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5 Underrated Players in IPL 2020

Sarthak Karkhanis
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5 Underrated Players in IPL 2020

5 Underrated Players in IPL 2020 | 5 Players who have exceeded expectations in Indian Premier League 2020 | Who are the underrated players in IPL?

TWO SUPER OVERS

TWO CENTURIES

9 200+ scores

A little over two weeks into IPL 2020, and we can firmly opinionate that the tournament has lived up to the billing and has met, or to be fair, exceeded our expectations. In these gloomy times of the pandemic, the IPL has given immense joy to all and at least for a while has made us forget the problems around us.

Such is the year, it has continued to throw up surprises as perennial underachievers Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals are at the top of the table, while the 3-time champions Chennai Super Kings are languishing towards the bottom of the table with just two wins in six matches.

In the fortnight gone by, a few players have been the surprise package of the tournament, and have held their nerve to take the team over the line. However, they weren’t rated as prime match-winners of their respective franchises before the tournament began but their success so far has been heartwarming for the fans of the lucrative league. We take a look at five underrated players of IPL 2020.

1. Mayank Agarwal

5 Underrated Players in IPL 2020 | 5 Players who have exceeded expectations in Indian Premier League 2020 | Who are the underrated players in IPL?
5 Underrated Players in IPL 2020: Mayank Agarwal has been superb.

Few would have predicted Mayank Agarwal’s name to be towards the top of the chart in the most runs category 21 matches into the tournament. With 272 runs in five innings, including a century against Rajasthan Royals, Agarwal has been one of the best performers of IPL 2020 and arguably the most valuable player so far. He has scored just over one-third of KXIP’s runs so far in the IPL 2020.

The Karnataka batsman has finally set the IPL on fire. After being with his local franchise RCB in the initial years, he plied his trade for the Delhi Daredevils and Rising Pune Supergiant but never really announced his arrival. Before a decent season in 2019 where he scored 332 runs, his best tally in an IPL season was 225 runs way back in 2012. In spite of being successful in the domestic circuit and later setting the international stage on fire, Agarwal wasn’t as successful in the IPL.

Before the season, there were calls from some corners to play Gayle in the opening slot and push Agarwal down to 3. But KXIP persisted with the dynamic batsman and the results are here to see. If Mayank builds on the platform he has laid for himself in the early stages of the tournament, an Orange Cap won’t come as a surprise.

2. Ravi Bishnoi

5 Underrated Players in IPL 2020 | 5 Players who have exceeded expectations in Indian Premier League 2020 | Who are the underrated players in IPL?
5 Underrated Players in IPL 2020: Ravi Bishnoi has performed well so far.

The next person in our list is Mayank’s KXIP teammate Ravi Bishnoi. Bishnoi was one of the players to watch out for in this edition of the IPL 2020, but just like Mayank his place in the side depended on the foreign combination KXIP were going to opt for.

Bishnoi has been the most consistent bowler for KXIP and the second-most economical bowler with an ER of 7.90. He started off on a scintillating note against the Delhi Capitals with 1/22 and has been KL Rahul’s go-to bowler in the games gone by.

If KXIP is to resurrect their campaign, Bishnoi has to play a major role for the franchise. They need to win at least six matches in their remaining nine matches and Bishnoi will hope that he plays in the playoff stages.

3. Washington Sundar

5 Underrated Players in IPL 2020 | 5 Players who have exceeded expectations in Indian Premier League 2020 | Who are the underrated players in IPL?
5 Underrated Players in IPL 2020: Washington Sundar is crucial for RCB.

One of the vital cogs in RCB’s set up in the tournament so far has been Washington Sundar. He wasn’t a certainty in the RCB line-up prior to the tournament as there was a lot of competition for his slot. RCB had the option of playing Pawan Negi or Shahbaz Ahmed as the spin-bowling all-rounder, with Moeen Ali playing as an off-spinner.

But the limited overseas slots meant that Moeen Ali missed out and Sundar came into the XI.

He bowled just the three overs in the first two games, conceding just the 20 runs. Once Virat Kohli started giving the ball to Sundar he has been exceptional, with figures of 1/12, 0/20, and 0/20. He has arrested the momentum of the opposition in the powerplay.

Sundar will also be a crucial part of RCB’s batting in the upcoming matches and if the franchise hopes to do well in the tournament, Sundar should maintain his form with the ball.

4. Kamlesh Nagarkoti

5 Underrated Players in IPL 2020 | 5 Players who have exceeded expectations in Indian Premier League 2020 | Who are the underrated players in IPL?
5 Underrated Players in IPL 2020: Kamlesh Nagarkoti has shown very promising signs after injuries.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti’s comeback has been one of the heartwarming stories of this year’s IPL. After battling injury problems for more than a couple of years, the young Indian pacer is finally back on the field, post two surgeries.

Nagarkoti rose to fame post the U-19 World Cup 2018 in New Zealand where he was instrumental in India’s win. Post that he spent most of his time at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, but the Kolkata Knight Riders retained him through this tough phase. However, there were clouds over his bowling performance ahead of this edition, but he has picked four wickets in four games, he has been impressive with his line and length.

5. T Natarajan

5 Underrated Players in IPL 2020 | 5 Players who have exceeded expectations in Indian Premier League 2020 | Who are the underrated players in IPL?
5 Underrated Players in IPL 2020: T Natajaran has been strong so far in 2020.

Over the years, the IPL has had a lot of stories of players from underprivileged backgrounds performing well in the lucrative league. One such player is T Natarajan. The left-arm pacer has been lethal with the yorkers in this year’s IPL.

Natarajan has picked five wickets in as many games so far including the prized scalped of Indian captain Virat Kohli in the match against RCB. He attracted eyeballs with his consistent yorkers against the Delhi Capitals and since then he has become a key component for SRH’s death bowling plans.

He wasnt expected to start for SRH with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma, Siddharth Kaul and Basil Thampi in the squad. But his magnificent performances coupled with Bhuvneshwar’s thigh injury, which unfortunately rules him out of the tournament, makes Natarajan a crucial part of the Sunriser’s plans in the remaining part of the tournament as the race to playoff heats up.

Written by Sarthak Karkhanis. Follow Sarthak on Twitter today.

Australia women’s team equal Australia men’s 2003 record

Charbel Coorey
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Australia women’s team equal Australia men’s 2003 record

Australia women’s team equal world-record 21 straight ODI wins | Australia’s women’s team equal Ricky Ponting’s team of 2003

After winning 21 consecutive ODIs, Australia women’s team has equalled Ricky Ponting’s team record. The last match they lost was back in October 2017.

“It’s a strange one and it hasn’t been spoken about as a group. 20-odd players have been a part of it and contributed to the success of the team throughout this period. It’s a special achievement and something we’ll reflect back on in due course,” said stand-in captain Rachael Haynes at the virtual post-match press conference after winning the home series against New Zealand.

After losing in 2017 Women’s World Cup Semi Final to India, the Aussies won the home series vs India by 3-0. Moving on they played against Pakistan in Malaysia in 2018-19 and won the three ODIs convincingly. And after that against New Zealand in 2018-19, England, West Indies and Sri Lanka in 2019 and NZ again in 2020, they won all the series without a loss.

“I definitely followed the men’s side while I was growing up. They had a pretty extraordinary period of success. To compare that group to ours is obviously very special. It’s sort of hard to get your head around how significant it is but in due course will reflect upon it and celebrate. I’m sure there will be some embezzling stories and those sort of things”, the winning captain said.

Haynes had a great innings with the bat as she was leading the team from the front with an average of 74 and 222 runs in the series against New Zealand. “I wanted to make sure I was there for as long as possible to help lay an important foundation. Because we know at the back end we’ve got wickets in hand and you can really accelerate. We were able to do that perfectly today with the bat. Healy was fantastic at the start. We sort of found it tough to get going a little bit, but she clicked in the gear and gave us some really good momentum. To have a partnership with Annabel, really set up the game and allowed us to accelerate in the back end. so it was a great batting effort from everyone who walked out there,” the 33-year old said.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

We are disappointed that we let it slip: Stephen Fleming

Charbel Coorey
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We are disappointed that we let it slip: Stephen Fleming

We are disappointed that we let it slip: Stephen Fleming | CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said CSK should have beaten KKR

Chennai Super Kings lost yet another match even after restricting the Kolkata Knight Riders to 167 all-out. Though the bowlers showed character, the batting failed to prove its worth it when they came out in the second innings. In the post-match presentation, captain MS Dhoni pointed out that the middle order kind of failed to perform which lead to the loss by 10 runs.

“The performances like today, with the experience we’ve got, we should put it away. Ideally, you want one batsman to bat through. If you give an opening to an IPL team, they’ve got quality players to take it. Today with Narine holding overs back, it made it very difficult in the end. You are looking at players going on and making 75 or more and continue that partnership for five more overs, the game would have been a lot more different. KKR hung in there and put pressure on us. We couldn’t accelerate in the end. We are disappointed that we let it slip”, said CSK head coach Stephen Fleming.

At the start of the match, even though the pitch was getting slower and slower, CSK looked convincing at 90/1 with both Watson and Rayudu accelerating with boundaries in almost every over. But after the dismissal of Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav yet again disappointed the fans as well as the team. When Jadhav came to bat CSK needed 39 runs in 21 balls and then he went on scoring 7 in 12 balls.

“We’ve got a lot of batsmen so the balance is good with six bowlers. Bravo is batting at No. 8 and we are struggling to use him so we don’t think an extra batsman is going to help. Sam Curran was also very good. Our challenge is that our two allrounders are going very well, Watson and Faf are doing well, so it’s very hard to fit in an international bowler in that group. We are relying heaving on our Indian bowlers. We’ve got a pretty good balance”, he said.

CSK still needs to win six matches in next eight to qualify for the playoffs. They will face Royal Challengers Bangalore on October 10.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

Saying goodbye to my dad was tough says Ben Stokes

Charbel Coorey
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Saying goodbye to my dad was tough says Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes has returned to play in the IPL 2020 season after taking a break from cricket. Stokes was granted indefinite compassionate leave from England Cricket Board (ECB) after he received the news of his father’s brain cancer. In an emotional column written for The Mirror, the world class all-rounder shared his thoughts as he left his family behind in New Zealand.

“Saying goodbye to my dad, my mum and my brother in Christchurch was tough. It has been a difficult time for us as a family, but we’ve pulled together and supported each other as best we can. And I was able to get on the plane with my parents’ love and blessing after we reached the decision, for me to get back playing, as a family with no external influences”, he wrote.

Before Stokes interacted with his family, he was in quarantine in Auckland as he had just left from England mid-series against Pakistan in August. “The first week was all about seeing dad and catching up with family, but things were up in the air and there was no plan about how things would pan out. My dad was also very strong on the responsibilities I have. He told me I have a duty to do the job that I do and I have a duty as a husband and father as well. We gave it all a lot of thought and talked it over at length, and we came to a decision that now sees me back focusing on the game and then I’ll be heading home to Clare and the kids. When I was there I was able to leave cricket behind completely for five weeks. I would just wake up and be useful. That meant looking after dad when mum went to work”, he added.

After spending some quality time with his father and doing the normal things for him such as going out for coffee or watching TV or going out to parks. “It was great getting out, but he gets tired quite easily so we’d head home and relax for a bit and then in the afternoon we’d go to the park across the road and feed the ducks and get some more fresh air. In between, dad would get quite a few visitors from back in his old rugby league days and it was great to sit with them and hear the old stories about when they were playing and what dad was like. That was pretty cool. Times have definitely changed”, he said.

RR has lost three matches in a row after their two stellar performances in Sharjah. Stokes is currently in six-day quarantine currently and might play on October 9 against Delhi Capitals.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

IPL 2020 Match 22: SRH vs KXIP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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IPL 2020 Match 22: SRH vs KXIP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2020 Match 22: SRH vs KXIP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SRH vs KXIP Dream11 Prediction | Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

If there was ever a game that felt like an elimination playoff in the first half of the season, this is it. Two sides, both of whom have had some good moments, have largely disappointed so far, as they both sit in the bottom three of the IPL 2020 Table.

The good moments for Kings XI Punjab translates specifically to their opening partnership. KL Rahul (302) and Mayank Agarwal (272) both sit in the top three for leading run-scorers in IPL 2020, with 63% of the team’s runs. But, the strength of the opening combination also means an undercooked middle order that has yet to fully fire so far, even with the talented Nicholas Pooran and Glenn Maxwell in their ranks. Will today be their day?

However, KXIP’s biggest problem is undoubtedly their bowling. They were taken to the cleaners by Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis last time out, after awful death bowling cost them dearly against Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals earlier in the season. In both those games, KXIP were in control, until overs consisting of 30 runs swung the game in the opposition’s favour. So, is it time that Mujeeb ur Rahman comes in? Or will the Kings persist with their current crop?

Like Kings XI, Sunrisers Hyderabad also look top heavy. Even with the superb efforts of Priyam Garg and Abhishek Sharma two games ago against CSK, a lot still rests on the top four, with the slow finish to the innings vs MI the overwhelming evidence. Skipper David Warner looked to be getting back to his best form with his first half-century of the season last time out, and will need to lead the way here against a side that has struggled with the ball.

Also, how will SRH cope with the loss of Bhuvneshwar Kumar? The experienced pacer has been ruled out of the tournament (details here), which leaves an already thin bowling attack even thinner. Siddarth Kaul went the distance last time out, so he, and the SRH team, need to bounce back here. The best way to do that? Break the KXIP opening partnership as early as possible.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • David Warner has a terrific record vs KXIP. In fact, he has the most runs in SRH-KXIP matches, with 574 runs at a superb average and strike rate of 71.75 and 143.86 respectively.
  • Warner scored well vs KXIP in IPL 2019: 81 (56) and 70* (62).
  • KL Rahul is in excellent run-scoring form (most runs in IPL 2020), but his strike rate is under question. So, his approach will be interesting today. When playing for KXIP vs SRH, Rahul has 200 runs in four innings (avg. 66.67).
  • Mayank Agarwal is also in superb touch. He is currently the third-highest run-scorer in IPL 2020, with 272 runs at an average of 54.40 (SR 162.87). He also scored a half century vs SRH in 2019. Can he keep that form going today?
  • Jonny Bairstow rounds out the battle of the openers. He has had an up-and-down tournament so far, with two half-centuries in five games but an overall average of below 30 (28.80).
  • Manish Pandey vs KXIP: 19 innings, 521 runs, avg. 34.73, SR 126.76. Can he build on this promising record, as well as the starts he has made this season? (scores of 34, 51, 3, 29, 30).
  • Kane Williamson has a strike rate of 156.41 in four games for SRH vs KXIP (122 runs, average 40.67).
  • Nicholas Pooran is finding some form. His last three scores in IPL 2020: 25* (8), 44 (27) and 33 (17). Can his middle order partner Glenn Maxwell (5 matches, 41 runs, avg. 13.66, SR 93.18) finally get going in IPL 2020?
  • Mohammed Shami has taken eight wickets in five games so far in IPL 2020. If he and Sheldon Cottrell (six IPL 2020 wickets) can continue their strong powerplay form, then KXIP are a good chance of winning this match.
  • Rashid Khan has the most wickets for SRH against KXIP, after Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Rashid Khan’s 11 wickets come at a good strike rate of 13.09. Also, Khan has been superb in recent matches: 1/25, 3/14, 0/12 and 1/22.
  • Chris Jordan has had an awful tournament thus far (0/98 off 7 overs). However, could this be the day where he gets wickets at the backend, against what remains a shaky SRH middle order?
  • Siddarth Kaul has six wickets in five matches vs SRH. T Natarajan went for just 29 in four overs vs MI at Sharjah, and is an excellent exponent of the yorker. Death over wickets for Natarajan vs KXIP today?
  • Ravi Bishnoi’s performances at Dubai in IPL 2020: 1/22, 3/32 and 0/33.
IPL 2020 Match 22: SRH vs KXIP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SRH vs KXIP Dream11 Prediction | Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report | Weather Report | SRH vs KXIP Who will win today | SRH vs KXIP Best Dream11 Team | SRH vs KXIP Best Prediction Today | SRH vs KXIP Which players to pick for Dream11
IPL 2020 Match 22: SRH vs KXIP Preview Dream11: Warner & Bairstow to fire today?

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 14, SRH 10, KXIP 4.
  • In the last four meetings between the teams, both SRH and KXIP have won two games each.
    Jonny Bairstow has a strike rate of 79 and average of 13.50 vs good length balls in IPL 2020. Can Shami and Cottrell exploit this in the powerplay overs?
  • Mayank Agarwal has faced four googlies in IPL 2020, and has been dismissed twice. Plan of attack for Rashid Khan?
  • David Warner has scored a half-century in each of his last eight games vs Kings XI.
  • KXIP have won just one out of five games in IPL 2020. However, they still have a positive net run rate (0.178).

Possible Playing 11

SRH could give another chance to Siddarth Kaul, as this game is in Dubai, after he conceded 64 runs vs MI at Sharjah.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1. David Warner (c), 2. Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3. Kane Williamson, 4. Manish Pandey, 5. Priyam Garg, 6. Abhishek Sharma, 7. Abdul Samad, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Sandeep Sharma, 10. Siddarth Kaul, 11. T Natarajan

Do KXIP bring in Mujeeb ur Rahman? One thing for certain is that they must improve their death bowling, as they concede 14.8 an over at this stage in IPL 2020 – the worst among all teams.

Kings XI Punjab: 1. KL Rahul (c), 2. Mayank Agarwal, 3. Mandeep Singh, 4. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Sarfaraz Khan, 7. Chris Jordan, 8. Harpreet Brar/M Ashwin, 9. Sheldon Cottrell, 10. Mohammad Shami, 11. Ravi Bishnoi

Dubai Pitch and Weather Report

There was more success for the team batting first in IPL 2020 yesterday, with KKR beating CSK by 10 runs. The team batting first has won 16 of 21 matches so far in 2020, including seven out of nine at Dubai. In those nine games, the team that won the toss chose to bowl first seven times, and lost on all occasions.

Dew will play a role again, but batting first could be the way to go. The average first innings score at Dubai in IPL 2020 is 179.33, which certainly suggests a good batting surface.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

IPL 2020 Match 22: SRH vs KXIP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SRH vs KXIP Dream11 Prediction | Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report | Weather Report | SRH vs KXIP Who will win today | SRH vs KXIP Best Dream11 Team | SRH vs KXIP Best Prediction Today | SRH vs KXIP Which players to pick for Dream11
IPL 2020 Match 22: SRH vs KXIP Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IPL 2020 Match 22: SRH vs KXIP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SRH vs KXIP Dream11 Prediction | Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report | Weather Report | SRH vs KXIP Who will win today | SRH vs KXIP Best Dream11 Team | SRH vs KXIP Best Prediction Today | SRH vs KXIP Which players to pick for Dream11
IPL 2020 Match 22: SRH vs KXIP Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

The opening batsmen are crucial for both teams. So, the bowling team that performs well in the powerplay could go on to win this game. For KXIP, Rahul and Agarwal will be key, but so too Mohammed Shami and Sheldon Cottrell against SRH’s Warner and Bairstow. If KXIP can set up a platform to bowl well at the death, they can go on to win their second game of the season.

Thanks for reading!

5 Household Names Yet to be Seen in IPL

Debashish Sarangi
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5 Household Names Yet to be Seen in IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the biggest T20 extravaganza. Apart from entertaining the fans across the world, it provides opportunities to so many talents to show their brilliance on the global stage and create their own brand in T20 cricket.

So, it is the dream of so many cricketers to play in the most luxurious T20 league and prove their worth in the format. But, there are some well known cricketers who are yet to be seen in the IPL. I will be listing such five cricketers in this article. Let’s go.

5. Ashton Agar

5 Household Names Yet to be Seen in IPL | 5 players who have performed at the highest level that have never received an IPL contract | Has Ashton Agar played in IPL?
Ashton Agar: Future IPL cricketer?

The Australian bowling all-rounder has gained enormous praise recently for his consistency with the ball. His straight forward methods of keeping things accurate and vary his pace as well as length has worked well for him. Debuting in 2016, he has picked 30 wickets from 27 T20Is at an economy of 6.88, which is quite remarkable.

Also, he is a capable batsman down under and has enough experience of playing the shortest format of the game being a regular in domestic leagues like BBL. But, unfortunately he has not been able to attract the IPL franchises so far, in the auctions he has been a part of. Looking at Agar, the improved bowler in recent times, I hope he gets an opportunity in the IPL soon.

4. Mushfiqur Rahim

5 Household Names Yet to be Seen in IPL | 5 players who have performed at the highest level that have never received an IPL contract | Has Mushfiqur Rahim played in IPL?
Mushfiqur Rahim has been solid for a long time.

The stats of Mushfiqur Rahim in T20Is don’t do justice to his calibre as a batsman at all. He is a wonderful timer of the ball, a prolific player under pressure, handles spinners as well as anyone in the middle overs and thus is a perfect contender for that vital no. 4 spot in a t20 side.

Over the last 2-3 years, he has gained a calmer head and has rescued Bangladesh from difficult situations on many occasions. In T20 format, he has decent average and SR of almost 29 and 130 respectively. Moreover, his experience of playing in the subcontinent can make him a vital cog in the middle order of any team in the IPL. Despite being a quality option, he has been unable to attract bidders for him in the IPL auctions so far, which is a bit strange.

3. Joe Root

5 Household Names Yet to be Seen in IPL | 5 players who have performed at the highest level that have never received an IPL contract | Has Joe Root ever played IPL?
Joe Root has been a key part of England’s white ball rise

Can you imagine one of the finest batsmen of this generation, a proven customer in limited overs cricket, not getting a single bid for his name in the IPL auction so far? That is the curious case of Joe Root. He has been a superstar of English limited overs side for so many years now. In T20s, he has average and SR of almost 32 and 128 respectively, which is decent as far as an anchor is concerned. Moreover, in the T20 World Cup held in India in 2016, he had an average of almost 50 and scored at a phenomenal Strike rate of 146.47 and thus played a major role in England reaching the Final.

He is a brilliant player of spin, which is a crucial criterion to be successful as a batsman in India. Yet, I don’t understand why a player of his calibre has not been picked by any side in the IPL auctions.

2. Kesrick Williams

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Kesrick Williams belongs to that rare breed of fast bowlers who can fetch wickets for a side in the shortest format. He has great variations in his armory. Having made his debut in 2016 for the West Indies, he has picked 41 wickets in 25 games so far in T20Is. Also, overall in the t20 format, he has 129 wickets bowling in 95 games, which speaks volumes for his wicket-taking abilities.

He has shown his potential with the ball by nailing perfect yorkers and brilliant slow balls at the death and he was effective even against a monstrous hitter like Russell in the recently concluded CPL. Sure, his economy rate is a bit high at 8.6, but it is quite understandable as he is preferred more at the death. So, I consider him as a quality option suited for T20 cricket. But, unfortunately he has not been bought by any franchise in the IPL so far, where every team needs a death-overs specialist.

1. Adil Rashid

5 Household Names Yet to be Seen in IPL | 5 players who have performed at the highest level that have never received an IPL contract | Has Adil Rashid ever played IPL?
Adil Rashid is household name yet to be seen in IPL.

Adil Rashid has been the trump card of captain Eoin Morgan for some 4-5 years now and has played a remarkable role in England’s success as a world class limited overs side. As a genuine wicket taker, Rashid has 199 wickets in T20 format altogether from 176 games. He has troubled the best in business including the likes of Virat Kohli on numerous occasions. A wrist spinner like Rashid on helpful Indian wickets can surely be a luxury to have for any side. The extent to which the teams prioritize an able wrist spinner in limited overs cricket, especially T20s these days, it is really shocking to see one of the finest wrist spinners of the current generation not getting an IPL contract.

So, this is my list of 5 popular players those are yet to get an IPL contract. Do any others come to your mind? Have your say!

Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today.

Bangladesh Cricket Board announces 3-team one-day competition

Charbel Coorey
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Bangladesh Cricket Board announces 3-team one-day competition | Bangladesh Cricket Board announces three-team 50-over competition

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced its one-day matches for the domestic team after a gap of six months. The board came up with three teams comprising of National Team cricketers, players from the High-Performance Unit, and selected members of the 2020 ICC Under-19 World Cup champion squad.

“The three teams have been named after respective captains Md Mahmud Ullah, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Tamim Iqbal khan. Each team will face each other twice with the top two on points featuring in the final on 23 October. All the games will take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur and will be day/night. There will be reserve days for every match. To ensure health and safety standards for Covid-19, the players, support staff, match officials and relevant personnel including grounds and facilities staff will be placed in a bio-secure bubble for the tournament”, read their official statement.

The matches will start from October 11 is a part of BCB initiative that aims for a gradual resumption of normal cricketing activities which got disrupted since March due to the pandemic. The tournaments will help young cricketers to perform and have a good practice.

The board has also started the High Performance (HP) Squad’s training camp from October 7, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur. “A 25-member HP Squad will undergo fitness and skill training up to 09 October before players who have been selected in teams for the forthcoming 50-over competition join their respective sides. Practice will re-commence after the one-day competition. In line with the health and safety requirements, the players were tested for Covid-19 on 05 October with all results returning negative”, said the official statement.

Recently, Bangladesh’s Test tour of Sri Lanka was postponed again due to quarantine disagreements.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

Australia-India to start with white-ball series before pink ball Test

Charbel Coorey
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Australia-India to start with white-ball series before pink ball Test

Australia-India to start with white-ball series before pink ball Test | Australia-India series to comprise of India’s first pink ball Test overseas

India is all set to visit Australia for two-month long schedule for three ODIs, three T20Is and four Tests. India will play its maiden pink-ball Test overseas and reportedly the team will travel directly from UAE to Australia after the IPL. According to ESPNCricinfo reports, Cricket Australia (CA) has marked November 25-30 period for the ODIs and December 4-8 for the T20Is.

A few months ago, CA released a tentative schedule. However, things have changed since, and there has not been any media release regarding the final schedule of the matches as CA is waiting for a final nod from the government authorities (mainly from Queensland government for proper permissions for quarantine facility and international arrivals). Post covid-19 lockdown, anyone who travels from overseas to Queensland has to observe 14-day quarantine, but with the cricket teams coming in, they would need a training facility as well during the quarantine period which is one area of concern.

According to the reports, the Indian team is all set to play a pink-ball warm up match in Adelaide before the first Test. The warm-up match will mostly be an intra-squad game keeping in mind the public health guidelines imposed due to the pandemic.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

MS Dhoni could be questioned for not opening even if we won: Stephen Fleming

Charbel Coorey
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MS Dhoni could be questioned for not opening even if we won: Stephen Fleming

MS Dhoni could be questioned for not opening even if we won: Stephen Fleming | Stephen Fleming backs MS Dhoni and youngsters as IPL 2020 progresses

When it comes to batting order be it nationals or IPL, former cricketers and media members can’t stop themselves from pulling MS Dhoni into every possible conversation. In a causal interaction with Sunil Gavaskar for Star Sport Live broadcast, CSK’s head coach Stephen Fleming was asked what if Watson and du Plessis won the game on their own, then there will be no questions on Dhoni’s batting position.

To which Stephen Fleming joked that ‘it will still come up’. “It (Question) will still come up maybe he should have batted at 1. I am prepared for it every time I have a press conference but it will a nice situation to have it yes,” said Fleming.

CSK went ahead and won the match against KXIP by 10 wickets as Shane Watson made 83 and Faf du Plessis made 87 to completely dominate the chase. Fleming was asked about bring youngsters in the yellow army such as Sam Curran, to which the coach said “Youngsters in our side? It’s an oxymoron”.

In the post-match presentation, Watson told Faf du Plessis about how Fleming and MS Dhoni make their team look good with their decisions. “What Fleming and MS Dhoni do, it is incredible. They trust the players, they trust the quality and calibre of their players. They know if they keep the faith, the things will certainly change”, he said.

“It was nice to spend some time with my good mate Faf in the middle. It is amazing how a little change in mindset can make a big difference in getting things moving. It was nice to get some winning momentum. The faith that CSK continues to show in their players goes a long way. I love batting with Faf, I do believe that we compliment each other really well,” he added.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

IPL 2020 Match 21: CSK vs KKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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IPL 2020 Match 21: CSK vs KKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2020 Match 21: CSK vs KKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | CSK vs KKR Dream11 Prediction | Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

Two of the most decorated franchises go head-to-head in a high-stakes clash at Abu Dhabi, as one of the most competitive IPL tournaments in recent times heads towards its halfway stage.

With five IPL Titles between them, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders are on a mission to add to their respective tallies. However, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for both teams thus far, making the 21st clash of this year’s tournament one that will have billions of eyes glued to it.

But, CSK will be buoyed by dominating Punjab’s bowling, reducing them to a mockery, rather than the Kings they wish to be. Shane Watson repaid the faith and Faf du Plessis continued his magnificent form to lead CSK to a vital win – a win they will be looking to build on here. Limiting the powerful KKR batting lineup will be the challenge for MS Dhoni’s men, who himself will be looking to build on reaching 100 dismissals in IPL cricket.

However, one can expect KKR to test CSK a little more. CSK’s middle order wasn’t required against KXIP, but it is very likely they’ll be needed against a KKR side looking for their own bounceback after falling short against the Capitals. Also, former skipper Gautam Gambhir was vocal about Dinesh Karthik’s batting position, after a crucial call to bat himself ahead of the in-form Eoin Morgan in the defeat to DC. Here, the Knight Riders will be out to get the batting order right in a crucial game – including the out-of-form Sunil Narine. Also, can the young bowling attack produce the kind of performance they did against the Royals?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • Watch out for Andre Russell. One of the greatest T20 players has a superb record for KKR against CSK, with 268 runs at an average of 67.00, SR 176.32.
  • Russell to dominate the death overs today? Since IPL 2018, he has smashed 98 runs in overs 16-20 against CSK, without being dismissed. Also, he has scored 78 runs in 30 balls against Dwayne Bravo in IPL, without a single dismissal.
  • How well is Faf du Plessis going? The South African is now second in the Orange Cap 2020 race, with 282 runs in five innings at an average of 94.00. This includes three half centuries.
  • Shane Watson found form against KXIP, hitting 83* off 53 balls. Also, Watson has a solid overall record against KKR, with 439 runs at an average of 31.36 (SR 147.81). However, he has just one 50+ score against KKR in 17 innings, which was an unbeaten century.
  • Shubman Gill struck 70* in his last game at Abu Dhabi, against SRH. The youngster is having a solid season so far (152 runs in four knocks), and has made an excellent start to his IPL career as opener: 10 inns, 388 runs, avg. 48.50, SR 130.64.
  • MS Dhoni has the most runs of any player out of the current CSK squad vs KKR. His 470 runs have come at a superb average of 67.14 and SR 142.42. Also, Dhoni, amid the criticism, has shown some good form with the bat in IPL 2020 (91 runs, SR 135.82, one dismissal).
  • Eoin Morgan is looking in fine touch. He has struck 116 runs in his last three matches at a strike rate of 165.71, with just one dismissal.
  • Ravindra Jadeja has taken just one wicket in his last four games. However, he has the second-most wickets in CSK-KKR matches, with 14 wickets in 14 games. Sunil Narine also has 14 wickets, in 12 matches.
  • Deepak Chahar will have a crucial role to play at both key stages of the innings. He has five wickets in five games so far in 2020 (econ. 7.84), and took 3/20 vs KKR last season.
  • Pat Cummins’ last two games away from Sharjah: 1/19 (4) and 1/13 (3).
  • Shardul Thakur has taken three wickets in two games so far in IPL 2020, playing a key role for CSK so far. He also has three wickets in two games vs KKR.
  • Sam Curran is wicketless in his last two games – can he bounce back today?
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IPL 2020 Match 21: CSK vs KKR Preview Dream11: Faf du Plessis has been superb.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 23, CSK 14, KKR 8, 1 abandoned.
  • CSK have won three of their past four games vs KKR.
  • Sunil Narine has an excellent record vs Shane Watson. In 28 deliveries in IPL, Narine has dismissed Watson four times, conceding just 29 runs in the process.
  • If picked, how will Dwayne Bravo go today? He has a poor record vs Andre Russell, and concedes over 10 runs per over in 11 matches vs KKR.
  • Time for KKR to push Sunil Narine down the order with Rahul Tripathi to open? Narine has scored just 29 runs in four innings in IPL 2020.
  • If CSK pick Imran Tahir, they will be picking a player with six wickets in three games vs KKR.

Possible Playing 11

The return of Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo inspires more confidence for CSK. However, as mentioned, Bravo doesn’t have the best of records vs KKR, so it will be interesting to see CSK’s approach.

Chennai Super Kings: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Ambati Rayudu, 4. Kedar Jadhav, 5. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Dwayne Bravo, 8. Sam Curran, 9. Shardul Thakur, 10. Deepak Chahar, 11. Piyush Chawla

KKR could look to shift Sunil Narine down the order. Rahul Tripathi looked good vs DC, striking 36 off 16 balls at Sharjah.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Rahul Tripathi, 2. Shubman Gill, 3. Nitish Rana, 4. Andre Russell, 5. Eoin Morgan, 6. Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), 7. Sunil Narine, 8. Pat Cummins, 9. Kamlesh Nagarkoti, 10. Shivam Mavi, 11. Varun Chakravarthy

Abu Dhabi Pitch and Weather Report

The team batting first has won 75% of matches in IPL 2020 (15/20). At Abu Dhabi, the chasing team has had a little more success, but the team batting first has still won on four out of seven occasions. Once again, expect the batting surface to be nice and even for batting, as the tournament is still in its first half.

The average first innings score at Abu Dhabi in IPL 2020 is 171.29. In wins, the average first innings score bumps up to 185.25, courtesy of three 190+ scores by Mumbai Indians.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

IPL 2020 Match 21: CSK vs KKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | CSK vs KKR Dream11 Prediction | Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report | CSK vs KKR who will win | CSK vs KKR Match Prediction | CSK vs KKR Best Dream11 Team | CSK vs KKR Best Dream11 Prediction | CSK vs KKR Who to pick in Dream11 Team
IPL 2020 Match 21: CSK vs KKR Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IPL 2020 Match 21: CSK vs KKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | CSK vs KKR Dream11 Prediction | Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report | CSK vs KKR who will win | CSK vs KKR Match Prediction | CSK vs KKR Best Dream11 Team | CSK vs KKR Best Dream11 Prediction | CSK vs KKR Who to pick in Dream11 Team
IPL 2020 Match 21: CSK vs KKR Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

A beauty awaits. The key for KKR would be to test CSK’s middle order as soon as possible, as well as dominate the middle-death overs with the bat. If they can, they can go on to win this match.

Thanks for reading!

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