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IPL 2020 Match 27: MI vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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IPL 2020 Match 27: MI vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2020 Match 27: MI vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

If there was ever an tasty entree heading into a delicious main meal in cricket, this is it. After Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals do battle in Sunday’s opening match, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals go head-to-head in a mouthwatering top-of-the-table clash at Abu Dhabi.

And MI, the current and four-time IPL champions, have owned Abu Dhabi in IPL 2020. Since their first-up defeat to CSK, Rohit Sharma’s men have thrashed all before them at this ground, scoring 190+ on all three occasions. DC will certainly be a greater test, but all MI fans can feel confident in the magnificent depth of their top seven, where any two or three players can form the cornerstone of their innings. Last game, it was the openers, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya. Who will it be this time?

Delhi Capitals have been terrific, and deservedly sit atop the IPL 2020 Table. One concern regarding DC before the tournament was their finishing, given Marcus Stoinis, a preferred opener in the format, was their designated number six. However, Stoinis has been magnificent this tournament, and like MI, DC have had a number of players step up at certain stages. Whether it is the magnificent backfoot play of Prithvi Shaw, class of Shreyas Iyer, consistency of Rishabh Pant or, most recently, the power of Shimron Hetmyer, DC have what it takes to take down an excellent MI attack.

And, of course, when you add Kagiso Rabada leading the competition with such potency, as well as three MI bowlers in the top six wicket-takers in IPL 2020, we have a clash-and-a-half on our hands today.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • Rohit Sharma has been terrific at Abu Dhabi in IPL 2020 (4 matches, 197 runs, avg. 49.25). Also, Rohit has the most runs out of any player in MI-DC matches (560, avg. 35.00, SR 133.33).
  • Rishabh Pant was player of the match in DC’s first meeting with MI last season, thanks to an incredible 78* off 27 balls. This innings forms part of a very solid overall record for Pant vs MI: 7 inns, 219 runs, avg. 36.50, SR 168.46.
  • Also, Pant has been consistent in IPL 2020 (31, 37*, 28, 38, 37, 5). His score of 5 came last time out, where he was run out.
  • Prithvi Shaw is coming of age in IPL 2020. The young DC opener has been the prominent force at the top of the order, with 198 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 151.14.
  • His opening partner, Shikhar Dhawan, has been under-par in IPL 2020 (6 inns, 132 runs, avg. 22.00, SR 122.22). However, is this the game where Dhawan fires? He has a strong record vs MI: 20 inns, 664 runs, avg. 41.50, SR 129.18.
  • Quinton de Kock had a slow start to IPL 2020, but looks to be finding his feet, with 90 runs in his last two innings (SR 166.67). Suryakumar Yadav is coming off a superb 79* off 47 balls vs RR.
  • Apart from his 88* (38) vs KKR, Shreyas Iyer hasn’t quite hit full gear yet in IPL 2020. So, the perfect time is now to further consolidate DC’s top two spot. Can Iyer also improve his record vs MI? (182 runs, avg. 22.75, SR 118.95).
  • The battle between the finishers will be an interesting one, against excellent death bowlers. Marcus Stoinis & Shimron Hetmyer vs Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard could go some way to deciding this game.
  • Pollard has been superb. After striking at over 200 on slow pitches in CPL 2020, Pollard is striking at 208.97 in IPL 2020. His partner in crime, Hardik Pandya, is finding his feet, with 88 runs in his past three knocks (avg. 88, SR 179.59).
  • Stoinis is enjoying an excellent tournament in the middle order (6 inns, 162 runs, avg. 40.50, SR 176.08, 2 50s).
  • As always, the brilliant Kagiso Rabada is key to DC’s chances. The outstanding pace bowler has taken at least two wickets in 12 of his last 13 IPL matches, and has 15 in just six matches so far in IPL 2020. How will he fare against MI’s quality finishers today? He has six wickets in four games for DC vs MI.
  • The battle between Rabada and Jasprit Bumrah will also be intriguing. Bumrah is second behind Rabada for most wickets in IPL 2020 (11), and will be crucial in the death overs. Also, Bumrah has 11 wickets in 11 matches vs DC.
  • Trent Boult is just behind on 10 in IPL 2020, followed by James Pattinson on nine. Anrich Nortje, who is also having a good tournament, has eight.
  • What role will the spinners play? Rahul Chahar dominated DC last season with 3/19, and has bowled beautifully at Abu Dhabi so far in IPL 2020 (1/36, 2/26, 2/26 and 1/24). R Ashwin, man of the match last game at Sharjah, is bowling beautifully. Can he improve on his ratio of 17 wickets in 24 games vs MI?

Stats and Facts

  • Matches 24, MI 12, DC 12. DC have won three out of the last four matches vs MI.
  • Kieron Pollard is striking at 250 vs spin this season. So, will MI push him up the order to counter the likes of R Ashwin and Axar Patel?
  • Kagiso Rabada v Rohit Sharma will be a key battle. In 34 balls to Rohit in IPL, Rabada has conceded just 39 and dimissed him once.
  • Of course, Rabada will also be key at the death against the best team in this period. MI strike at 235 runs per 100 balls at this stage in 2020, but DC are the best bowling team at this stage (econ. 9.6), with Rabada taking 11 wickets during overs 16-20.
  • Axar Patel is yet to concede a six in IPL 2020, with an economy rate of just 4.5 (best among all bowlers with min. 2 overs bowled).
  • Hardik Pandya averages 17.29 vs DC (SR 142.35). His brother, Krunal Pandya, has superb batting stats vs DC (7 inns, 223 runs, avg. 37.17, SR 179.84), to go with six wickets in seven matches against them.
IPL 2020 Match 27: MI vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report | Weather Report | MI vs DC Dream11 Team Combination | MI vs DC Best Dream11 Prediction | MI vs DC Head to head records | MI vs DC who will win
IPL 2020 Match 27: MI vs DC Preview Dream11: Rohit Sharma to lead the way for MI?

Possible Playing 11

Mumbai Indians look settled, and should look to stick with their winning combination.

Mumbai Indians: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Rohit Sharma (c), 3. Suryakumar Yadav, 4. Ishan Kishan, 5. Hardik Pandya, 6. Kieron Pollard, 7. Krunal Pandya, 8. James Pattinson, 9. Rahul Chahar, 10. Trent Boult, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Delhi Capitals also look settled, which has been a key part of their success so far.

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

Abu Dhabi Pitch and Weather Report

Mumbai Indians have been outstanding at Abu Dhabi, striking 190+ in each of their last three matches. They have gone on to win the matches by 49, 48 and 57 runs respectively. The average first innings score at this ground in nine matches is exactly 170, with the team batting first winning six times.

Dew is expected to be around, but batting first is the way to go in IPL 2020.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

IPL 2020 Match 27: MI vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report | Weather Report | MI vs DC Dream11 Team Combination | MI vs DC Best Dream11 Prediction | MI vs DC Head to head records | MI vs DC who will win
IPL 2020 Match 27: MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IPL 2020 Match 27: MI vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report | Weather Report | MI vs DC Dream11 Team Combination | MI vs DC Best Dream11 Prediction | MI vs DC Head to head records | MI vs DC who will win
IPL 2020 Match 27: MI vs DC Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

What a match this promises to be between two strong attacks, which makes a strong score batting first absolutely crucial. Both team’s capabilities will be tested, but given MI’s slightly better depth, they could come away with a win. However, Delhi are very capable of winning, especially if they bat first.

Thanks for reading!

IPL 2020 Match 26: SRH vs RR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
IPL 2020 Match 26: SRH vs RR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2020 Match 26: SRH vs RR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

It seems such a long time ago that Rahul Tewatia was the centre of attention thanks to an incredible five sixes in a row to seal the highest ever run chase in IPL history. It seems such a long time ago that Sanju Samson was belting the CSK and KXIP attacks around Sharjah, with skipper Steve Smith providing very effective support.

Since then, Rajasthan Royals have gone two weeks without a win, and desperately need one now. They welcome back star all-rounder Ben Stokes, who has now served his six-day quarantine, after he and his family have shown incredible strength to get to this stage. Stokes’ inclusion gives RR some important balance, but questions remain about their best batting order. Does Robin Uthappa come back in, this time as an opener – a position where he has enjoyed success in IPL cricket? Questions such as these need quick and effective answers as RR’s season is slowly slipping away.

They run into a Sunrisers Hyderabad side that’s finding their feet. The Warner-Bairstow combination was in full flow last time out, with skipper Warner coming off two consecutive half-centuries. Also, the form of Rashid Khan has been simply superb, providing SRH with wicket-taking threat and control in equal measure. So, can SRH, with Kane Williamson also in good touch, continue their push up the table after what was a very underwhelming start to their campaign? They have a good opportunity to do so here.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • David Warner’s record vs RR isn’t as strong as it is against other teams (10 matches, 337 runs, avg. 33.70, SR 125.28). However, he is coming off consecutive half-centuries, which he will be keen to build on.
  • Warner’s battle with Jofra Archer could be crucial in this match. The fast bowler dismissed Warner four times in six matches in Australia’s recent tour of England. Will Archer look to go around the wicket right away?
  • Also, Archer has been strong in IPL 2020, with eight wickets in six games at an economy rate below seven (6.91).
  • Jonny Bairstow’s 97 vs KXIP was a sight to behold. The England batsman now has three half-centuries in six innings in this tournament. Also, in his one innings vs RR so far in IPL (last season), Bairstow hit 45 (28).
  • The Royals need Steve Smith to play with a little more control. His desire to slog has not come off in recent games. So, can he build an innings here? The RR skipper has a decent enough record vs SRH to be confident about his chances today (9 matches, 249 runs, avg. 35.37, SR 113.18).
  • Kane Williamson has shown his finishing capabilities this tournament (most recently 20* off 10 balls vs KXIP). The New Zealand skipper could be key at the backend again today. Williamson has 126 runs for SRH vs RR at an average of 42.
  • Since his brilliant first two games, Sanju Samson has lost his form, with scores of 8, 4, 0 and 5. However, he plays a team whom he has enjoyed success against for RR in the past, with 320 runs at an average of 40 (including one century, which was scored last season).
  • Jos Buttler will be crucial for RR. However, RR needs him to improve on an awful record vs SRH: 6 matches, 48 runs, avg. 8.00, SR 92.31, HS 14.
  • Can Ben Stokes fire straight away? Interestingly, the brilliant all-rounder hasn’t fully fired in IPL cricket (batting avg. 22.08 in 33 games), so can his superb performances in international cricket since 2019 drive him this time? It will have to be a new lease of life for Stokes, as he has 70 runs in five games vs SRH at an average of just 17.50.
  • Rahul Tewatia’s 144 runs in IPL 2020 have come at a strike rate of 150.00.
  • Rashid Khan is having a brilliant tournament. He has taken eight wickets in six games in IPL 2020 (including seven in his past four), at an extraordinary economy rate of 4.83. Also, he has four wickets in four games vs RR (econ. 6.75).
  • T Natarajan has been one of the underrated performers of IPL 2020. His yorker efficiency gives SRH a great edge at the death, and he has been rewarded with seven wickets in six games this season.
  • Shreyas Gopal has five wickets in three games vs SRH.
IPL 2020 Match 26: SRH vs RR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report | Weather Report | SRH vs RR Best Dream11 Prediction | SRH vs RR Head to head predictions | SRH vs RR Who to pick for Dream11 | RR vs SRH Players to pick for Dream11
IPL 2020 Match 26: SRH vs RR Preview Dream11: Warner and Bairstow to dominate?

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 11, SRH 6, RR 5. SRH have won four of their past five matches vs RR.
  • Rashid Khan to bowl in the powerplay? The star leg-spinner has a magnificent record vs Jos Buttler in IPL since 2018: eight deliveries, four runs conceded, four wickets.
  • SRH have lost the least number of powerplay wickets in IPL 2020 (four). In contrast, Rajasthan Royals have lost the most (11).
  • Jofra Archer has an economy rate of 6.9 in the powerplay in IPL 2020. This is the best among bowlers who have bowled at least five overs in this period. Indeed, his battle against Warner and Bairstow will be key.
  • Robin Uthappa has plenty of experience vs SRH: 16 matches, 472 runs, avg. 29.50, SR 134.47.

Possible Playing 11

Sunrisers Hyderabad could look to stick with the same team that dispatched KXIP last game.

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

Rajasthan Royals welcome back Ben Stokes, who will likely bump AJ Tye out of the side. Also, RR have a decision to make at the top – do they persist with the young Yashasvi Jaiswal or do they finally open with Uthappa?

Rajasthan Royals: 1. Jos Buttler (wk), 2 Robin Uthappa/Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3. Sanju Samson, 4. Steve Smith (c), 5. Ben Stokes, 6. Mahipal Lomror, 7. Rahul Tewatia, 8. Shreyas Gopal, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Varun Aaron, 11. Kartik Tyagi

Dubai Pitch and Weather Report

This is the first day game at Dubai this season, which will surely test the players. The ground, unlike Sharjah and Abu Dhabi is quite tall and round, which could stop any breeze coming through freely to help comfort the players somewhat.

In terms of the pitch, the Dubai track showed a slightly two-paced nature in the RCB vs CSK game yesterday, but runs are on offer for players willing to bide their time (as the great Virat Kohli showed). Also, teams batting first have totally dominated games at Dubai, with 10 wins out of 11 this tournament. The average first innings score in these matches has been 180.36, so a score in this region will be very tough to chase down.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

IPL 2020 Match 26: SRH vs RR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report | Weather Report | SRH vs RR Best Dream11 Prediction | SRH vs RR Head to head predictions | SRH vs RR Who to pick for Dream11 | RR vs SRH Players to pick for Dream11
IPL 2020 Match 26: SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IPL 2020 Match 26: SRH vs RR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report | Weather Report | SRH vs RR Best Dream11 Prediction | SRH vs RR Head to head predictions | SRH vs RR Who to pick for Dream11 | RR vs SRH Players to pick for Dream11
IPL 2020 Match 26: SRH vs RR Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

Team that bats first to win again? Perhaps, but SRH is looking much more settled and in form than RR. SRH start as favourites, particularly if they bat first.

Thanks for reading!

Opinion: 5 Mid-Season Trades That Should Happen In IPL 2020

Tarkesh Jha
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Opinion: 5 Mid-Season Trades That Should Happen In IPL 2020

Opinion: 5 Mid-Season Trades That Should Happen In IPL 2020 | 5 Mid-Season Trades that certain teams should look at doing in IPL 2020

The mid-season transfer window of the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will commence at the end of the double-header on the coming Monday.

Players who have turned up in two matches or less for their respective franchises can opt to shift bases and acquire a new lease of life in the current campaign. Several teams might feel the necessity of acquiring reinforcements. Some might do it due to injury concerns whilst others will look for a change from their present personnel.

Anyways, it looks improbable for international stars to be traded in the middle of the tournament as most of the teams already have exhausted their limit of foreigner quota of players in the squad.

Hence, if the teams decide to delve into this window, the focus will arguably be directed towards the domestic cricketers. Here, CricBlog proposes five mid-season transfers that should take place in IPL 2020.

5. Mayank Markande to Delhi Capitals

Opinion: 5 Mid-Season Trades That Should Happen In IPL 2020 | 5 Mid-Season Trades that certain teams should look at doing in IPL 2020
5 Mid-Season Trades That Should Happen In IPL 2020: Mayank Markande has shown promise.

It’d be amusing if this deal actually happens, considering Mayank Markande was initially transferred to Delhi Capitals from Mumbai Indians in the window between the 12th and the 13th editions of the IPL. However, Capitals exchanged him in a deal that involved Ajinkya Rahane joining the Ricky Ponting-coached side.

However, Markande is yet to debut for Rajasthan Royals. They have been quite content with the likes of Rahul Tewatia and Shreyas Gopal turning up in the XI. Markande had a breakthrough season at Mumbai in 2018, following which he made earned the national team cap too. However, he played only three matches last season and delivered rather underwhelming performances.

The lad will be edging to make a mark, something he cannot do whilst being benched constantly. Amit Mishra was ruled out of the ongoing season due to a finger injury. Sandeep Lamichhane might not get a look-in the squad as the four foreigners who will take the field for Delhi is pretty much certain by now.

Mayank Markande will be an ideal replacement. Having quality spinners in the ranks will be instrumental as the pitches dry up ahead in the season. This could be an ideal deal for all parties involved, provided that Royals allow their player to leave the camp as their run deteriorates furthermore.

4. Prasidh Krishna to Royal Challengers Bangalore

Embed from Getty Images

Prasidh Krishna had become one of the key starters for the Kolkata Knight Riders since 2018. However, the franchise has shifted their focus to Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi for this campaign as the exciting duo are finally fit for the sustainable run.

In the meanwhile, the Royal Challengers Bangalore seem to be working around their pace-bowling alternatives for now. They shunted out Umesh Yadav after a few discouraging outings. Mohammed Siraj was tried out recently, whilst Navdeep Saini continues to definitely feature in the playing XI.

Prasidh Krishna didn’t live up to the expectations in 2019 for KKR. However, he will offer RCB abundant control with the new ball – something that they were relying on Yadav for initially. With Washington Sundar keeping things tidy from the other end, Krishna’s accurate lengths and line will enable the Virat Kohli-led team to gain an advantage over the opponent in the powerplay overs.

The pacer will also probably find comfort in his home city’s franchise, whereas RCB can extract Prasidh Krishna’s utmost potential by appropriately utilizing his strengths in the correct phases of the innings.

3. Vijay Shankar to Rajasthan Royals

Opinion: 5 Mid-Season Trades That Should Happen In IPL 2020 | 5 Mid-Season Trades that certain teams should look at doing in IPL 2020
5 Mid-Season Trades That Should Happen In IPL 2020: Vijay Shankar could offer value.

Rajasthan Royals’ experiment with Robin Uthappa didn’t yield the expected results as the veteran now finds himself out of the playing XI. Despite all his promise, Yashasvi Jaiswal might require time to get adjusted to the demands of the sport at this level. Furthermore, Sanju Samson hasn’t managed to sustain the peerless touch that he was in at the start of the campaign either.

On the other hand, Vijay Shankar has played only a solitary game for SRH so far in 2020. Once Ben Stokes comes back, RR will have a sorted top-four in Steve Smith, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson and Stokes. During his spell with the Delhi Daredevils, Shankar played in a lower middle-order role and earned accolades for his ingenuity with the willow at the backend of the innings. He had scored 212 runs at an average of 53 and strike rate of 143.24 in 13 matches back then.

He can even come up in case there is a sudden fall of wickets, and thus lay the foundation for Stokes to capitalize on later on. Anyways, Hyderabad see certain to have zeroed on the likes of Priyam Garg, Abhishek Sharma and Abdul Samad for the middle-order. It could be an appropriate time for Vijay Shankar to join Shane Warne’s side and add an important dimension to their batting order.   

2. Dhawal Kulkarni to Sunrisers Hyderabad

Embed from Getty Images

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s ouster from the tournament has significantly weakened Sunrisers Hyderabad’s pace arsenal. Kumar’s guile at the start and the end of the innings are invaluable and somewhat irreplaceable at this stage for the franchise.

They replaced him with Prithvi Raj Yarra, but the number of caps that he earns for the team is quite uncertain. Dhawal Kulkarni is quite under-utilized at Mumbai Indians currently. The medium-fast bowler’s influence in T20s might have dwindled in recent years, but his skills in the field restricted overs could still be of good use for SRH.

They can possibly look to bowl him out in the first 10 overs of the game. Or, rather Kulkarni can bowl three overs in the first six and come back later on or not depending upon the situation of the game. The 31-year-old could be encouraged to maintain the incisiveness and zeal in his approach that can enable the team pluck wickets with the new ball.

1. Ajinkya Rahane to Chennai Super Kings

Opinion: 5 Mid-Season Trades That Should Happen In IPL 2020 | 5 Mid-Season Trades that certain teams should look at doing in IPL 2020
5 Mid-Season Trades That Should Happen In IPL 2020: Ajinkya Rahane can provide value to CSK.

Ajinkya Rahane has been a definite starter in the IPL for whichever franchise he played since 2011-12. However, that isn’t the case at Delhi Capitals as the veteran batsman is benched for six consecutive games so far. On the other hand, the Chennai Super Kings have been adamant on playing an extra batsman so far that has seen Dwayne Bravo having to come to bat at number eight.

However, Kedar Jadhav’s regular insipid returns with the bat have disrupted their momentum in the middle phases of the innings. If CSK manages to lure Rahane from DC, they can make the batsman from Mumbai open the batting with Shane Watson. This will result in Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni occupying the number four and five spots in the batting order with the all-rounders to follow them.

Rahane had scored 393 runs at an average of 32.75 and strike rate of 137.89 in 2019. Rahane can be a force to reckon with if he bats with a positive outlook, something that the overall CSK setup can enable him to do. His addition to the squad will ensure an upgrade in quality to the 2018 champions’ batting order and a stimulus that they dearly require at this critical stage of the tournament.

Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.

IPL 2020 Match 25: CSK vs RCB Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
IPL 2020 Match 25: CSK vs RCB Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2020 Match 25: CSK vs RCB Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

Match two on this Saturday promises to be a very interesting one. Two sides, both of whom have had their middle order problems, do battle in an important game as we head closer to the halfway point of IPL 2020.

Royal Challengers Bangalore have enjoyed positives so far this season, winning three of their five matches so far. However, old problems continue to resurface, such as their middle order batting and death bowling. In fact, their run rate in the middle overs is the worst in the league, and their economy rate at the death is a high 12.9, with only Kings XI Punjab worse at this stage. So, RCB will be out to build on the positives such as the emergence of Devdutt Padikkal and genius of Yuzvendra Chahal, whilst sorting out their key issues.

Similar applies to Chennai Super Kings. They have been required to chase in all their games so far in 2020, and haven’t done a very good job of it. Their middle overs run rate is only slightly better than RCB’s (7.6), which has cost them dearly in run-chases. MS Dhoni’s men seem to lack urgency in the middle stages, often waiting too late before making a final assault at the target. So, will CSK continue to back players such as Kedar Jadhav, who has the lowest strike rate (98) for a player batting in the top seven (minumum 15 innings) since IPL 2018? Or will there be some key changes as they look to build towards a playoffs spot?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • Virat Kohli has found some form in the last two matches after a slow start to IPL 2020. Also, the RCB captain has the most runs in RCB-CSK matches (761, avg. 36.24). Key player.
  • MS Dhoni is next with 706, and will be crucial in the middle and death overs for CSK. Dhoni’s 706 runs come at a superb average and strike rate of 41.53 and 148.63.
  • Can AB de Villiers improve his record vs CSK? He has played 16 matches against them for 344 runs at an average of 21.50. He has been excellent in IPL 2020 so far (5 matches, 155 runs, avg. 51.66, SR 176.13, 2 50s).
  • Faf du Plessis is currently second in the Orange Cap race. His 299 runs have come at an average of 74.75 and SR 151.01. Also, when playing for CSK, Faf has scored 208 runs vs RCB at an average of 52.00.
  • His opening partner, Shane Watson, will be key. Watson is coming off consecutive half centuries. However, can he improve on his underwhelming record vs RCB? In 14 innings against RCB, Watson has scored 294 runs at 24.50 (SR 117.60). When playing for CSK, the numbers don’t make for good reading: 4 matches, 23 runs, avg. 5.75, SR 74.19.
  • Devdutt Padikkal has hit three half centuries in five innings in IPL 2020. Interestingly, whenever Padikkal reaches double figures, he has gone on to make a half century.
  • Ambati Rayudu, like Dhoni, will be key for CSK in the middle. When playing for CSK, Rayudu has struck 171 runs vs RCB at an average of 42.75.
  • Dwayne Bravo has the most wickets in RCB-CSK out of anyone in the two current squads (13 in 13 matches). Also, Bravo is coming off a three-wicket haul vs KKR.
  • Sam Curran could be a key weapon for CSK against RCB’s struggling death bowling. His 68 runs in IPL 2020 far have been struck at a strike rate of 226.66. In addition, Curran has taken seven wickets in six matches this season, and could be key against RCB’s up-and-down middle order.
  • Yuzvendra Chahal has gone wicketless only once in five matches in IPL 2020 (last game vs DC). Chahal has 10 wickets in nine matches vs CSK, and could prove to be key against CSK’s misfiring middle order.
  • Can Deepak Chahar bounce back after a poor outing vs KKR? He will be key against RCB’s top order. Shardul Thakur, on the other hand, is bowling well, with five wickets in three games in IPL 2020.
  • Isuru Udana also has five wickets in three games, and will be key at the death (if he plays).
IPL 2020 Match 25: CSK vs RCB Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report | Weather Report | RCB vs CSK Dream11 Team | CSK vs RCB Best Dream11 Prediction | RCB vs CSK who to pick for Dream11 | CSK vs RCB Head to head and key stats
IPL 2020 Match 25: CSK vs RCB Preview Dream11: MS Dhoni to fire against a team he loves playing against?

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 25, CSK 16, RCB 8, NR 1.
  • CSK have won seven of the last eight matches vs RCB, with RCB winning the last meeting by one run. MS Dhoni nearly stole the match at the death.
  • Spin vs Aaron Finch? Finch has been dismissed four times by spinners in 2020, at an average of 14.8. In fact, this average is the worst among all players who have scored 50-plus runs against spin this season.
  • Three of MS Dhoni’s five highest scores in the IPL have come against RCB. Also, MSD has not been dismissed vs RCB since 2017, where he was playing for Rising Pune Supergiant.
  • Virat Kohli needs 31 to reach 6,000 runs for RCB.
  • Should CSK play Imran Tahir in this game? RCB have struggled against legspin in the past few years, and Tahir has six wickets in three games for CSK vs RCB.

Possible Playing 11

Do CSK persist with Kedar Jadhav? He came in for criticism after scoring 7 off 12 balls when the equation was 39 off 21 balls against KKR.

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. Karn Sharma/Piyush Chawla

Chris Morris is reportedly very close to playing. This could be the game where he features and attempts to improve RCB’s death bowling.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1. Devdutt Padikkal, 2. Aaron Finch, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. AB de Villiers (wk), 5. Moeen Ali, 6. Washington Sundar, 7. Shivam Dube, 8. Chris Morris/Isuru Udana, 9. Navdeep Saini, 10. Mohammad Siraj, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Dubai Pitch and Weather Report

Teams batting first have dominated at Dubai, with nine wins out of the 10 matches so far. The only team to successfully chase a score was CSK against KXIP (10 wickets). The average first innings score is 181.5, which indicates an excellent batting strip.

With CSK’s struggles when chasing, batting first could prove to be a crucial move, even with dew around.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

IPL 2020 Match 25: CSK vs RCB Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report | Weather Report | RCB vs CSK Dream11 Team | CSK vs RCB Best Dream11 Prediction | RCB vs CSK who to pick for Dream11 | CSK vs RCB Head to head and key stats
IPL 2020 Match 25: CSK vs RCB Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IPL 2020 Match 25: CSK vs RCB Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report | Weather Report | RCB vs CSK Dream11 Team | CSK vs RCB Best Dream11 Prediction | RCB vs CSK who to pick for Dream11 | CSK vs RCB Head to head and key stats
IPL 2020 Match 25: CSK vs RCB Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

The team that bats first is likely to go on and win this match. Both sides have had their troubles chasing, so setting a score in the region of 170 can be a winning one.

Thanks for reading!

IPL 2020 Match 24: KXIP vs KKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
IPL 2020 Match 24: KXIP vs KKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2020 Match 24: KXIP vs KKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KXIP vs KKR Dream11 Prediction Today | Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

Well, if you thought that Kings XI Punjab looked good on paper before the tournament, you were right. If you think that they are not performing anywhere near the level they should be, then you are also right. KXIP, perennial underachievers in IPL cricket, are underachieving yet again, stuck at the bottom of the IPL 2020 Table and at significant risk of being out of the playoffs race even before the halfway mark of the tournament.

KXIP’s 2020 season is the complete opposite to their last two campaigns. In 2018 and 2019, KXIP had a superb first half of the season, before falling away badly in the second. This season, it has been a poor first half of the campaign, paralysed by poor death bowling and increasing pressure on skipper KL Rahul. Rahul, although the top run-scorer currently in IPL 2020, has called the strike rate an “overrated” stat, which means he doesn’t have enough faith in his middle order to perform. KXIP must get it right today, as time is quickly running out.

Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, are warming up nicely. They currently sit in the top four, and have the opportunity to further consolidate their spot, after their tactics worked a charm in their last win vs Chennai Super Kings. With the likes of Ravi Bishnoi key in the middle overs for KXIP, Dinesh Karthik could look to send in Sunil Narine in the middle again to counter the legspin. Also, eyes will be on Rahul Tripathi, who has enjoyed an excellent start to his tournament, as well as KKR’s death batting against a struggling KXIP unit.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • Watch out for Andre Russell in this match against KXIP’s struggling death bowling. His 246 runs for KKR vs KXIP come at a magnificent strike rate of 206.72 (avg. 35.14).
  • Russell also has 13 wickets for KKR vs KXIP, in eight matches.
  • The battle of Mohammed Shami and Sheldon Cottrell vs Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi will be key. Shami (nine wickets in six games) and Cottrell (six wickets in six games) weren’t able to break the Warner-Bairstow combination last game, which was costly.
  • Tripathi is coming off a superb 81 (51) vs CSK. Gill was player of the match in his game vs KXIP last season (65* off 49 balls). In fact, Gill has never been dismissed vs KXIP (3 inns, 95 runs).
  • Eyes will be on KL Rahul. The Orange Cap holder has a huge role to play if KXIP are to win today. He has three fifties in seven innings vs KKR, and his battle vs Pat Cummins will be key.
  • Mayank Agarwal will also be key. Agarwal, one of the underrated players to step up in 2020, has 281 runs in six matches this tournament (avg. 46.81, SR 162.42). Can he bounce back after a run out last game?
  • However, Agarwal could drop to number three if Chris Gayle plays. Gayle was all set to play last game vs SRH, but came down with food poisoning. If he plays here, it will be interesting to see how quickly he can hit his stride, as he has a magnificent record vs KKR in IPL (17 matches, 649 runs, avg. 46.36, SR 150.58).
  • Eoin Morgan has been in good touch. Before his 7 vs CSK, Morgan struck 42* (29), 34* (23) and 44 (18) in his previous three matches. Like Russell, Morgan could be mighty dangerous against KXIP’s poor death bowling.
  • Nicholas Pooran is in superb touch. The dynamic left-hander played a magnificent lone hand vs CSK, hitting the season’s fastest fifty. His last four scores: 25* (8), 44 (27), 33 (17) and 77 (37).
  • Sunil Narine bowled beautifully vs CSK, and can be backed to play well again here. He has the most wickets in KKR-KXIP matches (26 in just 17 matches), along with a batting strike rate of 178.26 (164 runs).
  • Ravi Bishnoi (seven wickets in six games) vs Varun Chakravarthy (five wickets in four games) promises to be an intriguing battle. The two spinners have performed well so far in IPL 2020, and will be key for their respective teams.
IPL 2020 Match 24: KXIP vs KKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KXIP vs KKR Dream11 Prediction Today | Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report | Weather Report | KXIP vs KKR Best Dream11 Prediction | KKR vs KXIP Dream11 Combination | KKR vs KXIP Best Dream11 | KXIP vs KKR Who to pick for Dream11
IPL 2020 Match 24: KXIP vs KKR Preview Dream11: KL Rahul to have a big game?

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 25, KXIP 8, KKR 17.
  • KKR have won 13 of their past 15 matches against KXIP, including their last three.
  • Andre Russell has hit 84 runs in 31 balls vs Mohammed Shami in T20 cricket (one dismissal).
  • If Gayle plays, KKR could look to open the bowling with Narine. In 177 balls vs Gayle in T20s, Narine has conceded just 153 runs, with five dismissals. However, KL Rahul strikes at 233 vs Narine.
  • Dinesh Karthik strikes at 188.52 in four matches for KKR vs KXIP (115 runs, avg. 57.50).
  • KXIP have the worst economy rate at the death of any team in IPL 2020 (13.44).

Possible Playing 11

Where do KXIP turn to now? Skipper KL Rahul said that Ishan Porel has been bowling well in the nets, and could get a look in at some stage. Could it be now? However, Arshdeep Singh held his own against SRH at the death, finishing with 2/33.

Also, if Chris Gayle is fit, he is set to come in for Glenn Maxwell, who has not had a good tournament (48 runs in six innings at an average of 12 and strike rate of 85.71).

Kings XI Punjab: 1. KL Rahul (c), 2. Chris Gayle, 3. Mayank Agarwal, 4. Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 5. Nicholas Pooran, 6. Mandeep Singh, 7. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 8. Ravi Bishnoi, 9. Mohammed Shami, 10. Sheldon Cottrell, 11. Arshdeep Singh

KKR look a lot more settled, and could look to go in with the same winning combination.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Rahul Tripathi, 2. Shubman Gill, 3. Nitish Rana, 4. Eoin Morgan, 5. Andre Russell, 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 heat will be on Kings XI, both literally and figuratively. This day game will test the players, as temperatures are expected to reach around the 40 degree mark out in the middle.

Batting first should be the tactic here. In 23 matches in IPL 2020, the team batting first has gone on to win 18 of them. At Abu Dhabi, teams batting first have won five of eight matches, with the overall average first innings score being 170.75. However, in the four games that Mumbai Indians haven’t been involved, this figure drops down to 156.25, indicating this surface is a little slower.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

IPL 2020 Match 24: KXIP vs KKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KXIP vs KKR Dream11 Prediction Today | Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report | Weather Report | KXIP vs KKR Best Dream11 Prediction | KKR vs KXIP Dream11 Combination | KKR vs KXIP Best Dream11 | KXIP vs KKR Who to pick for Dream11
IPL 2020 Match 24: KXIP vs KKR Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IPL 2020 Match 24: KXIP vs KKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KXIP vs KKR Dream11 Prediction Today | Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report | Weather Report | KXIP vs KKR Best Dream11 Prediction | KKR vs KXIP Dream11 Combination | KKR vs KXIP Best Dream11 | KXIP vs KKR Who to pick for Dream11
IPL 2020 Match 24: KXIP vs KKR Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

Kings XI Punjab are in serious trouble. They need to win this game to keep their playoffs hopes alive. However, too many of their players are out of touch, and KKR’s big-hitting middle order is a huge threat. KKR to win.

Thanks for reading!

Brother of former Protea Vernon Philander shot dead

Charbel Coorey
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0
Brother of former Protea Vernon Philander shot dead

Vernon Philander confirmed on Twitter than his brother Tyrone was shot dead in the family’s hometown Ravensmead, Cape Town on October 7. In a statement issued on behalf of the Philander family, they declared that the murder is now under investigation and the family would acknowledge some privacy in this matter.

They said that the family is grateful for all the messages and condolences that they have received ever since the news broke. Vernon thanked everyone who offered support during this difficult time for the family.

“Our family is coming to terms with the brutal murder in my hometown of Ravensmead earlier today. I would like to ask that the family’s privacy be respected during this difficult time. The murder is now the subject of a police investigation and we respectfully ask that the media give the police the space to conduct a thorough investigation. There are no details around the incident at the moment and speculation will make it very difficult for us as a family to mourn in peace. Tyrone is forever in our hearts. May his soul rest in peace”, Vernon wrote.

According to the agency inputs, Tyrone was reportedly transporting a trolley with water to a neighbour when he was shot. An African News Agency (ANA) reporter said his distraught mother Bonita, accompanied by a family member, watched in horror as her son’s body lay in the street.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

Strike rate is very overrated says KL Rahul

Charbel Coorey
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0
Strike rate is very overrated says KL Rahul

Strike rate is very overrated says Kings XI Punjab captain KL Rahul | KXIP captain KL Rahul says strike rate is overrated in T20

Six matches down, Kings XI Punjab has seen some good matches and quite a few losses. In their last clash with Sunrisers Hyderabad, captain KL Rahul’s team had to chase 202, and in his 14 deliveries, he didn’t look like attacking. Rahul had a good IPL start this season, as he struck 132, the highest score by any Indian batsman in IPL, in the second match against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

However, after losing by 69 runs, Rahul said in his post-match presentation that according to him, the strike rate is very, very overrated. “For me, it’s only about how I can win games for my team”, he said.

“When we lose wickets in the powerplay, it’s gonna be tough, especially when we’re playing only six batters. Getting Mayank run-out wasn’t the ideal start, it was a disaster. It was also one of those days when everything we hit in the air went to the fielders”, he added.

On Thursday, Kings XI came out to play with five bowlers which automatically pushed all the pressure on Rahul and Agarwal. “The last five games we struggled with our death bowling, but that was a positive today. The boys showed courage and pulled things back, you expect them to score 230-plus after that start. Pooran is just so good to watch and he’s batting really well. Did the same thing every time he got a chance last year as well. One more thing for us to stay positive about, we know that Nicky will come good. Bishnoi’s shown a lot of heart, he’s not been afraid whether it’s the powerplay or at the back end. He’s enjoyed those occasions. All our players are professionals and they understand their problems, as a captain you just put an arm around the shoulder. Everybody in this squad is talented. Sometimes it doesn’t come off and you’ve got to be patient with them”, he said.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

IPL 2020 Match 23: RR vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey
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0
IPL 2020 Match 23: RR vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

IPL 2020 Match 23: RR vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RR vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report

The return to Sharjah is like the return home for Rajasthan Royals. After two straight wins there, including the highest run-chase in IPL history, the Royals arrive on the back of three straight defeats.

And, it is the manner of the defeats that would have disappointed Steve Smith and co. They weren’t in any of the matches, losing all three convincingly across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which makes this clash a vital one. Also, with Ben Stokes set to play the next game as he is currently in the UAE undertaking quarantine, the Royals will want to welcome him on the back of a crucial victory here. So, the onus is on the top four to deliver a lot more than they have in recent matches, where they lost early wickets on all occasions.

But it won’t be easy as they run into the in-form Delhi Capitals. Shreyas Iyer’s men have also enjoyed success at Sharjah this season, slamming 228 against KKR. But, unlike the Royals, the Capitals have performed well across the three grounds in IPL 2020. Kagiso Rabada has led the way superbly, with apt support from his fellow countryman Anrich Nortje. The top order, led by the likes of Prithvi Shaw and Shreyas Iyer, have looked solid, while Rishabh Pant has been consistent. And, of course, the form of Marcus Stoinis as a finisher has been hugely encouraging.

So, can Delhi build on their form, win here, and go top of the IPL 2020 Table, as Jos Buttler and R Ashwin look to do battle after the infamous incident last season?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

  • Sanju Samson’s drop in form away from Sharjah has been disappointing for RR. He has scored just 12 runs in his last three innings. However, he returns to Sharjah today – the ground where he scored 74 (32) and 85 (42) earlier this season.
  • The same applies for Steve Smith. RR need their captain to bat longer periods, which hasn’t been the case in the past three matches as Smith has scored just 14 runs. However, like Samson, Smith returns to a ground where he batted well earlier in the season: 69 (47) and 50 (27). Also, Smith has performed solidly so far vs DC in his career: 5 inns, 149 runs, avg. 49.67.
  • Prithvi Shaw has been solid in IPL 2020 (5 matches, 179 runs, avg. 35.80, SR 147.93, 2 50s). Also, Shaw has made a good start to life against the Royals: 3 matches, 97 runs, avg. 32.33, SR 147.42).
  • His opening partner, Shikhar Dhawan, has had a slower start to his tournament (5 matches, 127 runs, avg. 25.40, SR 122.11). However, this could be the game where he fires, as he has a decent record vs RR: 17 inns, 485 runs, avg. 32.33, SR 126.63, 5 50s). Also, Dhawan scored 54 (27) in a chase of 190+ vs RR last season.
  • Rishabh Pant loves playing against RR, and he could go big at Sharjah. In four matches against them, he has slammed 220 runs at an average of 110 and strike rate of 188.03. In IPL 2019, Pant smashed 53* (38) and 78* (36) vs RR.
  • Also, Pant has been mighty consistent in IPL 2020 (31, 37*, 28, 38, 37), with a strike rate of 139.02. Can he get 50+ today?
  • Shreyas Iyer was dominant at Sharjah earlier this season, hitting 88* (38) vs KKR. The DC skipper will be keen for another strong display here and improve his career record vs RR (6 inns, 118 runs, avg. 23.60, SR 129.67).
  • Jos Buttler returned to form with 70 (44) last game vs MI. Also, Buttler has enjoyed success vs DC in the past, with 144 runs in five innings at an average of 36 and SR 187.01.
  • Marcus Stoinis is fast becoming a crucial player for DC. He has hit two fifties in five knocks in IPL 2020, with a superb strike rate of 198.38.
  • Rahul Tewatia hit a famous five sixes in a row in his last game at this ground.
  • What more can be said about the brilliant Kagiso Rabada? The South African quick has taken at least two wickets in 11 of his last 12 IPL matches, and has 12 wickets in five games so far in IPL 2020 (Purple Cap holder).
  • His teammate, Anrich Nortje, has taken seven wickets in five matches in IPL 2020.
  • Jofra Archer will be key for RR. Can he take multiple wickets today? He has five wickets in five games in IPL 2020, and one in two matches vs DC. Also, Archer can contribute with the bat, with a superb strike rate of 238.88 so far in 2020 (86 runs).
  • Shreyas Gopal has taken five wickets in three games for RR vs DC. However, Sharjah is a tough place to bowl for spinners, which is reflected in Gopal’s figures so far in 2020 (1/82 in eight overs).
IPL 2020 Match 23: RR vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RR vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report | Weather Report | RR vs DC Who will win | DC vs RR Best Dream11 Prediction | DC vs RR Dream11 Prediction | RR vs DC Match Prediction | RR vs DC who to pick for Dream11
IPL 2020 Match 23: RR vs DC Preview Dream11 – Rishabh Pant to dominate?

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 20, DC 9, RR 11. Delhi have won the past three matches against Rajasthan.
  • Sanju Samson averages 18.57 in seven innings vs DC. Can he improve on this record, just like he did against CSK earlier in the tournament?
  • Tom Curran, RR’s designated death over specialist, has had a tough tournament to date (5 matches, 3 wickets, econ. 11.30).
  • Shreyas Gopal to Prithvi Shaw as a tactic for RR? Gopal has dismissed Shaw twice in 14 balls in IPL cricket.
  • Axar Patel (economy of 4.6) has the best economy rate among all bowlers who have bowled at least 10 overs this season.

Possible Playing 11

Amit Mishra, who has 20 wickets in 11 games for DC vs RR, is out of the tournament with a finger injury. However, with both R Ashwin and Axar Patel bowling well, DC are covered in terms of spin options.

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

For RR, there will be a question of whether Steve Smith opens the batting at a ground where he has hit two half centuries so far.

Rajasthan Royals: 1. Steve Smith (c), 2. Jos Buttler (wk), 3. Sanju Samson, 4. Yashasvi Jaiswal/Robin Uthappa, 5. Mahipal Lomror, 6. Rahul Tewatia, 7. Tom Curran, 8. Shreyas Gopal, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Kartik Tyagi, 11. Ankit Rajpoot

Sharjah Pitch and Weather Report

Every team that has batted first at Sharjah has hit 200+. In fact, Sunrisers Hyderabad is the only team to fail to reach 200, whether batting first or second. More terrific batting conditions can be expected here, with a great batting track and short boundaries on offer.

The average first innings score at Sharjah in 2020 is 218.75 (four games). The team batting first has won three out of the four games on this ground, which could prompt the captain who wins the toss to bat. However, interestingly, Rajasthan’s last win (vs KXIP), came when they chose to bowl.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

IPL 2020 Match 23: RR vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RR vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report | Weather Report | RR vs DC Who will win | DC vs RR Best Dream11 Prediction | DC vs RR Dream11 Prediction | RR vs DC Match Prediction | RR vs DC who to pick for Dream11
IPL 2020 Match 23: RR vs DC Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IPL 2020 Match 23: RR vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RR vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report | Weather Report | RR vs DC Who will win | DC vs RR Best Dream11 Prediction | DC vs RR Dream11 Prediction | RR vs DC Match Prediction | RR vs DC who to pick for Dream11
IPL 2020 Match 23: RR vs DC Dream11 Prediction

Match Prediction

Team that bats first to win? This will ultimately depend on whether the team batting first can dominate, set a 210+ score and defend well. Delhi look more capable of doing this right now, but Rajasthan’s form at Sharjah earlier in the tournament shows they can certainly provide a challenge.

Thanks for reading!

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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0
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.

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