sharma. The MI skipper has struck 677 runs for MI vs DC at an average of 33.85 and strike rate of 131.71. He has scored 44 (30) and 67 (51) in his last two knocks vs Delhi.
  • However, Rohit has endured a poor run in IPL matches at Sharjah. He has scored just the 14 runs in three matches on this ground at an average of 4.67. He is certainly capable of turning this around.
  • Quinton de Kock performed pretty well against DC in the UAE last year. The Protea made scores of 40 (25), 26 (28), 53 (36) and 20 (12). Also, he has made starts in all four matches of the UAE leg (17, 55, 24, 27) and MI will be hoping QdK goes on to make a significant score.
  • Also, de Kock has scored 154 runs in four innings at Sharjah at an average of 51.67 and strike rate of 136.28.
  • Saurabh Tiwary has been an important performer for MI when given the opportunity. He scored an important 37-ball 45 in his last game vs PBKS.
  • Kieron Pollard is coming off a player of the match performance against PBKS (2/8 and 15 off 7 balls). The MI legend, however, has a modest record against the Capitals compared to other teams, with 354 runs in 23 innings at an average of 23.60 and strike rate of 140.48.
  • In three innings at Sharjah, Pollard has slammed 99 runs at a strike rate of 145.59 for just the one dismissal.
  • Hardik Pandya, who scored a 30-ball 40 a few days ago vs Punjab, also has a modest record against the Capitals (13 inns, 161 runs, avg. 16.10, SR 150.47). It is his brother, Krunal Pandya, who has the better batting numbers vs DC, with 250 runs in 11 innings at an average of 31.25 and strike rate of 170.07. Also, Krunal has nine wickets in 12 innings vs DC at an average of 24.
  • Jasprit Bumrah is on a dream run vs Delhi Capitals. In his last five matches against them, Bumrah has taken figures of 1/32, 4/14, 3/17, 0/26 and 2/24. Also, Bumrah has taken four wickets in two matches at Sharjah (avg. 16.50, SR 12.00).
  • Trent Boult strikes every two overs on average vs Delhi Capitals (18 overs, nine wickets, avg. 13.22). He was player of the match in last year’s IPL Final, with figures of 3/30. Also, Boult has six wickets in two matches at Sharjah.

Delhi Capitals:

  • Will Shikhar Dhawan hit top form? In nine matches for DC vs MI, Dhawan has struck 235 runs at an average of 29.60 and strike rate of 116.92, including 45 (42) earlier this season.
  • Shreyas Iyer was out cheaply last game vs KKR (1), but the right-hander was in some fine touch before that with scores of 47* and 43 vs Sunrisers and Royals respectively.
  • Iyer has a similar record to Dhawan against MI, with an average of 29.64 and strike rate of 119.41. This includes 65* off 50 balls in the last match he played against them – the IPL 2020 Final.
  • Rishabh Pant will be key in these slow Sharjah conditions. The DC skipper strikes at 146.41 in 11 innings vs MI, with 306 runs at an average of 30.60. He scored 39 off 36 balls a couple of days ago on this ground vs KKR.
  • Among teams he’s played at least 10 matches against, Steve Smith’s average of 42 against Mumbai Indians makes them his favourite opponent. Overall, Smudge has scored 462 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 128.69.
  • Kagiso Rabada strikes every 14.67 deliveries at Sharjah. However, he will be aiming to improve on his economy rate of 10.02 on this ground, especially after the onslaught from Sunil Narine last game.
  • Against MI, Rabada has taken 10 wickets in nine matches at an average of 27.80 and strike rate of 19.80.
  • Anrich Nortje has been in fine touch in the UAE leg of IPL 2021, with figures of 2/12, 2/18 and 1/15. He has taken four wickets in four matches vs MI (avg. 32, econ. 9.85).
  • Avesh Khan is having a terrific IPL. Only Harshal Patel (23) has more wickets than Avesh (18), who is coming off 3/13 on this ground a couple of days ago vs KKR.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 29, MI 16, DC 13.
  • Delhi Capitals (138/4) beat Mumbai Indians (137/9) earlier this year after MI beat them four times in the UAE last season.
  • If Prithvi Shaw is fit, he will have to overcome a poor record against MI (7 inns, 60 runs, avg. 8.57).
  • MI could look to play Jayant Yadav. In his last four games vs DC, he has taken 1/25 three times and 0/18 in the other.
  • DC could be tempted to play Amit Mishra. He took 4/24 vs MI earlier this year, part of 19 wickets in 14 matches for DC against Mumbai.
  • Mumbai Indians are scoring at just 8.23 runs per over at the death in IPL 2021, which is their worst in any season.

Possible Playing 11

Mumbai Indians: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. Quinton de Kock (wk), 3. Suryakumar Yadav, 4. Saurabh Tiwary, 5. Hardik Pandya, 6. Kieron Pollard, 7. Krunal Pandya, 8. Nathan Coulter-Nile, 9. Rahul Chahar, 10. Trent Boult, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Delhi Capitals: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Steve Smith/Prithvi Shaw, 3. Shreyas Iyer, 4. Rishabh Pant (c & wk), 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Lalit Yadav, 7. Axar Patel, 8. R Ashwin, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Avesh Khan, 11. Anrich Nortje

Sharjah Pitch Report and Weather

Despite the small boundaries, run-scoring has been challenging at Sharjah in IPL 2021. The last three scores on this ground are 125/7, 127/9 and 134/7, with the chasing team winning the last two. Expect similar pitch conditions on what is set to be another very hot day.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

IPL 2021 Match 46: MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 46: MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IPL 2021 Match 46: MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 46: MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Base team:

IPL 2021 Match 46: MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 46: MI vs DC Fan2Play

2, 3, 4 player challenge teams

IPL 2021 Match 46: MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 46: MI vs DC Fan2Play

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

This one can go either way. A total in the region of 140 batting first could be a tough chase. Mumbai, with their great recent record vs DC, to win.

IPL 2021 Match 45: KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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IPL 2021 Match 45: KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2021 Match 45: KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KOL vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Dubai Pitch Report

Time is running out for Punjab Kings. Yet again, the Kings have not performed up to scratch in an IPL tournament, and are on the brink of missing out on the playoffs.

After their disappointing loss in a crucial game vs MI, KL Rahul spoke of how his team has struggled to handle pressure in IPL 2021. Today, the pressure intensifies even further, as this is effectively do-or-die given the difference in net run rate between they and their opponent.

And that opponent is the in form Kolkata Knight Riders. Victory here for KKR puts them four points clear of Punjab, and given how superior their net run rate is already, it will almost certainly come down to they and Mumbai Indians for the final playoffs spot.

Eoin Morgan’s team will be aiming to continue their fine run, with three victories in four matches since the restart. Last time out, Sunil Narine led the way as KKR beat high-flying Delhi in a tough match. Will they take a huge step towards playoffs qualification here?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Punjab Kings:

  • Punjab Kings have lost seven out of nine games in which KL Rahul has scored below 25. So, the PBKS skipper is crucial to his team’s hopes.
  • Rahul has four half-centuries in 10 innings vs KKR, with an overall average of 35.11 and strike rate of 142.99. Also, he loves batting at Dubai, with 441 runs in nine innings at an average of 55.13 and strike rate of 138.68.
  • Mayank Agarwal is expected to return after missing the last match due to back soreness. He has scored 183 runs in six innings for PBKS vs KKR at an average of 36.80 and strike rate of 134.56, including the top-scorer earlier this season (31).
  • Aiden Markram will be key in the absence of Chris Gayle. The Protea has scored 26*, 27 and 42 in the UAE leg of the tournament, part of 560 runs at an average of 32.94 and strike rate of 135.27 in 21 T20s this year.
  • Ravi Bishnoi has also been excellent in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 (3/24 and 2/25). He enjoys bowling at Dubai, with nine wickets in 24 overs at an average of 18.33.
  • Against KKR, Bishnoi has taken three scalps in as many matches at an average of 21.33 and economy rate of 5.33.
  • Mohammed Shami was expensive against MI (1/42), but was in fine form in his previous two matches (3/21 and 1/14). His 3/21 was at Dubai, part of 14 wickets in 10 matches on this ground (avg. 20.43, SR 16.57).
  • Shami has taken seven wickets in five matches for PBKS vs KKR (avg. 21.29, econ. 7.83), including 1/25 earlier this season.
  • Arshdeep Singh loves bowling at Dubai. He took a five-wicket haul against RR earlier this season, part of 12 wickets in five matches on this ground at an average of 12.75 and strike rate of 8.92.
  • Arshdeep will be aiming to improve on his record vs KKR, which reads: 4 inns, 2 wickets, avg. 47.00, econ. 8.81.

Kolkata Knight Riders:

  • He is bowling well, and has been a breath of fresh air with the bat. The stage is set for Venkatesh Iyer to deliver once again. He took 2/29 in four overs last game vs DC, and has made scores of 41*, 53, 18 and 14 in the UAE leg of IPL 2021.
  • Shubman Gill has a superb record against PBKS. In six innings against them, Gill has struck 218 runs at an average of 72.65 and strike rate of 132.62.
  • At Dubai, Gill has 109 runs to his name in three innings (top score 47).
  • Rahul Tripathi missed out against DC (9), but looked in fine touch in the previous two matches (74* and 45). He scored 41 (32) vs PBKS earlier this season.
  • Eoin Morgan has been in horrendous form, but this could be the match he rediscovers his touch. He was player of the match against PBKS earlier this season, with 47* (40) and three catches. In six innings for KKR vs PBKS, Morgan has struck 228 runs at an average of 45.60 and strike rate of 136.53.
  • Sunil Narine is on fire. He has sent a reminder of his talent after being left out of West Indies’ World Cup squad, with figures of 0/20, 1/20, 3/41 and 2/18 in the UAE leg. He also helped seal a tough chase vs DC with a 10-ball 21.
  • And the good news may continue for Narine. No bowler has more wickets in KKR-PBKS matches than Narine, with 30 scalps in 20 matches at an average of 17.70 and strike rate of 15.40, including 2/22 earlier this season.
  • If Lockie Ferguson is fit, watch out. The fast bowler has taken figures of 2/24, 2/27, 1/33 and 2/10 in the UAE leg.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 28, KKR 19, PBKS 9.
  • KKR (126/5) beat PBKS (123/9) with 19 balls to spare earlier in IPL 2021.
  • Two games ago, Dinesh Karthik struck an excellent 11-ball 26 vs CSK. Karthik, the finisher, could be key here against a team he enjoys playing against (7 inns, 185 runs, avg. 46.25, SR 188.78).
  • Rahul Tripathi is averaging 53.8 and striking at 154 in the middle overs in IPL 2021.
  • Prasidh Krishna took 3/30 vs PBKS earlier this season.

Possible Playing 11

Chris Gayle has left the IPL bubble citing bubble fatigue. He is aiming to be fit and firing for the T20 World Cup.

Punjab Kings: 1. KL Rahul (c & wk), 2. Mayank Agarwal, 3. Aiden Markram, 4. Nicholas Pooran, 5. Deepak Hooda/Shahrukh Khan, 6. Fabian Allen, 7. Harpreet Brar, 8. Ravi Bishnoi, 9. Nathan Ellis, 10. Arshdeep Singh, 11. Mohammed Shami

Andre Russell is expected to miss this game as well as he has a hamstring injury. Also, Lockie Ferguson is in doubt after failing to complete his overs against Delhi Capitals.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Shubman Gill, 2. Venkatesh Iyer, 3. Rahul Tripathi, 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Eoin Morgan (c), 6. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7. Sunil Narine, 8. Tim Southee, 9. Ben Cutting/Lockie Ferguson, 10. Prasidh Krishna/Sandeep Warrier, 11. Varun Chakravarthy

Dubai Pitch Report and Weather

The chasing team has won three of the last four matches on this ground. The average first innings score in these four matches is 153, which calls for the team batting first to get closer to 170 on a good batting pitch.

More warm and clear weather is forecast.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

IPL 2021 Match 45: KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KOL vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Dubai Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 45: KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IPL 2021 Match 45: KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KOL vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Dubai Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 45: KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

IPL 2021 Match 45: KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KOL vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Dubai Pitch Report

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

Even with the absence of key players, KKR look good for a win against a team they have a great record against. Punjab’s hopes mostly lie with KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal (if fit) at the top.

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