Mitchell Marsh loses his X-ray report in UAE | Mitchell Marsh says that his scans for an ankle injury did not make its way to Cricket Australia
Mitchell Marsh’s injury has forced him to step out of IPL 2020 just after his first match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Dubai. The bowler, who is in Perth right now, revealed through a video conference that his X-ray report is missing and never reached Cricket Australia.
“We don’t really know what happened with the scans over in the UAE. Cricket Australia hasn’t been able to get their hands on them, so it’s a bit of a weird situation. I was really looking forward to playing in the IPL, but obviously, it wasn’t meant to be this year. Hopefully, I’ll go for another scan this week if I can get (state) clearance and then we’ll be a lot clearer on what we’re dealing with”, said Marsh.
The cricketer said that he was looking forward to this year’s IPL however, he is also frustrated with the timing of the injury in the first match. Marsh has a history of injury including his left ankle, shoulder, arms, hamstring and obliques. “I’ve tried to dive for the ball like that probably a thousand times in my career. My spikes just got caught in the wicket. It’s just one of those really frustrating injuries”, he said.
In yesterday’s post match presentation David Warner also mentioned his injury. “Unfortunately we had Mitch Marsh injured, and we were trying to figure out how he we get some overs in. The young Abhishek bowled really well. We worked really hard on our death bowling, and today they were all fantastic. We pride ourselves on our running between the wickets. If we are not getting boundaries, we run hard”, he said.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
IPL 2020 Match 13: KXIP vs MI Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KXIP vs MI Dream11 Prediction Today | Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
If you were of the belief that IPL 2020 would be one of the most competitive editions in recent times, you would be right. After 12 matches, four teams sit on four points, while the other four sit on two. Incredibly, after tonight, five teams will be on four points, making this clash between an underachiever and the most successful IPL side an important one.
Kings XI Punjab currently sit on two points, but could easily have six. In both their losses, an over of 30 runs cost them dearly, with Chris Jordan and Sheldon Cottrell – both key overseas players – delivering those crucial overs against DC and RR respectively. So, alarm bells would be ringing in the KXIP camp regarding their death bowling, especially given that Ishan Kishan and Kieron Pollard are fresh off hitting 89 in the last five overs to tie the match against RCB. The big question for KL Rahul and his men would be how they cope in the death overs, and which personnel will be employed to help them cope well.
On the batting front, KXIP are looking solid. KL Rahul is the current Orange Cap holder, with Mayank Agarwal, fresh off a superb century vs RR, just one run behind. Also, when you consider the likes of Nicholas Pooran and Glenn Maxwell haven’t yet fully reached their potential, it is certainly a positive for KXIP that they have been able to make big scores. Can they do so today against a good attack?
Mumbai Indians, perennial slow starters, have made another slowish start to an IPL campaign. However, their comeback against RCB shows they can never be written off, as they have a number of players who can deliver when needed. Ishan Kishan’s first game of his campaign was a memorable one, and Kieron Pollard rounds off a top six that is the envy of all teams. Importantly, though, after conceding 200+ vs RCB, can MI bounce back against a side that has struck 200+ in each of their past two games?
The Abu Dhabi track showed signs of slowing down in the recent SRH vs DC match, so it will be interesting to see which side copes better with the slight change in conditions.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
KL Rahul is in superb touch. He may not have been at his absolute best vs RR, but still made 69, a few days after smashing an Indian record vs RCB. The current Orange Cap holder has a magnificent record for KXIP against MI, with 289 runs at an average of 144.50.
In IPL 2019, Rahul struck 71* (57) and 100* (64) against Mumbai Indians. He enjoys playing this opponent.
Mayank Agarwal is one run behind KL Rahul in the Orange Cap race (221 runs). He is coming off a superb century against RR, along with scores of 89 (60) and 26 (20) so far this tournament. Plus, Agarwal was player of the match in his meeting vs MI last season, with 43 off 21 balls.
Kieron Pollard is the highest run-scorer in MI-KXIP matches out of any player in the two squads (417 runs, avg. 32.08, SR 154.44). He is coming off a brilliant 60* (24) vs RCB, and will be key against KXIP’s shaky death bowling.
Also, who could ever forget Pollard pulling off a heist against KXIP last season? When MI looked down and out, Pollard smashed 83 off 31 balls to help seal a chase of 198.
Rohit Sharma hit 80 vs KKR on this ground a week ago. Can he improve on his average of 24 in 17 games vs KXIP? (344 runs).
Quinton de Kock has threatened to go big in IPL 2020, without doing so yet. He scored 60 (39) vs KXIP last season, and has a strong overall record against them: 6 matches, 240 runs, avg. 48.00, SR 139.53, 3 50s.
Of course, Ishan Kishan is one to watch today. His 99 (58) vs RCB was some knock, and it remains to be seen if he has the energy to produce another big effort today.
The Pandya brothers both strike at over 170 vs KXIP (172.37 in 7 matches for Hardik and 172.22 in 7 matches for Krunal).
Glenn Maxwell is yet to fire in IPL 2020. However, the Aussie power-hitter has had success in IPL cricket on this ground, with 110 runs in two matches, including a score of 95.
Jasprit Bumrah bowled better in the Super Over vs RCB than he did during the match. He has 12 wickets in 10 games vs KXIP. In fact, his best average (20.3) and economy rate (6.5) are both against KXIP.
Can Ravi Bishnoi produce the goods on what could be a slower track? He impressed with his performances at Dubai earlier this season (four wickets in two matches), and could be key on the larger Abu Dhabi field after a tough outing at Sharjah.
Rahul Chahar will also be key, as he bowled beautifully in his earlier game at Abu Dhabi in IPL 2020 vs KKR (2/26).
Could KXIP bring in Mujeeb ur Rahman to even bowl at the death? In 16 death overs in 14 T20 games, Mujeeb has conceded just 6.9 runs per over.
Mohammed Shami has seven wickets in three games in IPL 2020, level with Kagiso Rabada in the Purple Cap race. Also, Shami has five wickets in two matches for KXIP vs MI (2/42 and 3/21).
Trent Boult has five wickets in three games in IPL 2020. Also, he has seven wickets in five games vs KXIP.
IPL 2020 Match 13: KXIP vs MI Preview Dream11: Kieron Pollard has been in great form of late.
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 24, KXIP 11, MI 13. MI have won three of the past five matches against KXIP.
MI have a Krunal Pandya headache. Since the start of IPL 2019, MI’s left-arm all-rounder has taken just six wickets in 16 innings. Plus, he’s scored 122 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 107. Can he fire today?
KL Rahul has a fine record vs Jasprit Bumrah in T20 cricket: 82 off 61 balls with just one dismissal.
Rahul and Agarwal have scored 76% of KXIP’s runs so far this season (partnerships of 30, 57 and 183).
Jasprit Bumrah usually bounces back well in the next game after conceding 10 runs an over. In five such instances, he has taken a total of 11 wickets at an average of 11.6, at just 6.4 runs per over.
Possible Playing 11
Nathan Coulter-Nile has been recovering from a side strain. If fully fit, he could replace fellow Aussie James Pattinson.
KXIP have decisions to make regarding their death bowling. Do they bring Chris Jordan back? What about Mujeeb ur Rahman on the slower Abu Dhabi pitch? How will Sheldon Cottrell respond, after a nightmare over against RR?
Kings XI Punjab: 1. KL Rahul (c & wk), 2. Mayank Agarwal, 3. Karun Nair, 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Nicholas Pooran, 6. James Neesham/Chris Jordan, 7. Sarfaraz Khan, 8. Ravi Bishnoi, 9. Murugan Ashwin, 10. Sheldon Cottrell, 11. Mohammed Shami
Abu Dhabi Pitch and Weather Report
Time for teams to choose to bat first? In 12 games in IPL 2020, the team batting first has won nine times. At Abu Dhabi, both the team batting first and team chasing have won two games each. Last time out, SRH beat DC comfortably after putting 162 on the board on what was a slower pitch. If the team batting first can put a similar score on the board, it could make for a tough chase, even with dew around.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
IPL 2020 Match 13: KXIP vs MI Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
IPL 2020 Match 13: KXIP vs MI Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Can MI break the great KXIP opening partnership early? If they can, it could go a long way to helping them win the match. Also, this one could come down to which team fares better in the death overs, with KXIP struggling in this area and MI keen to perform at their best. An interesting match awaits.
Delhi Capitals captain Shreyas Iyer has been fined Rs 12 lakh for a slow over-rate in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. This was the time first that DC has committed this offence. Prior to this, it was Royal Challengers Bangalore who came under radar and the skipper Virat Kohli was also fined same amount for maintaining a slow over rate against Kings XI Punjab.
In yesterday’s match, SRH registered their first win of the season and defeated Delhi by 15 runs. The win was even more praiseworthy as the Sunrisers’ bowled second and had to fight the dew. The bowlers showed character with experienced players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, and young lad Abhishek Sharma, who stood up for the occasion and emerged victoriously.
Rashid became the man of the match as he took three major wickets – Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant. Khan dedicated his award to his mother who he lost a few months ago, after the demise of his father. The last one year has been tough on the Afghan cricketer. “I think I don’t take pressure on myself that I have to create impact. I keep calm and cool and focused on what I have to do. I look to do the basics right, and enjoy the game. When I bowled the first ball, I knew if I bowl quicker and harder, you could get turn. Then you have to bowl the length, a bit back of a length. The captain always backs me, and he tells me you know better. So he tells me, let me know what you want. Only If things are not going my way do you go to ask the captain what to do. Tough one-and-a-half year. First lost my dad, then my mom three-four months ago. She was my biggest fan. This award goes to them. when I sued to win an award, whole night she used to talk to me. Tough times”, he said in the post-match presentation.
Though the team couldn’t set a high chasing score as the skipper got out early than expected, the team’s batting lacked tempo and still emerged as winners of the game. Apart from him, Bairstow too couldn’t connect the bat well and feel prey to Kagiso Rabada’s bowling. But a few good decisions from the captain helped break DC’s winning streak, who looked confident after back to back victories.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
Rajasthan Royals have commenced their 2020 campaign of the Indian Premier League with successive victories. Contributions of foreign internationals are instrumental for a side’s success in the tournament. However, the franchise has secured four points without any significant contribution from Jos Buttler and in the absence of Ben Stokes.
The Royals have proven their mettle with the willow, totaling massive scores in both the encounters. Their team was deemed to be reliant on the performances of their overseas stars more than anyone else.
However, as domestic players stepped up the gear, their fortunes appear to be much brighter currently. Taking to Twitter, Shane Warne exclaimed, “The 2020 @IPL has a similar feel to 2008. Win all close games and chase down huge scores!” As of now, they cannot seem to put a foot wrong. Rahul Tewatia pulled off a heist against Kings XI Punjab whereas Steven Smith has donned the anchor role up-top proficiently so far.
The question is; how long can Rajasthan actually sustain such performances to enhance their chances of attaining a qualification to the playoffs? The IPL is a comprehensive competition that clearly tests the temperament and consistency of teams. Managing to extend a positive momentum gained early on in the season is one of the vital components that drive the success of the triumphant sides.
Given the start that they have had, it wouldn’t be unsurprising for the RR faithful to harbor hopes of an encouraging campaign this time around. There might be a few concerning factors that they should be looking to address, though.
Royals strolled through the first two games due to Samson’s brilliance with the bat. The wicketkeeper-batsman was sublime and took the game away from the opposition in the middle-overs of the game. It seems that he has been locked in at the number three slot for the ongoing season. RR have played both of their matches in Sharjah. The ground’s dimensions are smaller, more favourable to batsmen and the ball has often gone sailing over the ropes over there.
Rajasthan Royals: Initial heydays or sustainable success? Sanju Samson has been superb.
162 sixes have been notched in 11 IPL matches so far, wherein a whopping 62 of them were recorded in the two games that RR played. Rajasthan themselves have bagged 35 maximums in their two innings so far, with Samson having 16 of them to his name. As of now, the number of sixes scored in Dubai and Sharjah is 11.11 per game, which boils down to a modest 5.55 in each innings. That is almost three times lesser than 31 sixes per match in two encounters that taken place in Sharjah.
Both of RR’s victories so far have come in moments when the game has turned around in the matter of an over. After an initial boost, CSK had curtailed them down to possibly restrict the Royals to a 195-200 total in the first game. However, Jofra Archer smoked four maximums in the final over off Lungi Ngidi to completely turn the tides around to his team’s advantage. Chennai still managed to get to 200 eventually, displaying that Archer’s eventual onslaught was the decisive game-changer.
Second time around, Rahul Tewatia cleared the ropes five times in Sheldon Cottrell’s over to completely change the course of the game. Right until then, KXIP held the upper hand despite Samson’s flawless knock in the middle phase. In some ways, it can be safely said that though the batsman from Kerala has set up the base for his team on both occasions commendably well, it has been the flourishing moments in the final stages of the two matches that aided them gain an edge over the opponents.
Rajasthan Royals: Initial heydays or sustainable success? Smith will be vital.
In two matches at Sharjah so far, spinners have conceded runs at 10.71 runs per over. Royals themselves have recorded 10.67 runs in each over against a tweaker, taking the duo of Piyush Chawla and Ravindra Jadeja to 95 runs in eight overs combined against CSK. In the other nine games, spinners have delivered at an economy rate only of 7.87 runs/every over. Slower bowlers have notched scalps on a regular interval at the other two venues too, thus demonstrating that Royals’ approach in the middle-overs might need a relook.
They went berserk in this phase in the initial two games. Going ahead, run-scoring and boundary-hitting is bound to be not as convenient as in the matches so far for Rajasthan. This is where the lack of steel and dynamism in their batting order is evident. As Stokes is away from the team, Royals really lack a reliable batter to guard the 5-7 positions. Robin Uthappa hasn’t looked in touch yet. Buttler, Smith and Samson hold the key upfront but their efforts could falter away in the lack of a formidable player at the centre of the batting lineup.
The blinders that Archer and Tewatia produced with the bat against CSK and KXIP respectively aren’t going to be a regular occurrence at Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Rajasthan will require the likes of Samson to play throughout the innings maybe, sans the six-feast that the side relished so far. It remains to be seen whether Tewatia can man the middle-order consistently enough in the coming days.
He seemed to be hitting the ball well but to work the ball around smartly and steer through the end will require different skills, especially to do it consistently over the next 12 games. Riyan Parag’s mettle will be tested too as he readies to don a more responsible role this time around. Royals look to be a quality batsman short currently. David Miller hasn’t really been convincing enough in recent years for RR to expect him to shoulder Stokes’ role with the willow. Hence, their tackling of this area will be interesting to witness.
With the ball, Smith has smartly moved Jaydev Unadkat to bowl with the new ball. However, that has had little effect on the pacer’s overall returns as he has been wicket-less with an economy rate of 10.57 so far. Archer continues to be their safest bet, but the Englishman will require reliable support from the other bowlers too. Tom Curran has conceded runs at 12.25/each over, which signifies that his shortcomings will be pounced upon in case the opposition adopts a pragmatic approach towards Archer.
Rajasthan Royals: Initial heydays or sustainable success? – Archer will be key with the ball.
The dimensions of the other two venues will put Shreyas Gopal at advantage. The leg-spinner was underwhelming in the first two games. However, his googlies will come of use in a packed leg-sided field at big grounds. Gopal can be banked upon to dismiss a few batsmen as they look to increase the scoring rate in the middle-overs. Tewatia’s role with the ball might need an assessment. He flourished against CSK but was taken off after a solitary poor over against KXIP. RR might not always play with an extra bowler as they did in the previous match.
Parag will provide a backup alternative on occasions. Overall, Rajasthan’s bowling has notable chinks in the armour that can be thoroughly exploited by the adversaries. It is their batting that will have to continue the stellar level of performances that they have displayed so far. Buttler’s return is a major boost, so is Smith’s evolving perspective towards T20 batting. If Samson moulds his game from being a compulsive six-hitter that he was in the last two games to an individual who will take their weakened middle-order along in testing situations, Rajasthan Royals can spring a surprise in IPL 2020.
However, the unit is not as flawless as it appeared to be until now.
Written by Tarkesh Jha. Follow Tarkesh on Twitter today.
Pakistan is scheduled to visit New Zealand to play three T20Is and two Test matches starting from December 18 to January 17. The team will follow 14 days Covid-19 protocols and stay in Lincoln as they reach New Zealand in the last week of November. According to the schedule, Auckland, Hamilton and Napier will host three T20I matches from December 18 to 22, while Mount Maunganui and Hagley Oval in Christchurch will host one Test match each starting from January 3, 2021.
“It’s always a pleasure to host the Pakistan cricket team in New Zealand and I know there will be a lot of interest in the Test and T20 series. Pakistan touring sides have been coming here since 1965 and many New Zealanders have grown up watching the likes of Hanif Mohammad, Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and of course, the great Imran Khan in action. I’m sure the squads coming out here this summer will be similarly steeped in talent and class and will continue the great legacy that is Pakistan cricket”, said NZC chief executive, David White.
Reportedly, as number of transmission has reduced in NZ, the bio-secure bubble won’t be arranged after the 14 day quarantine. Beside border control measures, large cities are back to normal with minimal restriction. Pakistan Cricket Board issued a statement saying that their A team will also travel to NZ and the details of it will be revealed over the course of time. Prior to this, Pakistan levelled three match T20I series with England, which ended on September 5.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
After the recent controversy on Shreyas Iyer’s comment, Saurav Ganguly went on record to clarify that his “500 international match experience” gives him all the rights to speak and guide the younger lads. It all started when Shreyas Iyer gave an interview to Star Sports before the start of the IPL 2020 season where he spoke about how Ricky Ponting who is the current head coach and Ganguly who was the monitor for Delhi Capital in 2019 helped him evolve as a captain as well as a refined player.
As a young captain, I am thankful to Ricky and Dada for being a part of my journey as a cricketer and captain last season.
My comment yesterday was to emphasise my gratitude towards the role they both have played in my personal growth as a captain.
But his comment was misinterpreted and lose allegations of Conflict of Interest were made against former Indian Captain and BCCI President. While Iyer referred to the 2019 season, allegations were made on BCCI president for helping a franchise captain which is clearly a case of Conflict of Interest. Taking things into account, Ganguly went to record to clarify his stand, he said, “I had helped him (Iyer) last year. I may be the Board president, but don’t forget that I’ve played 500 matches (424 matches) for India, so I can speak to a young player and help him, be it, Shreyas Iyer or Virat Kohli. If they want help, I can,” Ganguly said during a promotional event.
DC captain also went ahead and tweeted his clarification. “As a young captain, I am thankful to Ricky and Dada for being a part of my journey as a cricketer and captain last season. My comment …… was to emphasise my gratitude towards the role they both have played in my personal growth as a captain,” Iyer said.
Delhi Capitals currently sit in the top four on the IPL 2020 table (as of 30 September), despite losing their most recent match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
IPL 2020 Match 12: RR vs KKR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RR vs KKR Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report
Courtesy of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s solid win over Delhi Capitals, every team in IPL 2020 has won at least one match, highlighting just how competitive this tournament looks.
After Delhi’s first loss, Rajasthan Royals have the opportunity to push ahead at the top of the table. After a miraculous run chase against KXIP – the highest in IPL history – Rajasthan move away from Sharjah to the larger Dubai International Stadium, where six-hitting is still very much common, but an adjustment is required. The likes of Sanju Samson and Steve Smith have been superb at the top, and who will ever forget Rahul Tewatia’s amazing turnaround, hitting five sixes after labouring his way to 14 off 21 balls? So, can they take their great batting form from Sharjah and implement it at Dubai?
This match certainly has the makings for a beauty, with Kolkata Knight Riders possessing power of their own. KKR’s batting lineup has yet to fire in terms of big hitting, but Shubman Gill’s class was the talking point in an easy win last time out against SRH. This was after their bowlers put in a fine shift, and more of the same will be needed here against a Rajasthan side full of confidence.
So, will RR remain the only unbeaten team in IPL 2020, or will KKR become the fourth team to have four competition points?
IPL 2020 Match 12: RR vs KKR Preview Dream11: The IPL table is looking tight.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Sanju Samson has been one of the players of the tournament so far. His 159 runs to date come at an unbelievable strike rate of 214.86. While Dubai is a larger stadium, there have been 200+ scores in recent times, so watch out for Samson.
However, can he improve on his modest record vs KKR (8 matches, 196 runs, avg. 24.50, SR 118.07)? He was able to improve on a modest record vs CSK earlier, and is capable of doing so here.
Steve Smith has been excellent in T20 cricket over the past 12 months. Like Samson, Smith has two fifties in two matches so far in IPL 2020. Also, Smith has a decent record vs KKR, with 216 runs in nine matches, at an average of 36.00 (two fifties).
Can Shubman Gill build on his 70* vs SRH? He has a very solid record as an IPL opener: 8 matches, 313 runs, avg. 52.17, SR 129.88.
Jos Buttler also has a superb record as an IPL opener (25 innings, 1,015 runs, avg. 44.13, SR 156.88). Also, Buttler has been consistent vs KKR, with 184 runs in six matches at an average of 36.80 (SR 138.35). However, he is yet to score a fifty against them – will today be the day?
Dinesh Karthik has the most runs of any current KKR player against RR. His 232 runs come at an average of 232, courtesy of a superb 97* (50) against them last season.
Sunil Narine has had a quiet start to IPL 2020, but enjoys an excellent record vs the RR top order. Narine has dismissed Samson three times, while conceding runs at a strike rate of just 87 in 45 balls. Also, Narine has dismissed Steve Smith twice, with Smith striking at just 115 against him.
The combination of Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell is a dangerous one. Morgan is coming off a strong 42* (29) vs SRH. Russell strikes at 167.16 for KKR vs RR.
Rahul Tewatia’s all-round ability will be key for RR. In the first game against CSK, he took 3/32. In the second against KXIP, he hit a memorable half-century, including five straight sixes vs Sheldon Cottrell.
Jofra Archer will be key with the ball against KKR’s batting lineup. He will need to improve on his record of just two wickets in four matches vs them (bowling average 59, econ. 7.87).
Also, Archer has an incredible batting strike rate in IPL 2020 (363.63 in 11 balls faced).
Pat Cummins is coming off an excellent spell of 1/19 vs SRH, and is two short of 100 T20 wickets.
IPL 2020 Match 12: RR vs KKR Preview Dream11: Sunil Narine will be crucial for KKR with both bat and ball.
KKR have won four of the past five matches against RR.
Kuldeep Yadav’s form is a concern for KKR. He has taken just four wickets in his last 11 IPL games, and is wicketless in six overs so far in IPL 2020. Can he deliver today?
Shreyas Gopal and Rahul Tewatia vs Dinesh Karthik? Karthik has been dismissed three times by the googly since IPL 2019 – the most of any player.
The last time these two sides played in the UAE, RR beat KKR on a boundary count after the Super Over also ended in a tie. If a Super Over ends in a tie today, there will be another Super Over.
There have been two Super Overs in five matches at Dubai in IPL 2020.
Possible Playing 11
Robin Uthappa meets his old franchise for the first time, which could make for an interesting battle.
Rajsthan Royals: 1. Jos Buttler (wk), 2. Steve Smith (c), 3. Sanju Samson, 4. Robin Uthappa, 5. Riyan Parag, 6. Rahul Tewatia, 7. Shreyas Gopal, 8. Tom Curran, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Ankit Rajpoot/Varun Aaron, 11. Jaydev Unadkat
The battle between Pat Cummins and the RR top order has the makings for a beauty. Cummins was terrific against Warner & Bairstow in the powerplay against SRH, and if he can achieve similar here, KKR will be held in good stead.
The Abu Dhabi track in the SRH vs DC match showed signs of slowing down. That wasn’t the case at Dubai for MI vs RCB, with a memorable 200 vs 200 match. These two sides have plenty of six-hitting ability, and with some grass still expected on the pitch, batsmen who get in should score well.
Dew will again be a factor, so the captain who wins the toss will likely choose to field. However, the team batting first has won all five games in IPL 2020 (including two Super Overs).
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
IPL 2020 Match 12: RR vs KKR Preview Dream11
Option 2:
IPL 2020 Match 12: RR vs KKR Preview Dream11
Fancy a bet on the cricket? today.
Match Prediction
A cracking match in store. Can KKR stop the early RR juggernaut? They have the ability to, but their big guns need to lead from the front. Also, it remains to be seen how RR adjust to the bigger ground of Dubai. KKR to win in a tight one.
Sri Lanka-Bangladesh series gets postponed yet again
The Sri Lanka-Bangladesh three-match Test series has been postponed yet again due to disagreement between the two boards over duration of quarantine. The Sri Lankan Cricket board had insisted on 14 days of self-isolation for the players limiting their movement to their hotel rooms but the proposal was rejected by BCB. Nazmul Hassan said that the tour has not been cancelled, but the disagreement on this one matter has led to postponement on October 23 in Pallekele.
“Any tourist who is entering Sri Lanka has to abide by this rule [of 14 days in quarantine]. They (SLC) have told us that they couldn’t do anything about this point (quarantine). We have informed them that we have to reschedule the tour to a time when things will improve. We cannot play the ICC Test Championship according to their guidelines. Their cricket board and sports ministry tried very hard. They agreed to all but one of our requirements, but that one is the real one. The 14-day quarantine”, Hassan said.
In recent times, Sri Lanka has seen remarkable reduction in the spread of Covid-19 virus and life has gone back to normal in major parts of the country. The country has recorded only 13 deaths in recent times. “There’s a difference between ‘quarantine’ and ‘isolation’. “If we put someone in home quarantine, he or she cannot get out of the house. But when someone is Covid positive, we put them in isolation which means that person can’t get out of the room. What they are mentioning as ‘quarantine’ is actually full isolation, which means the person cannot get out of the room. A cricketer will need a long time to regain [fitness] – physically and mentally – from this isolation. In that situation, it won’t be possible to play, we have said it before”, Hassan said.
On the other hand, BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury says that the decision to postpone the tour was necessary because the health guidelines would not allow the Bangladesh players to prepare properly for the series. “We have always maintained that preparation of the team was a priority as the players are coming off a six-month gap from any cricket due to the COVID-19 situation in the country,” Chowdhury said. “Therefore, in line with the standard practice in relation to COVID-19 and quarantine for cricket teams in countries where the game has resumed, we wanted the Bangladesh Team to have proper training opportunities in Sri Lanka before they started playing. We never considered fielding an unprepared side in international cricket”.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
IPL 2020 Match 11: DC vs SRH Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today | Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
Abu Dhabi welcomes two teams that are on the opposite end of the spectrum in IPL 2020. One side, who is looking to build on a promising 2019 campaign, have a perfect two from two record so far. The other, rated as second favourites by various bookmakers, is the only side without a single win yet.
Indeed, Delhi Capitals have made a promising start to their campaign. After Marcus Stoinis’ heroics against KXIP, Prithvi Shaw and Kagiso Rabada then led the Capitals to a mighty comfortable win against CSK. However, while DC have already shown that they can deliver the goods in both comfortable and uncomfortable situations so far, their lack of fireworks in the death overs against CSK is an area they would like to address here.
Lack of fireworks can certainly be said of Sunrisers Hyderabad. To say that their batting effort against KKR was underwhelming is a significant understatement, after they crawled to 142 despite the loss of just four wickets. The top order seemed to bat if they were worried about a middle order collapse, which means the addition of Kane Williamson, if fit, could be crucial to playing with greater freedom here. It is not quite must win territory yet for SRH, but you wouldn’t want to fall too far behind in a very competitive tournament.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Watch out for Rishabh Pant. He loves playing vs SRH. In nine matches, Pant has struck 328 runs at an average of 46.86, SR 162.38. Also, Pant has a superb record vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar (avg. 65, SR 250) and Rashid Khan (avg. 54, SR 146) in IPL cricket.
David Warner and Jonny Bairstow are undoubtedly key for SRH. Warner, in 10 games for SRH vs DC, has 329 runs at an average of 41.13. Bairstow’s scores against DC in IPL 2019: 48 (28) and 41 (31).
Prithvi Shaw is coming off a strong knock of 64 (43) vs CSK, and hit 56 (38) vs SRH in the 2019 Eliminator.
Shreyas Iyer has made two starts for DC in IPL 2020. Can he carry on this time? He has a solid record against SRH, with 286 runs in nine matches, at an average of 35.75 (SR 120.17).
Will SRH pick Kane Williamson? If yes, they will be picking a player who has performed well vs DC: 7 matches, 286 runs, avg. 57.20, SR 131.80.
Marcus Stoinis’ finishing ability could be tested once again. He was outstanding in DC’s opening win vs KXIP, hitting 53 (21) and taking two wickets.
If picked, Mohammad Nabi needs to face as many balls as possible from a SRH perspective. In his limited outings vs DC in IPL, Nabi’s 37 runs come at a strike rate of 168. Also, he has two wickets in as many games against them.
Kagiso Rabada has taken a remarkable 30 wickets in his last 14 IPL games, dating back to the start of 2019. This includes five wickets in two games vs SRH last season, headlined by 4/22.
Khaleel Ahmed took 19 wickets in nine matches in IPL 2019. Among bowlers who have taken at least 20 wickets since IPL 2019, Ahmed’s strike rate of 12.2 is second only to Rabada’s 11. Also, he has five wickets in two games for SRH vs DC.
Can Rashid Khan get the big wickets? He has one wicket in two games so far this season, and six in seven matches against DC. Key bowler.
IPL 2020 Match 11: DC vs SRH Preview Dream11 Prediction: Warner & Bairstow will be key.
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 15, DC 6, SRH 9.
Delhi Capitals have won their past two games vs Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje to target David Warner from around the wicket? In the past year-and-a-half, Warner has struggled against pace bowling from this angle. In fact, his T20 average against fast bowlers coming from around the wicket has been 24.00, in contrast to 60.44 when facing pace over the wicket.
Rabada now has taken at least two or more wickets in a match on nine straight occasions. This is an IPL record, which was previously held by Lasith Malinga.
SRH have a Bhuvneshwar Kumar problem. He has taken just 13 wickets in his last 17 IPL matches, and is wicketless so far in IPL 2020. However, six of these 13 wickets have been against DC, in three matches against them in this period.
Possible Playing 11
R Ashwin said he was feeling fine after injuring his shoulder against KXIP. However, DC is reportedly set to rest him for another game so he fully recovers.
Sunrisers Hyderabad don’t look as settled. Wriddhiman Saha was brought in at number four vs KKR, and struggled, scoring a 31-ball 30. It remains to be seen if Vijay Shankar has recovered from his back injury to play, as well as whether SRH will pick Kane Williamson.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1. David Warner (c), 2. Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3. Manish Pandey, 4. Vijay Shankar/Wriddhiman Saha, 5. Mohammad Nabi, 6. Abdul Samad/Priyam Garg, 7. Abhishek Sharma, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Sandeep Sharma/T Natarajan, 11. Khaleel Ahmed
Abu Dhabi Pitch and Weather Report
Dew is a factor, and chasing teams are beginning to find success in IPL 2020. In the past three games in the tournament, KKR successfully chased 143 vs SRH (at Abu Dhabi), while RR achieved a run chase for the ages vs KXIP in Sharjah. Then, yesterday, MI almost pulled off a remarkable chase vs RCB at Dubai.
Another good batting track can be expected at Abu Dhabi, with the tournament still in its early stages. Also, expect the team who wins the toss to choose to chase, as the team batting second has won two of three matches so far in IPL 2020.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
IPL 2020 Match 11: DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
IPL 2020 Match 11: DC vs SRH Dream11 Prediction
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Match Prediction
Delhi Capitals are in much better form, but don’t count Sunrisers Hyderabad out. If David Warner and Jonny Bairstow fire like they can, SRH can go on to win the match. If they don’t, it is very difficult to see how SRH wil win, which puts onus on Manish Pandey to deliver, too.
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Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.