Home Blog Page 480

IPL 23rd Match Preview: Mumbai Indians v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Charbel Coorey
-
0

The emotionally bruised vs. the physically bruised.

Mumbai Indians are in somewhat familiar territory, making a slow start to an IPL tournament. Their campaign in 2018 has been remarkable though, losing four games inside the final over. In a parallel universe, they’d be five wins out of five, and sitting pretty at the top of the table. Instead, they are getting to a point where they are losing room for error, even though they have experience of winning an IPL title with a similar start. In 2015, they lost five of their first six and went on to win – can they start a big winning run with victory in this game?

Sunrisers Hyderabad nearly pulled off a CSK-like heist on CSK, but enter this game with plenty of injury concerns. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, a key bowler, will be rested, and it’s a possibility Shikhar Dhawan and Yusuf Pathan will miss the game as well. The onus for SRH is on the bowlers, who conceded 141 in the final 11 overs against CSK, and ended up finishing four runs short. Despite this disappointment, plenty of encouragement has come about from SRH’s amazing comeback thanks to Kane Williamson, Yusuf Pathan and Rashid Khan right at the end, nearly stealing victory.

Key to a Mumbai Indians win

MI possess two of the best death bowlers in the world in Jasprit Bumrah and Mustafizur Rahman, and
 yet they haven’t been able to close out games. In the four games they have lost, MI have conceded a total of 132 runs in the last three overs (12 overs in total) of each game, showing they haven’t won the pressure moments of matches.
If this game is close, do MI have what it takes to hold their nerve? Also, they need more from the likes of Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya. If they can score big runs, they may not face a high pressure situation at the end of the game.
With SRH nearly stealing victory at the death vs CSK, MI need to be better in their execution in the pressure moments.

Key to a Sunrisers Hyderabad win

SRH’s bowling performances have been underwhelming in their last two games. When you’re considered to have the best bowling attack in the league, conceding 182/3 after having a team 41/2 after nine overs is a big disappointment.
The bowlers need to lift in the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the Wankhede, especially when you consider Shikhar Dhawan and Yusuf Pathan could both miss out. Rashid Khan has shown us he is human and can have a bad game or two, going for 104 off eight overs in his last two games combined. He needs to stand up, which won’t be easy against a MI side boasting two players who have struck gold against legspin in IPL cricket since 2015 – Krunal Pandya (SR 197.00) and Ishan Kishan (171.83).
Responsibility will also be on Shakib Al Hasan, Billy Stanlake and Siddarth Kaul to perform, who are all well established in the SRH team. However, an option could be to leave out Stanlake or Shakib for big-hitting Englishman Alex Hales, if Shikhar Dhawan is out.

Predicted teams:

MI will choose against any changes, in my opinion. They are not far away from winning multiple games in a row to resurrect their season – their team on paper suggests they can do damage.
Mumbai Indians XI: 1. Suryakumar Yadav, 2. Evin lewis, 3. Ishan Kishan (wk), 4. Rohit Sharma (c), 5. Kieron Pollard, 6. Krunal Pandya, 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Mitchell McGlenaghan, 9. Mayank Markande, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Mustafizur Rahman
SRH look a lot less settled with some injury concerns in their camp. Shikhar Dhawan and Yusuf Pathan are in doubt, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar rested. If one or both are out, significant responsibility will be placed on Kane Williamson again, who was brilliant against CSK.
Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Kane Williamson (c), 3, Manish Pandey, 4. Deepak Hooda, 5. Shakib Al Hasan/Alex Hales, 6. Yusuf Pathan/Sachin Baby, 7. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Billy Stanlake, 10. Sandeep Sharma, 11. Siddarth Kaul

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 11, MI 5, SRH 6. At Wankhede, MI have won all three games against SRH. In the other meeting between the sides in this tournament, SRH snuck home by one wicket.
  • SRH will be missing so much if Shikhar Dhawan doesn’t play, in addition to Bhuvneshwar Kumar being out. Dhawan averages 53.87 in 11 matches against MI, with 431 runs at a SR of 133.85 to his name. Kumar has 16 wickets in 12 games v MI, at an economy rate of just 5.64.
  • MI really don’t agree with the death overs this season, with both bat and ball. With the bat, they’ve scored at just 8.88 per over in the final five overs. With the ball, they’ve struggled to close out games when in winning positions.
  • SRH must choose Shakib Al Hasan. He has taken six wickets at the Wankhede in IPL cricket, with an economy rate of 6.60. 
  • If MI lose this game, they will match their start to the IPL 2015 campaign (5 losses out of first 6) where they ended up winning the tournament.

Prediction:

It has been a tournament of near misses for MI so far, but I believe they will win this game at home. SRH’s chances rest heavily on how Rashid Khan performs, as well as whether Shikhar Dhawan is fit enough to play. If he does, then SRH are a good chance, but I believe MI have the batting strength to take down to SRH attack.
MI to get their second win.

IPL 22nd Match Preview: Delhi Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab

Charbel Coorey
-
0

Let’s not beat around the bush. Delhi Daredevils are heading into “must-win” territory after four losses out of five games, and run into arguably the form team in IPL 2018 right now. DD have struggled since taking down Mumbai away from home, but it’s been the opposite for Kings XI Punjab, who have soared following a disappointing performance at RCB.

Delhi Daredevils are finally at home, which could be the kick they need to get their tournament going. It might look a little gloomy for them right now, but they do have what it takes to give KXIP a real run for their money. DD’s batting has held up pretty well so far, and face a KXIP side that has conceded 178+ in each of their last three games. Can they get revenge over KXIP for their first up loss in Mohali back on April 8th? Can they get runs on the board, and keep KXIP’s batting stars as quiet as possible? It remains to be seen.
Kings XI Punjab have established themselves as contenders for the title. Chris Gayle and KL Rahul have been unbelievable, telling the IPL world that they are well and truly here, with a “beat us if you can” attitude. Add Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair and Aaron Finch, and you have a batting line up that can put the shivers into any bowling line up – just ask SRH and KKR, two teams with respected bowling attacks. However, anything is possible in IPL, as yesterday’s amazing games showed, so KXIP need to be switched on to win against a DD side that will start being desperate.

Key to a Delhi Daredevils win

Can DD’s big hitters outplay KXIP’s?
This will require a complete performance, where the bowlers will also have a key role to play.

Against RCB, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant were superb in getting DD to a respectable total, but the rest of the line up struggled. 

In this game, I pick five key players (in addition to Pant) that need to stand up for DD if they are to get their second win:
  • Jason Roy and Glenn Maxwell are two players DD need to perform, thanks to their excellent hitting ability. 
  • Chris Morris, a strong IPL cricketer, has had a very slow start to the 2018 edition, and needs to stand up. 
  • Rahul Tewatia has been pretty good with the ball so far, and will have a key role to play in attempting to tame the KXIP line up. Trent Boult, as lead fast bowler, will have to get an early wicket or two to ensure KXIP don’t have too much of a damaging start.
These players can get the others to perform really well around them, so how they fare will be key.

Key to a Kings XI Punjab win

KXIP have conceded relatively large totals in recent times, but it hasn’t mattered.
KXIP run away with things in the powerplay, scoring at 10.67 runs per over, the best out of any team. Against a DD side perhaps a little down on confidence, a fast start can push the hosts onto the defensive, and question their belief whether they can stem the flow of runs. 

Predicted teams

Delhi Daredevils XI: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Gautam Gambhir (c), 3.Shreyas Iyer, 4. Rishabh Pant (wk), 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Vijay Shankar, 7. Chris Morris, 8. Rahul Tewatia, 9. Shahbaz Nadeem, 10. Harshal Patel, 11. Trent Boult
Kings XI Punjab XI: 1. KL Rahul (wk), 2. Chris Gayle, 3. Mayank Agarwal, 4. Karun Nair, 5. Aaron Finch, 6. Yuvraj Singh, 7. R Ashwin, 8. Mujeeb ur Rahman, 9. Andrew Tye, 10. Barinder Sran, 11. Mohit Sharma

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches 21, DD 9, KXIP 12. KXIP won by six wickets against DD in their other meeting in IPL 2018.
  • KXIP score at 10.67 an over in the powerplay, the best out of all teams. DD are 8th best, scoring at just 7.67 an over.
  • Gautam Gambhir has scored 38 off 47 balls against pace in IPL 2018. He really struggled at Bangalore. Can he bounce back?
  • Rishabh Pant strikes at 272.2 after facing 30 balls in IPL 2018.
  • Glenn Maxwell v Ravi Ashwin: 107 runs off 49 balls (SR 218.4).

Prediction:

Call me a little crazy, but I can sense an upset. Do I play it safe and stick with KXIP for the win?
The big difference between the sides at the moment is that KXIP’s big guns are consistently firing, whereas DD’s are not. I think this will change in this game, but will play it safe by picking a KXIP win in a close game, as they are buzzing with confidence!

IPL 21st Match Preview: Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians

Charbel Coorey
-
0

Issues galore for Rajasthan Royals at the moment. Relief for Mumbai Indians.

Rajasthan Royals put together a display v CSK in Pune that would have not have made their fans proud. If you believe RR’s issues lies just with their batting, think again. In arguably one of the worst performances by any team so far in IPL 2018, RR displayed no energy in the field and bowled extremely poorly, in addition to struggling with the bat. Watching on TV in Sydney, RR’s intensity was laughable, dropping a catch in the first over (we all know what Shane Watson ended up doing) and executing their lines and lengths terribly. They’ll need to improve significantly on their return to the Sawai Masingh Stadium.

Story of Rajasthan Royals’ campaign so far…

It was unthinkable to believe Mumbai Indians would lose four out of four matches. That was the situation they faced before their game with RCB, but they bounced back really well, piling on the runs and dismantling all batsmen who stood in front of them, except Virat Kohli. Their top three were superb against DD, but what would have pleased fans is that despite losing two wickets in the first two balls against RCB, they still managed to score in excess of 200 with Rohit Sharma hitting form. MI have an opportunity to follow up three straight losses with two straight wins, against an RR side really struggling at the moment.

Key to a Rajasthan Royals win

Getting more from their power batsmen is RR’s best chance to revive their IPL 2018 campaign. Big money buy Ben Stokes has yet to truly fire, neither have Jos Buttler and Ajinkya Rahane’s opening
 partners. 
Sanju Samson has been their best, but one player can only do so much. Should RR promote Rahul Tripathi to opener? His stats say that this is a very viable option. He had a strike rate of 158 in powerplay overs in IPL 2017 – will RR turn to him to provide fast, more solid starts?
Whichever way RR go with their batting order, one thing is for certain. Their batting holds the key, with their bowling attack looking pretty thin.

Key to a Mumbai Indians win

The depth of Mumbai Indians has them as a contender for the IPL 2018 title, despite originally losing their first three matches. 
If MI bat first, as they have done for their first four games, they’ll look to pile on the runs against a misfiring attack. A fast start in the opening six overs will further open up RR wounds that were exposed in Pune. If they bowl first, they’ll need to stifle RR’s uncertain batting line up, using changes of pace, and taking advantage of good variety in their attack.
Nailing the little one per-centers is vital, especially if the game is close.

Predicted teams

Predicting the RR line up might be as difficult as predicting what Donald Trump will do next. 
In my opinion, it might be a little harsh to drop Heinrich Klaasen from the team after just one game, but an option could be to drop him further down the order, and open with Rahul Tripathi.
Rajasthan Royals XI: 1. Ajinkya Rahane (c), 2. Rahul Tripathi, 3. Sanju Samson, 4. Ben Stokes, 5. Heinrich Klaasen, 6. Jos Buttler, 7. Dhawal Kulkarni, 8. K Gowtham, 9. Shreyas Gopal, 10. Jaydev Unadkat, 11. Ben Laughlin
MI look much more settled, especially with Mitchell McClenaghan playing a good role with the ball as third specialist seamer against RCB. Expect them to stick with the same team.
Mumbai Indians XI: 1. Suryakumar Yadav, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Rohit Sharma (c), 4. Ishan Kishan (wk), 5. Kieron Pollard, 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Krunal Pandya, 8. Mitchell McClenaghan, 9. Mayank Markande, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Missed this? Must read!

Stats & Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 16, RR 6, MI 10
  • Shreyas Gopal has the best economy rate of IPL 2018 so far (5.92).
  • Bowling first does not mean success at Sawai Masingh Stadium. Since 2015, teams who have chased have won four from seven matches (under lights).
  • Incredibly, RR have won more matches than MI so far in IPL 2018 (2-1).
  • Jasprit Bumrah v Jos Buttler: Two matches, seven balls bowled, one run scored, two wickets.

Prediction:

Predicting the result has been a challenge in recent games. However, I looked at this game and immediately said “Mumbai Indians”.
It’s not to say it will be a very one-sided game, but with MI looking more settled plus with a confidence-boosting win on the board, they should win this game.

IPL 20th Match Preview: Sunrisers Hyderabad v Chennai Super Kings

Charbel Coorey
-
0

We are already a third of the way through IPL 2018. A third! It’s been action-packed so far, with so many great battles, setting the tone for what should be a very exciting next phase of the tournament. Today, we will be treated to a battle between the best bowling attack and the best batting line up so far in the tournament.

Sunrisers Hyderabad experienced their first defeat against a red-hot KXIP team. For the first time in IPL 2018, their bowlers were put to the sword – Shakib Al Hasan and Rashid Khan went for a combined 83 in six overs. Their ability to bounce back will be put to the test today, and I’m very keen to see how they go.

For Chennai Super Kings, their status as best performing batting line up is getting a serious challenge from the likes of KXIP and KKR. What better way to maintain this status than by overcoming SRH, a side that has conceded an economy of just 7.54 in four games so far. CSK absolutely thrashed RR two nights ago in a game that told us two things – CSK is truly a top four contender, whereas RR are a fair way from considered the same.

In this clash, there promises to be fascinating individual battles as part of an exciting, larger battle.

Key to a Sunrisers Hyderabad win

Teams have been able to go through CSK’s batting line up at times in IPL 2018, and there is no doubt
 that SRH will stand more of a test to CSK than poor RR. SRH will be in the ideal position f they can force CSK’s middle order to pick up some slack caused by removing the CSK top order relatively cheaply.
However, we know SRH’s main strength is their bowling attack, but can their batting stand up? They have the lowest boundary percentage (51.4%) of all teams in IPL 2018, so if they are to make a big impact not only in this game, but in the tournament, they’ll have to strike more fear in the opposition bowlers. 
Losing Shikhar Dhawan in the previous game after just one ball was a big blow, but he is expected to play today, which can hold SRH in good stead. However, it should be noted that nos. 4-7 for SRH collectively average 23 since 2015, so the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Manish Pandey have a key role to play in the middle order.

Key to a Chennai Super Kings win

Can CSK do what KXIP did and overcome the SRH bowling attack?
A day after Chris Gayle’s magnificent hundred v SRH, Shane Watson followed up with his own against RR. However, while it was a superb innings & batting effort by CSK, RR were so poor that kids playing in the park on a Saturday morning could have put on a better showing. 
How CSK deal with SRH’s variety is key – if CSK can get their batting right, they’ll put SRH’s batting under pressure, which will be a vital key to victory.

Missed this? Must read!

Predicted teams

In SRH’s last game, Chris Jordan came in for Billy Stanlake who had an injury. If Stanlake is fit, he should slot back in. Shikhar Dhawan is expected to play.
Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3. Kane Williamson (c), 4. Yusuf Pathan, 5. Manish Pandey, 6. Shakib Al Hasan, 7. Deepak Hooda, 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9. Rashid Khan, 10. Siddharth Kaul, 11. Billy Stanlake
Can’t see CSK making too many changes, if any. They’ll be keen to keep the momentum going.
Chennai Super Kings XI: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Ambati Rayudu, 3. Suresh Raina, 4. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 5. Sam Billings, 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Dwayne Bravo, 8. Harbhajan Singh, 9. Deepak Chahar, 10. Imran Tahir, 11. Shardul Thakur

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 6, SRH 2, CSK 4
  • CSK have scored at a run rate of 7.70 against spinners in IPL 2018, compared to 10.73 against pace.
  • MS Dhoni has been dismissed three times by leg spin in IPL 2018. But, against Bhuvneshwar Kumar in IPL cricket, he has scored 81 runs in 44 balls without ever being dismissed.
  • Shakib Al Hasan has hit 85 in 60 balls against current CSK attack in IPL cricket.

Prediction:

This promises to be another top game of cricket. Another game which is difficult to pick, which is the beauty of IPL 2018.
For CSK, I expect Suresh Raina to have a big game. However, I believe SRH, possessing a much better attack than RR, will test CSK further, and will pick up a win at home.

IPL 19th Match Preview: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Daredevils

Charbel Coorey
-
0

Two of the most disappointing teams so far?

It’s still early days in IPL 2018, but a loss for either team will heap plenty of pressure with a number of other teams displaying far more quality than these two have dished up so far.

What can we say about Royal Challengers Bangalore? Year after year, they promise plenty and deliver little, and it’s about time they show us more of their potential. Despite a pretty heavy defeat at the hands of Mumbai Indians, a team who hadn’t yet won a game in the tournament, at least we saw RCB finally try to address the issue of their team balance, by promoting Virat Kohli to opener and bringing in Corey Anderson. On paper, they could make so much of their squad, but they desperately need to stop conceding 200+ scores – they can forget their chances of making an impact in this competition if they continue to do this.

Delhi Daredevils have also underwhelmed so far. After such an amazing win in Mumbai, DD were absolutely thrashed in Kolkata. Their bowling remains a concern – they were on the end of KL Rahul’s onslaught on game one, conceded nearly 200 in Mumbai and then 200 in Kolkata. Their batting has shown flashes of brilliance – namely Jason Roy’s match-winning knock in Mumbai, but like RCB, they have been too inconsistent. Here is their chance to get their season well and truly up and running.

Key to a Royal Challengers Bangalore win
RCB simply aren’t executing well enough with the ball. The addition of Corey Anderson as another bowling option was a step in the right direction, after three games where they stuck with a team that didn’t provide them with many options outside their main five bowlers. However, perhaps Moeen Ali would offer more with the ball, delivering a quiet over or two in the middle?
Whatever your opinion is on the all-rounder RCB should pick, you can’t deny they have been extremely poor with the ball in the death overs. And that’s being kind. In the last five overs against RR, they conceded 88 runs. Against MI, it was 70. In the death overs, Umesh Yadav is going at 15.20, Chris Woakes 10.89 and Kulwant Khejroliya 13.63. This is unacceptable if you have dreams of winning the IPL.
It was the magic of Umesh Yadav in the powerplay against KXIP that helped deliver their first win. Can their bowling attack come together and put on a good show to get their second win? It is important they keep picking up regular wickets to stifle DD’s progress, and ensure there aren’t any set batsmen for when the death overs come around. 
Because no matter how good your batting line up is, you just can’t keep conceding massive totals and expect to be successful.

Key to a Delhi Daredevils win

Like RCB, DD have had a problem in conceding too many big totals so far. Poor bowling will be punished against a strong RCB top order – DD concede 10.75 an over in the powerplay so far in IPL 2018, the worst of any team. They must guard against this.
There has been criticism in parts of Virat Kohli’s slowing down in the big chase against Mumbai, but one thing is for certain – the middle order of RCB doesn’t evoke much faith. 
Basically, the key to any team’s win against RCB at the moment is this: take advantage of a wayward bowling attack, by keeping wickets in hand ready to launch in the last five, and get into the RCB top order as soon as possible. 
Simple brief. Can DD deliver?

Predicted teams:

RCB coach Daniel Vettori spoke of his frustration at this team’s death bowling. How about more of a focus on putting together a well-drilled bowling attack, champ? Expect RCB to go with the same top order and five main bowlers, but what about the all-rounder? Corey Anderson had a night to forget in Mumbai, and could be replaced by either Colin de Grandhomme or Moeen Ali.
Royal Challengers Bangalore XI: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Virat Kohli (c), 3. AB de Villiers, 4. Mandeep Singh, 5. Sarfraz Khan, 6. Corey Anderson/Colin de Grandhomme/Moeen Ali, 7. Washington Sundar, 8. Chris Woakes, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Mohammed Siraj, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal
Don’t expect DD to make too many changes despite their disappointing time in Kolkata.
Delhi Daredevils XI: 1. Gautam Gambhir (c), 2. Jason Roy, 3. Shreyas Iyer, 4. Rishabh Pant (wk), 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Vijay Shankar, 7. Chris Morris, 8. Rahul Tewatia, 9. Mohammed Shami, 10. Shahbaz Nadeem, 11. Trent Boult

Missed this? Must read!

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 19, RCB 12, DD 7. Since 2011, RCB have won 10 and lost just once against DD.
  • Virat Kohli will be keen to continue his runscoring form. He has scored 661 runs at an average of 73.44 against DD.
  • Yuzvendra Chahal to open the bowling for RCB? Jason Roy doesn’t like legspin too much, dismissed 12 times in 22 innings in T20s since 2015.
  • In Australia’s limited overs tour of India in 2017, Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Glenn Maxwell four times for just 18 runs.
  • Gautam Gambhir has the most runs by a player against RCB in IPL (644).

Prediction:

The winner of the other game today (KKR v KXIP) will go top of the table. The loser here will be stuck at the bottom.
Both sides are struggling to get going, but both have the potential to do so and cause damage. RCB, at home, might have enough to sneak home and get a very important 2nd win in IPL 2018. This is providing rain doesn’t ruin the game!

IPL Match 18 Preview: Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab

Charbel Coorey
-
0

A Saturday treat. Top spot on the IPL table up for grabs. Plenty of West Indian flavour. Both sides in form, with plenty of power as well as bowling prowess. Promises to be a beauty at Eden Gardens!

Kolkata Knight Riders have surprised me so far. With all the distractions they had in the lead up, as well as having the smallest squad, they have lit up the tournament so far, sitting top of the league. The form of Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, who both had disrupted build ups to the tournament, has been irresistible – and that’s not where it ends. Nitish Rana and Dinesh Karthik are in solid form, and their spin attack continues to threaten. However, KKR would like more from their seamers, as relying only on spin against a team that dismantled Rashid Khan and Shakib Al Hasan can be risky. Also, KKR would be hoping Chris Lynn can get going, and match the danger Kings XI Punjab present.

Kings XI Punjab have marked themselves down as definite top four contenders. Led by Ravichandran Ashwin’s aggressive captaincy, and the introduction of the Universe Boss, KXIP took it to SRH, a side that hadn’t conceded 150 in their first three games. It would have been an easy option to bowl first (like every other captain has done) and get SRH to set a score for once, but Ashwin decided to bat and his batsmen delivered.

So far in IPL 2018, the average totals for both teams are KKR 176 and KXIP 178, so who will come out on top in the battle of the powerful batting line ups?

Key to a Kolkata Knight Riders win:

It was such a pleasing performance for KKR in their previous clash, dismantling Rajasthan Royals at 
a ground where RR had won nine straight. 
KKR’s batting packs an awesome punch, but can their bowlers fare better than SRH did against KXIP? KXIP’s top order – boasting Chris Gayle, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal and Aaron Finch needs to be reigned in. How will KKR go about this?
Piyush Chawla was absolutely superb against RR, delivering three overs in the powerplay, and finishing with 1/18 off four overs. However, KXIP present a bigger test than RR’s out of form players, so the contribution the likes of Chawla, Narine and Kuldeep Yadav is vital. With KKR’s batting looking pretty good right now, the bowlers have a chance to make a very big mark.

Key to a Kings XI Punjab win:

KXIP look to have a really well balanced side right now. Ravi Ashwin’s captaincy has been awesome, and you know he won’t let KKR settle.
KKR will be targeting KXIP’s strong line up with spin – how will KXIP handle the variety in the home side’s attack today? With Narine, Chawla and Yadav, KKR have the ability to get the ball coming both in and away to both right and left handers. KXIP will need to look to maintain their aggressiveness, and will be boosted by the confidence of taking it to Rashid Khan and Shakib Al Hasan in their previous outing – two quality, proven T20 bowlers went for a combined 83 runs in six overs.
If KKR’s spinners can’t control things, I can’t see their pacers picking up the slack, which will hold KXIP in good stead.

Predicted teams:

Expect KKR to stick with the same team that has delivered good performances. However, eyes will be on Chris Lynn – can this big power hitter get going? Also, Andre Russell wasn’t required in the last game against RR, so it will be interesting to see what he does here if he gets a chance.
Kolkata Knight Riders XI: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Robin Uthappa, 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), 6. Andre Russell, 7. Shubman Gill, 8. Piyush Chawla, 9. Tom Curran, 10. Shivam Mavi, 11. Kuldeep Yadav
For KXIP, the main question would be whether to go with Axar Patel or Barinder Sran. Sran was excellent against SRH, going for just 22 in four overs, but could make way for Patel if he covers from a quad strain.
Kings XI Punjab XI: 1. KL Rahul (wk), 2. Chris Gayle, 3. Mayank Agarwal, 4. Karun Nair, 5. Aaron Finch, 6. Yuvraj Singh, 7. R Ashwin (c), 8. Andrew Tye, 9. Barinder Sran, 10. Mohit Sharma, 11.Mujeeb Zadran

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 22, KKR 14, KXIP 7. At Eden Gardens, KKR have dominated, winning 7 of 9 matches, and KXIP have not won there since 2012.
  • Chris Lynn is striking at 155.1 v pace in IPL 2018, but just 77 v spin. Sunil Narine, on the other hand, strikes at 204.4 v spin in IPL cricket when he opens the batting.
  • Chris Gayle v Chawla: 103 runs scored off 57 balls. Against Narine? Just 40 runs in 45 balls.
  • The winner of this clash will be top of the table.

Prediction:

Eden Gardens represents a real challenge for KXIP but they are in irresistible form. So too are KKR, which makes for a great clash.
I really love what I’m seeing from KXIP though, and believe they have a little better balance in their side, led by the excellent R Aswhin. I expect KXIP’s batting to go well, and win this in a tight match.

IPL Match 17 Preview: Chennai Super Kings v Rajasthan Royals

Charbel Coorey
-
0

Personally, quite a bit of disappointment lies around this game. With this clash being on a Friday night/Saturday morning (12:30am) here in Sydney, it would have been awesome to see a full game at Chennai’s true home – M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. Surprise, surprise, political issues have got in the way, and CSK will have to adjust quickly to their new home in Pune.

Chennai Super Kings have excited all fans in IPL 2018, whether you love them or not. In three straight games, they have had three separate players stand up right at the end to twice deliver victory, and once get very close. The “never down-and-out” attitude of CSK is something to behold, but a cause of concern for them is their bowling. Across their first three games, they have conceded an average of 188, and individuals have had to stand up with the bat. What will their fourth game hold?

Rajasthan Royals? Well, not much to write home about so far, in my opinion. They beat RCB (wow!) and a shortened game against DD, but their team is yet to truly gel, falling prey to the KKR juggernaut in their last game. It was a stop-start kind of innings for RR with the bat on Wednesday, finishing up with a respectable 160, but it was quite short of where they needed to be, in the end. Can
 their batting fire against a CSK side that is yet to get going with the ball?

Key to a Chennai Super Kings win

CSK have power right throughout their line up – their chances in a game can never be dismissed, as their first three games have proven, but more is needed from their bowlers.
They have conceded 165, 202 and 197 so far, which has got me thinking – have RCB changed their jersey to yellow?!
In all seriousness, CSK need a greater collective performance, to be implemented through better bowling in partnerships, and contributions right down the order from their batting, so they don’t leave too much for the lower order to do. A definite plan of attack will be to target RR’s overseas batsmen with spin, as they’ve struggled so far.

Key to a Rajasthan Royals win

RR have looked a little disjointed throughout this season. Their big gun seamers haven’t fired, neither have D’Arcy Short and Ben Stokes. 
How they handle CSK’s spinners will be key to victory. Ajinkya Rahane looks in fine touch, accelerating his scoring throughout IPL 2018, and so too Sanju Samson, who has been one of IPL 2018’s top players. However, the overseas batsmen have generally struggled – expect to see Heinrich Klaasen come in for D’Arcy Short, and the onus will be on Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler to deliver as well.

Predicted teams:

There is talk the yellow superstar Suresh Raina could be back for this game. If he is, expect him to replace Murali Vijay. Also, there is doubt whether MS Dhoni will play, after struggling with a back injury in the last game.
Chennai Super Kings XI: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Ambati Rayudu, 3. Suresh Raina, 4. Sam Billings (wk), 5. MS Dhoni/Dhruv Shorey, 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Dwayne Bravo, 8. Deepak Chahar, 9. Harbhajan Singh, 10. Shardul Thakur, 11. Imran Tahir
Expect D’Arcy Short to miss out for Heinrich Klaasen. Also, will RR opt for spin in the death overs? Ben Laughlin and Jaydev Unadkat have not delivered at this time of the innings – Laughlin has conceded 46 of 3.5 overs, and Unadkat, India’s most expensive man, has gone for 16.5 an over. This could be the game Jofra Archer returns, which could potentially mean Ben Laughlin misses out.
Rajasthan Royals XI: 1. Ajinkya Rahane (c), Heinrich Klaasen, 3. Sanju Samson, 4. Rahul Tripathi, 5. Ben Stokes, 6. Jos Buttler (wk), 7. K Gowtham, 8. Shreyas Gopal, 9. Dhawal Kulkarni, 10. Jaydev Unadkat, 11. Ben Laughlin/Jofra Archer

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 17, CSK: 11, RR: 6
  • Suresh Raina needs 61 to overtake Virat Kohli as leading IPL run scorer.
  • Ben Stokes SR against pace in IPL 2018: 148. Against spin: 88

Prediction:

Both sides certainly have improvements in them, but I feel with CSK’s spin, they’ll enjoy some success against RR’s batting. CSK to win.

IPL 16th Match Preview: Kings XI Punjab v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Charbel Coorey
-
0

Sunrisers Hyderabad travel to Mohali in a quest to overtake KKR and reclaim top position. They have been superb, and have marked themselves as one of the early favourites to take out the IPL 2018 title. Kings XI Punjab have also made a good start to IPL 2018, though not as good as SRH (especially when you get bowled out against RCB), but have won twice at home. This is another game that could go either way – the beauty of IPL 2018.

Kings XI Punjab’s addition of Chris Gayle, not only in the last game, but for such a low price in the IPL auction, was a masterstroke. After a shaky batting performance against RCB, it was pleasing to see KXIP’s top order in the runs, and they had enough in the tank to overcome CSK. However, they are not without concerns – Aaron Finch has made two golden ducks in a row, Yuvraj Singh continues to struggle, and the seamers can do a little better. Under the adventurous and wonderfully attacking captaincy of R Ashwin, expect these issues to be ironed out quickly.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have been awesome. The IPL is widely known for such brilliant stroke making and big hits, but SRH’s success has been led by their bowlers. They boast the most complete attack in the league at the moment, helped by the addition of Shakib Al Hasan, who has delivered very handy overs throughout the innings. Shakib, as well as Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Billy Stanlake and Siddarth Kaul represents a challenging night for KXIP’s batting, looking to keep the momentum going.

Key to a Kings XI Punjab win

KL Rahul and Chris Gayle represent an awesome and brutal opening pair for KXIP. The battle 
between those two and the SRH bowling attack promises to be an absolute beauty. They need to get going, considering the question marks evident in the middle order.
However, KXIP can’t be relying only on Gayle and Rahul. Mayank Agarwal showed good touch against CSK, and will be wanting to build on it, and so too Karun Nair, who has been in the runs so far.  Against an attack as good as SRH at the moment, you can’t afford to have any liabilities building pressure on others – if Aaron Finch and Yuvraj both play, they’ll need to contribute however they can.
No team has scored 150 against SRH yet. If they can force SRH’s batsmen to chase a big score, KXIP will fancy their chances. A complete batting performance, first and foremost, is required. 

Key to a Sunrisers Hyderabad win

Can SRH expose the KXIP middle order?
If SRH can remove KXIP’s top two or three within the first six overs, I love their chances. They have the armoury to expose an unsure middle order, with both dot ball pressure and wickets. SRH love Mohali – they have won four out of four there, and if their bowling and fielding clicks once again, they could be on the way to four wins out of four in IPL 2018.

Predicted teams:

Kings XI Punjab XI: 1. KL Rahul (wk), 2. Chris Gayle, 3. Mayank Agarwal, 4. Yuvraj Singh, 5. Aaron Finch, 6. Karun Nair, 7. Barinder Sran, 8. R Ashwin (c), 9. Andrew Tye, 10. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 11. Mohit Sharma
Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: 1. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Kane Williamson (c), 4. Manish Pandey, 5. Deepak Hooda, 6. Yusuf Pathan, 7. Shakib Al Hasan, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Billy Stanlake, 11. Siddarth Kaul

Missed this? Must read!

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-head: Matches 10, KXIP: 2, SRH: 8. At Mohali, it is 4-0 to SRH.
  • SRH’s economy rate is an amazing 6.83, and concede a boundary only on 52.7% of deliveries, both the best of IPL 2018 so far.
  • Shakib Al Hasan needs just one wicket to reach 300 wickets in T20s.
  • KXIP have the best run rate in the powerplay this season. Can’t wait for the battle against SRH’s attack.
  • Rashid Khan in all T20s since start of 2017: 99 wickets in 69 matches (econ. 5.60).

Prediction:

Promises to be a great battle, especially between KXIP’s batting and SRH’s bowling. With SRH’s magnificent bowling so far, and KXIP’s slightly inconsistent performances to date, I will go with SRH to make it 4/4 in IPL 2018.

IPL 15th Match Preview: Rajasthan Royals v Kolkata Knight Riders

Charbel Coorey
-
0

Two teams on a high. Kolkata Knight Riders travel to Jaipur in an attempt to dismantle Rajasthan Royal’s magnificent record at the Sawai Masingh Stadium.

After a very shaky start to IPL 2018, Rajasthan Royals have won two straight, and in the process became the first team to successfully defend a total in a full twenty over game, against the hapless RCB. Sanju Samson, in a team boasting expensive stars, has stood out magnificently, now only second to Virat Kohli in the run scoring charts for IPL 2018. With RR picking the same team three times so far, they look pretty settled, despite the disappointing starts made by the likes of D’Arcy Short and Ben Stokes. There is also a chance Jofra Archer will play as well, in RR’s quest to win ten straight games at the Sawai Masingh Stadium.

What about Kolkata Knight Riders? What about that Andre Russell? What a damaging start he has made to IPL 2018, striking at 239.6, easily the highest of any player with at least 100 runs in the tournament so far. KKR hosted a DD side on such a high after a magnificent win in MI, so much so that you would have been forgiven for thinking KKR were outsiders. Instead, they swept them away with ease. Can they keep the momentum going?

Key to a Rajasthan Royals

Against a KKR side boasting some serious power (KKR have hit 200+ twice already), RR desperately need their pace bowlers to hit their straps. In IPL 2018 so far, three of their seamers – 
Jaydev Unadkat, Ben Laughlin and Ben Stokes – all key players – are going at an economy rate of close to 11 an over. Against the likes of Nitish Rana and Andre Russell, they need to display better control.
I believe if RR can get through KKR’s top order, and dismiss Russell relatively early, they will be on their way to a third straight win.
Also, RR would be desperate for both D’Arcy Short and Ben Stokes in particular to find some form. After an explosive Big Bash League campaign in Australia, Short has underwhelmed so far, scoring just 21 runs in three innings. Ben Stokes, the IPL auction’s most expensive player has scored 48 in three innings. If these two can fire around the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson, Rahul Tripathi and Jos Buttler, watch out KKR.

Key to a Kolkata Knight Riders win

Can they take advantage of an RR attack that is yet to hit their straps?
Against DD, KKR would have been pleased with the greater contributions of their top order, as well as the incredible 12-ball 43 by superman Andre Russell. The opportunity is there for another sort of performance, against an RR side that has conceded runs at a fair clip at times so far in this tournament. With a boundary percentage of 67%, the best in the IPL so far, KKR have plenty to be optimistic about.
Then, you have the bowlers to turn to. Sunil Narine has been simply superb so far in IPL 2018, taking 7/82 from his 15 overs. For all the doubt on him after being reported for a suspect action again during the recent PSL, Sunil Narine has truly showed his T20 prowess.

Missed this? Must read!

Predicted teams: 

For RR, expect them to stick with D’Arcy Short and Ben Stokes, due to the damage they can cause. There is also talk of Jofra Archer potentially playing – he’ll be a great addition if fit.
Rajasthan Royals XI: 1. Ajinkya Rahane (c), 2. D’Arcy Short, 3. Sanju Samson, 4. Ben Stokes, 5. Rahul Tripathi, 6. Jos Buttler (wk), 7. K Gowtham, 8. Shreyas Gopal, 9. Dhawal Kulkarni, 10. Jaydev Unadkat, 11. Ben Laughlin
For KKR, they have a conundrum with Shubman Gill – does he have what it takes to come in later down the order and launch straight away? He is suited to the top order, but there might not be a place for him there just yet. Also, the bowlers are all holding their own, with all bowlers taking at least one wicket vs DD.
Kolkata Knight Riders XI: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Robin Uthappa, 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), 6. Andre Russell, 7. Shubman Gill, 8. Piyush Chawla, 9. Tom Curran, 10. Shivam Mavi, 11. Kuldeep Yadav

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 15, RR: 9, KKR: 6
  • If RR win, they will equal the record for most consecutive wins at a single ground in IPL. Chennai Super Kings (M Chidambaram Stadium) and Mumbai Indians (Wankhede Stadium) are the joint record holders.
  • KKR have a boundary percentage of 67.67% in IPL 2018, the best out of all teams. RR? 54.14, the worst of all teams.
  • Sunil Narine to Sanju Samson could be the recipe for KKR to keep Samson quiet. Samson has faced 26 balls against Narine in T20 cricket, with a SR of 80 and two dismissals.
  • D’Arcy Short needs 13 runs to reach 1,000 in T20s. Chris Lynn is three short of 3,000.

Prediction:

Difficult pick, with both sides displaying good form in recent games.
With RR’s strong home record, and their capability of getting into the KKR batting line up, I see a tight RR win. This could certainly go either way.

IPL 14th Match Preview: Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Charbel Coorey
-
0

Did you have both Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore finishing in the top four come season’s end? Or at least one? I certainly did.

While it is still too early for “must-win” territory, it’s time MI and RCB start winning consistently. RCB sit above MI right now, but have been completely unconvincing again, whereas MI could easily be sitting on three wins out of three. Instead, defending champions MI sit rock bottom, four points outside the top four, and the only team who hasn’t yet won a match. Such has been Mumbai’s tournament so far that out of all teams with a negative Net Run Rate, Mumbai’s is the best, despite losing all their games.

Mumbai Indians are certainly close to getting over the line, and you get the feeling that once they win their first game, they’ll go on a good run. They would have been disappointed in their last outing against DD to not even reach 200 considering the position they were in, but against an RCB team that continues to ignore the importance of good team balance, MI have a good chance in kickstarting their season. With three close losses defending totals, will they be fourth time lucky?

Story of MI…

Royal Challengers Bangalore once again leave plenty to be desired. They were poor at the death against RR, conceding 88 off the last five overs, and once AB de Villiers was dismissed, the chase was all but over. Despite the disappointing result, RCB and India would have been extremely encouraged by the performance of youngster Washington Sundar, who went for just 30 in four overs out of a total of 217, and hit a 19-ball 35 to add some sort of respectability to the result for RCB. Will they make changes to their side, in a quest to consign Mumbai to four straight defeats? Or will it be the same old story?

Story of RCB…

Key to a Mumbai Indians win

MI have had no luck with the toss three times in a row, and have found themselves defending a total each time. On each occasion, they lost in the last over of the match (19.5, 20 and 20), and have been on the end of some incredible performances – particularly Dwayne Bravo and Jason Roy.
The main problem with MI has been the collective performance with the ball. Against DD, Jasprit Bumrah, Mustafizur Rahman and Krunal Pandya conceded just 73 runs between them in 11 overs. The remaining nine from the other bowlers saw 121 runs plundered. 
In an attempt to solve the third seamer conundrum, Mumbai brought in Akila Dananjaya in conjunction with the return of Hardik Pandya. Both were very expensive and wicketless, so MI could re-look their strategy. Adam Milne has replaced the injured Pat Cummins in the squad, so could he be the missing piece to the bowling puzzle? 
Whatever combinations MI decide to go with, their key to victory is to produce a bowling effort where pressure is being built as consistently as possible from both ends, with no bowlers having to work harder to pick up the slack from others. Against a strong RCB top order, this is vital.

Key to a Royal Challengers Bangalore win

Surely RCB need to make changes. I truly believe an all-rounder in the middle of the order could do wonders for them, for two reasons. 
Firstly, all of Colin de Grandhomme, Corey Anderson and Moeen Ali have striking ability, and are potentially good finisher options that RCB desperately need. With Chris Woakes capable with the bat, and Washington Sundar in good touch, a strong all-rounder in the middle can actually result in RCB taking advantage of the platform their top order typically provides.
Secondly, all these three all-rounders can play that vital sixth bowler role. It gives Virat Kohli an extra option to turn to if things aren’t going right, and increases the chances of more “quiet” overs as a result. Pawan Negi was tried as the sixth bowler against RR, going for 13 off his over, and struggled 
with the bat. 
However, I expect RCB to stay stubborn and persist with their strategy. If they do, they need big performances from at least a couple of their bowlers, as well as their top order firing.

Predicted teams:

MI in the last game dropped Rohit Sharma down the order, and they were rewarded with a very fast first 15 overs. After 15.4 overs, they were sitting at 166/3 and if they can repeat this sort of effort, they’ll be well placed to beat an RCB side that relies heavily on the top four. Also, should Adam Milne replace Akila Dananjaya? This could depend on the conditions at Wankhede.
Mumbai Indians XI: 1. Evin Lewis, 2. Suryakumar Yadav, 3. Ishan Kishan (wk), 4. Rohit Sharma (c), Kieron Pollard, 6. Krunal Pandya, 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Mayank Markande, 9. Akila Dananjaya/Adam Milne, 10. Mustafizur Rahman, 11. Jasprit Bumrah
If I were RCB, I’d leave out Brendon McCullum and choose an all-rounder who can add important impact to the middle order, as well as bowl overs. McCullum could prove me wrong and score really big, but in terms of team balance, an all-rounder would help more. They will probably pick an unchanged team.
Royal Challengers Bangalore XI: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Brendon McCullum, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. AB de Villiers, 5. Mandeep Singh, 6. Pawan Negi, 7. Washington Sundar, 8. Chris Woakes, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Kulwant Khejrolia, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: MI: 13, RCB: 8. At the Wankhede, MI slightly lead RCB 4-3. RCB in 2015 scored the highest ever T20 total at the Wankhede: 235/1
  • MI beat RCB twice last season, including a five wicket win with one ball to spare at the Wankhede.
  • Spotlight on Kieron Pollard? He hasn’t started IPL 2018 brilliantly, scoring 28 runs in 24 balls in two games. The stage was set for him against DD with MI 166/3 after 15.4 overs, but was out first ball.
  • Krunal Pandya v AB de Villiers in IPL: Four meetings, 32 balls bowled to AB, 33 runs, four dismissals.
  • Since IPL 2015, Rohit Sharma has batted against legspin in 28 innings. He has been dismissed nine times against this bowling.
  • Virat Kohli is approaching a milestone. He needs 49 more runs to become the first player to score 5000 runs for a single team in 20-overs cricket. He has 4951 runs for RCB at 37.50 (SR 131.53).

Prediction:

Will underachievement continue to follow RCB around? Probably. Expect MI to be fourth time lucky and beat an RCB side not focused on team balance.
My predictions haven’t been too successful over the last two days or so, but this one could prove correct. Hoping for a good game, though.
1...479480481...497Page 480 of 497