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IPL 2019: Team of the Year – Combined XI

Charbel Coorey

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May 13, 2019 at 8:26 am

IPL 2019: Team of the Year – Combined XI

IPL 2019: Team of the Year. IPL 2019 Combined XI

Drama, tension and unpredictability. With so many last-ball finishes, one of the finest editions of IPL Cricket has come to an end.

The 12th edition of IPL had just about everything. It shows how special a tournament is that even when 60 matches are played, it didn’t always feel it dragged on too much. At least that was the case in my eyes.

Matches ebbed and flowed, and so too did the top four race. However, that Final will never be forgotten, having me so nervous and invested in the action at a ridiculous Sydney hour! In the end, Mumbai Indians reigned supreme, winning a thrilling Final by one run to now sit atop the list of most IPL Titles, overtaking heartbroken finalists Chennai Super Kings.

So, with the IPL now complete (and before we turn our attention completely to the World Cup), it is appropriate to analyse who makes the IPL 2019 Team of the Year. There were a number of outstanding performers, which was something to look forward to ahead of the tournament given the big names on show. To guide the makeup of this team, a couple of conditions apply:

A maximum of four overseas players are allowed.
Team needs to have good balance, justifying why this side would win every game they play.
Players need to play in their preferred positions as much as possible.

So, without further ado, here is my best XI of IPL 2019.

Also read: See how I went with IPL 2019 predictions before the tournament began!

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1. David Warner (SRH): 12 matches, 612 runs, average: 69.20, SR 143.86

One of the easier picks in the IPL 2019 combined XI.

It remained to be seen how David Warner would go after no cricket at the highest level in the previous 12 months. But, he passed with flying colours, winning the Orange Cap with ease, scoring 99 runs more than second-placed KL Rahul, with nine fifty plus scores in 12 knocks. He and Jonny Bairstow carried Sunrisers Hyderabad until Manish Pandey came to the party late in the tournament. A brilliant tournament from arguably the best IPL player ever.

Cricket Blog: IPL 2019: Team of the Year. IPL 2019 Combined XI — Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS. IPL 2019: Team of the Year. David Warner was superb.

2. KL Rahul (KXIP): 14 matches, 593 runs, average: 53.90, SR: 135.38

Speaking of Jonny Bairstow, he is incredibly unlucky to miss out on making this team. Special mentions also to Quinton de Kock and Shikhar Dhawan, who each finished with over 500 runs.

However, with a number of star overseas performers, they miss out just to KL Rahul. Rahul had a slow start to the tournament, but then found his feet. He scored seven fifty-plus scores in 14 innings, and even though he started his innings slowly at times, he still impacted games positively for his team. Two knocks that come to mind are his 71* to lead KXIP home vs SRH, then followed by a magnificent 100* vs MI that was trumped by a gem by Kieron Pollard.

3. Manish Pandey (SRH): 12 matches, 344 runs, average: 43.00, SR: 130.79

David Warner and Jonny Bairstow carried SRH. Then, it was Warner. When Warner departed for Australia, Manish Pandey stood up.

After being shifted to number three in his return game on 23 April vs CSK, Pandey was superb. He scored 290 runs in his last six games, averaging a fine 72.50. No one can forget his special knock against MI, hitting a six off the final ball to take the game into a Super Over. Pandey, finally, showcased the talent he has.

4. Andre Russell (KKR): 14 matches, 510 runs, average: 56.66, SR: 204.81. 11 wickets, average: 24.54, econ: 9.51

With the top three, in particular the openers, able to bat longer periods, some power at number four is crucial to a balanced team. So, who better than Andre Russell; a player who lit up IPL 2019 numerous times, literally carrying KKR. No other player with at least 150 runs scored at a strike rate of 200, and Russell did it with ease. He is a must-have in the team of the tournament.

5. MS Dhoni (CSK): 15 matches, 416 runs, average: 83.20, SR: 134.62 (c & wk)

The man who led CSK to yet another Final. His team came within one run of back-to-back titles, and you have to say Dhoni was a crucial part of their campaign. CSK’s middle order struggled right throughout the tournament, but Dhoni was the man holding strong, playing some incredible knocks such as his innings at the Chinnaswamy that nearly got CSK home. With his magnificent leadership qualities, he captains the side. He also takes the gloves, with his incredible stumpings against DC a highlight of his superb work behind the stumps.

6. Hardik Pandya (MI): 16 matches, 402 runs, average: 44.66, SR: 191.42. 14 wickets, average: 27.85, econ: 9.17

From one helicopter specialist to the next. Hardik Pandya significantly enhanced his reputation as a genuine all-rounder, as well as a significant player in India’s quest for World Cup glory. He was a key factor in MI’s title-winning campaign, rescuing the team on quite a few occasions after middle over struggles. Like Russell, he is a must-have in the side, and provides a capable bowling option despite the high economy rate. Amid many highlights, the best would have to be his 91 off 34 balls that had MI dreaming of a miracle win vs KKR.

7. Shreyas Gopal (RR): 14 matches, 63 runs, average: 15.75, SR: 136.95. 20 wickets, average: 17.35, econ: 7/22

Gopal at seven is perhaps a touch controversial. Indeed, the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant are unlucky to miss out on the number four slot, but that would mean Hardik Pandya or Andre Russell bats too low at seven. Also, Gopal at times proved that he can yield the willow, such as his 13* off 7 balls to get RR home in a tight finish vs MI and 19* off 7 balls to propel his team to 150+ vs CSK.

This is before mentioning his magnificent bowling. His wickets throughout the tournament were those of top order players, including AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock. Gopal was great value for his 20 wickets, and he will be a key asset for any team in the seasons ahead.

8. Kagiso Rabada (DC): 12 matches, 25 wickets, average: 14.72, econ: 7.82

The holder of the Purple Cap right up until the Final. The early finish to Kagiso Rabada’s season hurt DC, such was his magnificent impact. He took more than two wickets per game, but more importantly, he was outstanding in the death overs. In total, he bowled 113 dots in the tournament, giving Shreyas Iyer a bowler who went for under eight an over but took wickets. He is a superb bowler who is a key weapon for South Africa in the upcoming World Cup.

9. Deepak Chahar (CSK): 17 matches, 22 wickets, average: 21.90, econ: 7.47

Deepak Chahar was MS Dhoni’s go-to-man in the powerplay. He offered such great results, often picking up wickets to get CSK into the game. Chahar ended up bowling the most dot balls of any bowler in IPL 2019, sending down an incredible 190 balls that weren’t scored off. He doesn’t have the firepower of a Rabada or Bumrah, but he certainly has plenty of heart. Chahar can now relish the fact he is a 20+ wickets bowler.

10. Jasprit Bumrah (MI): 16 matches, 19 wickets, average: 21.52, econ: 6.63

Khaleel Ahmed, who took an 19 wickets in nine games, is mighty unlucky to miss out. However, it cannot be underestimated just how big an impact Jasprit Bumrah made to MI. He carried them time and time again at the death, and such is his quality that anytime he had two overs remaining, you knew MI would sneak right back into the game. It happened in the Final, where he was man of the match. Is Bumrah India’s most important player in the World Cup? He fights with Virat Kohli for that title. Perhaps call it a tie?

11. Imran Tahir (CSK): 17 matches, 26 wickets, average: 16.57, econ: 6.69

And of course, how could you forget this man? Imran Tahir, the Purple Cap winner, had an outstanding tournament. Usain Bolt would have certainly been envious at Tahir’s speed in his celebratory run, and we were all fortunate enough to see it on many occasions. Like Chahar, Tahir was Dhoni’s go-to man, and he often delivered the goods in the crucial middle overs that enabled CSK to gain ascendancy in matches. Can South Africa give this man the send off he deserves?

So, there is my IPL 2019 Team of the Year.

What changes would you make?

Also read: See how I went with IPL 2019 predictions before the tournament began!

Thanks for reading!

Ireland Tri-Nations: Bangladesh vs West Indies Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey

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May 13, 2019 at 2:37 am

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Ireland Tri-Nations: Bangladesh vs West Indies Preview Dream11. BAN vs WI Preview Dream11 Prediction

A warm-up before the Tri-Series Final? With the West Indies causing Irish heartbreak courtesy of Sunil Ambris on Saturday, a Windies-Bangladesh Final is all but secured. But, form and places in the final World Cup squads are still up for grabs. This is, by no means, a simple dress-rehearsal for the Tri-Series Final.

West Indies have found the going with the ball a little tough in their last two games. After picking up just two wickets in their failed defence of 261 vs Bangladesh, they were then carted around by Andy Balbirnie before achieving a record chase. So, improvement is needed from Jason Holder’s men, and they will have two bites at the cherry given they have qualified for the Tri-Series Final on Friday. Can they improve a sorry recent record against Bangladesh?

Bangladesh would have been annoyed to have had their Ireland game washed out. Their win over the Windies earlier in the tournament was mighty encouraging, headlined by a strong bowling effort, strong top order performance and successful return of Shakib Al Hasan. The weather in Dublin will continue to be cool, but rain is forecast to stay away, so Bangladesh have an opportunity to build further confidence.

Key to a Bangladesh win

West Indies’ opening partnerships in this series reads: 365, 89 and 84. They have been able to set a platform in all three games they have played in, so the powerplay is a key period for Bangladesh to make inroads. Indeed, they were able to restrict West Indies even after conceding an opening stand of 89 in their previous meeting, but they can increase the pressure even further with early wickets. Shai Hope, who has three centuries in his last four games against Bangladesh, is a thorn in their side. Sunil Ambris is coming off an amazing 148 to get the Windies home vs Ireland, so breaking this stand as soon as possible will be crucial. Can the Bangladeshi seamers ensure the economical Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz can build some pressure on the middle order?

However, if Shai Hope is a thorn in Bangladesh’s side, then Tamim Iqbal is also a thorn in West Indies’. In his last seven ODIs against them, Tamim has scored 510 runs at an average of 102. He will be key again in thwarting the Windies’ pace attack, along with Soumya Sarkar who was in the runs last time out. With a middle order capable of scoring big on its day, a platform is the order of the day for Bangladesh, allowing the likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah to play with freedom. The middle order hasn’t been tested yet this series, so look to Bangladesh batting first if they get the chance.

Ireland Tri-Nations: Bangladesh vs West Indies Preview Dream11. BAN vs WI Preview Dream11 Prediction - Who will win? — Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN / AFP. Ireland Tri-Nations: Bangladesh vs West Indies Preview Dream11 – Shakib’s inclusion has been key.

Key to a West Indies win

Sunil Ambris plus the efforts of the middle order was encouraging vs Ireland. The strong opening partnerships have set the tone nicely for the Windies this series, and more of the same will be the order of the day. But, the Windies middle order was poor last time out vs Bangladesh, so any good start by the openers needs to be capitalised on. More importantly, if there is an early wicket or two, then a steadying hand from the likes of Darren Bravo and Roston Chase is important. With the pitches playing well in this series, a strong start is vital, backed up well by the middle order against Bangladesh’s spinners and late-over efforts.

Also, West Indies have taken 7/591 in their last 95 overs. It is an expensive return with little reward, which is something they need to improve on ahead of the World Cup. The wicket of Tamim Iqbal will be key, so the question is who will step up? Kemar Roach and Sheldon Cottrell will be out for better outings than vs Ireland, with Shannon Gabriel tasked with building on his 2/47. Bangladesh are prone to losing quick wickets, as was the case in the powerplay periods in their last series against New Zealand, so the onus is on the Windies quicks to create chances and put Bangladesh’s middle order under pressure. Can the West Indies get the better of Bangladesh’s “big four”?

Possible Playing 11

Taskin Ahmed could get a chance as he is in with a chance of making Bangladesh’s final 15 for the World Cup. According to reports in Bangladesh, Mohammad Saifuddin will be rested and Abu Jayed is set to make his debut.

Bangladesh: 1. Tamim Iqbal, 2. Soumya Sarkar, 3. Shakib Al Hasan, 4. Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5. Mohammad Mithun, 6. Mahmudullah, 7. Sabbir Rahman, 8. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9. Mashrafe Mortaza, 10. Abu Jayed, 11. Mustafizur Rahman/Taskin Ahmed

It remains to be seen if John Campbell is fit enough to return in this clash. He has not played since his huge innings vs Ireland. If he does, it could be at the expense of Fabien Allen.

West Indies: 1. Shai Hope (wk), 2. Sunil Ambris, 3. Darren Bravo, 4. Roston Chase, 5. Jonathan Carter, 6. Jason Holder (c), 7. Fabien Allen, 8. Ashley Nurse, 9. Kemar Roach, 10. Shannon Gabriel, 11. Sheldon Cottrell

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Stats and Facts

Bangladesh have won five out of their last seven ODIs vs West Indies.
Shakib Al Hasan is two wickets away from 250 in ODIs.
Both teams are all but through to play in the Final on Friday.

Match Prediction

Bangladesh will be keen to get back on the field, and I have a feeling their good record of late vs West Indies will continue.

Thanks for reading!

IPL 2019 Final: MI vs CSK Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey

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May 12, 2019 at 10:21 am

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IPL 2019 Final: MI vs CSK Preview Dream11 Prediction. Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings Preview Dream11 Prediction

An IPL tournament filled with amazing moments has an amazing finale. Two of the best T20 franchises in world cricket – let alone IPL – battle it out for IPL supremacy. Both sides are locked at three titles each, and no stone will be left unturned in the quest for a record fourth title. It’s blue vs yellow. Dhoni vs Rohit. Bring it on.

Mumbai Indians have had a fine season. They avoided their customary poor start, this time fixed in the top half of the table ever since the very early stages. They have gathered momentum along the way, and even though there were some slip ups, they never lost consecutive matches. In addition, Rohit Sharma’s men have won all three games against CSK this season, which will indeed make it an unbelievable achievement if they were to beat a side led by MS Dhoni four times in one season. Will they do it?

Well, what can we say about Chennai Super Kings? Delhi Capitals were given a massive chance by many in Qualifier 2, but CSK’s experience and big game know-how came to the fore. They will now play in their eighth final in just their 10th season, which is an extraordinary feat everyone associated with CSK should be proud of. It would be something if they can beat MI at the fourth attempt this season, in the match that matters most. Can CSK go back-to-back and go outright top in the list of most IPL Titles?

Looking for good YouTube cricket content? Subscribe to Cricket with Sparsh. Catch his Preview!

Key to a MI win

The flat pitch at Hyderabad could very well suit MI. Remember, the Final was moved from Chennai due to unresolved issues at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. It remains to be seen how CSK’s bowlers handle conditions that will provide less assistance, so much rests on the opening partnership. Can Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock force Dhoni onto the back foot? With Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard and Suryakumar Yadav, who has burst into form in recent games, MI have the talent in the middle order to give CSK’s spinners one or two headaches. Then, of course, the stage will be set for Hardik Pandya to do his thing at the death. In such a big game, winning all three stages of the innings is vital. Cricket with Sparsh rightly highlighted MI as a side that doesn’t rely on one player. Will it materialise?

Also, can MI achieve three-stage excellence with the ball? CSK have been perennial slow starters in the powerplay in IPL 2019, but MI need to guard against Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson. Both CSK openers struck fifties as they set up the CSK victory vs DC, so MI need early wickets in the powerplay to halt CSK’s progress. The same applies to Suresh Raina, who has a good innings in him and fine record vs MI. Can MI leave MS Dhoni with too much to do against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga? What impact will the Pandya brothers and Rahul Chahar have? MI’s balance has held them in good stead all tournament, and they will want one final big performance.

IPL 2019 Final: MI vs CSK Preview Dream11 Prediction. Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings Preview Dream11 Prediction — Image credit: AFP. IPL 2019 Final: MI vs CSK Preview Dream11 – Rohit Sharma has never lost an IPL Final.

Key to a CSK win

Ajit Agarkar has questioned whether CSK have the resources to thrive on the flatter Hyderabad pitch. He has a point, given the success of MS Dhoni’s men on spinning pitches. So, eyes will be on the seamers – particularly Deepak Chahar – to find early success in the powerplay, which can then enable the likes of Imran Tahir to build further pressure on MI’s middle order in a big game. Then, Dwayne Bravo, who was fantastic at the death vs DC, has to tame the Hardik Pandya lion. CSK start the game as outsiders, but their bowlers can have a big say as to whether they can overcome the odds.

Also, Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson need to put on a similar performance to their effort in Qualifier 2. They complemented each other nicely, with du Plessis shifting gears early as Watson settled in. That Watson found some form is a big positive for CSK, given his struggles throughout IPL 2019. Then, the onus will be on Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni (and Ravindra Jadeja) to propel CSK further; so much so that if they can outplay MI’s middle order, they could very well win the Title. All to play for.

Possible Playing 11

Jayant Yadav was brought in for MI in Qualifier 1 vs CSK. However, the conditions could prompt Ben Cutting or Mitchell McClenaghan to come in. Ben Cutting was man of the match in the IPL 2016 Final.

MI: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Rohit Sharma (c), 3. Suryakumar Yadav, 4. Ishan Kishan, 5.. Kieron Pollard, 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Krunal Pandya, 8. Ben Cutting/Mitchell McClenaghan, 9. Rahul Chahar, 10. Lasith Malinga, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Will Murali Vijay come back for extra batting? If not, then CSK can bring in an extra seamer for the conditions. This could be Mohit Sharma, given Shardul Thakur went for plenty vs DC.

CSK: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Murali Vijay, 4. Suresh Raina, 5. Ambati Rayudu, 6. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 7. Dwayne Bravo, 8. Ravindra Jadeja, 9. Deepak Chahar, 10. Harbhajan Singh, 11. Imran Tahir

Dream11 Prediction

Looking for a different opinion? Subscribe to Deekays Predictions YouTube channel.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Looking for good YouTube cricket content? Subscribe to Cricket with Sparsh. Catch his Preview!

Stats and Facts

Head-to-head: Matches 27, CSK 11, MI 16.
MI have beaten CSK in all three meetings in IPL 2019.
Imran Tahir is set to become the first 40-year old to compete in an IPL Final.
Lasith Malinga vs CSK: 20 matches, 30 wickets, average: 18.03, econ. 6.98.
Teams batting first in IPL Finals have won 63.60% of all matches.

Match Prediction

Here we go. After 59 matches, the big one is finally here.

I picked MI to win it right from the start, and they have filled me with confidence right throughout the tournament. CSK, though, are mighty dangerous and experienced, and can cause problems.

However, I believe MI, in the Hyderabad conditions, will get the job done and lift the IPL Trophy for a record fourth time.

Thanks for reading!

England vs Pakistan 2nd ODI Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey

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May 10, 2019 at 5:58 pm

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England vs Pakistan 2nd ODI Preview Dream11 Prediction. ENG vs PAK 2nd ODI Preview Dream11 Prediction

One of the biggest summers ever in English ODI history began with something familiar at this time of year: rain.

But, England’s hopes of a successful summer took a boost with Jofra Archer’s outstanding spell at The Oval. His tail was up as much as his pace. The outside edge of the Pakistani batsmen was under greater threat than Arsenal FC’s hold of North London. In just 19 overs, England were surely convinced they have the wicket taking threat they need at the World Cup. However, the challenge for Archer would be to back up and deliver consistently in the 50-over format. With the Southampton weather looking pretty good, his chance is here.

Re-live *that* Jofra Archer spell#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/3A5cXnc8OW
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) May 8, 2019

Jofra Archer’s spell.

Pakistan recovered quite well from Jofra Archer’s onslaught. They might have been pretty content at 80/2 in 19 overs, as it included one bowler going for just six runs in four overs. Imam-ul-Haq, a key player for Pakistan, spent some time in the middle. Haris Sohail began with some impetus. Four ODIs remain, and Pakistan need to build some form and confidence against top eight opposition – the kind they have struggled badly against since the beginning of 2018. Can they put pressure on the World Cup favourites?

Also read: Five key players to watch out for in the 2019 World Cup!

Key to an England win

Can England make inroads into Pakistan’s top order? Jofra Archer stood head-and-shoulders above his teammates at times at The Oval, so the onus is on the others – including Liam Plunkett – to keep the pressure on. Fakhar Zaman continues to struggle on off-stump, so England have an avenue there. Can they also get the better of Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam; two linchpins in the Pakistan top order? Instead of Pakistan’s middle order trying to go big, can they force them to rebuild against the spinners?

Also, it was a shame to not have seen Pakistan’s attack battle England’s batting lineup in conditions providing assistance to bowlers at The Oval. However, at a ground where England’s batsmen have enjoyed success before, the stage is set for a big performance. Jonny Bairstow was red hot the last time England played at the Rose Bowl. England chased a somewhat challenging 289 by the West Indies with incredible ease. So, can they do the same to Pakistan, who themselves will be out for a big bowling display? Who from England’s top six will hit top form with the World Cup fast approaching? Jason Roy and Moeen Ali are back, so that is a huge boost for England.

England vs Pakistan 2nd ODI Preview Dream11 Prediction. ENG vs PAK 2nd ODI Preview Dream11 Prediction — Image credit: Getty Images. England vs Pakistan 2nd ODI Preview Dream11 – Jason Roy is set to return

Key to a Pakistan win

Will it be a Mohammad Amir special? Amir is back in the country where he put on a clinic in the 2017 Champions Trophy Final, and his selection in the first ODI suggests Pakistan will do everything to ensure he can find some form. When England have strong powerplays, it so often translates to big scores, so the onus is on Pakistan’s new ball bowlers to create pressure and pick up wickets. Shaheen Shah Afridi is another to watch out for against England’s hard-hitting lineup, and so too their spinners, who will be tasked with building crucial pressure in the middle overs.

Also, can Fakhar Zaman overcome his struggles and play a significant knock? His battle against Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer will make for interesting viewing, and he needs to be proactive in scoring when the ball is close to him. With Imam-ul-Haq steady at the other end, a strong opening partnership for Pakistan can set up a big total, especially given England can struggle with the ball at times, as apparent in the West Indies. Then, crucially, will Babar Azam fire? Who will then provide the big hitting Pakistan need against England? Sarfaraz Ahmed and Imad Wasim, eyes are on you.

Possible Playing 11

Jason Roy and Moeen Ali have overcome their injuries, and are set to return. James Vince and Joe Denly will likely make way.

England: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jonny Bairstow, 3. Joe Root, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Jos Buttler (wk), 6. Ben Stokes, 7. Moeen Ali, 8. Adil Rashid, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Chris Woakes, 11. Liam Plunkett

Shoaib Malik is back in England after heading back home for personal reasons. He could come in for Asif Ali.

Pakistan: 1. Imam-ul-Haq, 2. Fakhar Zaman, 3. Babar Azam, 4. Haris Sohail, 5. Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), 6. Shoaib Malik, 7. Imad Wasim, 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Hasan Ali, 10. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11. Mohammad Amir

Pitch and Conditions

The Rose Bowl track is said to be dryer than The Oval. Keep an eye out for team lists as the teams could focus on spin.

Dream11 Prediction

Also read: Five key players to watch out for in the 2019 World Cup!

Option 1:

Option 2:

Stats and Facts

Eoin Morgan is set to play his 197th ODI. He will go level with Paul Collingwood as the most-capped England player in ODIs.
Pakistan have won just three of their last 20 ODIs vs top eight opposition since the beginning of 2018.
England have not lost a bilateral ODI series (more than two matches) since January 2017.

Match Prediction

Looking forward to an exciting clash.

The return of Jason Roy and Moeen Ali is a boost for England. I believe they have enough to get a win over Pakistan.

Also read: Five important tips for Online Cricket Betting

Thanks for reading!

IPL 2019 Qualifier 2: CSK vs DC Preview Dream11

Charbel Coorey

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May 10, 2019 at 8:18 am

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IPL 2019 Qualifier 2: CSK vs DC Preview Dream11. Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals Preview Dream11 Prediction

Preview co-written by N.S. Shekhawat

Two matches, three teams and various uncertainties remain. We will be treated to one final MS Dhoni vs Rishabh Pant battle in IPL 2019, and this game is tough to pick.

MI have reached the IPL 2019 Final, but who will play them in the big game? Both DC and CSK have played good cricket throughout the tournament, but now one mistake can be costly.

Delhi Capitals have the chance to qualify for their first ever IPL Final. They are coming off their first ever win in a playoffs game, overcoming SRH in a tight game. They have a young team with plenty of talent, but their lack of experience is something they need to overcome. Rishabh Pant, who played an outstanding innings, could have finished the game off. But, despite the unfair criticism in some parts, he brought DC so close to victory when defeat stared them in the face. This time they are up against CSK, whom they have lost to twice this season. Can they beat them when it really counts?

The good news for Chennai Super Kings is that they won’t be playing MI (for now). However, they can’t take DC lightly. The problem for CSK is that their batting isn’t as powerful as it once was and they have to use their resources better. Experience has to come to the fore if they want to win, so will MS Dhoni promote himself up the batting order? Can they get things right tactically, such as not playing Murali Vijay in the middle order?

Also read: Five important tips for Online Cricket Betting

Key to a CSK win

Is it time for CSK to move away from Shane Watson? His struggles have continued, which was further compounded by Murali Vijay batting out of his natural position. With CSK struggling in the powerplay, much is needed from the likes of Faf du Plessis and Suresh Raina to provide a strong start. But, who partners du Plessis will be a crucial decision. Do CSK go with Vijay as opener, Dhoni at four, Rayudu at five and Mitchell Santner as there was turn in Vizag two nights ago?

Also, with DC’s openers each in some decent touch, Deepak Chahar will be key. He has often done a good job in IPL 2019, and CSK need him to deliver in the powerplay. With DC’s batsmen not comfortable with spin at times, evident in their 99 all out capitulation last week, Imran Tahir and Ravindra Jadeja will be key. Tahir has taken the second-most wickets in IPL 2019, and he will be key along with Dwayne Bravo who has to tame DC at the death.

IPL 2019 Qualifier 2: CSK vs DC Preview Dream11. Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals Preview Dream11 Prediction — Image credit: BCCI. IPL 2019 Qualifier 2: CSK vs DC Preview Dream11 – Skipper Dhoni to lead from the front?

Key to a DC win

DC is looking a fine team, but some key questions need answering. Can Rishabh Pant continue his fine form, and then take DC to the finish line too? Otherwise, a risk of collapse like the one against KXIP earlier in the season can come to the fore. Also, if they wish to win against CSK, the following is key:

Don’t allow Deepak Chahar to settle. Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw should look to attack him. Also, Ravindra Jadeja almost always gives CSK four handy overs, but if they attack him, he can sometimes struggle to respond effectively.
Play wisely against Imran Tahir. CSK’s legspinner took a four-wicket haul against DC very recently, so strike rotation and punishing any bad ball is crucial.

Also, how well DC go with Kagiso Rabada will again be key. Ishant Sharma continues to offer value to his side, and how Trent Boult (who was costly in the last game) goes will be crucial in getting into CSK’s lineup. In terms of spin, can Amit Mishra, who has struggled a bit in the past against CSK, deliver the goods?

Possible Playing 11

CSK have persisted with Shane Watson all season. However, that was possible given that CSK were winning games and sitting pretty at the top of the league. Now, a huge decision has to be made. Watson has performed in big games in the past, and it remains to be seen if CSK keep the faith. He has averaged 14.6 in the powerplay, the second-lowest for an opener in IPL history. If they choose not to pick him, Mitchell Santner could come in with Murali Vijay moving to opener.

CSK: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Suresh Raina, 4. Murali Vijay, 5. Ambati Rayudu, 6. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Harbhajan Singh, 10. Deepak Chahar, 11. Imran Tahir

Trent Boult was expensive vs SRH, so DC could look at Chris Morris as more of an all-round option.

DC: 1. Prithvi Shaw, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Shreyas Iyer (c), 4. Rishabh Pant (wk), 5. Colin Ingram, 6. Sherfane Rutherford, 7. Axar Patel, 8. Keemo Paul, 9. Amit Mishra, 10. Chris Morris/ Trent Boult, 11. Ishant Sharma

Dream11 Prediction

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Option 1:

Option 2:

Stats and Facts

Head-to-head: Matches 20 CSK 14, DC 6.
CSK have beaten DC twice this season, including bowling them out for 99 last game.
213 of MS Dhoni’s 405 runs in IPL 2019 have come between overs 18 and 20.
Fast bowlers went for 9.6 an over in the Eliminator. Spinners? Six an over.
CSK’s spinners have taken a combined 55 wickets in IPL 2019. This is a record for a single team.

Match Prediction

N.S. Shekhawat: Well both teams have played some good cricket throughout the tournament. I know it may sound wrong, but Delhi can win. One reason is that they had played here before and also Chennai beat them on slow wickets like Delhi or in Chennai but here I don’t think it will be as slow (it will help spinners but won’t be as slow as Delhi or chennai) so I will go with Delhi.

Charbel: This is a really tough game to pick. CSK have the experience. DC have the youth. I will lean slightly towards experience and CSK’s ability to handle the big occasion. DC are untested as a team in this area, which is why CSK could come out on top. Could very well be wrong, which is why this game is so intriguing.

Thanks for reading!

Ireland Tri-Nations: Ireland vs Bangladesh Preview Dream11 (May 9th)

Charbel Coorey

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May 9, 2019 at 8:32 am

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Ireland Tri-Nations: Ireland vs Bangladesh Preview Dream11 (May 9th)

Ireland Tri-Nations – Ireland vs Bangladesh Preview Dream11. IRE vs BAN Preview Dream11 Prediction

READ: Ireland vs Bangladesh May 15th Preview is here.

One side was thrashed by West Indies. The other beat them convincingly. So, can we expect a one-sided game here?

Definitely not.

Ireland indeed had a very disappointing start to the Tri-Series, losing by 196 runs to West Indies. They had no answer to Shai Hope and John Campbell, and their batting gave an output of less than 200 for the second game running. However, they have matched it with Bangladesh in the past, and need to win here to keep their hopes of making the Final alive. Can the men in green put on a big showing?

Bangladesh put on a good showing in their first game, which looks to be a confidence booster. Alarm bells were ringing as the Windies’ opening partnership threatened to go really big, but Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz brought things back beautifully before Mashrafe Mortaza and Mohammad Saifuddin finished things nicely. With the top four then finding form with the bat, it is important for Bangladesh to carry this type of performance to the next game. Can they make it two in a row?

Also read: Five important tips for Online Cricket Betting

Key to an Ireland win

Two sub-200 totals in their last two ODIs is room for improvement for Ireland. A promising start against England was derailed by regular wickets, which was then followed by more of the same against West Indies. Despite the fact that Ireland were realistically not going to chase the huge total by the Windies, they needed more from their top order. Paul Stirling looked good against England and has to deliver here. William Porterfield, who has an ODI century against Bangladesh, also needs to deliver along with Ireland’s leading run-scorer this year, Andy Balbirnie. So, how well Ireland deal with Bangladesh’s seamers will be key, and then so too their spinners, especially after Shakib and Mehidy went for a combined 3.5 an over vs West Indies. So, the stage is set for Kevin O’Brien as well.

Also, is it time to bring Boyd Rankin back? It was a nightmare day in the field for Ireland against West Indies, conceding a world-record opening stand of 365. Here, they fare against Bangladesh’s experienced players will be key, especially considering Bangladesh can lose regular wickets away from home. Can Ireland strike in the powerplay and then build pressure on Bangladesh’s middle order?

CricBlog - Ireland Tri-Nations: Ireland vs Bangladesh Preview Dream11. IRE vs BAN Preview Dream11 Prediction - Who will win? — Image: Getty. Ireland Tri-Nations – Ireland vs Bangladesh Preview Dream11 – Will Porterfield has a century vs Bangladesh.