Before the Auction of the IPL’s 13th edition in December 2019, Chennai Super Kings released five players, in the process retaining the most players out of any team (20).
But with a purse of Rs.14.60 Cr and five slots to be filled, including two overseas players and a few issues to be fixed, here are some players they can go for this auction.
5. Jaydev Unadkat
Jaydev Unadkat’s rise was with Rising Pune Supergiant team under MS Dhoni. He took wickets for fun and even had a hat-trick that year. Following that season, he was one the biggest buys and CSK tried their best to have him in their side. But, Rajasthan won the battle on the auction table.
With Unadkat released by Rajasthan this year, he could be a perfect replacement for Mohit Sharma and his variations.
Jaydev Unadkat could thrive under the leadership of MS Dhoni.
4. Eoin Morgan
CSK needs someone who can play with intent in the middle order and go bonkers in the death overs. With MS Dhoni and the World Cup winning skipper from England in the same team, CSK could look at some hefty totals. Although he is very underrated in IPL, Morgan has the ability to play and attack spin well, meaning he can be very valuable for CSK.
Glenn Maxwell can bat explosively at any position and can be the perfect partner for MSD in the death overs. He can also give them a few very handy overs on the slow Chepauk wicket. This is before mentioning the type of fielder he is. CSK would surely want him if he is available at a good price.
Can Glenn Maxwell complement MS Dhoni perfectly at CSK?
2. James Neesham
Apart from a few shaky death overs, the form of the Kiwi All-rounder has been just going up since the World Cup. His ability to really tonk the ball and bowl in the death overs at his best is what Chennai needs. With the likes of DJ Bravo and Lungi Ngidi, CSK would have a great bowling attack along with Deepak Chahar and the spinners if they can add Neesham.
It has been an eventful 2019 for Jimmy Neesham
1. Chris Jordan
One of the major problems CSK has had for a few seasons now is their death bowling. They have tried many options, but need a specialist who can control the runs as well as take wickets in the slog overs.
With the tricks of Dwayne Bravo now known to everyone, Chris Jordan would be a great choice to accompany him in the death overs. His performance for the English team has been phenomenal and he can also hit the ball well, to go with his amazing fielding. He can be an ideal pick for CSK looking at their squad and previous year performances.
Chris Jordan was superb for England in New Zealand recently
So, what do you think? Are there any other players you’d like to see CSK go for in the IPL 2020 Auction?
Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.
This article is part of an IPL Auction series, where we explore each team. Also check out the players KKR, SRH, RCB and RR could look at buying!
AFG vs WI 3rd T20I Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AFG vs WI 3rd T20 Prediction Today | Afghanistan vs West Indies 3rd T20 Preview Dream11 Prediction
Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi were in the syllabus.
But, it was Karim Janat who popped up in the exam.
Thanks to Karim’s brilliance, Afghanistan leveled the T20I series 1-1. It is the most welcome boost after losing the ODI series 3-0 to a West Indies side that was getting used to the winning feeling.
Key to an Afghanistan win
Victory was achieved, but the regular loss of wickets is a concern. Just as the Afghans would build some momentum, they would lose a wicket or two, forcing them to get back into a stage of rebuilding.
Can Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz produce the fireworks for a little longer? Can the experienced trio of Nabi, Asghar and Najibullah deliver more than they have? With Afghanistan’s lower order possessing the ability to hit big, a platform set can mean a big total.
But, with the Windies taking care against Afghanistan’s spin, the onus was on the seamers to cause a surprise. That man was Karim Janat, producing one of the great T20I spells to lift Afghanistan to victory. Can Afghanistan produce the goods as a unit again against their hard-hitting opponents?
RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images. AFG vs WI 3rd T20I: Karim Janat was superb.
Key to a West Indies win
The Windies’ death bowling left a bit to be desired. However, their batting was an abomination, tied down by dot ball after dot ball, which turned into wickets. They had no answer for Janat, of which they have to find an answer for 24 hours later.
The challenge will be to handle Janat a lot better, along with the threat that is Afghanistan’s spin-trio.
AFG vs WI 3rd T20I: Pollard to lead the way?
Also, can the Windies continue to take regular wickets with the ball? They have largely kept the Afghans in check throughout the series, and with the series on the line, they will need to do so again. Kesrick Williams has been excellent, but can Sheldon Cottrell and Hayden Walsh better support the likes of Williams, Holder and Paul?
Pace bowlers who have taken the pace off the ball have found success. Also, one wicket has also brought about two or three this series. Again, expect the pitch to be a little on the slower side.
Stats and Facts
The team batting first has won both games in this series.
Afghanistan’s win in the 2nd T20I ended a run of three straight T20I losses.
West Indies’ loss was their first against Afghanistan in five T20Is.
Karim Janat’s 5/11 were the second-best T20I figures by an Afghanistan bowler, behind Rashid Khan’s 5/3 vs Ireland in 2017.
An outstanding fightback by Afghanistan, led by Karim Janat.
Again, anything is possible. However, the Windies, under Kieron Pollard, will be out for a much-improved display. They could take this out in a tight match.
India vs Bangladesh 1st Test Player Ratings | IND vs BAN 1st Test 2019 Player Ratings | CricBlog Player Ratings
India won, needing to bat only once.
An Indian batsman went huge.
Athar Ali Khan, prince of hindsight, made Sanjay Manjrekar look a genius in comparison.
All in all, except for the low scores by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, everything expected to happen, did happen. India have now picked up their 300th point in the World Test Championship, sitting a pretty 240 points ahead of New Zealand.
For Bangladesh, well, who thought that a lack of preparation would hurt them? Anyway, another Bangladesh Cricket rant could be worth it, but even that would take greater effort than what the BCB is putting in to ensure Bangladesh becomes a good Test side.
For now, below are the player ratings from India’s huge victory by an innings and 130 runs. CricBlog style.
India
Mayank Agarwal: Led the Indian juggernaut. Agarwal, in just his 12th Test, picked up his second double century to completely flatten Bangladesh. He outscored them in the first innings by 93 runs on his own, and his 243 was also 30 more than Bangladesh’s second innings effort. Made Imrul Kayes pay, and how. 10
Rohit Sharma: Tried to compete with Imrul Kayes, with a score of six and dropped catch on the game’s final day. After a superb series against South Africa, Rohit had a very quiet match here. 1
Cheteshwar Pujara: Pujara scored so quickly that there was no way that Rohit Sharma would have even thought to call him ‘Ben Stokes’. Pujara had a big innings in him, but missed out on a hundred yet again. 8
Virat Kohli: We were shocked. Perhaps Bangladesh were, too. Virat Kohli, the second ranked Test batsman, was out for a duck against a struggling side at home. Rohit fan accounts were loving it, having been cheered up nicely after Rohit’s early dismissal. Kohli’s use of review can improve, too, but used the bowlers well. 3
WTF king kohli gone for duck. Wasn't watching the match and just checked the scorecard. Can't stop laughing. #INDvBAN
India vs Bangladesh 1st Test Player Ratings: Great day for this guy.
Ajinkya Rahane: His excellent recent form has continued. Bangladesh offered gaps and Rahane placed the ball expertly into them. As Bangladesh felt they could get into the game after Kohli’s dismissal, Rahane and Agarwal snuffed them out. His slip catching will be of focus, though. 8
Ravindra Jadeja: Top order runs. Jadeja then pouncing with fast runs down the order. The template of India’s home season so far. No wickets, but not needed given how dominant India’s seamers were. 7
Wriddhiman Saha: Stop the press. Wriddhiman Saha got to bat. After batting a total of 20 balls in the recent South Africa series, Saha batted 11 here. In terms of wicket-keeping, the below image could have very well been Saha, chilling out getting the best view of India’s seamers at work. 4
India vs Bangladesh 1st Test Player Ratings: Saha could have just chilled out…
Umesh Yadav: Smashing runs at strike rates of 250 and 300. Taking wickets at strike rates in the region of 40. The term “Lord Umesh” can’t be used sarcastically in India’s home season. We are seeing the good Umesh. The one who swings the ball beautifully, with control. 8
Ravichandran Ashwin: It is not often that Ashwin takes the back seat in a Test at home. Here, he chipped in when needed. A solid display, with the bulk of the work done by the seamers. 7
Mohammed Shami: The magnificent setup of Mushfiqur Rahim in the first innings was something to behold. Cricketing beauty. Shami was absolutely relentless all game, never letting the Bangladesh batsmen settle. It was like a father who wouldn’t take it easy on his young child. 9
Ishant Sharma: Accounted for Shadman Islam twice. Swung the ball both ways, as did his fast bowling teammates. Ishant continues to showcase his improvement over the past three years. 8
Shadman Islam: Entered Test cricket a year ago with a First-Class average in the mid-40s. This is a whole different ball game, though. Out for six off 24 balls twice. Not quite the ‘consistency’ you want. 1
Imrul Kayes: Out twice for six? Just 12 runs in total. Both inside and outside edge under significant threat? Opposition bowlers are happy. A dropped catch? A 211-run price. Bangladesh selectors thinking he was the answer? Priceless. 0
Mominul Haque: “Shakib, please come back”. For 28, Mominul still looks quite young. For now. Just wait till the series is over… 4
India vs Bangladesh 1st Test Player Ratings: Poor Mominul…
Mohammad Mithun: His “softer than a pillow” dismissal in the second dig summed up Bangladesh’s game. 3
Mushfiqur Rahim: Not keeping, but batting at five. Makes little sense considering Mushfiqur is the team’s best batsman. Had some luck, but fought hard in both digs. A quality player. 8
Mahmudullah: Looked scratchy in both innings. A total of 25 runs is not adequate enough for one of the team’s most experienced players. 3
Liton Das: Who says you can’t transfer white-ball form into the Test arena? Liton loves 20s and 30s in ODIs and T20Is, so repeated it in Tests. Looked quite good at times, but his talent justifies a bit more. 5
Mehidy Hasan Miraz: With an expensive economy rate of 4.62 in 25 overs, RCB might come knocking on the door in the IPL 2020 Auction. Just not delivering enough control in overseas Tests. A good second innings knock bumps his rating up. 3
Taijul Islam: Expensive and wicketless with the ball. A game to forget. 1
Abu Jayed: Bowled beautifully in patches. Dismissing Rohit and Kohli cheaply is something to be proud of. However, in what is Bangladesh’s story in nearly 20 years of Test cricket, it wasn’t sustained for long enough. 6.5
Ebadot Hossain: The only Bangladeshi bowler to go at under four runs an over. His economy rate of 3.70, while still high, looked mighty economical compared to the rest of his teammates. Like Abu Jayed, his decent patches weren’t sustained for long enough. 2
So, there we have it. The easiest of wins for India, who now have six wins out of six games in the World Test Championship.
For Bangladesh, the pink ball is up next. If they thought the red ball moved quite a bit in Indore, another thing might be coming in Kolkata. Their best bet is perhaps a prayer or two.
Jozi Stars vs NMB Giants MSL T20 Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | JZ vs NMB Giants MSL T20 Prediction Today
Welcome to the preview of the 8th match of MSL T20 2019 between Jozi Stars and Nelson Mandela Bay Giants. Last time both these teams met, the latter got the better of the former by 24 runs.
Speaking of current form, the NMB Giants are sitting pretty at the 2nd position with one match won and one abandoned. On the other hand, the champions of the inaugural MSL season, Jozi Stars, with some big names of this format, are having a hard time, losing all three of their matches to sit at the bottom of the points table.
Key to a Stars Win
The major problem for Stars is the over-dependency on their heavy top order, which is not performing as per their expectations. Reeza Hendricks, with captain Temba Bavuma, have looked liked sole warriors from their side.
The likes of “Universe Boss” Chris Gayle, Rassie Van Der Dussen and the finisher in Dan Christian have to take responsibility if they have to stay in the competition.
Also, their bowling is not on track, conceding over 160 runs in every match so far in MSL 2019. Gerald Coetzee showed in the last match that he can be the perfect partner for Kagiso Rabada, who also has performed only in patches. Simon Harmer has been a big positive for them, but needs support.
They need the all-rounder in Dan Christian to step up and turn their fortunes. Last year, star Duanne Oliver was also warming the benches after their first match, but can go through any batting lineup on his day. A call up waiting?
Key to an Giants Victory
The NMB Giants are looking a balanced side with a solid middle order and good bowling attack. But, if they are to go deep into this tournament, they have to fix their problems of the top order not performing.
Matthew Breetzke has looked good at the top and needs support from the other end. Jason Roy got out for a duck in the first match when they played Jozi Stars but a player of his caliber cannot be underestimated. The form of their skipper Jon-Jon Smuts is also a concern for them, so can he step up?
Ben Dunk’s batting position is creating a mess in their batting order as the likes of Heino Kuhn and Farhaan Behardein are getting very few balls to work with, so it’s something to zlso consider.
Also, their bowling looks solid with likes of Morris and Dala performing consistently. It is only a matter of time when Imran Tahir finds his form, with Aaron Phangiso performing well. Nandre Burger also bowled well last season, so has it in him to produce the goods for NMB Giants.
Possible Playing 11
The Stars can make one or two changes considering their bowling performance. They could include Duanne Oliver in the XI.
Jozi Stars: 1. Chris Gayle, 2. Reeza Hendricks, 3. Temba Bavuma (c) 4. Rassie van der Dussen, 5. Daniel Christian, 6. Ryan Rickelton (wk), 7. Simon Harmer, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Gerald Coetzee, 10. Aaron Phangiso, 11. Duanne Oliver/Lizaad Williams
NMB Giants should stick with their winning combination.
NMB Giants: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Matthew Breetzke (wk), 3. Jon-Jon Smuts (c), 4. Ben Dunk, 5. Heino Kuhn, 6. Farhaan Behardien, 7. Chris Morris, 8. Onke Nyaku, 9. Junior Dala, 10. Imran Tahir, 11. Nandre Burger
Pitch and Conditions
The New Wanderers Stadium at Johannesburg is heaven for the batsmen. The average score of both innings is 160+.
One trend observed is that if the batting team crosses the 170 mark, they have won most of the time. So, win the toss, bat first and post a good score should be the way on this wicket.
Stats and Facts
Pacers absolutely dominate spinners on this ground
Van der Dussen is the highest scorer on this ground, followed by Reeza Hendricks.
Despite the first stat, Aaron Phangiso is the highest wicket taker at this venue.
AFG vs WI 2nd T20I Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AFG vs WI 2nd T20 Today Prediction | Afghanistan vs West Indies 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction
The sombre mood in Lucknow in the final stages of Afghanistan’sfailed run-chase told the story.
The 30-run defeat turned out to be a better outcome, given that a 50-60 run defeat looked likely late on. Only Fareed Ahmad’s late efforts saved the Afghans from a complete beat down, in what was another disappointing performance.
No such disappointment for West Indies, who have won all four matches vs Afghanistan on this tour. Skipper Kieron Pollard starred with both bat and ball, along with Evin Lewis and the bowlers doing their bit to dominate the match.
Like in the ODIs, the Windies now have the chance to seal the series after game two.
Key to an Afghanistan win
Afghanistan lost just too many wickets at regular intervals in the first T20I. The early fall of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran put further pressure on Hazratullah Zazai, who is seeking to repeat his heroics from earlier in 2019.
Put simply, Afghanistan need greater impact in the powerplay overs. Also, the trio of Asghar Afghan, Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi, so prolific in the early stages of the recent Bangladesh Tri-Series, need to get back into the groove.
But, Rashid Khan’s lack of wickets is perhaps the biggest worry, as the Afghanistan skipper is being watched closely by opposition batsmen. So, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi will have key roles to play in building pressure, of which the seamers, through change of pace, can combine control and wicket-taking threat.
AFG vs WI 2nd T20I Preview Dream11: Can Rashid deliver?
Key to a West Indies win
CPL 2019 superstar Brandon King was out early, but the experience of the Windies shone through. Evin Lewis will be vital at the top again, setting a platform for the experienced middle order to build on. With Shimron Hetmyer showing glimpses of his best last time out, along with Pollard, a strong start holds the Windies in strong stead.
AFG vs WI 2nd T20I Preview Dream11: Pollard will be out for another big game.
Also, the lack of pace employed by the Windies worked a treat in the opening match. Kesrick Williams, Kieron Pollard and Jason Holder were all particularly focused on taking pace off in the dewy conditions, of which the Afghans couldn’t deal well with. With Hayden Walsh Jr a wicket-taking option, the Windies will be out for another very cohesive bowling display.
The start of the first T20I was delayed due to insect repellent being sprayed around the outfield. If there is no repeat, the second T20I should be uninterrupted with no rain forecast.
Also, the team who wins the toss could bowl first as dew set in last time out. Players who spend time in the middle will be rewarded as the ball can skid onto the bat.
Stats and Facts
Afghanistan have now lost their past three T20Is, after winning 12 straight.
West Indies have won their last four T20Is vs Afghanistan.
Kieron Pollard last game: 32 (22), 2/17 (3).
Rashid Khan has taken just three wickets in four matches vs West Indies on this tour.
Disclaimer: This article is sponsored by MyClubtap, where CricBlog has received compensation
Sponsored by MyClubtap: Create your own Fantasy Teams for your own club/league games!
Want to know how you can create winning teams on Dream11? You’re in the right place. Playing fantasy cricket can be fun, but being successful in Dream11 involves good planning and use of logic as much as possible.
Doing your homework and having a measured approach can go a long way to helping you create successful Dream11 teams.
Below are 10 key points that will help you create winning teams and increase your chances of winning on Dream11. Let’s get started!
Fantasy cricket – 10 winning tips for Dream11:
1. Play Only Selected Matches
One of the biggest mistakes fantasy players make is playing as many matches as they can, thinking the more matches, the more chances of winning.
This is not the case. You should only play selected matches you follow more closely. Avoid playing fantasy sports if you don’t have a lot of knowledge about a particular team or match. You stand at greater risk of losing money which is never ideal.
In fact, playing as many matches as possible could not only lead to losses, but the desire to then chase those losses. Choose your matches wisely!
According to Dream11 themselves, “to get more money, you should avoid playing every game. Beginning users of the app often commit this blunder. If you want to make money playing fantasy sports, you should avoid doing this.”
2. Research
Research is the most important and underrated element in fantasy sports. Take your time to equip yourself with the necessary statistics and information. Never skip it. People may think that research is a waste of time, but it can make your team stand out from the crowd.
Peeyush Sharma, India’s first Fantasy Expert and Presenter & Analyst for Dream11, Fancode, Star Sports India, Jio Cinema and VUSport, says research is very important. Speaking on the Dream11 YouTube channel after winning Grand League, Peeyush said, “if you can research well, if you can create your team well, you can easily win. It’s ultimately the team that wins.”
Some of the information you should collect includes:
Stats about players’ recent performances
Pitch reports and how surfaces typically behave at certain grounds.
Squad information, including injuries, potential unavailabilities, and possible playing XIs.
How teams perform batting first vs chasing.
How the players perform at certain venues or versus certain teams.
This will help make you feel a lot more confident before the match. CricBlog provides fantasy previews for a whole range of matches. Do have a read of the articles and take down the key points you feel will make certain players important picks in Dream11.
Fantasy cricket tips and tricks: Dream11 has taken the sports world by storm
3. Don’t Invest All Your Money in One Match
Another big mistake fantasy players make is after winning a match or two, they invest all their money in one match. If luck doesn’t favour them, they lose all their money.
You should invest an equal amount in every match. For example, if you have Rs.10000, you should divide it in 10 parts i.e. invest Rs.1000 in every match. This way you can potentially earn more in a longer run in Dream11, rather than putting all your eggs in one basket.
Also, be sure to have set budgets and spending limits. There is always the chance of losing, but be sure not to chase those losses.
4. Create multiple teams for a match
Creating multiple teams increases your chances of winning. You may like to try different team combinations or pick different players depending on how you think a match may transpire.
5. Prioritise all-rounders as much as possible
Focus on all-rounders as much as possible when putting your teams together. They provide the opportunity for more points as they bat and bowl. Plus, they are good choice for captaincy.
6. Favour players who feature in the crunch overs, i.e. powerplay, death
In limited overs matches, selecting bowlers who bowl in the crunch stages is a great strategy. Those who bowl in the powerplay and death overs may go for more runs, but the chances of picking up wickets is higher.
With the new point system in Dream11, 1-2 wickets can decide the winner of a match. Also, focus more on top order batters in T20s as they will get the opportunity to face the most balls in a match. However, don’t completely disregard middle order players depending on certain conditions, head-to-head player matchups and more.
So, as mentioned, it is vital you do the necessary preparation and use logic as much as possible.
7. Don’t be afraid to take risks, backed by research
You should not be afraid of taking risks, especially if you are well equipped with research. There are many people who play Dream11, and most of them have about 8-9 of the same players in their teams. This is particularly the case since Dream11’s decision to change the deadline time and lower credits.
Taking a risk on one or two players can help you win. Dream11 shows you the selection percentage of players and taking risk on some players work wonders. No player will perform the same way in every match and this is where “research” (point 2), as well as your own knowledge, can help you a lot.
8. Selecting your captain and vice-captain
A huge part of creating your team. After all, it can mean the difference between winning big or falling short.
The captain of your team gives you two times the points scored by him/her and the vice-captain gives 1.5 times the points scored. So it’s very important to select players who you think will top the performance charts of that match, backed by research and key insights.
Also, Dream11 shows you that which players are people’s top choice for captaincy and vice-captaincy. So, you can make your choice of who to go with.
9. Focus more on small leagues rather than grand leagues
Grand leagues are played by thousands of contestants, making it harder to win. By all means, try your hand in grand leagues from time to time, but smaller leagues should be a priority.
10. Tap into backups and have plans for different teams based on the toss
Certain players perform better when batting first. Others may perform better when fielding first. Also, pitches can get slower or quicker as matches go on, especially in limited overs cricket.
So, make sure you have plans in place regarding the teams you pick depending on the toss.
Also, Dream11 offers backups. It is your plan B when your selected players are not playing.
Here are some other handy tips to keep in mind:
Keep an eye on new players: Try equip yourself with knowledge on new players. Check out what their domestic record and recent form is like as these players can offer you a point of difference.
Don’t focus only on big-name players: Of course, big-name players can fetch big points. However, don’t fall short on your understanding on which players can perform best according to the conditions and opposition.
We hope that these points will help you create you dream team and win more money on Dream11.
Thanks for reading!
Written by Robin Rounder – follow Robin on Twitter today.
Disclaimer: This article is sponsored by MyClubtap, where CricBlog has received compensation
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Note: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
AFG vs WI 1st T20I Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report. AFG vs WI 1st T20I Match Today. Afghanistan vs West Indies 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction
After some of the most old-fashioned ODI cricket you’d see, attention moves to the T20I format in Lucknow.
Afghanistan, who have now lost 12 ODIs in a row after their 3-0 defeat, enjoyed a winning run of 12 in T20Is up until September. It is the format they are best at, particularly given many of their players are involved in Leagues around the globe.
Now, they will be out to right the wrongs of the ODI series against West Indies. An interesting series awaits as the Windies possess their own exciting talent, even with the loss of Nicholas Pooran to suspension. Can the Windies enjoy more success on what is proving to be a fine tour so far?
Key to an Afghanistan win
A number of players were stepping up during Afghanistan’s excellent run of 12 straight wins. Whether it was Hazratullah Zazai’s amazing exploits or the experienced middle order patching things up, the Afghans were always putting strong scores on the board.
Now, they are on a run of two defeats, against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. The batting performances were slightly off in both games, putting onus on Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai to deliver a strong start that this time the middle order needs to build on.
AFP. AFG vs WI 1st T20I Preview Dream11: Zazai is back in his favoured format: T20.
Also, Afghanistan’s spinners worked hard in the ODI series, only to be blunted by the Windies’ patience. There is no room for such patience in T20s, so Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rahman will be up against batsmen trying to attack them more. Can these three deliver 12 strong overs, backed up well by the seamers?
Key to a West Indies win
Nicholas Pooran is out for the Windies, but ample CPL talent remains. Lendl Simmons, trumped only by now teammate Brandon King in CPL 2019, could be asked to provide crucial runs in the powerplay to propel the Windies early.
With the likes of King, Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard and co. able to send the ball miles, it is vital the Windies rotate the strike effectively against the spinners so that when they do score boundaries, they are of greater value.
AFG vs WI 1st T20I Preview Dream11: Brandon King had a special CPL campaign.
Also, with a few international matches under his belt, Hayden Walsh Jr is one to watch out for. He also dominated in CPL 2019, and if the Windies’ attack can come together as they did in the ODIs, the Afghanistan batsmen might find the going difficult.
West Indies: 1. Lendl Simmons, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Brandon King, 4. Shimron Hetmyer, 5. Denesh Ramdin (wk), 6. Kieron Pollard (c), 7. Jason Holder, 8. Fabian Allen, 9. Kharry Pierre, 10. Sheldon Cottrell, 11. Hayden Walsh Jr
Pitch and Conditions
The pitch in Lucknow was on the slow side in the ODIs. If the team batting first can score 150+, it could very well be a winning total. Haze will continue to be present, but no rain is forecast.
Stats and Facts
West Indies have won three of four T20Is vs Afghanistan.
Afghanistan won 12 T20Is in a row before two losses in a row vs Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
Brandon King and Lendl Simmons combined for 826 runs in CPL 2019.
Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rahman have a combined 168 wickets in 127 T20Is.
IND vs BAN 1st Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report. IND vs BAN 1st Test Prediction Today. India vs Bangladesh 1st Test Dream11 Prediction
Test cricket is back. Test cricket returns after a plethora of T20Is, with the World Test Championship recommencing.
Speaking of the World Test Championship, India find themselves miles ahead. With five comfortable victories in as many Tests, the Indians sit on 240 points, 180 ahead of the second-placed New Zealand. With their home record so strong, and looking at both teams on paper for this series, who could possibly bet against India further increasing their lead?
Truth be told, Bangladesh are up against it. They are without their greatest cricketer Shakib Al Hasan, whilst under the guidance of still young-faced Mominul Haque. Further, they have a group of bowlers that are yet to master the art of building pressure regularly in conditions that don’t provide huge turn. With the Indore track tipped to assist pacers, the Tigers have a massive task on their hands.
Key to an India win
Rohit Sharma drove South Africa into oblivion in his first Test series as opener. He, along with Mayank Agarwal, often gave the Indians huge head-starts by overcoming South Africa’s pacers early and then pouncing on inexperienced spinners.
So, the template is set. Overcome Bangladesh’s efforts early, and then pounce on a Shakib-less spin attack. With prolific batsmen to follow, a strong start might result in Mominul Haque aging a few years in just a few days.
IND vs BAN 1st Test: Rohit has been superb.
Also, India’s pace attack still looks an excellent one even without the special Jasprit Bumrah. The Indore pitch is expected to be a sporting one, which is no surprise given the focus on seam under Virat Kohli’s captaincy. With India’s bowlers bowling with purpose over-after-over, the pressure they build can be too much for Bangladesh’s batsmen to withstand for extended periods.
The immediate question that comes to mind is whether Bangladesh have enough in them to challenge India’s batting for extended periods. A sorry story for Bangladesh in Tests, particularly away from home, has been their tendency to bowl well only in short spurts, failing to build any meaningful pressure.
Here, the Bangladeshis have to build pressure. Cut the singles, hit the top of off-stump and force the Indians to work hard. The key would be to force a mistake or two out of quality players. Easier said than done, of course, but can Bangladeshis walk off the field each day feeling proud of their effort?
Also, the batsmen will be in for a big challenge. It is no secret that India’s seamers have been excellent over the past few years, so patience, fight and dogged resistance from Bangladesh is key in overcoming challenging periods. Can the experienced players such as Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah lead the way in the absence of Tamim and Shakib?
Getty. IND vs BAN 1st Test: Huge test for Mominul
Possible Playing 11
India have had a settled Test team in recent times. The biggest headache has been for the unlucky Hanuma Vihari. But, with India’s top order so strong at home, they can afford to play Ravindra Jadeja higher up the order.
Bangladesh have a few more headaches. In addition to the absence of Tamim and Shakib, the form and experience of their seamers is a concern. Mustafizur Rahman, touted for big things, but in poor form, could be asked to lead the way. Also, they could go for extra batting cover, with Soumya Sarkar as the third seamer. Tough going, if the case.
Bangladesh: 1. Shadman Islam, 2. Saif Hassan/Imrul Kayes, 3. Mominul Haque (c), 4. Mushfiqur Rahim, 5. Mahmudullah, 6. Mohammad Mithun, 7. Liton Das (wk), 8. Mehidy Hasan, 9. Taijul Islam, 10. Abu Jayed, 11. Ebadat Hossain/Mustafizur Rahman
Pitch and Conditions
The track at Indore looks to be as sporting as they come in India. The weather looks very encouraging (mostly sunny) across the five days.
Stats and Facts
India have won seven of nine Tests vs Bangladesh. The other two were draws.
Bangladesh’s last Test win away from home was in 2017 vs Sri Lanka.
India have won all five Tests in the WTC. Rohit Sharma (529), Ajinkya Rahane (487), Virat Kohli (453) and Mayank Agarwal (420) are in the top six for most WTC runs so far.
India’s frontline seamers took 26 wickets at 17 in the recent Test series vs South Africa.
This will be Bangladesh’s first Test in the WTC. Their defeat to Afghanistan didn’t count to the WTC.
Saif Hassain could make his debut for Bangladesh: He averages 45.81 in 37 FC matches.
10 incredible T20 Cricket Records that will be hard to beat. T20 has taken the cricket world by storm – check out these 10 records.
13th June, 2003. The first ever T20 match took
place, played between Durham and Nottinghamshire at Chester-le-Street. It is
safe to say that the game of cricket was changed forever.
Less than two years later, the T20 format made its debut on the international scene. Ricky Ponting lit up Auckland, producing a gem of a knock that gave us a glimpse of what the next 15 years would hold in store.
The T20 format has exploded. Now the most popular and lucrative form of the game, a number of T20 Leagues, headlined by the Indian Premier League, have changed the cricketing landscape. Gone are the days where international cricket was the be-all-and-end-all. Now, many players strive to achieve great statistics and performances in different T20 Leagues around the globe.
T20 Cricket Records – IPL has had a big impact.
With this growth, there have been a number of incredible
records, both on the T20 League and International stage. Given that T20 is a
game of uncertainty and unpredictability, any of the following could be broken
one day.
T20 Cricket Records: Expect Chris Gayle to appear in this list.
1. Best figures in an innings
It took 16 years of top-level T20 cricket for a bowler to
take seven wickets in a single innings.
This was achieved by part-time off-spinner Colin Ackermann, playing for Leicestershire against Birmingham Bears in August 2019. His figures of 7/18 will certainly be tough to top!
2. Highest partnership: 236
Any team would be thrilled with 236 in a T20 game, let alone
a 236-run partnership.
Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani put on quite the show for Afghanistan in February 2019, smashing the Irish bowlers to all parts. In the process, they broke the previous record of 229 held by Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, playing for RCB against Gujarat Lions.
That record stood for nearly three years, and you get the feeling this record of 236 runs could be very difficult to beat.
3. Sunil Narine’s maiden super over
This feat can be equalled, rather than ‘beaten’. However,
that doesn’t make it any easier.
Playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors against Red Steel in CPL 2014, Sunil Narine defended 12 runs in the Super Over without conceding a single run. An unbelievable feat.
4. Most consecutive wins and losses
The Sialkot Stallions were a National T20 Cup side in
Pakistan. Over the course of four years (2006-2010), they put together 25
consecutive T20 victories, which remains unbroken today. With T20 such an
unpredictable game, putting together consecutive victories takes some effort.
The next best streak is 15, held by Karnataka.
Also, the most consecutive defeats record could stand for a long time to come. Quetta Bears, also based in Pakistan, have the unwanted record of losing 27 straight matches between 2005 and 2012.
5. Chris Gayle’s 960 career sixes
How can there be a T20-records article without mentioning
the ‘Universe Boss’?
Chris Gayle, arguably the greatest T20 player of all time,
is currently the only player with over 900 sixes. He has 960 to his name, with
the next best his West Indian teammate Kieron Pollard with 636. Over 300 less.
The next highest among active T20 cricketers? Shane Watson
with 431.
In relation to Gayle’s record of 13,051 runs, Virat Kohli (currently 8,556 runs) has a great chance of surpassing Gayle by the time his career is over.
T20 Cricket Records: Pollard has a long way to go…
6. Highest match aggregate: 497 runs
Big totals are a common sight in T20s around the world.
However, one record that has stood for nearly three years has been the highest
match aggregate in a T20.
On December 21st 2016, Central District and Otago traded blow-for-blow in a match that saw a huge 497 runs scored. Since then, both the West Indies national team and strong CPL sides have come close to achieving this aggregate, but have fallen short.
7. Alyssa Healy’s 148 – highest women’s score
What a cricketer Alyssa Healy is. Just weeks after Meg Lanning achieved the highest ever T20 score by a women’s cricketer (133), Healy smashed 148 against Sri Lanka.
With the quality of women’s cricket on the rise, it is possible that another superstar can break this record. However, it will take some effort.
T20 Cricket Records: Alyssa Healy – Brilliant with both bat and gloves
8. Highest number of runs in a single T20 campaign
With players now often playing more than 10 matches in a
single T20 League campaign, there are ample opportunities to score big runs.
However, Virat Kohli’s 973 runs, compiled in IPL 2016,
remains the highest number of runs scored by a player in a single T20 series/campaign.
The record has stood for nearly four years, with David Warner (848) next best,
achieved in the same campaign.
Since 2016, only Kane Williamson has scored over 700 runs in
a single campaign, which suggests this record will be a tough one to beat.
9. Most runs conceded in a spell
Sarmad Anwar, playing for Sialkot Stallions against Lahore
Lions, has the unwanted record of most runs conceded in a T20 spell. Over eight
years later, Sarmad’s record of 0/81 off four overs is yet to be broken.
Kasun Rajitha came very close recently, conceding 75 against Australia in Adelaide, which is the most expensive spell in T20 International history.
10. Highest percentage of runs in a completed innings
In July 2018, Aaron Finch hammered 172 against Zimbabwe,
which constituted a huge 75.10% of Australia’s final total of 229/2.
Finch’s 172 is the only instance of a player scoring over 75% of his/her team’s runs in a completed innings. Also, only on seven other occasions has a player scored more than 70% of his/her team’s total. On this basis, it will take one hell of an effort from a player (or a very poor effort from the rest of the team) to break this record.
Do you have any records you think should be added here? Leave a comment!
Let’s look at the significant amount of cricket from a more positive angle. As always, Twitter comes up with the goods. And, when there is plenty of cricket on, you are sure to enjoy a laugh or two.
The first week of November has seen a number of T20 internationals being played around the world. Below are 15 funny cricket tweets from the past week!
I won’t explain what “No Nut November” means on a cricket blog.
But, when Steve Smith is playing shots like this, staying disciplined is one hell of an ask. Funny, and must I say underrated tweet from @The_BeardMan_. Be sure to give it a few RTs and likes.
Bangladesh players should quickly come out at the end of this innings and give Khaleel Ahmed a guard of honour as he’s walking off the field when hes confused and asks them why they’re doing this they can say because this is your last game sir
44 runs out of Bangladesh’s paltry 153 against India in the second T20I came off Khaleel Ahmed.
As always, Twitterati never misses the opportunity to have its say. Better, @DavidBrentIPL ensures there is an even greater level if respect by adding in “Sir” at the end. Touching.
3. Records, records everywhere
Most sixes in a year: Rohit Sharma Most photoshoot in a year: Virat Kohli#INDvBAN
Let me get it straight – Virat Kohli is an outstanding player. Indeed, he can be described as ‘Rendezvous with a genius’.
But, this is hilarious. As many know, the Rohit vs Kohli fanwars can dominate Twitter, which gives us rival fans some quality content to consume. As Kohli’s Twitter is inundated with more sponsored photoshoots and videos, @AskRishabh has no hesitation in pouncing. Funny stuff.
OK, let’s give Khaleel a break, and turn our attention to the smog in Delhi.
Personally, I think it’s a disgrace the first T20I between India and Bangladesh went ahead in such conditions.
But, with the right mindset, you can see positives. India losing their first ever T20I to Bangladesh? It’s OK, no one could see it. Brilliant as always from @CSKian716.
Fakhar Zaman, the quickest ever to 1,000 ODI runs, of which 515 came against a decimated Zimbabwe side, has not delivered since. He has struggled for consistency against top opposition since mid-2018, which always means the meme content is coming. @SeholeSuggests didn’t disappoint.
Pakistan’s awful performances in Australia made many wonder why they are still the number one ranked side. A key theme was their reliance on Babar Azam (and Iftikhar Ahmed) for runs.
After the first T20I in Sydney, and nearly halfway through Canberra, it was all Babar for Pakistan. @tweetlessss described it perfectly.
“PAK reaches 100 runs!” exclaims a surprised Google. Thanks to @itstarot for pointing this out, giving all (including Pakistan fans) something to chuckle about.
Sarfaraz Ahmed was sacked as T20I captain after Pakistan’s poor 3-0 loss at home to Sri Lanka in October. He was then left out of the team to play Australia.
Safe to say he was loving what he was seeing on his television screen. Funny stuff from @CR7STIANO_SABIR.
Rishabh Pant has had a bit of a tough time with the bat and gloves in recent times for India. Unfortunately for him, when you come after the great MS Dhoni, people will scrutinise your every move. @FlashScore_IN have had their say, giving us a funny picture of India’s efforts to replace MS.
If you don’t follow @DanCricket93, I suggest you do so. From great cricket quizzes, engaging tweets, to funny ones like this, Dan’s Cricket Column is sure to keep you engaged.
This is cheeky stuff. Theunis de Bruyn and Temba Bavuma have found the going tough for South Africa, leading to sarcasm at its finest!
So, there are 15 funny tweets from November week one. Have any you’d like to see included in the next edition? Tag or send through to me on Twitter at @cric_blog.
