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Who should be the Delhi Capitals Captain for IPL 2021?

Who should be the Delhi Capitals Captain for IPL 2021? | A look at who Ricky Ponting should choose as captain of Delhi Capitals in 2021

Delhi Capitals were dealt with a huge blow ahead of the IPL 2021 after their captain Shreyas Iyer dislocated his shoulder while diving in the 1st ODI between India and England. The Indian batsman has been ruled out of the upcoming edition of the IPL and the franchise will now have to look at options to replace Iyer at the helm. 

The 26-year-old took over as the skipper of the franchise in the middle of the IPL 2018, when Gautam Gambhir relinquished leadership duties and dropped himself from the playing XI. In his first full season as the captain of the Delhi Capitals, he led the team to their first playoff finish in 8 years. DC lost the Qualifier 2 to the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2019 but it was an impressive start to Iyer’s captaincy career. In the last edition of the IPL, the Delhi Capitals finished as runners-up in the UAE. 

The Capitals will explore the other alternatives who can lead the franchise and we will analyse what they bring to the table. 

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin was the captain of the Kings XI Punjab in the 2018 and 2019 edition of the IPL, but it didn’t yield much success as the franchise failed to make it to the playoffs in both the editions. 

KXIP started off winning 5 out of the 6 matches in the 2018 edition but tapered off towards the end of the campaign and a similar story panned out during the following edition. The off-spinner was traded to DC ahead of the IPL 2020 and he picked 13 wickets in the tournament at an economy rate of 7.66. 

Ashwin has shown a lot of potential as a leader and although it hasn’t translated to success on the field, the DC management might take a punt on making him the captain.  

Steve Smith

Who should be the Delhi Capitals Captain for IPL 2021? | A look at who Ricky Ponting should choose as captain of Delhi Capitals in 2021
Who should be the Delhi Capitals Captain for IPL 2021? Steve Smith for the captaincy?

With Ricky Ponting at the helm, Steve Smith could be the front-runner to lead the Delhi Capitals. Smith was roped in at the auction for 2.2 crores by the Delhi Capitals after he was released by the Rajasthan Royals. 

Under Smith’s leadership, the Royals finished with the wooden spoon in the previous edition of the IPL. However, in the past, he has done well as the skipper in the IPL. He led the Rising Pune Supergiant to the Final in the 2017 IPL, leading a team which had the likes of MS Dhoni and Rahane in it. 

However, Smith as a batsman isn’t a lock for the Delhi Capitals as they already have the likes of Marcus Stoinis and Shimron Hetmyer for the foreign slots. If the team management gives Smith the captaincy duties, the balance of the side might get affected. 

Rishabh Pant

Who should be the Delhi Capitals Captain for IPL 2021? | A look at who Ricky Ponting should choose as captain of Delhi Capitals in 2021
Who should be the Delhi Capitals Captain for IPL 2021? Rishabh Pant has been in incredible touch.

Pant was in the running to replace Gautam Gambhir as the skipper of the franchise in 2018, but lost out to Shreyas Iyer due to his inexperience at the time. In the last 3 years, Pant has matured as a batsman and cemented his place in the DC line-up. 

It will be a good opportunity for the wicket-keeper batsman who was the deputy skipper in the IPL 2020. It should have been an automatic choice but with a lot of alternatives, Pant might not get an opportunity to replace Iyer at the helm. 

In the past, Pant was the skipper of the Delhi state team and he did well as a captain as they finished as the runners-up of the Ranji Trophy 2017. However, the southpaw’s batting was affected as he added just 315 runs and averaged 35 in the tournament. 

Prithvi Shaw

Who should be the Delhi Capitals Captain for IPL 2021? | A look at who Ricky Ponting should choose as captain of Delhi Capitals in 2021
Who should be the Delhi Capitals Captain for IPL 2021? Is Prithvi Shaw as captain too big a risk?

Someone who has an outside chance of becoming the captain of the franchise is opener Prithvi Shaw. After a poor outing in IPL 2020 and the horrid tour to Australia in which he played just a solitary Test match, Shaw turned his fortunes in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. As the skipper of the Mumbai team, Shaw scored 865 runs, the most by a player in the history of the tournament. He scored at an average of 165 and a strike rate of close to 140. 

Clearly leadership hasn’t affected his batting like it did to Pant a couple of years back. 

He led Mumbai to the title in India’s premier List-A competition. Will DC give Shaw the responsibility like they did to a young Shreyas Iyer a couple of years back?

Analysing the options, it looks like an Indian player might be the best option for the franchise but the coach and the decision-makers might think otherwise.

Written by Sarthak Karkhanis. Follow Sarthak on Twitter today.

Why IPL 2021 is crucial for these 5 Indian players

Why IPL 2021 is crucial for these 5 Indian players | Looking at 5 Indian players who need to have a good IPL 2021 campaign to boost Indian squad hopes

Although India won the recent T20I series against England by a margin of 3-2, the individual performances of some players were not up to the mark. With the T20 world cup around the corner, there is still some lack of clarity regarding the best 15 to be picked for the mega event.

There are some players who would want to regain their touch by having a good IPL season, whereas some other players would like to present a strong case for themselves for a World Cup berth. Thus, the grandest T20 league will be not only a mode of entertainment for masses, but also a golden opportunity for some players. In this article, I am going to mention five Indian players, for whom performance in IPL 2021 will hold significant importance.

5. Kuldeep Yadav

Once upon a time, Kuldeep was the trump card for team India in limited overs cricket. Since the 2019 ODI World Cup, he has suffered a slump of form and looks absolutely lost at the moment.

In the last IPL, he played just 5 games and took a single wicket. Also, in the limited overs series against England, he hasn’t picked a single wicket in 2 ODIs and has conceded 152 runs from 19 overs at a miserable economy of 8.00. He is not being picked quite often in the Indian team and whenever he has got a chance, he hasn’t been able to capitalize on that. He needs to evolve his game in order to be effective once again in the international level. A breakthrough IPL season is absolutely necessary for Kuldeep to regain his form as well as confidence.

4. Sanju Samson

Why IPL 2021 is crucial for these 5 Indian players: Samson needs a big campaign.

There is absolutely no doubt on the hitting prowess of Samson. However, he hasn’t been able to impress in whatever chance he has got so far in international level.

A clean striker of the ball, Sanju Samson blew hot and cold in IPL 2020. In the following Australian tour, his returns were mediocre and that’s why he found himself dropped from the squad for the home series against England. With both Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav showing a lot of promise with their performances, it has only become tougher for Samson to make a comeback now. He has to lead the Rajasthan Royals this season and this will add an extra responsibility on his shoulders. It will be interesting to see whether he leads from the front with the bat or not. If he does so and accumulates a lot of runs, his comeback to the national team won’t be impossible.

3. Navdeep Saini

Opinion: Did RCB have a good or bad IPL 2021 auction? | Looking at the auction performance of Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2021
Why IPL 2021 is crucial for these 5 Indian players: Crucial tournament for Navdeep Saini

As a bowler who can bowl at a speed of 145 kph or more consistently, Navdeep Saini showed some really good promise in the early part of his brief international career. His issues with the ball aggravated in the IPL 2020, where he picked just 6 wickets from 13 games and conceded 379 runs at an ordinary economy of 8.30.

He also had a poor outing in the ODI series in Australia. Due to the emergence of T Natarajan as the death overs specialist alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Saini is not being considered in the playing XI these days. Also, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur have been doing well. So, the road for Navdeep Saini seems nothing but tough. He has to perform exceptionally well for RCB this season in order to ensure his existence in the Indian team.

2. Yuzvendra Chahal

Why IPL 2021 is crucial for these 5 Indian players: Can Yuzvendra Chahal deliver this season?

Another headache for the Indian team right now is the ineffectiveness of their premier spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. In the last 5 T20I series he has played, Chahal has an overall economy of 9.40 and has picked 12 wickets from 14 matches. In the recently concluded T20I series against England, he was dropped after being smashed by the Englishmen in the first three T20Is and Rahul Chahar was preferred over him in the next two T20Is.

There is absolutely no doubt on his abilities; he can win games on his own for his side on any given day, but needs some wickets to get his rhythm back. He is the lead spinner of RCB and is definitely going to play all the 14 games for them and he has to make the most out of it to become the leader of the Indian spin attack once again.

1. KL Rahul

Although nobody has ever raised a doubt on his stroke playing ability all around the park, the recent approach of KL Rahul to batting in a T20 match has certainly let the Indian team as well as his fans down. He was a beast in the IPL as well as internationals till 2018 as his numbers suggest.

Since 2019, he has amassed runs, but with a lower strike rate. His strike rate was a moderate 135.39 in IPL in 2019, which further reduced to a mere 129.34 in 2020.

He got a string of low scores including 3 ducks in the last 5 T20Is he played. Also, the emergence of Ishan Kishan has certainly posed a challenge to his position as the first choice opener in the Indian T20I team. Therefore, he needs to modify his approach slightly and maximize the benefits of the field restrictions in the first six overs by playing some aggressive cricket like once he used to play.

The upcoming IPL will provide him the opportunity to express himself to the greatest extent and he has to capitalize on that to ensure his place as the first choice opener alongside Rohit Sharma in the T20I team.

What’s your say? Should KL Rahul be in India’s first XI for the World Cup? We discussed this on The CricBlog Podcast. Video here.


So, these are the five Indian players who really need a solid IPL performance to regain their confidence and reestablish themselves in the national side. Apart from these guys, there are other young players like Mayank Markande, Ravi Bishnoi, Abdul Samad, Prithvi Shaw etc who would definitely want to present their cases for a national call up by doing well in the IPL.

IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 3rd ODI Key Players | Pune Pitch Report

Every ball seemed like a highlights package in a 337-run chase as Bairstow & Stokes went ballistic to help England record their highest chase against India and set the series for Sunday’s decider.

Like in the first game, England achieved the perfect start to the chase. Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow pulled off a 110-run stand after their onslaught in the opening ODI. In fact, this was their third consecutive ODI century stand vs India (160 in Birmingham in 2019 WC, 135 & 110 in the ongoing series).

After Roy was run out courtesy of Rohit’s excellence, Stokes came to the party and made the Indian bowlers look clueless. At one stage, he was 50 off 40 balls and then he went all guns blazing to finish with 99 off 52 balls. Unfortunately, he fell one run short of what would have been a richly-deserved hundred. However, Bairstow (124 off 112 balls) made sure he did not miss it like his first innings, and got his 11th ODI hundred. He was adjudged Man of the Match for his heroics.

The series-leveling onslaught showed up chinks in India’s bowling armory, particularly in the spin department as Kuldeep Yadav and Krunal Pandya conceded runs at an economy of 8.4 and 12 respectively. Kohli in the post-match conference said “We never had a chance during their partnership (Stokes-Bairstow), that’s how good they were. It’s rare to play at such a high strike-rate and not give any chances.”

While batting first, India lost two early wickets and needed a partnership and that happened between KL and the skipper. Virat scored 66 off 79 balls while KL (108 off 114 balls) went on to score his 5th ODI Century. It was his first hundred against England in ODIs. Rishabh Pant also made most of his opportunity and blasted an explosive 77 off 40 balls and showed why he can currently be rated as the most exciting batsmen in World Cricket.

Now, it’s all to play for in the series decider.

IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 3rd ODI Key Players | Pune Pitch Report
IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction: Ben Stokes was brilliant in the 2nd ODI.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

India

  • Rohit Sharma – In Cricblog’s previous preview, we talked about Rohit’s struggle in his 1st innings vs England and average at the venue. All our predictions were on spot but when it comes to a series decider, Rohit becomes a different player naturally. In 2018 also scored a hundred in the T20I series decider against England. He will be a good choice of C/VC only in Grand Leagues.
  • Virat Kohli – There is a lot of talk about Kohli’s Century drought but the Skipper is not bothered at all. He said “I never played for hundreds in my life, probably why I ended up getting so many in such a short while.” After losing the previous two ODI series, Kohli would like to turn the tables and, hope for a spirited performance from the team. He has two-half centuries in the series so far.
  • Shikhar Dhawan – Gabbar looked disappointed with the way he got out in the 2nd ODI and would eyeing a big knock in the decider. He is 90 runs away from 6000 ODI runs. He will be a good choice of C/VC in Grand Leagues.
  • KL Rahul- After a lean patch in T20Is, the flamboyant KL is back into the scheme of things. His confidence would be sky high after two good scores and will be a must-pick in small leagues.
  • Prasidh Krishna –  Debutant Krishna has been might impressive in this series so far. He is the highest wicket-taker of the series so far with 6 wickets, and his ball to get Jos Buttler out on a duck was praised by fans across the globe.
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar – The moment I read Michael Vaughan had said “Kumar is the most skillful bowler white-ball bowler in the world”, I prayed to God with folded hands to keep Bhuvi away from injuries. Fans across the globe know how big a jinxing machine the former England Captain has been on social media. Bhuvi will be the key with the ball and has 3 wickets in the series so far.
  • Hardik Pandya – Pandya gave the perfect finish by scoring 35 off 16 balls. Depending on the combination team India goes, he can bowl in the decider.
  • Shardul Thakur- Thakur will be key with the ball. He has 3 wickets in the series so far. Watch out for T Natarajan if he plays.

England

  • Jonny Bairstow – With his consistent match-winning performances, Bairstow is certainly putting up his name for England’s greatest ODI Batter of all time. He is the highest run-scorer of the series with 218 runs. He will certainly like to put off another show and end the two-month-long tour with a series win. 
  • Ben Stokes – Stokesy made sure that England doesn’t miss their talismanic batsmen Joe Root at No.3. In the post-match, he added We don’t fear too much to be honest. We go out and always try and play as positively as we can.” After a blinder of a knock (99 off 52 balls), the onus will be on him again to perform with both bat & ball which makes him a Top Captaincy Pick for this match. 
  • Jason Roy – Roy has a good limited-overs tour so far. After a good run in T20Is, he has 101 runs from his 2 ODI innings. He will be a good pick in all leagues.
  • Liam Livingstone – Livingstone showed no signs of rust and brought his BBL for in the subcontinent. He scored 27 off 21 balls on his debut when England lost a couple of wickets in quick succession. He will be a good pick only in Grand Leagues.
  • Mark Wood – Mostly likely Wood will be back in place of Tom Curran and will be a top pick if England bowls first. He is a wicket-taker in general, and is having a good tour.
  • Adil Rashid will be a good option to have in Grand Leagues.

Venue stats of the players were mentioned in Cricblog’s previous preview, you may check it here.

Stats and Facts 

  • Roy & Bairstow have equaled the record of Hayden & Gilchrist of 3 consecutive ODI century stands. They have a chance to break it in the series decider.
  • Bairstow’s 2nd ODI century was his first century in the sub-continent.
  • Ben Stokes’ 10 sixes was the most by an England batsman in an ODI against India.
  • H2H Record in India – India 32 Wins | England 17 Wins.
  • It has been 37 years since England has won an ODI series against India in India.

Predicted Playing XI

India: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. Rishabh Pant, 5. KL Rahul (wk), 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Krunal Pandya, 8. Shardul Thakur, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Kuldeep Yadav/T Natarajan 11. Prasidh Krishna

England: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jonny Bairstow, 3. Liam Livingstone, 4. David Malan, 5. Jos Buttler (c & wk), 6. Ben Stokes, 7. Sam Curran, 8. Moeen Ali, 9. Tom Curran/Reece Topley, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Mark Wood

Pune Pitch Report & Weather Conditions

In the Pitch Report for 2nd ODI Deep Dasgupta and Ajit Agarkar said, “You would rather be a batsman here. It looks like an even better pitch than what we had for the first game. Because there’s a little bit of grass covering and it’s a bit firm, there’ll be some help for the seamers. As a seamer, you might get something out of it. It’s firm and hard, which means the ball will carry-through. Try to bowl the hard length or the short of length balls because the extra bounce does trouble the batsmen. The pace and lengths are going to be important. This pitch looks flatter than the last one, maybe more runs scored, more boundaries hit.”

In the previous two ODIs, batters have most of their chances and a similar wicket can be expected again. There are no chances of rain and the temperature will be around 30-32 degrees Celsius. The humidity will mostly be in the 20s.

Looking for a new podcast to listen to? Check out The CricBlog Podcast, where an Aussie fan and Indian fan discuss the IND vs ENG series and other topics.

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Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 3rd ODI Key Players | Pune Pitch Report
IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 3rd ODI Key Players | Pune Pitch Report
IND vs ENG 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

England was on the rampage in the second ODI without their ODI regulars and a tough challenge awaits Team India. However, India has a good record against the visitors and will look to bounce back to win the series.

Thanks for reading!

Written by Shekhar Singh. Follow Shekhar on Twitter today.

NZ-W vs AUS-W 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

NZ-W vs AUS-W 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | NZ-W vs AUS-W 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | NZ Women vs AUS Women Key Players | Hamilton Pitch Report

You have to go back to 2017 to see the last time New Zealand beat Australia in a T20I series. Also, you have to go back to that same year for Australia’s last defeat in a T20I series. In that time, the Australian juggernaut has picked up two World Cups along the way.

So, after a break from international duty, the great Australia side is back in action against their Trans-Tasman rivals. New Zealand did in fact win their last T20I against Australia, to salvage some pride in a 2-1 series defeat in October, 2020. Amelia Kerr was particularly impressive in that outing, and New Zealand will be hoping for the same from her as they look to improve on their disappointing recent 3-0 defeat to England.

NZ-W vs AUS-W 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | NZ-W vs AUS-W 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | NZ Women vs AUS Women Key Players | Hamilton Pitch Report
NZ-W vs AUS-W 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction: Sophie Devine will be key.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

New Zealand:

  • Sophie Devine will be crucial to New Zealand’s chances. The all-rounder had a poor series vs England with the bat (2, 8, 0), but is coming off scores of 97 and 74 for Wellington in domestic cricket.
  • Devine has scored 437 runs vs Australia (3rd most for NZ) at an average of 21.85 and SR 110.35. Also, she has 28 wickets vs Australia (most for NZ) at an average of 18 and econ. 6.3.
  • Frances Mackay has been in excellent touch. She recently scored 75, 42 and 94* for Canterbury in domestic cricket. She also took 5/40 in one of the matches, showcasing her bowling ability, too.
  • Amy Satterthwaite has the second-most runs for NZ against Australia (652 runs, avg. 21.03, SR 99.54).
  • Amelia Kerr was player of the match in NZ’s last T20I vs Australia. She has a total of seven wickets in nine matches vs Australia, and will be looking to build on this.

Australia:

  • Beth Mooney recently won the Belinda Clark Award for Australia for her incredible consistency. Interestingly, though, she has a poor record vs NZ (13 inns, 187 runs, avg. 17.00). She will be out to improve on that record.
  • Her opening partner, Alyssa Healy, is always one to watch. However, like Mooney, she will be looking to improve on a poor record vs NZ (29 inns, 438 runs, avg. 17.52, SR 117.11).
  • Ashleigh Gardener was player of the series vs NZ in 2020. She scored 90 runs at an average of 45.00 and SR of 145.16.
  • Ellyse Perry has been recognised as one of the top cricketers in the past five years. She had a tough WBBL with the ball, but according to reports, she is feeling fit and ready. She has 32 wickets in 32 matches vs NZ, along with 258 runs.
  • Meg Lanning has the most runs of any Australia player vs NZ (560, avg. 22.40, SR 107.07).
  • Rachael Haynes has been in outstanding form. Australia could look to play her higher up the order. After a strong WBBL campaign (337 runs, avg. 37.44), she dominated the WNCL, with scores of 60, 15, 109, 69, 139 and 21.
  • Jess Jonassen took 19 wickets in 14 T20Is in 2020 (avg. 15.00, econ. 5.58).
  • Megan Schutt has taken 22 wickets in 18 T20Is vs NZ.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 44, New Zealand 20, Australia 23, 1 match abandoned.
  • Australia have won seven of their past eight matches against New Zealand.
  • Beth Mooney scored the most runs in the Women’s Big Bash League (14 inns, 551 runs, avg. 55.10).

Possible Playing 11:

For up-to-date squad details, read here. Australia pace bowler Tayla Vlaeminck is set to make her long-awaited return from a foot injury.

New Zealand: 1. Sophie Devine (c), 2. Frances Mackay, 3. Amy Satterthwaite, 4. Katey Martin (wk), 5. Brooke Halliday, 6. Amelia Kerr, 7. Hayley Jensen/Maddy Green, 8. Thamsyn Newton, 9. Hannah Rowe, 10. Jess Kerr, 11. Rosemary Mair

Australia: 1. Alyssa Healy (wk), 2. Beth Mooney, 3. Ashleigh Gardener, 4. Meg Lanning (c), 5. Ellyse Perry, 6. Rachael Haynes, 7. Jess Jonassen, 8. Sophie Molineux, 9. Nicola Carey, 10. Tayla Vlaeminck, 11. Megan Schutt

Seddon Park Hamilton Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

Seddon Park Hamilton is usually an easy-paced pitch that batsmen can enjoy. The ground hosted two men’s T20Is in 2020, with first innings scores of 179 and 163. The chasing team fared well in both matches.

A mostly clear evening is forecast for Hamilton. Possible evening dew may prompt the captain who wins the toss to bowl first.

Looking for a new podcast to listen to? Check out The CricBlog Podcast, where an Aussie fan and Indian fan discuss the IND vs ENG series and other topics.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

NZ-W vs AUS-W 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

NZ-W vs AUS-W 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

The fact that New Zealand have played more international cricket of late could hold them in good stead. However, Australia’s brilliance right throughout their lineup makes them favourites.

Thanks for reading!

Twitter reactions to England’s terrific chase in 2nd ODI

Twitter reactions to England’s terrific chase in 2nd ODI | Fans react to England’s breathtaking batting display vs India to level series

Three days after an incredible collapse, England’s terrific chase showcased how they can turn it on so quickly so soon after a setback. Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes produced an incredible partnership, executing such terrific hitting that it can be easy to forget just how good India’s finishing was courtesy of Rishabh Pant.

Bairstow and Stokes combined for 175 runs 18.5 overs to make India’s score of 337 look like child’s play in the end. Stokes was particularly damaging, going from 50 to 93 in the space of just nine balls, which complimented the consistent Jonny Bairstow perfectly.

And it is reflective of Eoin Morgan’s England given that last game’s collapse didn’t affect them at all. One game later, England, who were missing Eoin Morgan and Sam Billings, went in with a free mindset once again and it worked wonders.

As a result, they leveled the series at 1-1. They now have the chance to leave India with a series victory after going down in both the T20Is and Tests, and given the batting power in their ranks, they’ll back their chances in what promises to be a brilliant third ODI.

Here are the Twitter reactions from England’s excellent series-leveling win.

IND vs ENG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IND vs ENG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 2nd ODI Key Players | Pune Pitch Report

As they say, the scoreboard doesn’t tell the complete story. They won’t tell you how expertly Shikhar Dhawan negotiated the moving ball from Mark Wood & Sam Curran and build an impressive innings of 98 runs which eventually played a huge role in India’s 66 run victory in the first ODI. 

Virat Kohli was full of Elegance and Class in his knock of 56 runs, and the debutants rose to the occasion as well. It was Krunal Pandya (58 of 31 balls) first who rode over the tidal wave of emotions to pull off the fastest half-century for India on his debut. Prasidh Krishna (4-54) was not far behind and became the first bowler to take a 4-fer for India on debut. 

On the other hand, Jonny Bairstow (94 off 66 balls) and Jason Roy (46 of 35 balls) got England to a brilliant chasing a competitive target of 318 runs. At one stage the World Champions were 135 in a little over 14 overs and at that stage, the target looked below par but their innings came crashing down once debutant Prasidh Krishna found a way through. They lost 10 wickets for 116 runs from there, with all of India’s seamers coming to the party. And the reactions on Twitter were plenty.

Unfortunately, the first ODI was also marked with injuries. India’s Shreyas Iyer sustained an elbow injury and has been ruled out of the remainder of the series. As per reports, it will take 4-6 weeks for him to recover and he will miss the entire IPL which is a big blow to IPL Franchise Delhi Capitals.

England star Sam Billings’ short career has been marked by several injuries and would be quite fair if we say, Cricket has not been kind to him especially when he chose the sport over soccer and rejected Tottenham Hotspur’s contract when he was relatively young. Billings suffered a shoulder injury and has been ruled out of the remaining series along with Captain Morgan who has split the webbing between his thumb and index finger. Liam Livingstone will make his debut and David Malan has been added to the squad. Jos Buttler will lead England in Morgan’s absence.

IND vs ENG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 2nd ODI Key Players | Pune Pitch Report
IND vs ENG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction: Bairstow’s white-ball excellence continues.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

India

  • Virat Kohli Shot Virat! Captain Kolhi looked at his very best in his knock of 56. With 375 runs in 5 matches, Super V averages 75 at Pune so far. He has already scored 2 half-centuries and 2 Centuries and with his red hot form, a third one might be well on cards. He remains a Top Choice of Captaincy in all leagues.
  • Rohit Sharma– After a low score in the first ODI, Sharma lost his place to Pakistan Skipper Babar Azam in the latest ODI rankings. Unlike Virat, Sharma has not had much success in Pune. In 4 innings here so far, he has just managed 117 runs with an average of 21.2. 
  • Shikhar Dhawan –  Gabbar schooled the Pundits who questioned his place in his classic knock of 98 off 106 balls. He has been very consistent in ODI setup so far and a top pick in the 2nd ODI as well. Shikhar averages 41.8 at Pune with 260 runs from 5 matches.
  • Shardul Thakur – Thakur impressed with the ball and got the big fishes of Bairstow, Morgan, and Buttler. He ended up with 3 wickets in his 6 overs, for 37 runs. He is a wicket-taker in general and will be a crucial pick.
  • Krunal Pandya – Senior Pandya had a dream debut and given his ability with both bat & ball it would be quite hard to ignore him in the 2nd ODI. He played an unbeaten knock of 58 runs and picked up a wicket as well. With England’s recent struggle against Left-arm-orthodox, Krunal will be an important pick for this match.
  • KL Rahul – Flamboynat KL was back among the runs and played an unbeaten knock of 63 of 42 balls. 
  • Kuldeep Yadav – Yadav’s poor run of form continues and England will try to attack him again which also brings Wickets in the equation. Honestly, he did not look that good with the ball but considering his overall numbers against England, he is worth a slot in 1-2 Grand League Teams. 
  • Suryakumar Yadav- After an impressive debut T20I series, Yadav could make his debut in place of Shreyas Iyer. In the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy he made 332 run in 5 games.

Indian batter’s previous innings wise stats against England were mentioned in CricBlog’s previous preview.  

England 

  • Jonny Bairstow –  Arguably England’s finest opener, Bairstow innings of 94 got him his career-best 7th position in the ODI rankings. After the last knock, now he averages 45.7 in 11 matches with 421 runs vs India. He remains a top pick.
  • Ben Stokes – Stokes picked up 3 wickets and went past his fellow-allrounder Chris Woakes to clinch the 3rd spot in the ODI rankings for all-rounders.  In the absence of Root, Stokes came to bat at no.3 but did not last long. Also, he has played 4 innings at no. 3 and only managed 81 runs at an average of 21.2.  He has scored 51 runs in 2 games at Pune and also picked 5 wickets.
  • With Stokes’ all-around ability, he is a good choice of C/VC in all leagues.
  • Liam Livingstone can potentially make his ODI debut and bat at no. 3. In 46 innings of his List A Career he has scored 1552 runs at an average of 36.09 and the highest scorer of 129. He is a must-try in Grand Leagues.
  • Jason Roy –  Roy looked good in his 46 off 35 balls. In 2 innings at Pune, he has 119 runs at an average of 59.5
  • Jos Buttler- Buttler did not do much in the first ODI and in the absence of Captain Morgan, the onus will be on him to perform. In his 14 innings against India, he has scored 316 runs at an average of just 22.6.
  • Mark Wood – Wood continued his T20 form and was England’s best bowler by far. He picked up 2 wickets in the first ODI. He will be a good choice of VC in Grand Leagues if the team bowls first.
  • David Malan – Malan will most likely replace Morgan and he averages 41.41 in his List A career with 5135 runs from 145 innings. 

Stats & Facts

  • It has been 37 years since England has won an ODI series against India in India.
  • H2H Record in India – India 32 Wins | England 16 Wins.
  • Yuzvendra Chahal has taken 92 wickets and needs 8 more to reach the 100 wickets milestone.
  • In the first ODI, the World Champions suffered their second-biggest defeat in ODIs since 2015.
  • Tom Curran has taken one wicket in his last nine ODIs, at an average of 324.

Predicted Playing XI

India: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. Rishabh Pant/Suryakumar Yadav, 5. KL Rahul (wk), 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Krunal Pandya, 8. Shardul Thakur, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Kuldeep Yadav, 11. Prasidh Krishna

England: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jonny Bairstow, 3. Liam Livingstone, 4. David Malan, 5. Jos Buttler (c & wk), 6. Ben Stokes, 7. Sam Curran, 8. Moeen Ali, 9. Tom Curran/Reece Topley, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Mark Wood

Pune Pitch Report & Weather Conditions

Ajit Agarkar and Deep Dasgupta, on their Pitch Report, said “A very good pitch for batting looks beauty and there’s an even covering of grass. Sometimes can help the seamers a bit but it’s a good surface to bat. The surface sounds firm, the carry will be good for the pacers. It has been raining a bit for the last couple of days here. We are starting humid, but the wind can pick up towards the evening and that can keep the dew away. 280 would be par, but we will wait and watch”

Mostly the same or a similar kind of wicket will be on offer in the 2nd ODI as well. There are no chances of rain and the temperature will be around 31 degrees Celsius. The humidity will mostly be in the 20s.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

IND vs ENG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 2nd ODI Key Players | Pune Pitch Report
IND vs ENG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IND vs ENG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 2nd ODI Key Players | Pune Pitch Report
IND vs ENG 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction

Looking for a new podcast to listen to? Check out The CricBlog Podcast, where an Aussie fan and Indian fan discuss the IND vs ENG series and other topics.

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Match Prediction

The absence of a few key regulars for England could prove vital. England is a fantastic ODI side, but India, at home and off the back of a superb win in the first ODI, looks good to seal the series.

Thanks for reading!

Written by Shekhar Singh. Follow Shekhar on Twitter today.

Who is the Best Cricketer of the Last 5 Years?

Who the best player is at any moment in cricket is often a varied and heated debate. As the sport crosses three formats, several varying domestic leagues, different surfaces between nations, and three distinct player types, it’s always going to be difficult to point to one who outshines the rest.

It’s like comparing apples and oranges with batters and bowlers, so should all-rounders be given priority in such debates for their ability with both bat and ball? It’s all very subjective, but there are always standout star talents who make their way into just about every conversation.

There was a lot of cricket played over the last five years, but these are the cricketers who deserve to rank among the best cricketers of the half-decade and the one who stands as the top of the bunch.

5. Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

New Zealand’s all-format captain has quietly been among the top batsmen in the game for years. Not only has Kane Williamson been able to put up stellar numbers himself, but his leadership has clearly been the driving force behind New Zealand’s meteoric rise to the top of the Test, third in the ODI, and sixth in the T20I rankings.

Having perfected the off-drive and late defence against the moving ball, the sharp-minded Williamson’s last five years were highlighted by an emphatic 251 knock against the West Indies last year, as we detailed here at cricblog.net, which was followed by 238 against Pakistan to kick-off 2021.

4. James Anderson (England)

Not only is James Anderson a top contender in this debate of the best cricketer of the last five years, but he’ll also be brought up for decades to come as one of the best bowlers of all-time. Last year, ‘Jimmy’ became the first fast bowler to take 600 Test wickets, and since then, he’s climbed to 611 to close the gap on the third-highest Test wicket-taker, Anil Kumble.

What’s unique about Anderson is that he’s a fast bowler, with all of the other top-six wicket-takers in Test cricket being spin bowlers. The next closest is compatriot Stuart Broad, who’s only four years Anderson’s junior. Currently standing third in the ICC Men’s Test bowlers rankings, he’s added 185 wickets across 89 innings since the start of 2016, with 11 of those already coming in 2021.

3. Steve Smith (Australia)

If it wasn’t for the ball-tampering scandal of 2018, Steve Smith would almost certainly rank higher on this list. Alas, the lost 2018/19 season has forced the superb Australian batsman down to a respectable third-place. In the two years prior, Smith averaged 74.35 across 22 Tests and 47.54 in 39 ODIs.

Upon his return in 2019, he became only the second batter to score four scores of over 50 in Cricket World Cup knockout stages and a double-century in the fourth Test of the Ashes after Ben Stokes’ memorable Headingley knock. His Test average held firm at 74.23 through 2019 and built some additional ODI form in 2020, averaging 63.11 across is nine innings last year. Now, fans throw the 31-year-old atop the debate for who the best Test batsman since Don Bradman is.

2. Ellyse Perry (Australia)

The women’s game has boomed over the last decade, and especially so over the last five years, with hotly-contested matches and immensely-talented superstars coming to the fore. Australia, England, India, and South Africa, in particular, boast several stars capable of being world-beaters on their day, but no one has mastered the sport quite like Ellyse Perry.

Across all of cricket, men’s included, Perry is the one player who you can point to as the epitome of an all-rounder. With the bat, she averages 52.10 in ODIs and 28.32 in T20Is. With the ball, it’s 24.29 in ODIs and 19.37 in T20Is. Her dominance hasn’t been overlooked, either, with Perry winning the:

  • ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2017, 2019, and 2020
  • ODI distinction in 2019 and 2020
  • T20I award in 2020.

She was also named the ICC Female Cricketer of the Decade by the ICC.

1. Virat Kohli (India)

For anyone who follows all formats of cricket, there would have been little doubt that India’s talisman Virat Kohli would top this list. Now 32-years-old, the charismatic captain is the most decorated men’s cricketer of the last five years, claiming the:

  • ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award in 2017 and 2018
  • Test Player of the Year in 2018
  • ODI Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018.

To top it all off, he landed the ICC Men’s Male Cricketer of the Decade and ODI Cricketer of the Decade at the end of last year.

When Kohli is on the pitch, the world watches his performances. With the bat in hand, he’s an expert, but he’s even good to study in the field, helping to tinker his team into a tough-to-beat unit. The Indian’s mindset, drive, leadership, and talent are major reasons why India ranks in the top-three across all formats.

Virat Kohli has been the star of men’s cricket for the last five years, as has Ellyse Perry in the women’s game.

Twitter reactions to England’s collapse in 1st ODI

Twitter reactions to England’s collapse in 1st ODI | IND vs ENG 1st ODI: Twitter reactions to England’s collapse in the 1st ODI vs India

Regardless of its context, an ODI series between powerhouses India and England is always bound to draw eyeballs. Of course, this is ultimately why India and England are playing each other for what seems like 100 times over the course of 2021.

So, when there is a collapse as mighty as England’s in the first ODI, the reactions are going to be widespread. Sitting pretty at 135/0 after 14.1 overs thanks to an incredible onslaught by Jonny Bairstow in particular, England then went on to lose 10/116 in the next 28 overs to be bundled out for 251 in pursuit of India’s 317/5.

Credit certainly goes to India’s bowlers, who responded brilliantly after the initial storm. Shardul Thakur’s game-changing ability was on show again, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s incredible economy rate made another appearance, and Prasidh Krishna bounced back to take four on debut. But, for a side as talented as England, such a collapse draws plenty of reaction.

Here are some of the Twitter reactions to England’s collapse in the first ODI in Pune.

Also read: Twitter reactions to Chris Jordan’s freakish fielding in 5th T20I


The second ODI will be played at Pune on Friday.

IND vs ENG 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IND vs ENG 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 1st ODI Key Players | Pune Pitch Report

The Entire Cricket Caravan moves on to One Day Internationals after the T20I series lived up to its hype as it went down the wire with India clinching the trophy in the last match with a 3-2 series win. Before the T20Is, the Virat Kohli-led side beat England 4-1 in the Test series. A win in the three-match ODI series will complete India’s series sweep over England.

England has not won an ODI series against India in India in the last 37 years and a tough challenge awaits Morgan’s men. They will be without their ODI regulars in Joe Root and Chris Woakes who are rested for the series. An elbow injury to their Ace of Pace Jofra Archer has further weakened their bowling attack, and it’s also a big blow to IPL Franchise Rajasthan Royals. As per reports, he will most likely early stages of the IPL.

However, this also brings an opportunity for Liam Livingstone who could win his first England Cap since 2017 and make his ODI debut. His Lancashire teammate Matt Parkinson might get a look in as well. He has been with the team throughout their winter schedule.

Indian selectors have also rewarded players for their domestic performance in Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s prolific 50 overs competition. Karnataka pacer Prasidh Krishna earned his maiden international call-up along with Suryakumar Yadav and Krunal Pandya who will also be in line to make their ODI debut. Also, there was a lot of debate about India’s Opening pair until Kohli came into the Press Conference and clarified Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will open in the ODI series against England.

IND vs ENG 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 1st ODI Key Players | Pune Pitch Report
IND vs ENG 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction: Mark Wood has been bowling well.

Key Player to Watch/Key Stats

India

  • Virat Kohli – Arguably one of the finest ODI batsmen of all-time, and certainly the greatest of his generation, Virat Kohli scored 122 runs when he played against England at this venue. He would be eyeing another Century after winning Man of the Series in T20Is.
  • Kohli likes playing against England. He has scored 1178 runs in 30 matches at an average of 45.3 with 7 half-centuries and 3 centuries. No Surpises here the Chase Master has a better record in 2nd innings. In 14 innings, he has scored 768 runs at an astonishing average of 76.8. With current form, he will be an important pick regardless if he bats first or second and remains the top choice for Captaincy/Vice-Captaincy in all leagues.
  • Rohit Sharma –  Rohit, the ODI player, will be back into the scheme of things after missing out on the series against Australia. Like Virat, Rohit also has a good overall record against England. He has played 13 matches and scored 454 runs at an average of 50.4. 
  • However, his numbers are very poor while batting first. In 7 matches he has just scored 81 runs at an average of 16.2 with the best score of 52. Going blindly with stats never helps in fantasy but as this is a high-credit match, users can risk him in at least one Grand League Team if India bats first.
  • Shikhar Dhawan – Whenever there is a question on Gabbar’s place in the team, he has always performed. In 12 matches against England, he has scored 395 runs at an average of 32.5 with just 1 fifty. It will be a blessing for his career if he can get his first century against England. Considering his fine form in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, he will be a good punt in Grand Leagues.
  • Hardik Pandya – Pandya provides much-needed balance to the side, especially in limited-overs. In 7 matches he has made 202 runs at an average of 50.5 and also picked 6 wickets.  He was the highest run-scorer in the last series against Australia.
  • Kuldeep Yadav – Yadav has an outstanding record against England. He has 10 wickets in just 4 games and will be a must-try in Grand League if he plays.
  • T Natarajan & Bhuvneshwar Kumar will bowl death overs and will be a good pick if India bowls first. Shardul Thakur can contribute with both bat & ball.
  • Prasidh Krishna picked 14 wickets from 7 games in Vijay Hazare Trophy and some reports suggest he could potentially make his debut in the 1st ODI along with  Krunal Pandya/Suryakumar Yadav.

England:

  • Ben Stokes – Stokes will be playing his first ODI since the 2019 World Cup Final. Yes, you read that right. England has played 9 ODIs since the World Cup and Stokes was rested throughout to maintain his workload. 
  • In 11 matches against India, he has scored 348 runs at an average of 37.7 and also picked 9 wickets. He scored 62 runs in his last ODI against India at this venue.
  • Jason Roy –  After a poor run of form in International Cricket, Roy showed some good form in the T20I series. In 6 matches against India, he has 324 runs at an average of 60.7 with 4 half-centuries. He scored 72 runs in his last ODI against India at this venue and will be a good pick in all leagues. 
  • Eoin Morgan – Captain Morgan with his free strokeplay in middle overs will be a good pick in Grand Leagues. In 18 matches vs India, he has 547 runs with an average of 34.2.  
  • Jonny Bairstow – Bairstow has arguably been England’s finest opener. In 10 matches vs India, he averages 40.3 with 355 runs. He scored a century in his ODI and will be a must-have option in all leagues.
  • Liam Livingstone can potentially make his ODI debut and bat at no. 3.  He can be tried in 2-3 Grand League teams.
  • Sam Billings scored his maiden ODI Hundred in the last series against Australia. He has a superb record when chasing: 12 matches, 360 runs, avg. 51.42, SR 100.27.
  • Mark Wood & Tom Curran will bowl death overs and will be important if England bowls first.

Stats & Facts

  • It has been 37 years since England has won an ODI series against India in India.
  • H2H Record in India – India 31 Wins | England 16 Wins
  • Yuzvendra Chahal has taken 92 wickets and needs 8 more to reach the 100 wickets milestone

Predicted Playing XI

India Predicted XI: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. Shreyas Iyer, 5. Rishabh Pant (wk)/KL Rahul, 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Shardul Thakur, 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9. Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav, 10. T Natarajan, 11. Prasidh Krishna

England Predicted XI: 1. Jonny Bairstow, 2. Jason Roy, 3. Eoin Morgan (c), 4. Ben Stokes, 5. Jos Buttler (wk), 6. Sam Billings, 7. Moeen Ali/Matthew Parkinson, 8. Sam Curran, 9. Adil Rashid, 10. Mark Wood, 11. Tom Curran/Chris Jordan

Pune Pitch Report

The pitch in Pune has been a batting-friendly one over the years. In four ODIs, the average score is around 280, suggesting that a fairly high-scoring game seems to be on the cards. Generally, teams prefer to chase here.

There are no chances of rain and the temperature will be around 31 degrees Celsius. The humidity will mostly be in the 20s.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

IND vs ENG 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 1st ODI Key Players | Pune Pitch Report
IND vs ENG 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IND vs ENG 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 1st ODI Key Players | Pune Pitch Report
IND vs ENG 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

The absence of a few key regulars for England could prove vital. England are a fantastic ODI side, but India, at home and off the back of the T20I series win, look good for a win here.

Thanks for reading!

Written by Shekhar Singh. Follow Shekhar on Twitter today.

India’s pace bowling for WT20: Embarrassment of riches

India’s pace bowling for WT20: Who will play? | India have wide range of seamers to choose from in T20 cricket: Who will be picked for WT20?

The Covid-19 pandemic might have hampered the Indian team’s ideal preparations for the forthcoming World T20. That coupled with several situations around the injuries and availability of key players means that the team is still figuring its ideal combination in the shortest format of the game.

The Virat Kohli-led men do not have any scheduled T20Is ahead of the World T20 either. However, they still have the Indian Premier League (IPL) to look forward to and thereby draw an appropriate playing XI, considering a fully fit squad at disposal.

One of the major conundrums, a rather positive one though, the team will come across is the arsenal of pacers that team India has at its disposal in the T20 cricket. The sheer depth of pacers that the setup has currently means that they will play different combinations in almost every format.

In the series vs England itself, the team had options like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar and a back-again Hardik Pandya to choose from. Jasprit Bumrah will lead the attack upon his return and T Natarajan will put a strong claim for a ticket to the World Cup squad, too.

The Indian team also tried out Mohammed Shami in the previous T20I series vs Australia late last year. With the IPL round the corner, one can always expect some or the other pacer to emerge and catch the selectors’ eye straightaway. From the current pool, the probable options are: Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Pandya, Saini, Natarajan, D Chahar, Shami.

India's pace bowling for WT20: Who will play? | India have wide range of seamers to choose from in T20 cricket: Who will be picked for WT20?
India’s pace bowling for WT20: Jasprit Bumrah is still to come back to this team.

Out of these picks, one can safely assume the initial three players to make it to the final squad. Hardik and Bumrah are invaluable assets without a shed of doubt and Bhuvneshwar will make the cut due to his experience, skillset and consistently impressive performances, provided that he remains fit. He was superb in the final T20I, which is a big boost.

Ideally, if a 15-member squad is picked, one would expect only one additional pacer to make it to final list. This is keeping in mind the pattern observed in the 2019 World Cup when Shami was the third frontline pacer behind Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah. Hardik’s induction provides India the flexibility of playing another all-rounder instead of a specialist pacer.

However, there could be a chance of lengthened squads owing to the prevailing Covid-19 situation. This will allow India to include extra pacers but considering the opposite situation, we are in quite an interesting spot.

Saini brings raw pace to the fore whereas Natarajan’s death-bowling skills make him an ideal partner for Bumrah towards the rear end of the innings. Deepak Chahar’s control with the new-ball and his variations along with Shami’s overall experience, pace and ability to hit the hard length gives a well-rounded, comprehensive shape to the Indian bowling unit.

Navdeep Saini used to primarily be the first-choice pacer amongst the reserve lot. His express pace allowed him to rush the batsmen into committing error-prone shots. Moreover, his overall height provided him an incisive advantage to bowl the short-of-good-length, which is considered to be integral to stop the opposition’s flow of runs in the middle-overs. However, the fast-bowler had an utterly disappointing IPL 2020 as he scalped only six wickets in 13 games at a strike rate of 45.67 and economy rate of 8.3. Batsmen looked to have worked a way around India’s latest find and he didn’t have a sparkling ODI series in Australia either.

On the other hand, Deepak Chahar had a bright start to his international career and seemed to have kept his spot in the squad at least through his spectacular performances in the series vs Bangladesh in late 2019. The medium pacer had claimed six wickets conceding only seven runs against the neighbouring country at Nagpur and looked all set to continue in the team thereafter. However, long injury layoffs have hampered his case thereafter. With Bhuvneshwar looking to have regained his mojo, there are also questions over whether the team will like to fit in a bowler of a similar kind and approach in limited vacancies? Maybe not, irrespective of Chahar’s enticing pinch-hitting skills too.

The picks probably boil down to either Shardul Thakur or T Natarajan.

Thakur has been brilliant in the shortest format ever since his return to the setup in the series vs Sri Lanka in January 2019. His bowling might not find many admirers, but Thakur’s unperturbable attitude and temperament have allowed him to probably punch above his weight in international cricket. He brought India back into the series vs England by scalping the key wickets of Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes in the fourth T20I, when the duo looked comfortable to lead the visitors to a series victory. There have been countless such instances previously too, perhaps proving out to be a testament to Shardul’s influential impact in games irrespective of his rather inferior skillsets as compared to other pacers in this list.

Analysts, the number geeks might not like it, but the sports functions in more ways than one. And Shardul might just be here to stay in the India T20 team, deservingly so.

India's pace bowling for WT20: Who will play? | India have wide range of seamers to choose from in T20 cricket: Who will be picked for WT20?
India’s pace bowling for WT20: Shardul Thakur has been impressive.

However, can he edge over T Natarajan? Arguably, no.

Natarajan is a yorker specialist and all of that. But, he is also a left-armed pacer and a brilliant one at that. He had an excellent debut T20I series in Australia, picking up six wickets in three matches at a wonderful economy rate of 6.92. He had earned 16 dismissals in 16 IPL matches in 2020 at an economy rate of 8.02 and a laudable death-overs record. The Indian limited-overs team has been in the quest for an impactful left-arm pacer for long. They have tried luck with the likes of Barinder Singh Bran, Khaleel Ahmed and Jaydev Unadkat to varying degrees of outcomes in the past. However, none of them turned out to be as noteworthy as Natarajan, especially in a testing tour to Down Under.

Closer to the World Cup, India might have to answer a difficult question.

Whether to go for the undeniable, prodigious talent of Natarajan or the unfettered, commendable attitude of Thakur that has reaped rich dividends so far? The sport often puts think-tanks in such a spot. Neither of the picks would be incorrect. However, one of them might just turn out to have ‘that’ cutting edge advantage over the other. That slightly greater value is what needs to be tapped upon by the men in-charge. Let’s see who the management decides to place their bets on!

Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.