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PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Aditya Narsale
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PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Today | Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

With Lahore Qalandars fighting for a top-two finish and Karachi Kings desperate for a win to keep their play-off hopes alive, it is going to be a mouth-watering contest. As we enter the business end of league stages in PSL 2021, it’s time for a blockbuster contest between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars in match no. 27 of the tournament. 

Karachi Kings have lost three matches in a row while the Lahore Qalandars have gone down in their last two fixtures after a bright start to the Abu Dhabi leg. Following their string of losses, Kings find themselves at No. 5 in the points table with three wins and five defeats from eight games. Lahore Qalandars are better placed at No. 3, with five victories and three losses.

So all the fans will be strictly eyeing on the match 27, which is to be played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi today. 

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Karachi Kings:

  • Babar Azam: The charismatic right-handed batsman had a rare failure in the previous contest against Peshawar Zalmi as he was dismissed for a golden duck. Kings suffered a dramatic collapse post that and it signifies the importance of Azam in the side. Having scored 424 runs in 8 matches so far, the Pakistan skipper will have to be at his absolute best in this all-important contest.
  • Also, Babar has the most runs in KAR-LAH matches, with 333 at an average of 41.63.
  • Imad Wasim: Karachi Kings’ captain Imad Wasim has had a mixed season in PSL 2021 so far. He has not been able to make too much of an impact with both bat and ball but has chipped in with some valuable contributions. Coming on the back of a good all-round performance where he scored 19 runs and had bowling figures of 2/2, Wasim will need to lead from the front against Qalandars.
  • Mohammad Amir: KAR’s bowling seems to be very dependent on the left arm pacer Amir. The talisman brings a lot of variations through and he will be one of  the most important players in this business end of the tournament.
  • Amir has the most wickets in KAR-LAH matches, with 11 scalps in 10 matches.

Lahore Qalandars:

  • Fakhar Zaman: Fakhar Zaman has been brilliant in some of the games this season. But he needs not to repeat his mistakes. He will be looking forward to score big against KAR like he did the previous time when the respective teams faced. 
  • Fakhar has scored 293 runs (second-most in KAR-LAH matches) at an average of 29.30.
  • James Faulkner: LAH’s new signing James Faulkner has been on a roll since resumption of PSL 2021, having already taken 11 wickets in only 4 appearances for the franchise. The veteran Aussie all-rounder has completely bamboozled the batsmen with his slower ones and back-of-the-hand delivery and will be looking to continue his impressive run of form in this crucial match.
  • Rashid Khan: Rashid Khan started the second leg of PSL 2021 with a couple of impressive spells. He also picked up a five-wicket haul against the Peshawar Zalmi. However, in the last two games, he has been taken for a few runs. Nevertheless, with an economy rate of 5.50, he is the most frugal bowler for the Qalandars. Not to forget that he can get handy runs lower down the order.
  • Tim David: Tim David has managed to make quite an impression in the second half of the tournament. The powerful right-hander, who plays international cricket for Singapore, has so far smashed 136 runs in four innings at an average of 68 and a strike rate of 158.13. David has scores of 23*, 64*, 3 and 46 in this edition and has failed only once with the bat. 

Stats and Facts

  • Head to head : Matches 12 ,Karachi Kings 7 , Lahore Qalandars 5
  • Last 5 matches : Karachi 3 , Lahore 2.
  • The Qalandars have now lost successive games and after another batting collapse, must consider making changes, with Australian batter Callum Ferguson surely in the frame to come into the side.
  • Still Karachi can reach the eliminator match, although they will almost certainly need to win their last two games, so may need to look at switching the lineup up in a bid to turn their fortunes around.

Possible Playing 11

Karachi Kings: 1. Sharjeel Khan 2. Babar Azam 3. Martin Guptill 4. Chadwick Walton (wk), 5. Najibullah Zadran, 6. Imad Wasim (C), 7. Aamer Yamin, 8. Abbas Afridi, 9. Waqas Maqsood, 10. Mohammad Amir, 11. Noor Ahmad

Lahore Qalandars: 1. Fakhar Zaman, 2. Sohail Akhtar (C), 3. Zeeshan Ashraf, 4. Mohammad Hafeez, 5. Ben Dunk (wk), 6. Tim David, 7. Rashid Khan, 8.James Faulkner, 9. Ahmad Daniyal, 10. Shaheen Afridi, 11. Haris Rauf

Sheikh Zayed Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather Report

With this being the second PSL 2021 game of the day, the pitch could be slower than usual, bringing the bowlers into play. Apart from getting some movements with the new ball, the pacers should also be able to extract extra bounce off the surface. Although the spinners will find it difficult to grip the ball, they will play a crucial role in the middle overs. 170 should be par at the venue, with dew likely to play a huge role in the proceedings.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Today | Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction Today | Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Match 27: KAR vs LAH Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

This is a duel between two misfiring batting units in recent matches with Karachi Kings in particular in must win territory following their horrible turn of form since the resumption of the Pakistan Super League. However, facing a bowling attack consisting of Afghanistan spin-bowling superstar Rashid Khan and Pakistan international fast bowler Shaheen Afridi doesn’t bode well for Imad Wasim’s side here. Providing Karachi opener Babar Azam is dismissed relatively early on and the batters of Lahore Qalandars play sensibly without suffering a collapse of wickets within a short time period, then Sohail Akhtar’s men should come out on top.

Written by Aditya Narsale. Follow Aditya on Twitter today.

WTC Final: 5 key factors that can determine the result

Tarkesh Jha
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WTC Final: 5 key factors that can determine the result

WTC Final: 5 key factors that can determine the outcome of the game | Who will achieve a positive WTC Final result? 5 key factors that will determine result

Outcomes of major events such as the finale of the World Test Championship (WTC) are drawn from factors more than one. A variety of reasons come together to hand over the trophy to the deserving victor, and it is not as black and white as generalists would like to conform it to.

Several intricate elements are set to combine and thereby determine the eventual champion of the first edition of the WTC. Both these sides lack neither talent nor do they require any recognition as such. But here, we attempt to elaborate on certain very key factors that will have a huge role to play behind the final result of much-anticipated contest.

Contribution of Indian openers

Any successful Test team massively relies on the solid foundation provided by their opening pair. Moreover, conditions in England demand the openers to display some solid character, which can shield the coming batsmen from the initial bout of the wrath of the moving ball. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will have quite a challenge in front of them considering that the Kiwi pacers will be well-versed with the conditions on offer.

Rohit doesn’t boast of the best of records in seaming conditions but his overall game has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years. He has honed the tendency to dig it out initially and capitalize on the same to notch a big total afterward. Shubman, with all his class and quality, isn’t riding on the best of forms as of now. Yet, both of them are perfectly capable of carrying out the said task and the Indians will be banking on them to do it well.

Also read: Is the opening combination a concern for India in the WTC Final?

How do the big guns perform?

This is the showpiece event of the inaugural WTC, and is bound to host some remarkably prodigious players. Commeth the hour, commeth the man is saying that goes along in cricket as well as anywhere else. The likes of Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult will be attracting all the gazes though the inputs and performances of the other players will be just as equal.

Yet, teams rely on the best of players to bail them out of adverse situations and hence the input of the aforementioned individuals becomes all the way more important for the coming game.

They have the ability to completely dictate the terms of the game, and win it on their own, as clichéd as it may sound. Will the big guns step up? They absolutely have to as the whole cricketing world will have their eyes set on this particular encounter. The stakes don’t get bigger than this, especially in the whites.

The wicketkeepers’ battle

A champion: Top 5 Test knocks of BJ Watling | Looking at the top knocks of keeper-batsman BJ Watling in Test cricket for New Zealand
WTC Final result: BJ Watling will be playing his final Test match.

Both Rishabh Pant and BJ Watling’s prominence in their respective Test teams has grown significantly in the last few years. Moreover, the two individuals possess such contrasting playing styles and still continue to hold the key for their team’s success in this championship.

Pant, renowned for his swashbuckling style of play, has holistically improved in the last year to become an irreplaceable asset to the Indian team. On the other hand, Watling’s innate ability to save his side from precarious situations and do it ever so consistently deserves as much praise as well. Down the order, these two men will be in-charge of holding the lower-middle order together.

Their wicket-keeping skills are surely going to be put to Test especially if there is some assistance to the pacers. Pant and Watling have been critical to their respective team’s journey to the WTC finale and they will be absolutely instrumental in Southampton too.

Will New Zealand edge ahead with prior match practice?

The Kiwis played a couple of Test matches vs England ahead of the WTC finale. How much will adequate match practice with top-quality opposition right before the start of the WTC final benefit them in the all-critical encounter?

New Zealand achieved an excellent 1-0 series win – their first in England since 1999. They had the better of both Tests, with the second match in particular a great show of New Zealand’s depth. To achieve a positive WTC Final result, New Zealand will be hoping they can build on their two Test matches vs England.

Who manages to hold onto their nerves till the end?

At the end, at this stage, the ability to hold your nerves in the most delicate of circumstances determines your luck more than anything else. See, these two sides have made it to the final of the WTC because they boast of some seriously incredible quality in their ranks. Yet, the side that will be lifting the trophy will have much more than sheer talent in its roster.

That particular team will boast of a fighting spirit bar none, a tenacious attitude to work around alien conditions, the smartness to capitalize on the shortest of openings and finally the composure to keep its head in the right place as the game enters its decisive stages.

Both India and the Kiwis haven’t done particularly well in knockout events in recent times. But, the Indian team showed some unparalleled character in the tour to Australia late last year. If they hold on to that kind of spirit, we all are in for one memorable ride from June 18th onward!

Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.

5 areas of concern for India ahead of the WTC Final

Debashish Sarangi
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5 areas of concern for India ahead of the WTC Final

5 areas of concern for India ahead of the WTC Final | We look at 5 key areas of concern for Team India in the WTC Final against New Zealand

After two years of rigorous contests between 9 teams on the cricket field, we have finally found the top two sides in India and New Zealand, who will lock horns with each other in the much awaited final of the first ever World Test Championship (WTC). This historic face off is going to take place at Southampton and promises to be a belter of a contest.

While New Zealand are boosted with confidence after their recent series victory against England, India are going to play their first Test on the English soil after almost 3 years and hence are expected to face certain challenges against the Kiwis in the Final. In this article, I am going to mention five such areas of concern for the Indian team ahead of the WTC final. Here we go.

Inexperience of Openers in English conditions

Opening the batting in England is a big task as you have to be technically solid and your feet movements have to be decisive against the ever-moving Dukes ball. There are some things a batsman needs to adopt in order to be successful in tackling the new ball in England, which he gets with the experience of playing in English conditions.

But, if I talk about the Indian openers, Rohit Sharma has played just a single Test in England back in 2014, whereas Shubman Gill is yet to play an international match in England. Facing bowlers like Southee, Boult and Jamieson with little experience of the English conditions is definitely not going to be an easy task for the Indian openers.

Form of Virat Kohli in WTC cycle

Virat Kohli has dominated world cricket for more than a decade, but he wasn’t at his absolute best in the WTC. Although he has scored 877 runs at a decent average of 43.85, his average since the New Zealand tour is a mere 24. He had a horrible outing in New Zealand and although he hit 3 half centuries in his next 8 Test innings, his inconsistency with the bat was evident. He is the most important batsman for India in England as he scored almost 25 percent of India’s runs in their tour back in 2018. So, if he continues his abysmal run with the bat, it will definitely create some huge concerns for team India in the final of this mega event.

Psychological pressure of playing against the Kiwis

India’s record against New Zealand hasn’t been encouraging in the recent past. They lost the 2019 World Cup semi final against New Zealand and were later beaten badly in the ODIs and Tests in New Zealand in 2020. Talking about the ICC events, India have never won a single match against the Kiwis since their meeting in the 2003 World Cup Super Sixes. So, definitely there will be some psychological pressure of facing New Zealand in an all important final as the demons of the New Zealand tour would be playing in the minds of the Indian players.

Selection dilemma

Although the top 6 of the Indian batting order is almost sorted, there is some confusion regarding the bowling line up. Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been integral parts of the Indian team throughout the WTC cycle. Jadeja has developed his batting to the core and has scored some priceless runs for the team in crunch situations. Further, he is always valuable with the ball and is probably the most important member of the fielding unit. So, his place is almost certain in the XI.

But, looking at the weather forecast of Southampton which predicts rain, India might get tempted to go with four seamers potentially leaving R Ashwin out. But, it won’t be an easy call as it seems, because Ashwin also has been a phenomenal match winner for India over the years and is their most successful bowler in the WTC cycle.

Secondly, Mohammed Siraj has the variations that might prove to be instrumental in English conditions. He swings the ball, can bowl with a wobbled seam, has a good nip backer as well as a mean bouncer. So, India might get tempted to include him in the XI, but the question is whom they would drop in that case. These are the certain questions before the Indian management heading to the final.

India’s recent record in England

Last time India won a Test series in England was back in 2007. After that, they have lost 11 Tests and won just 2 on English soil. These facts indicate that the Indian team doesn’t really enjoy playing in England. Also, India have lost both their Tests in Southampton, where the final is scheduled to be played. So, this is definitely an added disadvantage on their side.

There is no doubt regarding India’s prowess as a brilliant Test side, but these are certain concerns they need to address before the final against a strong New Zealand side.

Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today. 

WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game

Tarkesh Jha
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WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game

WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game | Looking at three unlikely players who could significantly impact the WTC Final

India and New Zealand are set to face each other for the showpiece encounter of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) at Southampton from 18th June onward. Both teams have endured their own set of challenges before making their way to the final stages of this prestigious tournament.

The match is bound to attract some terrific traction owing to the quality of players set to take part in it – from the likes of Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Ross Taylor, Ajinkya Rahane to several othes. There must be many dibs as to who could turn out to be decisive performer for either of the teams in the encounter.

However, here we attempt to look at players who might miss people’s attention when they look forward to this big game. Yet, these individuals can prospectively turn the tides of the forthcoming finale, quite unexpectedly. Without further ado, let us elaborate on them.

Shubman Gill

Rohit Sharma’s struggles against the moving ball are well documented over the years. The Kiwi pacers are expected to be on the money right from the word go, especially considering that they will be playing in conditions slightly familiar to the one that they are accustomed to back home.

In that case, India will need Shubman Gill to provide a solid start right at the top, in order to prevent the Indian batting order from faltering apart early on in the innings. Gill had a splendid series vs Australia, where his contributions were probably overshadowed by the extraordinary brilliance of Rishabh Pant.

Then, he had a very underwhelming run against England at home. However, with the class that he possesses, Gill has shown Down Under that he can very well upstage his game according to the magnitude of the situation. Whilst the Kiwis focus on the likes of Rohit, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, Shubman Gill could well sneak in to make an impactful contribution in the game.

BJ Watling

WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game | Looking at three unlikely players who could significantly impact the WTC Final
WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game – BJ Watling

BJ Watling has carved an incredible name for himself in recent years with his study, consistent performances down the order for New Zealand. His is a name that often tends to go under the radar when one looks at the incredibly talented Kiwi batting order.

However, Watling has over the years shown some tremendous character to bail his team out of tricky situations. Moreover, he has developed an innate ability to guide the innings with tail-enders, something that could come to haunt the Indian bowling unit. Indian bowlers have often fallen short in quickly wrapping up the lower order of the opposition, thus enabling them to run away with the innings.

The Virat Kohli-led side has improved leaps and bounds on this factor in recent times. Yet, they must ensure that they are as ruthless and efficient with the tail as they are with the Kiwi top order; else, Watling can slyly take a very critical game out of India’s hands. 

Ishant Sharma

WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game | Looking at three unlikely players who could significantly impact the WTC Final
WTC Finals: 3 unlikely players who can impact the game – Ishant Sharma

Experience comes in extremely handy in high-pressure matches like this one. With 101 Test matches under his belt, Ishant Sharma will be raring to perform well in probably the most important game of his career in whites so far.

Jasprit Bumrah’s sheer excellence coupled with Mohammed Shami’s terrific seam bowling and wicket-taking ability tend to eclipse the key role that Ishant carries out in the bowling unit. His ability to bowl long spells, maintain consistent line and lengths and strike absolutely critical wickets at crucial moments are largely underrated in world cricket.

Moreover, he has the ability to tweak his strategies according to the demands of the situation too, something that only seasoned players manage to execute perfectly in challenging circumstances.

The conditions at offer in Southampton will demand a tenacious, consistent approach from the bowlers. Ishant has honed those skills in abundance in the recent years and could perhaps have the key to India’s prospective success in the WTC Finals.

Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.

PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction | Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

Stop the press. Quetta Gladiators picked up a superb victory yesterday against one of the favourites in Lahore Qalanders to keep their distant playoff hopes alive. Jake Weatherald, who made his second 40+ score in three games, led the way with the bat as Khurram Shahzad and Usman Khan Shinwari took three wickets each to defend their score of 158.

Yesterday’s result certainly makes this one an interesting clash. Multan Sultans sit two points ahead of the Gladiators, but still have some breathing room due to Quetta’s horrendous net run rate of -1.467. Nonetheless, they will be after a strong display here as they can move two points clear of the struggling Karachi Kings and take one huge step towards the playoffs in the process. They have won both their matches in the UAE leg of PSL 2021 so far, and will be confident in their ability to make it three in a row.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Multan Sultans:

  • Mohammad Rizwan is in scintillating touch. The star keeper-batsman needs 17 runs to overtake Babar Azam as PSL 2021’s top run-scorer (currently Rizwan has 408 runs at an average of 68 and strike rate of 140.20). He has scored 29 (23) and 82* (56) in the UAE leg so far.
  • Also, Rizwan scored 66 off 50 balls vs Gladiators earlier in PSL 2021.
  • Rilee Rossouw has enjoyed success against Gladiators. He has a century to his name against them (2 inns, 103 runs, SR 198.08). He also scored a 24-ball 44 in his first game after the PSL restart.
  • Sohaib Maqsood is coming off an incredible 31-ball 61 against Zalmi three days ago. He also scored 31 (14) in the game before against Karachi. Dangerous player.
  • Shahnawaz Dhani was player of the match in Sultans’ last game. He took 4/31 against Zalmi, in addition to the 3/44 he took against Quetta earlier this season.
  • Imran Tahir has the most wickets in MUL-QUE matches. He has taken eight wickets in just four matches. Key bowler.

Quetta Gladiators:

  • Jake Weatherald has made scores of 43, 13 and 48 since the PSL 2021 restart. Given that Faf du Plessis is unlikely to play and Andre Russell is no longer in the squad, Weatherald will be key again.
  • Usman Khan scored a duck yesterday, but he comes up against a team whom he enjoyed success against. He hit 81 (50) against Multan earlier in PSL 2021.
  • Sarfaraz Ahmed has scored the third-most runs of any player in PSL 2021 (8 inns, 257 runs, avg. 42.83, SR 139.67). However, Quetta will be hoping the skipper improves on a poor record vs Multan which reads: 4 inns, 47 runs, avg. 15.67, SR 92.16.
  • Usman Shinwari was excellent yesterday, providing Quetta with much-needed spark (3/32). Khurram Shahzad was also terrific, taking 3/14.
  • Mohammad Nawaz has six wickets in six games against Multan, and is coming off 2/16 yesterday against Lahore.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 7, Multan Sultans 2, Quetta Gladiators 4, NR 1.
  • One of Quetta’s two wins came against Multan, back in the Karachi leg of PSL 2021.
  • A win for Multan today officially knocks Quetta out of the tournament.

Possible Playing 11

Multan Sultans: 1. Shan Masood, 2. Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), 3. Sohaib Maqsood, 4. Rilee Rossouw, 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Khushdil Shah, 7. Sohail Tanvir, 8. Blessing Muzarabani, 9. Shahnawaz Dhani, 10. Imran Khan, 11. Imran Tahir

Quetta Gladiators: 1. Jake Weatherald, 2. Usman Khan, 3. Cameron Delport, 4. Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), 5. Azam Khan, 6. Mohammad Nawaz, 7. Hassan Khan, 8. Usman Shinwari, 9. Zahoor Khan, 10. Mohammad Hasnain, 11. Khurram Shahzad 

Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score in the 10 PSL 2021 matches at Abu Dhabi is 159.30. The team batting first has won six of those matches, but the inconsistencies remain with regards to batting scores. For example, Islamabad are firing, but teams like Karachi aren’t. So, the top orders will be key.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction | Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction | Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Match 25: MUL vs QUE Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

Quetta have a fine record vs Multan. However, to have their best chance of winning here, they must overcome the Sultans top order. Should be an interesting clash.

Opinion: NZ should go with this attack for WTC Final

Vaibhav Tripathi
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Opinion: NZ should go with this attack for WTC Final

Opinion: NZ should go with this attack for WTC Final | Looking at the bowling combination New Zealand should go with for the WTC Final

We’re just a few days away from the grand finale of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) between India and New Zealand at Rose Bowl, Southampton.

The build-up to the all-important final has already bought a lot of excitement among the fans. India have started with their preparations while New Zealand are coming off a historic series win over England. Both the camps are travelling with a big contingent and have few selection dilemmas which they need to fix before taking the field on June 18.

On Tuesday (June 15), New Zealand announced a strong-looking 15-member squad which cleared many things. Ajaz Patel has been named as the specialist spinner in the squad after his impressive show in the second Test against England at Edgbaston. Mitchell Santner, the other spinning option, has been left out of the 15-man squad. Colin de Grandhomme’s return spiced up the debate for the final XI as he missed out on the Edgbaston Test.

Kane Williamson-led New Zealand’s batting is pretty much sorted with no changes expected in the top 6. The race is between the bowlers to make the final cut. New Zealand have the luxury of quality seam bowling options in Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry, and with the addition of Ajaz as a front line spinning option there could well be a possibility that New Zealand have to rechalk their selection plans for the epic final.

Considering the conditions which will be on offer in Southampton, let us have a look at the best bowling attack for New Zealand in the WTC final.

Tim Southee

The veteran fast-bowler is the leader of New Zealand’s bowling attack. Southee is one of the best bowlers when the ball is moving and in seam-friendly English conditions, he is certainly going to pose a huge challenge to the Indian batting group. The last time he bowled in whites he bagged a five-wicket haul at the home of cricket, Lord’s. New Zealand would be hoping for big returns from their most experienced bowler in the group. He’s been the most successful bowler for his nation in the WTC cycle as he picked 51 wickets in only 10 matches at an average of 20.66. His battle against Kohli in particular will be key.

Trent Boult

Embed from Getty Images

Southee’s partner in crime, Trent Boult, brings variety into the attack with his left-arm angle. The ability to move the new ball at a good pace is what Boult brings to this side with lots of international cricket experience behind his back. The left-arm pacers have always been a nightmare for the Indian batsmen, irrespective of what the format is. Trent Boult’s swinging deliveries against the top 5 right-hand batsmen of the Indian eleven, – especially Rohit Sharma – will be a sight to watch for all the fans around the world.

Kyle Jamieson

Opinion: NZ should go with this attack for WTC Final | Looking at the bowling combination New Zealand should go with for the WTC Final

Jamieson has been the find for New Zealand since his Test debut in 2020. He has 39 scalps in seven Tests at a staggering average of 15.15, including four 5-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul. He adds value with the bat as well and can get you quick runs in the lower order. Jamieson can swing it both ways and with the towering height being an advantage of his, he can cause some serious damage to a strong Indian team. There are no doubts whatsoever that Jamieson will be the third seamer of the team and is a sure starter alongside Southee and Boult for the Blackcaps on June 18.

Neil Wagner

Opinion: NZ should go with this attack for WTC Final | Looking at the bowling combination New Zealand should go with for the WTC Final

It all comes down to the selection of the fourth seam bowling option and it is going to be a tough decision for New Zealand management. Matt Henry was the man of the match in the last Test at Edgbaston but he’s unlikely to get a nod ahead of Neil Wagner.

Wagner has been the workhorse for New Zealand. The Test specialist is one of the rare breeds of bowlers who can give 9-11 overs in one spell. He’s one kind of bowler every captain wants in his team, as he brings something extra to this New Zealand side. The left-arm pacer is a strong character and has shown that he has the skills to get wickets with Dukes. His tried-and-tested method is going short at the batsman and can certainly turn the tides in the blink of an eye. He has shown in the second Test in Birmingham that he can swing the ball and operate effectively in a more conventional role, too.

Ajaz Patel

The lone spinner in New Zealand’s 15-man group for the WTC final is expected to make the cut due to the nature of the Southampton wicket. Southampton in the last few years has offered dry wickets which assist the spinners and if the trend continues, then Ajaz will hold on to his place in the XI.

Ajaz is coming off a good game time at Edgbaston where he bagged a few wickets, and this very performance took him ahead of Mitchell Santner in the race to make it to the WTC Final squad. The Indian batsmen have never faced Ajaz and with five right-handers set to be in India’s top 5, the Blackcaps first-choice spinner could well present a fresh challenge to Virat Kohli’s men if the pitch plays true to character.

Possible Swaps:

Colin de Grandhomme makes their batting order more formidable and is relentless with the ball in seam-friendly conditions. He can play the role of the fourth seamer, if the track is doing a bit too much then he can come in for Ajaz Patel or Neil Wagner.

Chances of precipitation are there for the one-off final and this could well tempt the Kiwis to back their traditional strength and play both Wagner and de Grandhomme, thus leaving out Ajaz Patel.

Predicted playing XI of NZ for WTC Final:

1. Devon Conway, 2. Tom Latham, 3. Kane Williamson, 4. Ross Taylor, 5. Henry Nicholls, 6. BJ Watling, 7. Kyle Jamieson, 8. Ajaz Patel, 9. Tim Southee, 10. Neil Wagner, 11. Trent Boult.

ENG-W vs IND-W Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
ENG-W vs IND-W Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

ENG-W vs IND-W Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG-W vs IND-W Test Dream11 Prediction Today | England Women vs India Women Key Players | Bristol Pitch Report

In a week where the World Test Championship Final is deemed as a major moment in the game’s longest format, so too is a drought-breaking women’s Test that has the potential to deliver an intriguing battle.

It is hard to believe that India will be playing their first Test since 2014 – and just their fourth since 2006 – given the status and sheer size of their cricketing board. In fact, India are on a three-match winning streak dating back to 2006, with the chance to break Australia’s record for the most consecutive women’s Test victories. And, despite such a long time between drinks, eight of India’s squad possess Test experience, which can hold them in good stead as the focus and attention on women’s cricket continues to grow.

England, the home side, have played a Test much more recently, back in 2019 against Australia. And they too have plenty of motivation to perform well here. Not only are England seeking to make a mark in Test cricket, but they are after their first home Test win against India in eight completed matches, which provides enough incentive for Heather Knight and co. to put on a good performance at Bristol.

Both sides have engaged in a strong limited-overs rivalry over the past 18 months, and now the attention moves to the red ball. Which side will make the best impression right away?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

England:

  • Heather Knight has gone from strength to strength especially since the start of 2020. So, the key question will be whether she can transfer her 2020 white-ball form (13 T20Is, 486 runs, avg. 40.50, SR 135.75) to the red-ball format.
  • Knight has made three 50+ scores in 13 Test innings, including a century. In her lone Test against India in 2014, she scored just the one run, so motivation will be high to succeed here.
  • Nat Sciver has the third-most Test runs of any current England cricketer. In five matches, she has 228 runs to her name at an average of 28.50. She will be key with both bat and ball.
  • Amy Jones struck 64 off 140 balls in her only Test to date, back in 2019. She played well against the high-quality Australia attack.
  • Katherine Brunt, who made her Test debut way back in 2004, has the fourth-most Test wickets of any England bowler (41, avg. 22.51). Against India, Brunt has played just the two Tests, with three wickets at an average of 27.
  • Sophie Ecclestone has been a revelation for England in white-ball cricket (61 wickets in 42 T20Is). Her accuracy and consistency will be key here as she looks to build on her six wickets in two Tests (avg. 39.00).
  • Anya Shrubsole has the third-most wickets of any current England bowler in Tests (17 in six Tests at an average of 29.23). Kate Cross took 3/42 and 3/29 against India in 2014.

India:

  • Smriti Mandhana will be undoubtedly be key for India at the top. In 2014, she struck 22 and 51 to guide India to a great victory.
  • Mithali Raj has the most Test runs of any current India player (663). Also, not a single Indian batter in history averages better than her 51 (minimum 300 runs). In 2014, Raj struck a crucial 50* off 157 balls to guide India home.
  • Harmanpreet Kaur says that India are “mentally prepared” for this match despite the lack of match practice. She has a mammoth 222 matches of international limited overs experience, so India will be hoping she can transfer that experience to the red-ball format. Kaur scored just 9 and 0 in her Test in England in 2014.
  • What a cricketer Jhulan Goswami has been for India. She has the second-most Test runs of any current India player (283, avg. 25.72) and the fourth-most wickets for India ever (10 matches 40 wickets, avg. 16.62).
  • Goswami has an outstanding Test record vs England, with 29 wickets in six Tests at an average of 14.93. In 2014, she took 1/20 and 4/48 in the Test against England.
  • Shikha Pandey took 1/25 and 2/33 vs England in 2014. India will be hoping her experience comes to the fore here.

Stats and Facts

  • Heather Knight is set to captain England for the 100th time across formats.
  • England are aiming for their first home Test win against India in eight completed matches.
  • India, in their first Test in 2,401 days, will be looking to break the record for most consecutive Test wins (currently three straight wins).

Possible Playing 11

England: 1. Tammy Beaumont, 2. Lauren Winfield-Hill, 3. Heather Knight (c), 4. Amy Jones, 5. Nat Sciver, 6. Sophia Dunkley, 7. Fran Wilson/Georgia Elwiss, 8. Katherine Brunt, 9. Anya Shrubsole, 10. Sophie Ecclestone, 11. Kate Cross

India: 1. Smriti Mandhana, 2. Jemimah Rodrigues/Priya Punia, 3. Punam Raut, 4. Mithali Raj (c), 5. Harmanpreet Kaur, 6. Deepti Sharma, 7. Taniya Bhatia (wk), 8. Jhulan Goswami, 9. Shikha Pandey, 10. Poonam Yadav/Ekta Bisht, 11. Arundhati Reddy/Pooja Vastrakar

Bristol County Ground Pitch Report and Weather

Criticism has been targeted at the decision to play this Test on a used pitch. Specifically, it will be played on the same surface as Gloucestershire’s T20 Blast match against Sussex last Friday. So, expect the track to be on the slower side which can bring the spinners into the game later on.

However, after day one, rain is expected to have a say. There is a high chance of rain on Thursday and Saturday.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

ENG-W vs IND-W Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG-W vs IND-W Test Dream11 Prediction Today | England Women vs India Women Key Players | Bristol Pitch Report
ENG-W vs IND-W Test Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

ENG-W vs IND-W Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG-W vs IND-W Test Dream11 Prediction Today | England Women vs India Women Key Players | Bristol Pitch Report
ENG-W vs IND-W Test Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

A lot will depend on which team can shake off the rustiness as quickly as possible. Weather pending, this result could come down to runs on the board when batting first, and then playing from in front.

PSL 2021 Match 24: PES vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
PSL 2021 Match 24: PES vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

PSL 2021 Match 24: PES vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | PES vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Today | Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

The 24th match of PSL 2021 is a significant one. Two sides who are looking to cement their place in the top four will do battle in the Abu Dhabi lights, where a battle of nerves will make for interesting viewing.

Karachi Kings, the defending champions, have endured an inconsistent season to date with three wins and four losses. This includes two losses in two games since the PSL restart, with their latest being a harrowing defeat yesterday to Islamabad United. After posting what looked to be a winning score of 190/4, Colin Munro and Iftikhar Ahmed then took the Kings’ bowlers apart to win by eight wickets and more than an over to spare. So, with Multan Sultans on the brink of the top four, the Kings need to win this match.

Their opponents, Peshawar Zalmi, can all-but-confirm their passage to the playoffs with victory here. They currently sit in third place and can open up a buffer of four points between they and the Kings and Sultan, so they will be out to improve on recent form where they have lost two of three matches in the Abu Dhabi leg of PSL 2021. In this important game, will it be Zalmi who hold their nerve?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Peshawar Zalmi:

  • Kamran Akmal has the most runs in PES-KAR matches, with a good record to boot. In 13 innings against Karachi, Akmal has notched up 476 runs at an average of 36.62 and SR of 159.20. This includes a century.
  • Shoaib Malik will be looking to bounce back after consecutive failures in his last two games (0, 2). Malik has a modest record against his former franchise, with 169 runs in seven innings at an average of 28.17 and SR of 129.01.
  • David Miller is in some fine touch. The South African left-hander has hit scores of 21 (23), 73 (46) and 22 (14) since the PSL restart. This will be his first ever match against Karachi Kings.
  • Sherfane Rutherford is coming off a half-century (56 off 40 balls) in his last game against Multan Sultans. Also, he scored 46 off 32 balls against the Kings in the Pakistan leg of PSL 2021.
  • Wahab Riaz has taken 12 wickets in 11 matches against Karachi Kings. Also, he has 11 wickets to his name in seven innings in PSL 2021.

Karachi Kings:

  • Babar Azam is in irresistible touch. The classy batsman has hit scores of 85* and 81 since the PSL restart to shoot up to the number one runscorer in PSL 2021 (7 inns, 424 runs, avg. 106.00, SR 139.93).
  • Also, Babar has a superb record against Zalmi. In 11 innings against them, he has amassed 444 runs at an average of 49.33 and SR of 130.59.
  • Can Sharjeel Khan rediscover the form we saw in the Pakistan leg of PSL 2021? He will be looking to improve on his overall record vs Zalmi, which reads: 7 inns, 177 runs, avg. 25.29, SR 166.98.
  • Martin Guptill has made scores of 11 and 6 in his first two knocks in PSL cricket. Is this his day to fire? Against Zalmi’s up-and-down attack, it might very well be his day.
  • Najibullah Zadran smashed 71* (42) in his last outing, vs Islamabad United.
  • Mohammad Amir has taken the most wickets in PES-KAR matches (16 in 13 outings). He will be key against the capable Zalmi top four.
  • Abbas Afridi took 2/27 vs Zalmi earlier this season.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 13, Peshawar Zalmi 8, Karachi Kings 5.
  • Earlier this season, Karachi chased down Zalmi’s 188 with relative ease.
  • Imad Wasim has taken just three wickets in 10 innings against Zalmi.

Possible Playing 11

Peshawar Zalmi: 1. Haider Ali, 2. Kamran Akmal (wk), 3. Shoaib Malik, 4. David Miller, 5. Rovman Powell, 6. Sherfane Rutherford, 7. Fabian Allen, 8. Wahab Riaz (c), 9. Umaid Asif, 10. Mohammad Imran, 11. Mohammad Irfan

Karachi Kings: 1. Sharjeel Khan, 2. Babar Azam, 3. Martin Guptill, 4. Najibullah Zadran, 5. Thisara Perera, 6. Chadwick Walton (wk), 7. Imad Wasim (c), 8. Abbas Afridi, 9. Waqas Maqsood, 10. Mohammad Amir, 11. Arshad Iqbal

Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score in the eight matches at Abu Dhabi is 165.88. The team batting first has won five of those matches, but the chasing teams had a day out yesterday, with the Sultans chasing 167 with ease and Islamabad producing an amazing run chase of 191 against the Kings.

Conditions will be hot and steamy, even under lights. Who will keep their cool?

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

PSL 2021 Match 24: PES vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | PES vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Today | Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Match 24: PES vs KAR Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

PSL 2021 Match 24: PES vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | PES vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Today | Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Match 24: PES vs KAR Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

Crucial game. Peshawar have a good record vs Karachi overall, but the Kings’ top order and their bowlers will be eyeing out a big performance to resurrect their campaign. Kings to win in a tight one.

World Test Championship combined XI: Who makes the cut?

Debashish Sarangi
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0
World Test Championship combined XI: Who makes the cut?

World Test Championship combined XI: Who makes the cut? | Looking at the best 11 players from the World Test Championship period

The much-awaited Final of the first ever World Test Championship (WTC) is going to be played on 18th of this month at Southampton. The league stage of the tournament started in a grand fashion with the 2019 Ashes, and finished with the Test series between India and England. There were 59 Tests played and we witnessed some extraordinary performances by numerous players in this cycle spanning two years.

In this article, I am going to create my WTC XI with eleven such players who I think were phenomenal in the first WTC cycle. Here we go.

1. Rohit Sharma

The Indian opener was phenomenal in the WTC cycle as he amassed 1030 runs in 17 innings with the help of 4 hundreds and 2 fifties at a fabulous average of 64.37. Rohit started the WTC campaign with a bang against South Africa at home in which he smashed 529 runs including a double ton at an unbelievable average of 132.25.

In the BGT 2020-21, he played two good knocks of 52 and 44 in the two Tests he played in Sydney and Brisbane respectively. In the home series against England, he finished with 345 runs including a magnificent knock of 161 in Chennai at a superb average of 57.50. The maturity in him as a Test opener was quite visible throughout the WTC cycle.  

2. Dimuth Karunaratne

World Test Championship combined XI: Who makes the cut? | Looking at the best 11 players from the World Test Championship period
World Test Championship combined XI: Dimuth Karunaratne

Just like Rohit Sharma, Dimuth Karunaratne started his WTC campaign in an emphatic manner by scoring 247 runs including one hundred at a superb average of 61.75 against New Zealand at home. Then, he hit a gorgeous hundred at Johannesburg against South Africa and further scored 428 runs involving a hundred and a double hundred against the touring Bangladesh side. Karunaratne had 8 scores of 50 or more than that in the league stage of WTC and emerged as the best Sri Lankan batsman as well as the second highest run getter as an opener in this cycle with 999 runs at a brilliant average of 55.50.

3. Marnus Labuschagne

World Test Championship combined XI: Who makes the cut? | Looking at the best 11 players from the World Test Championship period
World Test Championship combined XI: Marnus Labuschagne

Marnus Labuschagne was the best batsman of the league stage of WTC as he accumulated a mammoth 1675 runs at an astounding average of 72.82. He crossed 50 in 14 out of the 23 innings in which he batted, which clearly signifies his terrific consistency. He started his WTC journey as a concussion substitute for Steven Smith in the Ashes 2019 and he has been incredible since then. He has had a glorious phase of two years in this WTC cycle that truly has established him as a generational batting talent in world cricket.

4. Steve Smith

World Test Championship combined XI: Steve Smith

There shouldn’t be any doubt regarding the number 4 of this XI. Steven Smith scripted one of the greatest comebacks in the history of cricket by playing a breathtaking knock of 144 in the first match of the 2019 Ashes (and WTC) at Edgbaston. He was unstoppable throughout the Ashes as he scored a huge 774 runs at a Bradmanesque average of 110.57.

Although he hasn’t been at his very best since then, his overall numbers in the WTC league stage are really tough to be ignored. He has scored 1341 runs at a splendid average of 63.85 with 4 hundreds and 7 fifties in the WTC cycle and hence is an automatic pick in this XI.

5. Kane Williamson (c)

World Test Championship combined XI: Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson, the Kiwi skipper, had a fabulous run in the WTC as he piled up 817 runs at a tremendous average of 58.35 with his highest score being a marvellous 251 against the West Indies at Hamilton on a challenging surface. He persisted with his glorious form and smashed 388 runs with another brilliant double hundred at Christchurch against Pakistan. He was the best batsman from New Zealand in WTC and the way he led his side after the harsh defeats in Australia was commendable. He played an instrumental role in New Zealand’s fightback to reach the final after the early debacle.

6. Ben Stokes

World Test Championship combined XI: Ben Stokes

If I list the players having a great impact as an allrounder, the name of Ben Stokes is right up there. Arguably the finest allrounder of this generation, Stokes is the fourth highest run scorer of this WTC cycle with 1334 runs at a really healthy average of 46 with 4 hundreds and 6 fifties.

He had a brilliant Ashes series to start with, in which he scored 441 runs at a superb average of 55.13. We certainly can’t forget his heroic knock of 135* at Headingley. Further, he had a really good tour of South Africa in which he scored 318 runs including a gorgeous knock of 120 at Port Elizabeth. Then, he went on to score another 363 runs against West Indies to start the English summer in a grand style last year. Talking about his bowling, Stokes picked 34 wickets at a really good SR of 47.9 and proved to be the “man with a golden arm” for England by providing crucial breakthroughs.

7. Rishabh Pant (wk)

World Test Championship combined XI: Rishabh Pant

To be brutally honest, it was a really difficult task for me to pick one wk-batsman between Rishabh Pant and Mohammad Rizwan as both have performed really well in the WTC league stage. I decided to pick Pant because of the impact he brings down the order.

He is someone who can take the game away from the opposition within no time. In the league stage of the WTC, Pant scored 662 runs at a really impressive average of 41.37 with one hundred and 4 fifties. He had an exceptional tour of Australia, where he smashed 274 runs at a terrific average of 68.50. His counter-attacking knock of 97 at the SCG and a match-winning knock of 89* at the Gabba are still fresh in the mind of every one of us.

He also had a great home series against England as he scored 270 runs at an average of 54 and an astounding SR of 84.11. The wickets in both these series were challenging and the oppositions had world-class bowling attacks. He went to bat on crunch situations on most occasions and emerged victorious.

8. R Ashwin

World Test Championship combined XI: R Ashwin

The finest spinner of this generation, R Ashwin is the highest wicket taker for India in the WTC cycle. Ashwin picked 67 wickets from 13 tests in this period with 4 fifers at an average of 20.88 and a brilliant SR of 46.9. He was outstanding in the home series against South Africa, Bangladesh and England. He played a very important role for India in the BGT as he bamboozled the Australian batsmen including Steven Smith on multiple occasions. Although his spell of 4 for 55 at Adelaide went in vain, his spell of 3 for 35 in the Boxing Day Test proved to be a match-winning one. He is one of the smartest operators of the cricket ball and anybody would love to have a spinner like him in the squad.

9. Kyle Jamieson

World Test Championship combined XI: Kyle Jamieson

Kyle Jamieson made his debut in the WTC and has just 7 tests to his name so far. However, the reason to include him in this XI is his sheer dominance with the ball in the WTC. Jamieson played a pivotal role in the unbeaten run of the Kiwis at home as he picked 36 wickets from just 6 matches at an unbelievable average of 13.27 and a terrific SR of 33.3. He had a fabulous start to his career in the home series against India and never looked back thereafter. He has established himself as a potent weapon and was a key factor for New Zealand in reaching the final.

10. Pat Cummins

World Test Championship combined XI: Pat Cummins

The most complete fast bowler of this generation in Tests, Cummins was the highest wicket taker of the league stage of this WTC. Cummins picked up 70 wickets in just 14 Tests at an outstanding average of 21.02 and a very good SR of 47.6.

He was magnificent in both of the most thrilling Test series Australia played in this cycle, i.e. the Ashes and the BGT as he finished as the highest wicket taker in both of them. In the Ashes, Cummins took 29 wickets at an average of below 20, whereas in the BGT he grabbed the “man of the series” award for his outstanding performance despite Australia losing the series 2-1. Thus, Cummins was undoubtedly the best bowler in the WTC cycle and hence walks into this XI as an automatic choice.

11. Stuart Broad

ENG vs PAK 1st Test Preview Dream11
World Test Championship combined XI: Stuart Broad

Known as the partner in crime of James Anderson, the experienced Stuart Broad was England’s best seamer in the WTC cycle with 69 scalps from 17 games at an amazing average of 20.08. His bowling SR of 43.4 shows the ease with which he picked wickets in the WTC cycle.

Broad was magnificent in the Ashes and finished the series as the second best bowler after Cummins with 23 dismissals to his name. He was brilliant in South Africa as he took 14 wickets at an average of just 19.43. He had a fantastic summer at home in 2020 against West Indies and Pakistan, where he picked a total of 29 wickets from 5 Tests at a superb average of just 12.79. His brilliance with the ball in the WTC cycle is well evident from these facts and hence he walks into my WTC XI.

There were so many players to choose from and I believe I have made the right choices while picking my WTC XI. Did I miss anyone? Have your say!

Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today.    

PSL 2021 Match 23: LAH vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
PSL 2021 Match 23: LAH vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

PSL 2021 Match 23: LAH vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | LAH vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Today | Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

PSL 2021 is a tale of two different stories for these two teams. Lahore Qalandars, with the in-form Rashid Khan, are seeking their first PSL Title after finishing runner’s up in last year’s edition. And as they sit in second place, they have a chance of achieving this feat, but will want a quick response after a remarkable defeat in their last outing.

After restricting Islamabad to 20/5 in 6.3 overs, Lahore then went on to concede 152/7 and lost 10/69 to fall short by 28 runs. None of their batsmen from three down reached double figures, as their seamers led the way with the ball.

At the other end is Quetta Gladiators, who have had a season to forget. With just one win to their name, the Gladiators have suffered heavy defeat after heavy defeat, with the latest being a 61-run drubbing at the hands of Peshawar Zalmi after their 10-wicket drubbing against Islamabad United the day before. Their net run rate of -1.865 effectively puts them out of playoffs contention, even if they win their last three games (as unlikely as that seems).

However, can they cause Lahore some problems here? For that to happen, they will need Andre Russell and Faf du Plessis available after both suffered concussions in recent games.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Lahore Qalandars:

  • Fakhar Zaman has the most runs in LQ-QG matches. The left-hander has 275 runs to his name at an average of 34.38 and excellent strike rate of 150.27. Fakhar dominated Quetta earlier in the season, thumping 82* off 52 balls in an easy run-chase for Lahore.
  • Also, Fakhar has the third-most runs in PSL 2021 (7 inns, 243 runs, avg. 40.50, SR 129.94).
  • Mohammad Hafeez completely dominated Quetta earlier this season, slamming 73* off 33 balls. Overall, Hafeez has struck 385 runs vs the Gladiators at an average of 35.00 and SR of 124.60.
  • Hafeez is also having a strong PSL 2021 campaign. In seven matches, Hafeez has struck 220 runs at an average of 44.00 and SR of 154.92.
  • Sohail Akhtar has made two 30+ scores in three games since the PSL 2021 restart (34, 7 and 40).
  • Tim David has been in good touch with the bat. Before his score of 3 last game, he scored 23* (15) and 64* (36) in his previous two games.
  • Watch out for Rashid Khan. He went wicketless in his last game (0/36), but in the game before, he took 5/20 to swing the game in Lahore’s favour. Also, Rashid has 22 wickets in 13 T20s at this ground.
  • James Faulkner has been excellent for Lahore. He has taken eight wickets in his three games in PSL 2021 (3/32, 2/23 and 3/19).
  • Haris Rauf took 3/38 against Quetta earlier in PSL 2021. Rauf is a genuine wicket-taker, with nine in six matches this season. Shaheen Shah Afridi has an impressive haul of 12 wickets in seven matches in PSL 2021.

Quetta Gladiators:

  • Sarfaraz Ahmed has a solid record vs Lahore. In 10 innings against them, Sarfaraz has hit 257 runs at an average of 32.13 and SR of 134.56.
  • Sarfaraz also has the most runs for Quetta in PSL 2021. He has struck 223 runs at an average of 37.16 and SR of 142.03. The next-most for Quetta is Azam Khan way behind on 124 runs at an average of just 17.71.
  • Usman Khan is enjoying a decent PSL 2021 campaign so far. In his three games, he has struck 123 runs at an average of 41.00, including a score of 81.
  • Qalandars will be hoping Andre Russell is available for this one and that he improves on his record vs Lahore. Against them, he has scored just 24 runs in three innings with the solitary wicket to his name.
  • They will also be hoping Faf du Plessis is available. In a single knock vs Lahore, du Plessis struck 31 off 25 balls.
  • Mohammad Hasnain has the most wickets for Quetta this season (seven in seven matches). He and Zahid Mahmood need to lead the way if Quetta are to improve on their bowling woes.

Also read:

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 11, Lahore Qalandars 6, Quetta Gladiators 5.
  • Lahore Qalandars (179/1) thrashed Quetta Gladiators (178/6) earlier in PSL 2021.
  • Interestingly, Lahore have won five matches and lost just two this season. However, they still have a negative net run rate of -0.078.

Possible Playing 11

Lahore Qalandars: 1. Fakhar Zaman, 2. Sohail Akhtar (c), 3. Zeeshan Ashraf, 4. Mohammad Hafeez, 5. Ben Dunk (wk), 6. Tim David, 7. Rashid Khan, 8. James Faulkner, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10. Ahmed Daniyal, 11. Haris Rauf

Andre Russell was struck on the helmet two games ago and missed the match against Peshawar. It remains to be seen if he is available today. Faf du Plessis also picked up a concussion after an ugly collision with Mohammad Hasnain. It also remains to be seen if he is available today.

Quetta Gladiators: 1. Saim Ayub, 2. Usman Khan, 3. Jake Weatherald, 4. Sarfaraz Ahmed, 5. Azam Khan, 6. Andre Russell/Cameron Delport, 7. Mohammad Nawaz, 8. Khurram Shahzad, 9. Mohammad Hasnain, 10. Zahid Mahmood, 11. Zahir Khan

Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score in the eight matches of the Abu Dhabi leg of PSL 2021 is 165.88. The team batting first has won five of those matches, but the chasing teams had a day out yesterday, with the Sultans chasing 167 with ease and Islamabad producing an amazing run chase of 191 against the Kings.

Weather conditions will be hot, as always at this time of year in Abu Dhabi.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

PSL 2021 Match 23: LAH vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | LAH vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Today | Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Match 23: LAH vs QUE Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

PSL 2021 Match 23: LAH vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | LAH vs QUE Dream11 Prediction Today | Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
PSL 2021 Match 23: LAH vs QUE Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

Anything other than a Lahore win will be a surprise, especially if Russell and du Plessis are unavailable.

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