Twitter reactions to India’s T20I series win vs England | Twitter reactions to India’s 3-2 victory in the T20I series against England
India today is celebrating a fine 3-2 series win in the high-profile T20I series against a good England side. Down 2-1 in the series after two costly, poor powerplay periods, India roared back in the final two games, with their final game in particular being an excellent execution of their plans.
Virat Kohli sent himself to open with Rohit Sharma, and it paid dividends. Two of India’s white-ball stalwarts put on a superb stand, which Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya backed up beautifully. The score of 224 proved too much for England, who, despite a good start, were never in the hunt.
Chris Jordan’s magnificent fielding was a highlight, but the way India played would have been encouraging for fans as the T20 World Cup is on the horizon. Also, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s performance gives India another dimension, and fans and pundits were full of praise for the Indian seamer.
Here are the Twitter reactions from India’s T20I series win vs England.
Phenomenal batting! And then to stage a brave comeback against the tide in the second innings! Strong & resilient team effort! Superb victory, boys! ? ?? #INDvENG
Series going in win toss/win match pattern until the last 2. India found way to set 2 highly competitive scores and bowled superbly. After 11 overs I thought Eng slightly ahead, but once we let India in they were completely ruthless. ?????????
India have adapted brilliantly in this series … the better team have won … Add @Jaspritbumrah93 & @imjadeja to this team in Indian conditions & they are favourites to win the T20 World Cup … Great series to watch .. #INDvsENG
Attention will now turn to a three-match ODI series between the sides. Both India and England are filled with match-winners, so it promises to be another fascinating battle.
Rightly touted as one of the world’s best fielders, Jordan produced a piece of magic to dismiss the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav. Tippy-toeing along the long-on boundary, Jordan took a one-handed catch and flicked it to Jason Roy with incredible ease. Roy loved it, laughing after he took the catch, as he was simply in awe of Jordan’s freakish fielding. And, it’s his name on the scorecard. Life can be cruel and a blessing at the same time.
The tweets of praise and memes came out in force after a stunning moment. Here are some of the best from fans and pundits on Twitter.
IND vs ENG 5th T20I Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 5th T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 5th T20 Key Players | Motera Pitch Report
In a welcome change in a must-win game for the home side, India became the first team to win a match this series after batting first. Thanks to Suryakumar’s fine first innings in international cricket and Shreyas Iyer’s excellent middle-order knock, India’s 185 proved just enough against England’s deep batting lineup.
After four contests where each side has taken turns in claiming victory, the two sides will clash in the decider of the series at Ahmedabad in what promises to be an exciting encounter. India, after breaking the chasing trend, will come in with confidence. But, England, with their all-round excellence, will be sure to make a game of it. An interesting match certainly awaits.
IND vs ENG 5th T20I Dream11 Prediction: Will Jason Roy go big today?
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
India:
Virat Kohli has an average of 75 and a strike rate in excess of 140 in this T20I series.
Rohit Sharma hasn’t been in good touch in the previous 2 games but considering the quality of India’s deputy captain, a big knock is due.
Suryakumar Yadav was player of the match after an excellent first knock in T20Is (57 off 31 balls). He was dismissed controversially after a fine outing last match.
Shreyas Iyer this series: 4 inns, 121 runs, avg. 40.33, SR 145.78.
Rahul Chahar picked a couple of wickets in his 4-over spell and was effective with the wet ball in the previous match.
Hardik Pandya has had contrasting runs with the bat and ball in the series so far. He has a strike rate of 106 while batting but the ball he has been impressive as the 5th bowler. He conceded just 16 runs and took two wickets in his 4-over spell.
England:
Jofra Archer hasn’t resorted to full length in the entirety of the series and that has troubled the Indian batsmen the most.
Jason Roy completed 1000 runs in the format last game and has 3 40-plus scores in 4 matches. For the Indian bowlers, dismissing the England opener will be key.
Dawid Malan needs 65 runs to complete 1000 runs in the format, and will become the fastest to milestone in T20Is.
Mark Wood has conceded at just 3.4 RPO in the powerplay and has been lethal for England in that phase of the game, troubling the Indian top-order with pace and bounce.
Stats and Facts
India have been unbeaten in their previous 7 series while the corresponding figure for England has been 8. One team’s unbeaten record is all set to be broken.
England have just lost 2 of their previous 10 games while chasing and hence, in spite of the defeat in the 4th T20I, chasing will be the preferred suit for the visitors.
4 out of the last 5 matches at Ahmedabad have been won by the chasing sides and last match was a minor blip in the trend.
Predicted Playing 11
The bowling has more or less been settled and with Hardik Pandya’s parsimonious bowling spell. T Natarajan is expected to return to full fitness but the bowlers have done good so far and hence, the left-arm pacer might not find a place in the XI. KL Rahul has been poor in the series so far and Ishan Kishan might get slotted in.
Sam Curran hasn’t played a crucial role in the bowling department in the previous two games and hence Moeen Ali might replace with spin expected to play a vital role.
England Predicted XI: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jos Buttler (wk), 3. Dawid Malan, 4. Jonny Bairstow, 5. Ben Stokes, 6. Eoin Morgan (c), 7. Sam Curran/Moeen Ali, 8. Chris Jordan, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Mark Wood, 11. Adil Rashid
Motera Ahmedabad Pitch Conditions and Weather
The tracks in Ahmedabad have varied in nature, but the upcoming game will be played on the same pitch where Kishan and Kohli powered India to a victory while chasing. This pitch might be helpful for spinners and the slower ones from the pacers will come into play.
The only constant in conditions has been the dew at the night time and it has played a major role as spinners have found it difficult to grip the ball. The weather will be warm with 35% humidity.
Although the series has followed the trend of teams alternating between victory and defeat, having won the previous game while defending the total India will be more confident among the two sides and hence, will be the favourites to clinch the decider match of the series.
AFG vs ZIM 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AFG vs ZIM 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction Today | Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 3rd T20I Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
Afghanistan produced another rollover, as they crushed Zimbabwe to seal the series 2-0 with one match to go. The 3rd T20I will be played at Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Mohammad Nabi finally broke the jinx and was among the wickets after 12 consecutive T20Is. He was destructive with the bat as well and gave a perfect finish to Afghans by scoring 40 off 15 balls which eventually helped them put a total of 193 runs. He was adjudged Man of the Match for his All-Round performance.
Usman Ghani (49 off 34 balls) and Karim Janat (53 of 38 balls) were Top Contributors with the bat from Afghanistan Camp. Rashid Khan cleared the tail like he often does, and became the 7th bowler to pick 350 T20 Wickets.
The World No.1 Bowler now stands on 95 T20I wickets and would be eying another milestone of 100 wickets. Five Wickets in a the match is not a big task if you are Rashid Khan and he will surely fancy his chances against The Chevrons.
On the other side, Zimbabwe’s struggle in T20Is continues and now they have lost their last seven T20Is. Ryan Burl was the top contributor from The Chevrons camp, he scored 40 of 29 balls and also picked up a wicket. Donald Tiripano picked up a wicket and scored 24 of 14 balls.
Skipper Willaims looked disappointed in the post-match conference and said When you lose like this it’s important about how you get back up. “Winning a game from here and then getting on the plane will be a huge thing for us. Maybe there’s a possibility of that happening, it’s been discussed (him moving up the order along with Raza).”
AFG vs ZIM 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction: Will Raza fire?
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Afghanistan:
Rashid Khan –Khan came to bowl in the 10th over and rattled the Zimbabwe lower-order as they were already 4 down in the powerplay. He gave 30 runs and finished with 3 wickets from his 3 overs and his consistency with the bowl makes him a Top Captaincy choice in the 3rd T20I as well.
After becoming the 7th bowler to pick 350 T20 wickets in the 2nd T20I, Khan will be eying another milestone of picking 100 T20I wickets. What sets Rashid a class apart is that he has only played 50 matches and he will be the fastest to 100 International wickets.Lasith Malinga is ahead of him who has 107 wickets from 84 T20Is.
Naveen-ul-Haq – Haq was back at this best and gave a perfect start to Afghanistan by removing Kamunhukamwe on the first ball of the chase. He conceded with 28 runs and picked 2 wickets from his 3 overs. He will a good pick in all leagues.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz – Flamboyant Gurbaz looked disappointed with the day he got out and will be looking to pile a mountain of runs again in the 3rd T20I. He remains a default pick in this match.
Najibullah Zadran – Najibullah came to bat at no.4 and looked fine, he is 2 runs away from 1000 T20I runs. Zadran has been a consistent performer for Afghanistan over the years and will be a good pick in Grand Leagues.
Karim Janat- Janat has been consistently hitting 140 clicks and coming up with handy batting contributions at the top of the order. He scored 53 off 38 balls and picked up a wicket. He remains a default pick in this match.
Mohammad Nabi – Afghan Ace All-Rounder was at his brutal best with both bat and the ball. He picked up 2 wickets and ran riots on Zimbabwe bowlers in his destructive knock of 40 in just 15 balls.
Usman Ghani started slow and then shifted gears seamlessly and made 49 runs off 34 balls while opening the innings.
Zimbabwe:
Sean Williams – As stated earlier Captain Williams look disappointed and hinted that he can be seen on the top of the order along with Sikander Raza. Based on that he can be tried as VC only in 1-2 Grand League Teams.
Ryan Burl – An aggressive left-handed middle-order batsman and a part-time leg-spinner Burl has been quite handy in this series so far. In the second T20I, he scored 40 runs off 29 balls and also picked up a 1 wicket.
Blessing Muzarabani – Armed with natural pace and bounce, Muzarabani continues to impress in this series so far. He has picked up 4 wickets in this series.
Donald Tiripano – Tiripano picked up a wicket and made a handy 14-ball 24 batting down the order.
Fantasy Tip
Afghanistan has played two different orders in the series so far. It is clear from their approach that they will experiment a lot more having sealed the series as they are using his series to finalize a side for the T20 World Cup. Fantasy Users can concentrate more Grand Leagues and avoid Small Leagues or invest a fraction in them.
Stats & Facts
Rashid Khan is 5 wickets away from becoming the fastest bowler to take 100 T20I wickets.
Najibullah Zadran has 998 runs in T20Is so far.
Zimbabwe is on a seven-match losing streak.
Predicted Playing XI
AfghanistanPredicted XI: 1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2. Karim Janat, 3. Asghar Afghan (c), 4. Usman Ghani, 5. Hashmatullah Shahidi, 6. Najibullah Zadran, 7. Mohammad Nabi, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Amir Hamza, 10. Naveen-ul-Haq, 11. Fareed Malik
Kamunhukamwe was seen limping off the ground after this dismissal and Prince Masvaure might replace him at the top.
ZimbabwePredicted XI: 1. Tarisai Musakanda, 2. Prince Masvaure, 3. Sean Williams (c), 4. Sikandar Raza, 5. Richmond Mutumbami (wk), 6. Ryan Burl, 7. Wesley Madhevere, 8. Donald Tiripano, 9. Brandon Mavuta, 10. Blessing Muzarabani, 11. Richard Ngarava
Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Conditions
Athar Ali Khan, in his pitch report for his 2nd T20I, said “this is a new pitch which hasn’t been used in this series so far. It’s dry and should be good to bat on. Variations will be the key for the bowlers. A belter of a pitch.”
Mostly the same pitch will be used for the 3rd T20I as well.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
AFG vs ZIM 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
AFG vs ZIM 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Afghanistan’s great record against Zimbabwe should hold them in good stead here. Plus, their knowledge of the UAE will make them hard to beat. After winning the series Afghanistan can rest their key players still, they will be favorites to win this match.
Thanks for Reading!
Written by Shekhar Singh. Follow Shekhar on Twitter today.
Twitter reactions to Dawid Malan catch: Out or not out? | Opinion divided on Twitter regarding the soft signal rule and the Dawid Malan catch
India levelled the T20I series in fine style on Thursday evening, in the first instance of a team successfully defending a score in this five-match encounter.
One of the talking points centred around man-of-the-match Suryakumar Yadav. Yadav’s 31-ball 57 in his first innings for India showed what he is capable of after being snubbed in the past. But, the nature of his dismissal created quite the stir. After flicking a Sam Curran towards fine leg, Dawid Malan sprinted around and took what seemed to be a great catch.
However, replays showed that the ball was awfully close to the ground. The third umpire decided that there was not enough evidence to overturn the soft signal of out, prompting a discussion as to whether this rule allows for the correct decision to be made.
Fans and pundits took to Twitter to express their opinion.
Soft signal was out. Third umpire can’t overrule if he is not 100% sure. The on-field umpire can be honest and say he is not sure rather than being compelled to give soft signal — out or not out.
How can this be out. When you are not sure whether the ball was taken cleanly after watching so many replays using top class technology and still go by the soft signal given by the on-field umpire. I think this rule needs to be revisited and changed. #INDvsENGpic.twitter.com/b5XMdH8qEz
— Cricket Expert Rohirat and Dhoni (MI) ?? ?% FB (@rohiratian) March 18, 2021
For what it's worth, I thought that was not out.
But if you're calling Malan a cheat then you're either being deliberately disingenuous or have never played cricket and don't understand how you can genuinely think you've caught those ones.
Whether that catch is out or not out if you are sat there calling Dawid Malan a cheater stop watching cricket, you're not welcome in our sport #INDvENG
Dont blame 3rd umpire. He asked 3-4 times for more angles. But director failed to provide any other angles in both cases. He had to go with soft signal in lack of evidance.
AFG vs ZIM 2nd T20I Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AFG vs ZIM 2nd T20I Dream11 Prediction Today | Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2nd T20I Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
After taking a 1-0 lead in the series, Skipper Asghar Afghan will be leading his team in his 50th T20I match as Captain against Zimbabwe in the 2nd T20I at Abu Dhabi on Friday. The Afghan Players will be determined to win the series and give a perfect tribute to their Skipper who has been the main pillar for the rise of Afghanistan Cricket.
In the first T20I, Gurbaz took Zimbabwe’s attack apart right from the word go and scored a brilliant 87 off 45 balls. He fell short by 13 runs of what would have been a magnificent T20I Century for him.
Afghanistan also made some changes by sending Karim Janat to open the batting instead of their regular opener Usman Ghani. It turned out to be a masterstroke. Janat grabbed the opportunity and contributed with both bat & ball by scoring 22 runs and also taking 2 vital wickets.
Skipper Afghan also continued his good form, and scored a 38-ball 55, which helped his side put a mammoth total of 198 runs which was always going to be a big ask for Zimbabwe.
On the other hand, Zimbabwe lost their sixth consecutive T20I and could only manage 150 runs in their 20 overs. Their Opener Kamunhukamwe (44 of 37 balls) was the top scorer from their camp. There were points in the match where the team had an equal chance of winning but the visitors lacked the much-needed intent with the bat. They will need to bring out their spirited performances to showcase their worth against this experienced Afghanistan team.
AFG vs ZIM 2nd T20I Dream11 Prediction: Can Sean Williams go big like in the Tests?
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Afghanistan:
Rashid Khan – Khan showed his class again with the ball and bamboozled The Chevrons by picking 3 wickets for conceding 28 runs in his 4 overs. He is now 3 wickets away from becoming the seventh man (and fourth spinner) to take 350 wickets in the format. He remains a default pick in this match and a good option of C/VC.
Asghar Afghan – In a surprising move Afghan came into bat no.3 and looked good in his 38-ball 55. He also averages 27 while batting at no.3 in the first innings which is slightly higher than his career average of 24. He will be eyeing another match-winning knock for his side on his 50th Match as a Captain.
Rahmatullah Gurbaz – Gurbaz continues his steep rise in International Cricket by playing another blinder of 87 of 45 balls. He is in the form of his life and rightly so he has been picked by a massive 97% of Dream11 users. He remains a Top Pick in this match alongside Rashid Khan.
Karam Janat – The Fantasy Value of Janat has significantly increased after he came to open the innings and his ability with the bowl cannot be ignored. He made 22 runs and also took 2 vital wickets in the first T20I.
Naveen-ul-Haq– Haq did not get any wickets in the game but he was decent with the ball. He bowled only 3 overs (1, 3 and 13th), as he was playing after a break and will look to get this rhythm and be back among the wickets. He will be a good pick in Grand Leagues.
Fawad Malik was seen bowling at the death and we all know how late-over wickets impact the game.
Zimbabwe:
Sean Williams – Captain Williams has a lot to do to lift his team. Like his Afghani Counterpart, he also came to bat at no. 3 ahead of Madhwere and score 22 runs off 20 balls in the first T20I.
His numbers batting at no. 3 are quite impressive. He has played 6 innings at no.3 and made 181 runs at an average of 36.2 which is way above his career average of 23.79. With his all-around ability, he can be tried as C/VC in Grand leagues along with Rashid, Gurbaz, and Asghar.
Donald Tiripano – At time of writing, Tiripano would be celebrating his 32nd birthday today, he did not get any wickets in the match but a couple of catches were dropped off his bowling. He can pick wickets and he is also handy with the bat so he is worth a spot in 1-2 Grand League Teams.
Sikandar Raza – Raza made 22 runs off 14 balls in the first match and did not get any wickets. He bowled 2 overs (1,9). He can contribute with both bat & ball and worth a spot in most of the Grand League Teams.
Blessing Muzarabani – Muzarabani continued his wicket-taking form and got 2 wickets in the first match. He bowled 3, 6, 18 & 20th over and will be a crucial pick again.
Wesley Madhwere – Captain Williams did not show any confidence in Young Madhwere. He was not tried with the ball and was demoted in the batting order as well which makes him a very risky option. Probably Ryan Burl should be tried ahead of him in Fantasy Teams as he bowled 3 overs and picked 1 Wicket. He also came to bat no.5
Tinashe Kamunhukamwe scored (44 of 37 balls) and has the reputation of hard-hitter in the Zimbabwe domestic circuit.
Stats & Facts
Zimbabwe has lost their last six T20Is in a row.
Asghar Afghan will be playing his 50th match as a captain.
Najibullah Zadran is 14 runs away from 1000 T20I runs
Rashid is 3 wickets away from becoming the seventh man (and fourth spinner) to take 350 wickets in the format
Predicted Playing 11
AfghanistanPredicted XI: 1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2. Karim Janat, 3. Asghar Afghan (c), 4. Usman Ghani, 5. Hashmatullah Shahidi, 6. Najibullah Zadran, 7. Mohammad Nabi, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Amir Hamza, 10. Naveen-ul-Haq, 11. Fareed Malik
ZimbabwePredicted XI: 1. Tarisai Musakanda, 2. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, 3. Sean Williams (c), 4. Sikandar Raza, 5. Richmond Mutumbami (wk), 6. Ryan Burl, 7. Wesley Madhevere, 8. Donald Tiripano, 9. Brandon Mavuta, 10. Blessing Muzarabani, 11. Richard Ngarava
Abu Dhabi Pitch Reportand Conditions
The pitch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium will be one where both the batsmen as well as the bowlers will be interested. Batsmen will have to bide their time on this surface to score big. Gurbaz in Post Match Conference said that ” I think the wicket was good for batting and a little bit dead for the spinners”.
Dream11 Prediction
AFG vs ZIM 2nd T20I Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
AFG vs ZIM 2nd T20I Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Afghanistan’s great record against Zimbabwe should hold them in good stead here. Plus, their knowledge of the UAE will make them hard to beat. Afghanistan will look to seal the series.
Thanks for Reading!
Written by Shekhar Singh. Follow Shekhar on Twitter today.
IND vs ENG 4th T20I Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 4th T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 4th T20I Key Players | Motera Pitch Report
A highly-anticipated T20I series between two of the T20 World Cup favourites has turned out to be a bit of a damp squib. All three matches to date have been decided by comfortable margins – eight wickets, seven wickets and eight wickets – showcasing just how well the chasing side has fared to date.
So, the fourth T20I is an opportunity for both India and England to fine tune their T20 World Cup preparations. No team can rely on the toss in big games, so both sides will be looking for improvement if they are asked to bat first.
In terms of the action, England’s batting depth came to the fore last time out. In the game where Jason Roy made a single-figure score, Jos Buttler bounced back from his own low scores to put in a man-of-the-match display. For India, inconsistency remains in their batting, owing both to perhaps a lack of confidence, i.e. KL Rahul, and constant changing of their batting order. With Kohli hitting fine form, India will be better served sticking to a combination.
IND vs ENG 4th T20I Dream11 Prediction: Rahul to hit form?
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
India:
Virat Kohli scored back-to-back fifties in a T20I series/tournament for the first time since 2016 WT20 and has been dismissed only once in this series. He looks to be back to his best.
If we restrict our stats to T20Is, Rohit Sharma has a strike rate in excess of 140 in the last three years and has been crucial for India at the top of the order.
Yuzvendra Chahal has conceded runs at almost 10 RPO in the 3 matches and has looked out of sorts in the series so far. But a quality bowler like the wrist-spinner will be backed to come good sooner than later by the team management.
Washington Sundar has taken at least one wicket in all three matches so far this series (1/18, 2/29, 1/26).
England:
Jos Buttler scored a magnificent 52-ball 83 in the chase in the 3rd T20I series while Jason Roy scored 40+ scores in the opening two matches. In the 2nd and the 3rd game of the series, the duo haven’t fired as an opening pair and England will be expecting a solid partnership at the top from them.
Eoin Morgan has batted only once in the T20I series so far but if he gets an opportunity to bat, the southpaw will most likely leave an impact in the match.
Mark Wood has played a vital role in both the victories and his express pace has troubled the Indian top-order. He has taken four wickets in two games so far, including 3/31 last match.
Jofra Archer has gone wicketless in his last two matches, but is conceding at just 6.58 per over. He is a good chance of taking wickets if batsmen try take him on.
Stats and Facts
England have never won two consecutive matches in a bilateral T20I series against India.
England have won their last five away T20I series.
India haven’t lost a series at home since the WT20 2016.
Probable Playing XI
Kohli said that KL Rahul will continue opening at the top but Kohli’s words have been different than his actions on many occasions in the past. Hence, it won’t come if we see a change in the batting order. The five-bowler strategy can be changed ahead of the upcoming game and the team might slot another all-rounder but in whose place is the real headache.
With an eye to wrap up the series, England will most likely play the same XI. However, Sam Curran didn’t play a crucial role with the ball and Moeen Ali could chip in with a few overs of spin.
England Probable XI: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jos Buttler (wk), 3. Dawid Malan, 4. Jonny Bairstow, 5. Eoin Morgan (c), 6. Ben Stokes, 7. Sam Curran/Moeen Ali, 8. Chris Jordan, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Mark Wood
Motera Ahmedabad Pitch Report and Conditions
There are a lot of alternatives when it comes to pitches at the venue. Irrespective of the wicket, dew will play an important role like it has in all the games of the series. Expect the captain who wins the toss to bowl first.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
IND vs ENG 4th T20I Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
IND vs ENG 4th T20I Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Considering England’s form it’s impossible to write them off but India are no pushovers. Kohli and Co. produce their best performances when they are the underdogs and in a must-win situation like tomorrow expect India to come all guns blazing. The toss could prove crucial, as chasing teams have fared better.
AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AFG vs ZIM 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 1st T20I Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will lock horns in a three-match T20I series in Abu Dhabi, starting on Wednesday, after a hard-fought Test Series which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Afghanistan played their last International T20I more than a year ago on 10th March 2020. They will be back in the format where they play their best brand of Cricket after 370 days, as most of their tours were postponed due to the ongoing Pandemic.
Afghanistan has dominated against Zimbabwe in past and has won eight out of the nine matches they have played against them. Now, this well timely series also brings a perfect opportunity for them to settle the squad for the T20 World Cup which is set to take place later this year.
Some reports suggest that there are some Visa issues. Mujeeb Zadran, Gulbadin Naib and 3 others are not in UAE and most likely to miss the first T20I.
On the other side, Zimbabwe has struggled in the T20 format in the last few years and they are on a losing streak of five consecutive matches. However, they will certainly draw inspiration from how they played in the last two Tests look to up the ante in this format of the game as well.
Brendan Taylor and Craig Ervine are not part of this series as they are recovering from illness.
AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction: Sean Williams had a great Test series
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Afghanistan:
Rashid Khan – The little Man who rules the T20 format is coming after attaining a 10 wicket haul in Test format. This also shows how versatile he has become over the years. In 9 matches against Zimbabwe, he has picked 13 wickets with a best of 3/11.
Zimbabwe has struggled against quality leg-spin in past and in their last match as well they gave 4 wickets to Usman Qadir which makes Khan an Attractive option for Captaincy in Grand Leagues!
Rahmatullah Gurbaz – Flamboyant Gurbaz has played some outstanding knocks in his short career so far and is considered the future of Afghanistan Batting.
On the Same Ground, he made his ODI debut against Ireland in January and struck a century, and then continued his form in the T10 league as well. He has played twice against Zimbabwe and struck 104 runs with the best score of 61.
Mohammad Nabi – The President is considered hot property in all the teams he played as he can perform with both bat & the ball. He is coming on the back of some impressive performances in the Pakistan Super League.
Nabi has a good record against Zimbabwe in 9 matches he has played against them. He has scored 275 runs with the best score of 52 and has also picked 6 wickets.
Usman Ghani will open the batting and will be a good pick in Grand Leagues. In 4 matches he has managed 125 runs with the best score of 65.
Karim Janat– In the absence of Gulbadin Naib, Janat will be bowling death overs and his ability with the bat as well makes him an excellent option of Punt in Grand Leagues.
Naveen-ul-Haq will be a crucial pick in all Fantasy Leagues.
Zimbabwe:
Sean Williams – Skipper Williams is the best player from Zimbabwe Camp. He was in outstanding form in the Test series as well. In 5 matches against Afghanistan, he has scored 102 runs with a best of 54 and has also picked 5 wickets.
Sikandar Raza– Raza has good experience of playing in Abu Dhabi as he has played here in PSL. He has played 7 matches against Afghanistan and got 156 runs with a best of 52 runs. He has managed just 1 wicket in 9 overs he has bowled.
Blessing Muzarabani– It would be quite fair if we say Muzarabani County Stint has been a blessing for him. In his nine T20Is, the tall right-arm quick has taken two or more wickets on six occasions, including a career-best 3 for 21 against Australia. He has 4 wickets from 2 games against Afghanistan.
Wesley Madhvere was impressive in his last T20 series against Pakistan and will be an excellent option to have in Grand Leagues.
Donald Tripano – Tripano will be a good pick if Zimbabwe bowls first.
Stats & Facts
Zimbabwe has never won against Afghanistan when batting first.
Rashid is six wickets away from becoming the seventh man (and fourth spinner) to take 350 wickets in the format.
Predicted XI
Afghanistan: 1. Rahmatullah Gurbaz (wk), 2. Usman Ghani, 3. Asghar Afghan (c), 4. Mohammad Nabi, 5. Karim Janat, 6. Najibullah Zadran, 7. Sharafuddin Ashraf, 8. Amir Hamza Hotak, 9. Rashid Khan, 10. Fareed Ahmad Malik, 11. Naveen-ul-Haq
Zimbabwe: 1. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, 2. Kevin Kasuza, 3. Sean Williams (c), 4. Wesley Madhevere, 5. Sikandar Raza, 6. Ryan Burl, 7. Regis Chakabva (wk), 8. Donald Tiripano, 9. Wellington Masakadza/Brandon Mavuta, 10. Richard Ngarava, 11. Blessing Muzarabani
Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Conditions
The pitch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium will be one where both the batsmen as well as the bowlers will be interested. Batsmen will have to bide their time on this surface to score big. The chasing team has 40% of Matches on this ground, but this can certainly increase.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Afghanistan’s great record against Zimbabwe should hold them in good stead here. Plus, their knowledge of the UAE will make them hard to beat. Afghanistan to win.
Thanks for reading!
Written by Shekhar Singh. Follow Shekhar on Twitter today.
Where did Australia go wrong in WTC 2021? | Analysing why Australia missed out on the World Test Championship Final 2021
The World Test Championship (WTC), aimed at reinvigorating interest in the longest format of the game, has got its initial two finalists in India and New Zealand. Many heavyweights like South Africa and England to name a couple bowed out of the competition gradually. However, it is the ouster of the supremely prodigious Australian unit that raised the most eyebrows.
The Aussies have always been a country that prides itself for its supreme performances in the whites. They lay incredible importance to the ‘ultimate’ format of the sport and are at times even okay with sacrificing interests in the white-ball games for success in Test cricket. More importantly, perhaps their most critical key players in Steven Smith and David Warner had returned to the international team setup ahead of the WTC cycle after serving their respective suspensions.
Their campaign for the Test championship commenced on a middling ground, one can argue. They were immediately fronted with a marathon five-match Ashes in England after a disappointing finish to their World Cup campaign. However, Smith sprung life into the series by getting into action right from the word go and conquering one feat after another.
Yet, with the series in their grasp, Ben Stokes produced ‘that’ masterclass on the final day at Headingly that perhaps turned the momentum in England’s favour. The Poms went on to concede the Ashes to Australia, but the series eventually ended up finishing 2-2. The fact that Australia conceded 64 points out of a possible 120 in that five-match series never came into focus as the entire hullaballoo surrounded over them lifting the coveted ‘urn’ on English soil. This was the first Ashes series that ended up in a draw after 1972, and the repercussions of which Australia carried forward in their WTC journey.
Where did Australia go wrong in WTC 2021? Australia panicked at Headingley in the face of Stokes.
However, slipping away points in a highly competitive Test series like the Ashes is somewhat of a given. Both teams push each other to the edge and someone is bound to relent at some point in time. It is just that teams might still need time to adjust with the fact that they can’t take any match for granted in the WTC cycle. Australia had already sealed the Ashes after a win in the fourth match of the series. However, the fifth game at the Oval carried equal importance and though Australia’s loss in that match was overshadowed with them lifting the ‘urn’, the result still bore significant importance in the larger scheme of things.
The Aussies then cruised over the Pakistani team in a two-match home Test series. They followed that up with a similar mauling of New Zealand, in a phase that also marked the emergence of Marnus Labuschagne. Approaching home tests in WTC phase are somewhat of a double-edged sword. On one hand, every team should take no less than a victory for a Test in their domestic soil, considering how foreign conditions often put visitors in the backfoot straightaway. Home games present the ultimate opportunity to teams in order to ‘statpad’ points and gradually better their place in the standings. Hence, though Australia’s five straight victories down under against Pakistan and New Zealand was commendable, it was of utmost necessity too. That is also because their feisty competitors in this tourney, like India, were doing the same back home.
Due to Covid-19, Australia ended up missing the tour to Bangladesh that could have very well furthered their chances of qualifications to the finals. However, they benefitted immensely with the change in WTC points system where the percentage of points won was given prime importance instead of the absolute number of points grabbed. With a success per cent of 82.22, powered by twin series victories vs Pakistan and New Zealand, Australia was in a powerful position to sustain their top spot run. Moreover, they had to play a home Border-Gavaskar Trophy which was another series where they could reap advantages of domestic conditions.
Having defeated the Indians convincingly in Adelaide, Australia set themselves for a potential whitewash. However, Ajinkya Rahane’s men scripted a remarkable comeback and how, coming back from precarious situations to down the Baggy Greens in their own backyard repeatedly. Firstly, they claimed a victory in the Boxing Day Test, then outstandingly drew at Sydney before triumphing in their series through a spectacular victory in Brisbane.
Where did Australia go wrong in WTC 2021? Tim Paine painted a sorry figure vs India.
Australia had a fully fit squad at their disposal. Contrastingly, the Indians went on to lose players due to injuries in numbers as the series progressed. Yet, against all odds, India never backed down, tested the Aussies right till the edge before nailing the final blow through a terrific innings from Rishabh Pant on the final day of the fourth Test match. It was something outwardly, unreal, which the Aussies might not have imagined even in their dreams. Almost similar to Ben Stokes’ magnificent knock at Headingly in August 2019; and therein lay the reason behind Tim Paine’s men eventual inability to qualify to the finals of the WTC.
They did the best they could against Pakistan and New Zealand. However, when the relatively tougher opponents came knocking the doors, Australia just left a little bit more to be desired in the end. Victories in Headingly and Brisbane should have been a given. They slipped away from winning positions at the Oval and Sydney, too. In fact, they went on to encounter two of the most iconic Test innings of this century in the same WTC cycle, eventually kicking them off the finals of the championship! What were the odds?
The fact that they pulled out of test tours to Bangladesh and South Africa in the wake of the entire Covid-19 situation further asserts that their ouster from the race for the first WTC trophy was slightly a consequence of certain uncontrollable; coupled with some magical, generational knocks. Undoubtedly, this is not the best way for one of the top-tier test teams to bow out of one of the most prestigious tournaments in world cricket.
Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.
IND vs ENG 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 3rd T20 Key Player | Motera Pitch Report
In an attempt to take a lead in the all-important 3rd T20I, India and England will battle it out again at Ahmedabad in what promises to be a fascinating match of T20 cricket. India went all guns blazing in the 2nd T20I and equalised the series as Virat Kohli and Ishan Kishan registered fifties after an inspired death bowling performance.
The remaining 3 T20Is will be played sans spectators as there has been a surge in the Covid-19 cases in the country. The crowds in both the matches so far failed to maintain social distancing and hence the action taken is justified.
Coming back to cricket, after a poor show in the 1st game, the men in blue returned back to form in the 2nd game. India will have a selection headache with Rohit’s return in the XI. Other than that, Suryakumar Yadav didn’t get an opportunity to bat in his debut game and will be expecting to play a crucial role, most likely as a finisher in the upcoming match. The bowling department was settled, but given Hardik Pandya’s fitness issues, it might be an overexpectation to ask the all-rounder to bowl his entire quota of 4 overs again. As a result, India might be looking to get in a 6th bowling option.
On the other hand, England will draw inspiration from India to come back in the series and replicate how their opponents changed their fortunes in less than 48 hours. Bowling was an issue for them, but credit goes to India for their aggressive approach although the Eoin Morgan-led side could have been more disciplined in their bowling and fielding.
The focus will be on the side batting first as it has been a significantly tougher job while setting a target in the series so far.
IND vs ENG 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction: Jason Roy is returning to some of his best form from 2-3 years ago.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
India:
Suryakumar Yadav had a strike rate of 220 in the death overs in IPL 2020. He will be playing the finisher’s role for India and if he will be aiming to replicate his performances on the international scene.
Ishan Kishan became the 2nd Indian after Ajinkya Rahane to score a half-century on his T20I debut.
Rohit Sharma has scored 4 T20I centuries, the most by any player, and his addition into the XI will be a boost to the men in blue.
After registering two consecutive ducks for the first time in his international career, Virat Kohli did score a match-winning century in the 2nd T20I and the team will be hoping that the captain carries his form into this match.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s wicket in the first over gave advantage to the Indian team and his death overs were also a crucial aspect of India’s victory.
Washington Sundar has been consistent with his line and length in both the T20Is so far and if the pitch offers help to the spinners, Sundar will be the key for India again.
England:
Jason Roy has been in magnificent form in this series with scores of 45+ and has looked at ease against spinners as well. All his sixes in the series have come against spinners.
Ben Stokes struggled with India’s slower balls in the death overs of India’s innings. He will be better equipped to open the batting for the visitors, but will England look at Butter as option in the middle-order?
Eoin Morgan scored a 20-ball 28 in the first innings of Sunday’s game and his team will expect better from the captain.
After his player of the match-winning performance in the first T20I, Jofra Archer along with Sam Curran started off well for the No. 1 ranked side. At the end of their 4-over spells, they were the only bowlers to concede at an economy rate of less than 6 RPO.
Stats and Facts
7 out of the 9 games at the Narendra Modi Stadium post the renovation have been won by sides chasing.
Jonny Bairstow needs 22 runs and Jason Roy needs 15 runs to complete 1000 career runs in T20Is. Only 4 England batsmen have reached the landmark in the format.
Eoin Morgan all set to play his 100th T20I game. Only 3 players have played over 100 games in the format.
Possible Playing 11
Virat Kohli did mention before the 1st T20I that Rohit Sharma has been rested for the first couple of games so the deputy skipper will be coming back into the side. However, that does cause a problem for the hosts. Rahul has scored a solitary run in the first two games but does deserve another opportunity while Ishan Kishan was the man of the match and has sealed his spot at the top of the order. Suryakumar Yadav didn’t even get a chance to bat so it will be harsh to bench him but given the batting order, the management has to take some tough calls to get Rohit in the XI.
For England, Mark Wood will be expected to get reinstated back in the XI for Tom Curran.
England: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jos Buttler (wk), 3. Dawid Malan, 4. Jonny Bairstow, 5. Eoin Morgan (c), 6. Ben Stokes, 7. Sam Curran, 8. Jofra Archer, 9. Tom Curran, 10. Chris Jordan, 11. Adil Rashid
Motera Ahmedabad Pitch Report and Weather
The nature of the track has been consistent so far as it offers grip for the bowlers more in the 1st innings than the second. The pitch gets easier for batting as the match progresses. But the Narendra Modi Stadium does offer a lot of alternatives and the track might not be the same in the upcoming match. The choice of the skipper winning the toss will still remain to chase.
The temperature is expected to be in the higher 30s and it will be humid as well.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
IND vs ENG 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
IND vs ENG 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
India equalised the series in Ahmedabad but just like the Virat Kohli-led side had a bad day in the office in the series opener, England were out of sorts in the following game. The game on Sunday doesn’t really say a lot about England as a team and they displayed how clinical they can be in the 1st T20I. But in spite of that, India will be the favourites to win the 3rd T20I.
