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IPL 13th Match Preview: Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Daredevils

Charbel Coorey
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Eden Gardens.

Gautam Gambhir returns to his former home where he led Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles. He now returns with the aim of consigning his former side to three consecutive losses, while picking up two consecutive wins with his new team, Delhi Daredevils. His direct opponent, Dinesh Karthik, will be under a little bit of pressure to get KKR back on track, after two defeats that could have been wins had things been done differently, such as keeping Vinay Kumar till the end against CSK.

Kolkata Knight Riders are perhaps still a little unsure of their best combinations. Sunil Narine is probably best utilised at the opening spot, where he can look to hit out or get out, but what about Shubman Gill? Would it be worth opening with Narine and Gill, and move Chris Lynn to three? Perhaps not, as KKR would want Chris Lynn to be out there when the ball is at its hardest, but Shubman Gill is potentially wasted down the order.  Containing the smallest squad out of all teams in IPL 2018,  it is important KKR get the best out of all their players.

Delhi Daredevils conquered the Wankhede the other day, in one of the finest wins so far in IPL 2018. They were staring a possible target of 220+ right in the face, and managed to restrict Mumbai Indians below 200. Trent Boult was superb in his last two overs, conceding just seven runs in both the 18th and 20th overs, with two wickets. The selection of Jason Roy proved to be a masterstroke, hitting an amazing 91* off 53 balls in the Mumbai humidity to lead his side to a last ball victory. That was a huge confidence boosting victory for DD – can they make it two out of two on the road against Mumbai and Kolkata, arguably two of the toughest road trips in IPL?

KKR have team balance issues, but perhaps not like RCB…

Key to a Kolkata Knight Riders win

Another 10-15 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad could have made things quite interesting.
Only Chris Lynn managed to get going somewhat, with only three players reaching double figures in their score of 138/8. Out of these three, only Lynn managed to have a strike rate of over 120, with Nitish Rana striking at 112.50 and Dinesh Karthik hitting 29 at 107.40. 
More is needed from their top order, and this starts with identifying their best line up with the resources they have. There have been too many low digit scores, and had it not been for Andre Russell’s 88* off 36 balls v CSK, KKR could have had two lowish scores in a row. More is required from the strike players at the top.

Key to a Delhi Daredevils win

Delhi had a bit of a shaky start to IPL 2018, but that win over Mumbai would have raised confidence significantly.
The addition of Jason Roy has added some awesome punch to the DD batting line up, which already consists of the likes of Rishabh Pant and Glenn Maxwell, all wonderful strikers of the ball. In this game, can the DD players cope with KKR’s bowling attack in home conditions? A lot of the emphasis for KKR could be to take pace off the ball, and it will be interesting to see if DD can get their striking going.
Also, with Chris Morris reportedly out of the Mumbai game with illness, DD could have even more quality if he returns, as he has proven to be a fine player in IPL. DD look well balanced, and if they can target the KKR top order, as well as fire with the bat, two wins in a row is in the waiting.

Predicted teams

Conundrum for KKR – how does the make up of their team look? Shubman Gill seemed to struggle in the previous game, batting nine balls for three batting all the way down at seven. If he is to play, is it worth placing him at three or four? I expect KKR to shift Narine back to opener, with Uthappa back at three, and Shubman Gill to remain in the middle order.
Kolkata Knight Riders XI: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Robin Uthappa, 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), 6. Shubman Gill, 7. Andre Russell, 8. Shivam Mavi, 9. Mitchell Johnson, 10. Piyush Chawla, 11. Kuldeep Yadav
For DD, the only change could be Chris Morris coming in for Dan Christian.
Delhi Daredevils XI: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Gautam Gambhir (c), 3. Rishabh Pant (wk), 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Shreyas Iyer, 6. Vijay Shankar, 7. Chris Morris, 8. Rahul Tewatia, 9. Shahbaz Nadeem, 10. Mohammed Shami, 11. Trent Boult

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 19, KKR: 12, DD: 7. At Eden Gardens, KKR have won six of seven meetings against DD.
  • Sunil Narine needs just one wicket to reach 100 IPL wickets. He will become the first overseas spinner to achieve this.
  • Dinesh Karthik (now captain of KKR) spent four seasons at DD (08, 09, 10, 14) and Gautam Gambhir (now captain of DD) was captain of KKR between 2011 and 2017.
  • Chris Lynn struggles against left-arm spin. In IPL cricket, he has played seven games where he has faced a left-arm spinner, dismissed four times.
  • Glenn Maxwell has been dismissed for 20 or less in 68% of his innings since making three 80+ scores in 2014.

Prediction:

DD are on a high, and look a more settled team than KKR do. Despite KKR possessing a good home record against DD, I expect DD to back up their great win in Mumbai with another here.

12th IPL Match Preview: Kings XI Punjab v Chennai Super Kings

Charbel Coorey
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Mumbai Indians can’t win the close games? Not a problem for Chennai Super Kings, who have won two games when they seemed dead and buried. They travel to Mohali to face a Kings XI Punjab side with holes to plug, especially in their middle order which has underwhelmed, on show against RCB.

Kings XI Punjab started very promisingly at Bangalore, only to lose three wickets in the 4th over, which sucked momentum out of the innings as a result. Their IPL 2018 campaign so far can be described as inconsistent, dismantling Delhi and then being dismantled by RCB. Yuvraj Singh looks to really be struggling, and more is required from the likes of Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis, to provide as much support as possible to the in form KL Rahul. This game is KXIP’s chance to build some momentum into their campaign.

Chennai Super Kings are the miracle workers so far in IPL 2018. Just like Mumbai Indians could easily be three out of three, CSK could easily be none out of two, but their fighting spirit has seen them over the line twice (namely Dwayne Bravo and Sam Billings), including an amazing chase of 202 against KKR. More fighting spirit is required in this game, with Suresh Raina set to miss his first ever game for CSK, in addition to Kedar Yadhav out for the rest of the tournament. Does Murali Vijay come in? Or even David Willey? What role could he play? Another possible concern is the form of captain MS Dhoni, who has struggled to get going so far in the tournament, scoring just 30 runs off 33 balls faced.

Key to a Kings XI Punjab win

Support for KL Rahul.
KL Rahul has started IPL 2018 absolutely brilliantly, providing wonderful, fast starts for his team. 
However, there has been a lack of support, evident in KXIP’s loss of three wickets in one over as he stood watching at the other end v RCB. Aaron Finch was dismissed for a golden duck in his first outing, and none of Yuvraj Singh, Karun Nair, Marcus Stoinis and Mayank Agarwal could really get going against an RCB attack that has copped criticism.
A complete batting performance is required to give themselves a chance against a CSK side that has some key players missing.

Key to a Chennai Super Kings win

Can they overcome injuries?
Runs for CSK will be important in a match like this, and the likes of Shane Watson, Sam Billings, Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni need to step up to ensure a collective performance. With their spin heavy attack, CSK can target KXIP’s big hitters with pace off the ball, and if they can execute well with the bat, they are a chance of maintaining their 100% record so far in the tournament.
After one week of IPL 2018, which of these do you think will come true?!

Possible teams:

For KXIP, it would make sense to replace Yuvraj Singh with David Miller. Yuvi looks to be really struggling, and Miller has the potential to offer more. Aaron Finch should be persisted with, but depends on what they do with Yuvraj. Against RCB, all bowlers held their own well, except Mohit Sharma, who went for 12.85 per over in his 3.3 overs. Despite this, expect KXIP to go in with the same attack.
Kings XI Punjab XI: 1. KL Rahul (wk), 2. Mayank Agarwal, 3. Aaron Finch, 4. Karun Nair, 5. David Miller/Yuvraj Singh 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Axar Patel, 8. Ravichandran Ashwin (c), 9. Andrew Tye, 10. Mohit Sharma, 11. Mujeeb Zadran
For CSK, Murali Vijay could open with Ambati Rayudu going down the order. However, Rayudu and Shane Watson were superb in starting CSK’s mammoth chase against KKR, putting on 75 in 5.5 overs. 
Chennai Super Kings XI: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Ambati Rayudu, 3. Murali Vijay, 4. MS Dhoni (c, wk), 5. Sam Billings, 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Dwayne Bravo, 8. Deepak Chahar, 9. Harbajhan Singh, 10. Shardul Thakur, 11. Imran Tahir

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 17, KXIP: 7, CSK 10. 
  • Ravichandran Aswhin has taken 99 IPL wickets under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. Today, they will be opponents.
  • Axar Patel has played five IPL matches against Shane Watson. He has dismissed him in every game.
  • MS Dhoni has struggled against spin since IPL 2015 (367 off 349 balls, with dot ball percentage of 45.6).

Prediction:

Tough game to pick, with both sides having good aspects as well as not so good. Even without Suresh Raina though, I think CSK have enough to get the job done against a KXIP side coming off a short turnaround. CSK to maintain their 100% record.

IPL 11th Match Preview: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Rajasthan Royals

Charbel Coorey
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One week of great IPL action has passed, and we now have two teams both coming off wins. Like a nervous boy on a date, both teams stuttered in their opening games, but then gained some confidence with improved performances in their respective second outings. Can they continue to make a good impression?

Stop the press – Royal Challengers Bangalore had their second match victory set up by the bowlers. Yes, the bowlers. Something we haven’t associated with RCB for years. After a fast start by Kings XI Punjab in Bangalore two nights ago, Umesh Yadav simply came into his own, taking three wickets in a single over within the powerplay to set RCB on their way. Special mention also to Washington Sundar, who can now be starting to feel more at home in IPL 2018 with an impressive return of 2/22 in his four. With Chris Woakes and Yuzvendra Chahal yet to hit their best form, there are encouraging signs for RCB that their bowling attack can contribute well to the team’s cause, despite their sixth bowler conundrum being a cause for concern.

In terms of Rajasthan Royals, what do we make of them? A thrashing in their first up game and a rain-affected victory in their second suggests they still have to win over a lot of critics. They have spent significant amounts of money on a few certain players, who are yet to step up so far, and need to do so if they are to gain momentum in this tournament. The performance of Sanju Samson so far in IPL 2018 is cause for encouragement, as well as Ajinkya Rahane and Jos Buttler making contributions with the bat against Delhi. In terms of the bowling, it’s hard to make a proper judgement yet, after being tasked with defending only 125 first up against SRH, and then bowling just six overs in defence of 71 against DD.

A fantastic opportunity awaits both teams – who can make it two out of three?

Key to a Royal Challengers Bangalore win
Despite victory against Kings XI Punjab, RCB’s team balance still leaves a little to be desired. Their squad allows for a sixth bowling option, with Colin de Grandhomme, Corey Anderson and Moeen Ali all available for selection. So far in this tournament, they have stuck with their main five bowlers, simply because they don’t have any other options to turn to.
In this game, it is very likely RCB will go in with the same team, so the five bowlers all need to contribute both control and wickets. The performance of Umesh Yadav could very well dictate how well RCB go in this game, as he has shown he can limit the runs and take wickets to put his team on the front foot. However, the likes of Chris Woakes and Yuzvendra Chahal need to step up a little more, as both went for 10.80 and 9.50 per over respectively against KXIP.
Also, RCB’s middle order will be under the spotlight. Since IPL 2016, RCB’s top order averages 38.95, whereas numbers five to eight average half that (19.45). The top four of Quinton de Kock, Brendon McCullum, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers are key, as the last match again showed, but more is needed from the likes of Sarfraz Khan and Mandeep Singh.

Key to a Rajasthan Royals win

Can they get into the RCB middle order without too much damage caused?
We all know RCB’s reliance on their top order, so RR have an opportunity to make an impact in this game by executing solid plans against RCB’s most important players at the top. As mentioned, it’s hard to make a proper judgement on RR’s bowlers yet, but Jaydev Unadkat, India’s most expensive player in the auction, has not shown anywhere near the form required to justify his price tag. He needs to start now, and so does Ben Laughlin, a proven T20 bowler. 
The good news is that Ben Stokes’ back is holding up well when bowling, so expect to see him bowl a little more. A good bowling performance by RR, in conjunction with building on their encouraging batting performance vs DD is key to victory for them.

After one week of IPL 2018, which of these do you think will come true?!

Predicted teams

RCB stuck with the same XI even after a defeat, so expect them to do the same after a victory.
Royal Challengers Bangalore XI: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Brendon McCullum, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. AB de Villiers, 5. Sarfraz Khan, 6. Mandeep Singh, 7. Chris Woakes, 8. Washington Sundar, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Kulwant Khejroliya, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal
For RR, Jofra Archer could be in line to play, but his fitness is still a question mark. RR’s batting line up promises plenty, and against an RCB side that relies on five bowlers to get through all 20 overs, they have a responsibility to deliver a good total for the team.
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/Jofra Archer

Stats & Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 16, RCB: 8, RR: 7, No result: 1. At the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, RR have won 3 games to RCB’s 2.
  • Virat Kohli averages 19.85 against RR – his lowest against any team. AB de Villiers averages 48.50.
  • Yuzvendra Chahal needs two wickets to surpass Vinay Kumar as RCB’s all-time wicket taker.
  • In all T20s, D’Arcy short scores at 7.73 per over against spin, and 9.90 against pace. Ajinkya Rahane, who averages 61.30 with a SR of 145.8 at Bengaluru, scores at 6.92 vs spin and 7.28 against pace. Will RCB bowl spin in the powerplay?

Prediction:

Great opportunity for both sides to build on their second match wins. Despite not being perfect, I saw plenty of improvement in RCB’s performance against KXIP, and I back them to get two in a row at home. Umesh Yadav is in great form, and the RCB top order has what it takes to take the game away from RR. RCB for the win.

IPL 10th Match Preview: Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Charbel Coorey
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0

The 10th match of the IPL is already upon us – the third-most successful home team Kolkata Knight Riders take on the undefeated Sunrisers Hyderabad, in a game that again showcases how tight IPL 2018 is. Can you easily predict this one?

Kolkata Knight Riders, with the smallest squad in the tournament, have started their campaign brightly, despite failing to defend the only 200+ score so far. KKR’s depth in their batting is encouraging, highlighted by Andre Russell’s amazing 88* off 36 balls in Chennai, after his team were 89/5 at the halfway point. A possible concern though is their bowling, conceding 176 and 205 in their first two games, so it will be interesting to see how they recover after letting victory slip away in light of CSK Sam Billings’ awesome onslaught.

Sunrisers Hyderabad play their third game since April 9, with this their first game away from Hyderabad for the season – how fresh will they be? Their bowling continues to impress, conceding 125 and 147 (without Bhuvneshwar Kumar against MI) in their first two matches, but a possible concern is their middle order batting. Despite having a good line up on paper, SRH lost 9/75 before the last wicket partnership between Deepak Hooda and Billy Stanlake carried them over the line against Mumbai Indians.

Can KKR’s middle order outplay SRH’s? What about the top order? And can KKR’s bowling attack match it with SRH’s, likely to be missing Bhuvneshwar Kumar? Another good game awaits.

Key to a Kolkata Knight Riders win

KKR’s strength lies in their batting at the moment, and they will need to get on top of SRH’s in-form bowling attack.
This starts with a more polished performance from their top order. Against CSK, each of KKR’s top five batsmen reached double figures – three reached at least 20, with none reaching 30. Had it not been for Andre Russell’s brilliant innings, KKR would have been dismissed quite cheaply, and against a well-rounded SRH attack, they can’t afford to repeat the same performance.
Chris Lynn is a key player at the top, and so is Sunil Narine, who is admittedly hit and miss, but if he gets going, watch out. The likes of Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana and Dinesh Karthik will also be looking to build on double figure scores last time out. 
Also, if KKR’s bowlers can get into SRH’s middle order as quickly as possible, it can go a long way towards victory at Eden Gardens.

Key to a Sunrisers Hyderabad win

Yes, the middle order needs to perform better than they did against MI, but their best chance of victory is through their bowling.
Even without Bhuvneshwar Kumar against MI, SRH still bowled admirably, restricting a fine batting line up to 147. His replacement, Sandeep Sharma, more than held his own, picking up 2/25 from his four overs. Rashid Khan, man of the match in the last outing, was simply superb, backed up well again in particular by Siddarth Kaul and Shakib Al Hasan.
SRH’s attack is very well rounded, and their best chance in such a quick turnaround is restrict KKR’s runs. They are very capable of this.

Special article – my very passionate view on this issue…

Predicted teams:

Rinku Singh has had a quiet start to IPL 2018, and could make way for Shubman Gill in the middle order. After a slight niggle that kept him out against CSK, Mitchell Johnson should be fit to return. Also, I can’t expect to see Vinay Kumar play, after struggling in his opening two outings.
Kolkata Knight Riders XI: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Robin Uthappa, 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Dinesh Karthik (c, wk), 6. Rinku Singh/Shubman Gill, 7. Andre Russell, 8. Mitchell Johnson, 9. Piyush Chawla, 10. Kuldeep Yadav, 11. Shivam Mavi
Expect SRH to stick with the same line up that delivered them victory against MI, except if Bhuvneshwar Kumar overcomes a back problem.
Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3. Kane Williamson (c), 4. Manish Pandey, 5. Yusuf Pathan, 6. Shakib Al Hasan, 7. Deepak Hooda, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Siddarth Kaul, 10. Sandeep Sharma, 11. Billy Stanlake

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 12, KKR: 8, SRH: 4. At Eden Gardens, KKR have won all five meetings between the two sides.
  • Sunil Narine needs three wickets to reach 100 IPL wickets.
  • Rashid Khan and Siddarth Kaul have both bowled 48 balls so far this season. For both bowlers, batsmen have not been in control of their shots in 25 of the balls delivered.
  • Four of the last five games between these two teams have been won by the team batting first.
  • Sunil Narine since 2015 IPL: Against spin, he averages 29.7 and has a strike rate of 240.50, with just three dismissals. Against pace, average and strike rate drops to 18.6 and 156.9 respectively, with 11 dismissals in 19 innings.

Prediction:

A game that looks evenly matched, but I will go with KKR because of their strong home record against SRH, and the fact SRH are coming off a very short turnaround after their last match. 
KKR to win.

IPL 9th Match Preview: Mumbai Indians v Delhi Daredevils

Charbel Coorey
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0

I must say, I didn’t expect to be writing this with these two teams, especially defending champions Mumbai Indians, winless so far in IPL 2018. While it is still too early to panic, starting the tournament off with three losses is never ideal, and both sides will be out to kickstart their tournament with a win.

Mumbai Indians sit on zero wins, but it’s amazing to think that this could easily be two wins. Their two games have been contrasting in a way, losing from a winning position against CSK, and nearly coming back from the dead against SRH. Coach Shane Bond has spoken of his continued confidence in his team, and how they can still win the tournament. While this is true, they’ll need a little more from their batting, after their bowlers were cause for plenty of encouragement in Hyderabad.

Delhi Daredevils have flown under the radar a little in my opinion, perhaps not in many people’s thoughts when it comes to winning the title. However, this is not to say they are without talent, and this is not to say they can’t make an impact in this tournament. Against Rajasthan, they were unlucky with the rain, and showed improvement after being blown away by KL Rahul in Mohali last Sunday. Can their big hitters fire, and piece together a complete performance at the Wankhede?

Both sides certainly have the quality to help kickstart their respective seasons, so should be another

interesting clash that could potentially go either way.

Key to a Mumbai Indians win

In game one, it was their bowling that let them down in key stages. In game two, they didn’t quite score enough with the bat. In game three, a complete performance is required.
Against SRH, no batsman went past 30, resulting in a sub-150 score, where 170+ could have been scored otherwise. Rohit Sharma is yet to fire, and the middle order has threatened, but this could very well be the game where the might of MI’s batting finally comes to the fore. They had a better start in terms of run rate in the powerplay against SRH, but losing three wickets in the first six is historically very hard to come back from. The top order needs to fire third time around.
With the ball, Mayank Markande and Mustafizur Rahman were extremely impressive in giving MI a chance at an amazing comeback win vs SRH, taking 7/47 off eight overs between them. Can Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Ben Cutting/Mitchell McClenaghan (the latter both most disappointing) find their best form?

Key to a Delhi Daredevils win

Colin Munro, Glenn Maxwell and Rishabh Pant hold such a key for DD in this game. In T20 cricket, they have strike rates of 148.69, 157.63 and 161.22 respectively. 
With Gautam Gambhir capable of playing an anchor role, the others can be enabled to play high paced innings, giving the innings impetus, and against a strong MI batting line up, this is important. Gambhir’s stike rate in the powerplay is good, and this will be key to ensure DD enjoy a solid start in the first six overs. 
If you look at IPL 2018 so far, teams who lose three wickets in the powerplay have gone on to lose two out of two games. MI were one of those teams, so there is an opportunity for DD’s bowlers to expose this, in addition to the role of Gambhir in conjunction with DD’s power strikers, to put MI under pressure.

Article: My very passionate article on this issue…

Predicted teams:

For Mumbai, do they go with Mitchell McClenaghan or Ben Cutting for the third seamer role? Both have struggled so far in this tournament, leaking runs at key stages, that has seen their team lose both matches. McClenaghan has a death overs economy rate of 9.41 and for Cutting, it’s 10.50. This is a big decision, as support is needed for Jasprit Bumrah, Mustafizur Rahman and the magnificent Mayank Markande. 

Mumbai Indians XI: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Ishan Kishan, 4. Suryakumar Yadav, 5. Krunal Pandya, 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Kieron Pollard, 8. Mitchell McClenaghan, 9. Mayank Markande, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

For Delhi, expect them to go with their regular batting line up, after changing it up as they needed 71 off six overs due to the rain against RR. 
Delhi Daredevils XI: 1. Gautam Gambhir (c), 2. Colin Munro, 3. Shreyas Iyer, 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Rishabh Pant (wk), 6. Chris Morris, 7. Vijay Shankar, 8. Rahul Tewatia, 9. Shahbaz Nadeem, 10. Mohammed Shami, 11. Trent Boult

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 20, MI: 11, DD: 9. In the last five meetings, MI have won four. At the Wankhede, MI have won five out of six.
  • MI have the worst powerplay run rate (7.75) of all teams so far in IPL 2018.
  • Gautam Gambhir’s average of 22.60 against MI is his lowest against any team.
  • Glenn Maxwell loves MI’s left arm seamers. In all T20s, he has scored a total of 65 runs off 24 balls against Pradeep Sangwan, Mitchell McClenaghan and Mustafizur Rahman. 
  • Batsmen have only been in control in 27 of the 47 balls the “Fizz” Mustafizur Rahman has bowled in IPL 2018. Coming back to his best?

Prediction:

Both sides are packed with good players that can turn the game in their favour, but with MI at home, I will pick them to kickstart their season with a win. They have come close twice, and I think they will be third time lucky.

IPL 8th Match Preview: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kings XI Punjab

Charbel Coorey
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0

It is time for Royal Challengers Bangalore to start transferring talent into results. It is time for RCB to field a better balanced side, and get a win on the board to deliver belief that they can have a good season. Can Kings XI Punjab crash the party at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, building more pressure on an RCB continuing to underachieve? Coming off a solid win against Delhi Daredevils, KXIP can surely believe they can put a another dagger into the confidence and belief of their opponents.

For Royal Challengers Bangalore, it was so disappointing to see them get the balance of their side wrong yet again. This begs the question – have they learnt from mistakes in previous seasons? It was a surprise to see both Quinton de Kock and Brendon McCullum play in Kolkata, which resulted in a top order heavy line up, which left them short on middle order and bowling options. Brendon McCullum, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have 22,374 T20 runs between them, so it’s time for RCB to properly consider an extra bowler in their side so they can actually defend the runs scored. RCB were horrendous at home last season, winning just one match, so making the M Chinnaswamy Stadium a fortress should be priority.

For Kings XI Punjab, they are up against a vulnerable bowling line up, and are boosted by the return of Aaron Finch after getting married. He and KL Rahul are likely to open, and present a big danger to RCB, whose bowling continues to underwhelm. However, can KXIP score well even if KL Rahul and Aaron Finch don’t? With the scratchy form of Yuvraj Singh and a still untested middle order thanks to KL Rahul’s blistering fifty, a lot will be expected of the top two, as well as their bowlers in keeping

the talented RCB side quiet.

Key to a Royal Challengers Bangalore win

Can RCB find some penetration with the ball?
Their score of 176/7 against Kolkata would be enough to win you a lot of T20 games if you 
have the bowlers to deliver results. Unfortunately, after the Narine assault, where they bowled spin to him and got punished, RCB didn’t look like defending the total. If they have dreams and aspirations to lift their first IPL Title, it’s time they get the balance of the side right.
The concern though is coach Daniel Vettori coming out and saying the bowlers didn’t do too badly, and that he is not too keen to change the team’s game plan. This is rubbish. Every person and his dog knows that RCB need better balance, and even though a player like Tim Southee isn’t one of the best T20 bowlers going around, he’ll offer something with the ball, as well as lower order hitting if required. A bowling line up of Washington Sundar, Chris Woakes, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal actually doesn’t look too bad at all.
It’s time for their bowling to complement their batting, not marginalize it.

Key to a Kings XI Punjab win

On the small M Chinnaswamy Stadium boundaries, KXIP will be keen to tuck into an RCB team that doesn’t seem to place too much emphasis on bowling. As mentioned, KL Rahul and Aaron Finch present a danger, but more will be expected from the likes of Yuvraj Singh, who battled for 22 balls to score 12 against Delhi. In a game where KL Rahul got them off to a flyer, KXIP should have won the game a lot earlier than they did – can they middle order step up if properly required?
Also, KXIP will be very encouraged by the performance of Afghani debutant Mujeeb Ur Rahman, taking two wickets against DD for 28 runs (and forcing a direct hit run out), supported pretty well by R Ashwin and Mohit Sharma. More will be expected from Axar Patel and Andrew Tye against a dangerous RCB batting line up, after expensive outings against DD. 
The equation is pretty simple for KXIP – if you stifle RCB’s batting, you’re already a long way towards winning the game.

Be sure to read my very passionate article on this issue…

Predicted teams:

I’ll emphasis on balance again for RCB. Quinton de Kock should sit this one out in my opinion, considering his tough times against spin and Tim Southee should be brought in as the replacement overseas player. Yuzvendra Chahal, a star for India recently, needs to bowl out his four overs, as he can be a vital weapon for RCB. I believe the following team will give them the best chance of getting their first win of IPL 2018.
Royal Challengers Bangalore XI: 1. Brendon McCullum, 2. Parthiv Patel (wk), 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. AB de Villiers, 5. Mandeep Singh, 6. Sarfraz Khan, 7. Washington Sundar, 8. Chris Woakes, 9. Tim Southee, 10. Umesh Yadav, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal
For KXIP, expect Aaron Finch to slot into the opening position, partnering the dynamic KL Rahul, who is coming off the fastest half century in IPL history on Sunday. Mayank Agarwal will probably miss out, and don’t think there will be room for Chris Gayle, who returns to his former home ground.
Kings XI Punjab XI: 1. KL Rahul (wk), 2. Aaron Finch, 3. Karun Nair, 4. Yuvraj Singh, 5. Manoj Tiwary, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Axar Patel, 8. Ravichandran Ashwin (c), 9. Andrew Tye, 10. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 11. Mohit Sharma

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 20, RCB: 8, KXIP: 12
  • In the corresponding game last season, KXIP managed just 138/7, but dismissed RCB for 119. Sandeep Sharma removed Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in that game.
  • Last season, the run rate at the Chinnaswamy was a low 7.41, correlating with RCB’s dismal last placed finish, where they only won one match at home. In the three seasons before that, the run rates were 9.52 (2016), 9.45 (2015) and 9.01 (2014).
  • RCB may use spin to target Yuvraj Singh, who has scored 222 runs off 219 balls against spinners since IPL 2015. 50% of these deliveries are dots. However, RCB need to find a way to get KL Rahul and Aaron Finch cheaply to get into the KXIP middle order without too much damage.
  • RCB have lost 11 straight IPL matches when AB de Villiers is in their team.

Prediction:

It is widely regarded RCB will finish in the top four, and with the talent they have in their side, they should be making a better account for themselves. With a chance to put things right in front of their home fans, I see RCB’s chances depending on what type of team they go for. If they select a better balanced side, they have what it takes to get the win against a KXIP side that will certainly present a challenge. RCB to get their first win of IPL 2018.

IPL 7th Match Preview: Sunrisers Hyderabad v Mumbai Indians

Charbel Coorey
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0

When the first ball is soon to be bowled, make sure you stop everything you are doing and immerse yourself in the action! This one has the potential to be a game we look back on at the end of IPL 2018 and say “that was the game of the tournament”.

Two contenders for this season’s title go head-to-head. Sunrisers Hyderabad, so impressive in their first up thrashing of Rajasthan Royals, will look to their bowling attack once again to put on a clinic. Their attack looks most impressive so far in IPL 2018, challenging batsmen from all angles. One minute you’re up against Rashid Khan, then Shakib Al Hasan then Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul and the fast Billy Stanlake. More of the same from SRH will give them a good chance for starting the tournament with two wins.

SRH look a really good unit at the moment

In the case of Mumbai Indians, it’s almost like “who cares we lost our first game?” Even though they were on the wrong end of an incredible heist against CSK, Mumbai have time and time again proven that losing their first game is not the end of the world. They have now lost their first game in each of their last six IPL campaigns, but they have won three IPL titles in this time. This game will be a test of their resolve – can their key bowlers; namely Jasprit Bumrah, Mustafizur Rahman and Mitchell McClenaghan have better outings, in the now fully confirmed absence of Pat Cummins? Do they stick with Rohit Sharma at the top? These are questions that I can’t wait to see answered in a blockbuster clash.

Jasprit Bumrah – key bowler for MI

Key to a Sunrisers Hyderabad win:

Their bowling was superb against a Rajasthan Royals possessing a number of power hitters. 
Can they repeat it here?
Spinners Rashid Khan and Shakib Al Hasan went for a combined 46 off eight overs, with three wickets. Mumbai have the players to counter spin, so the challenge is there to repeat their impressive performance first up. However, what will also give SRH encouragement is the performance of their seam attack, headlined by Siddarth Kaul with 2/17 from his four against RR, supported well by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Billy Stanlake, taking 2/59 off eight overs between them.
Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson showed that SRH still have batting quality at the top in the absence of David Warner. Also, with Wridhimman Saha possessing a good record against MI, and an SRH middle order ready to have a go, another strong bowling performance can lead SRH to a second win of IPL 2018.

Key to a Mumbai Indians win:

Can MI get into SRH’s middle order quite early?
SRH’s middle order wasn’t required against RR, and MI would be keen to test them out – the earlier, the better. Compared to Rajasthan, MI possess a more well-rounded attack, and will be looking for wickets in the powerplay to thwart SRH’s batting effort.
Also, a key to victory lies in how their batsmen are able to rotate the strike throughout the innings, avoiding as many dots as possible against the SRH attack. In the powerplay against CSK, MI played out 21 dot balls. If they let SRH have a start like that, the likes of Rashid Khan and Shakib Al Hasan can choke the run scoring even more afterwards. Also, SRH managed to use only five bowlers against RR – can MI ensure Kane Williamson needs to turn to others to get some control?

Possible teams:

After such an impressive performance first up, why should SRH change anything? Expect them to stick with the same team.
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
Rohit Sharma mentioned that Hardik Pandya should be fine to play, after rolling his ankle in the defeat to CSK. The fact he came back after his injury and took 3/24 off four overs was very impressive, and MI would see him as a key player, along with his brother Krunal who hit a wonderful 41 (22) the other night. Pat Cummins won’t be up for selection as he is ruled out of the tournament, a big blow for MI.
Also, it should be mentioned it’s a big game for Rohit Sharma and Evin Lewis, who underwhelmed against CSK. Rohit especially needs to ensure dot balls are at a minimum during the powerplay – I believe Ishan Kishan should open instead for this very reason, but I expect Rohit to open.
Mumbai Indians XI: 1. Evin Lewis, 2. Rohit Sharma (c), 3. Ishan Kishan (wk), 4. Suryakumar Yadav, 5. Hardik Pandya, 6. Krunal Pandya, 7. Keiron Pollard, 8. Jasprit Bumrah, 9. Mitchell McClenaghan, 10. Mustafizur Rahman, 11. Mayank Markande

Be sure to read my very passionate article on this issue…

Key battle:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar v Jasprit Bumrah: Two superb limited overs bowlers for India, both Kumar and Bumrah will have key roles to play for their respective teams. In terms of balls per boundary, both are superb in the powerplay (6.19 for Kumar and 7.80 for Bumrah), and in the powerplay, it is nearly an over each (5.94 for Kumar and 5.29 for Bumrah).

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: SRH: 5, MI: 5. At Hyderabad, it is 3-2 the way of SRH.
  • In something that is not consistent with how IPL 2018 has gone so far, the team batting first won 75% of all IPL matches in Hyderabad last season.
  • Krunal Pandya has an economy rate of 7.15 in IPL. It is certainly worth it for MI to consider bowling him.
  • Wridhimman Saha and Shikhar Dhawan enjoy playing against Mumbai – they average 48.60 and 44.70 respectively.

Prediction:

Can I predict a tie? 
One thing is for sure – no prediction is a silly one in a game like this where anything can happen. I do believe MI will present a tougher batting test for SRH, and could do enough to kick start their campaign. MI to win in a close game.

IPL 6th Match Preview: Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Daredevils

Charbel Coorey
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0

Last night, it was the battle between two first up winners in IPL 2018. Tonight, it will be the battle of two first up losers, who both suffered pretty comprehensive defeats. Rajasthan Royals take on Delhi Daredevils in a quest for both teams to pick up win number one for the tournament.

For Rajasthan Royals, after an awful return to the IPL, there is a major boost. They are back to their cherished and formidable home ground, with a large crowd possibly providing much needed impetus to a batting line up that stuttered badly against Sunrisers Hyderabad. After a thrashing, like the one RR received just two nights ago, it’s a positive thing to get back on the field as soon as possible to try make things right. The Royals have that opportunity in Jaipur.

The Delhi Daredevils aren’t without their own issues either. The make up of their side is still up in the air following a brutal onslaught from KL Rahul, after Delhi continued to lose wickets at the wrong time during their batting innings. Colin Munro is a key player, but struggled in the first match, as was the case with Delhi’s spinners, particularly Amit Mishra, who may be selected in this game because of his good record against RR (26 wickets in 16 matches at 16.38). The return of Glenn Maxwell will be a big boost, because with a bowling line up still unsure of things, extra batting power could be crucial. With five away games to start their campaign, they need to find the right
combinations, and fast.

Key to a Rajasthan Royals win

Rajasthan’s batting against Sunrisers Hyderabad was a disaster, mustering only 125/9. The way Shikhar Dhawan was going in the chase, he
could have got those runs all on his own.
RR are not without batting quality, though. Despite them still being unsure of who bats where, the likes of D’Arcy Short, Ben Stokes, Rahul Tripathi and Jos Buttler are players many sides would like to have in their team. With a bowling attack still finding its feet, the onus is on RR’s batsmen to put on a better showing in front of their home fans.
There are quite a few expensive players in this RR side, and they need to step up to avoid two straight defeats. 

Key to a Delhi Daredevils win

Are Delhi capable of restricting RR’s batsmen like Sunrisers Hyderabad were able to? 
Trent Boult, Mohammed Shami and Amit Mishra, three of DD’s most experienced bowlers were all quite expensive, bearing the brunt of the quickest IPL fifty ever by KL Rahul. The make up of their team remains to be seen – does Shahbaz Nadeem replace Amit Mishra? With the other frontline legspinner Rahul Tewatia bowling well against KXIP, and an onus on greater control, this could very well be the case.
There is some power in the RR batting line up, and DD need to do everything they can to build dot balls, and pick up regular wickets.

Be sure to read my very passionate article on this issue…

Possible teams:

Stuart Binny could replace K Gowtham for RR, who had a tough outing against SRH (out for zero, and bowled only one over). They are suffering with injuries to bowlers at the moment (Jofra Archer, Dushmantha Chameera and Zahir Khan) so the likes of Jaydev Unadkat, Ben Laughlin and Dhawal Kulkarni have a key role to play.
Rajasthan Royals XI: 1. D’Arcy Short, 2. Ajinkya Rahane (c), 3. Rahul Tripathi, 4. Sanju Samson (wk), 5. Ben Stokes, 6. Jos Buttler, 7. Stuart Binny, 8. Shreyas Gopal, 9. Dhawal Kulkarni, 10. Jaydev Unadkat, 11. Ben Laughlin
The return of Glenn Maxwell could see Dan Christian pushed out of the side, despite a respectable 1/12 off two overs against KXIP. Amit Mishra could also miss out after an expensive outing with the ball in Mohali on Sunday.
Delhi Daredevils XI: 1. Gautam Gambhir (c), 2. Colin Munro, 3. Shreyas Iyer, 4. Rishabh Pant, 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Vijay Shankar, 7. Chris Morris, 8. Rahul Tewatia, 9. Shahbaz Nadeem, 10. Trent Boult, 11. Mohammed Shami

Stats & Facts:

  • This will be the first IPL match at the Sawai Masingh Stadium in Jaipur since 2013.
  • Rajasthan Royals have won 24 of 33 matches at this venue (34 of 49 games overall at home), including three of four against Delhi in Jaipur.
  • Gautam Gambhir plays his 150th IPL match, with the joint most IPL half centuries (36).
  • Ajinkya Rahane enjoys playing against DD: 632 runs at 63.20 in 15 matches – his highest tally against any IPL opponent.
  • In all five games so far in IPL 2018, the team chasing has won.

Prediction:

A game where both sides will be looking to make amends after disappointing first up defeats. Rajasthan have a superb record at home, but can their batting fire? I have a feeling Delhi could come very close in this match, against a RR side still looking for its best combinations. However, RR would be hurting more from the first up defeat in my opinion, and have enough power in their batting line up to continue their strong home record. RR to win in a tight game.

IPL 5th Match Preview: Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders

Charbel Coorey
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0

Ah, what a beautiful night it will be in Chennai. The packed MA Chidambaram Stadium will be the source of envy among many cricket fans around the world (myself included) who wish they could be part of the action, soaking in every moment at what is expected to be an interesting clash between two teams who won their respective matches first up.

Down and out against Mumbai, Chennai Super Kings showed that they can never be written off in any game. However, they would like to ensure, in front of their home fans, that they aren’t in a similar position to what they were in the opening match. Despite a fantastic effort to get across the line, CSK aren’t without faults, particularly their fielding and batting, which saw them stumbling throughout the game. Dwayne Bravo’s death bowling and magnificent batting innings saw CSK over the line in the tournament opener, but he can’t be expected to do it all the time – more support is required from his batting partners, as well as his bowlers, on a pitch expected to assist the spinners.

CSK are back at home!

For Kolkata Knight Riders, they caused more pain to a Royal Challengers Bangalore side desperate to have a better season in IPL 2018. KKR would have been pleased with how they restricted RCB to 176/7 after dismissing danger men AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli in consecutive deliveries when they were looking to go big. However, their batting is likely to endure a greater test in their second match against a CSK side containing many familiar players who have had success at home.

After Narine’s initial onslaught, KKR buckled down well to reach their target

Key to a Chennai Super Kings win

A good batting display.
Heading into this game, I believe CSK fans (and fans in general) would believe that their batting is most under the spotlight, after slipping to 118/8 against Mumbai. One area I believe they could change is not having both Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu open the batting, with both striking at 114.28 and 115.78 respectively at the Wankhede. When they were both dismissed against Mumbai, either side of Suresh Raina, CSK were tottering at 42/3 off 6.3 overs. In this time, 18 dot balls were bowled, so if there is indeed a change in the opening pair (most likely Murali Vijay), more rotation of the strike is important.
Also, more will be expected from Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja, all dismissed for low scores in their opening game. Losing Kedar Yadav is a blow, but I have faith that their bowlers can trouble KKR, especially on a pitch expected to turn, aiding their spin-heavy strategy. Add the excellent Dwayne Bravo to an already experienced bowling attack, and CSK have what it takes to win the game if their batting holds up well.

Key to a Kolkata Knight Riders win

Dismantle CSK’s batting line up.
CSK have built their bowling strategy on spin, but KKR have a good spin line up as well. Against RCB, three of the bowlers who bowled their full quota went for under eight an over, and the fact that Kuldeep Yadav, a star in Indian cricket recently, wasn’t one of them could be considered good news. This shows the KKR attack can be counted on to work as a unit, even when they wish to use Nitish Rana slip in one or two quiet overs, as their success against RCB showed.
Specifically, Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav will be key, as CSK batsmen have struggled against googlies in all T20s since 2015. Since then, CSK batsmen have faced a total of 263 googlies, with just 236 runs scored (SR 89.7). Out of these 263 deliveries, 128 have been dot balls, with 28 dismissals. 
A fine battle awaits, that’s for sure.

Possible teams:

Expect CSK to change things a little at the top, with Murali Vijay coming in to open. Expect them also to stick with the same bowling attack that they went in with at the Wankhede against Mumbai.
Chennai Super Kings XI: 1. Murali Vijay, 2. Shane Watson, 3. Suresh Raina, 4. Ambati Rayudu, 5. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Dwayne Bravo, 8. Deepak Chahar, 9. Harbhajan Singh, 10. Mark Wood, 11. Imran Tahir
There is a strong possibility KKR will stick with the winning formula from the first match against RCB. The strongest question mark is probably around Vinay Kumar, who went for 15 an over v RCB, despite taking two wickets.
Kolkata Knight Riders XI: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Robin Uthappa, 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), 6. Rinku Singh, 7. Andre Russell, 8. Piyush Chawla, 9. Mitchell Johnson, 10. Kuldeep Yadav, 11. Vinay Kumar
Be sure to read my very passionate article on this issue…

Stats and Facts:

  • Sunil Narine loves spin, and RCB were unbelievably blind to it. Since IPL 2015, Narine has a strike rate of 247.2 against spinners, and has been dismissed only twice. Expect Chennai to go with seam in the powerplay to Narine, looking for an early wicket. Then they can look to use their spinners.
  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 16, CSK: 10, KKR; 6. At Chennai, CSK have enjoyed success against KKR, winning five of the seven matches.
  • CSK have a 70% win rate at home, including 11 wins out of their last 12 at the venue. Superb.
  • Could Andre Russell be KKR’s answer to thwarting Dwayne Bravo? In T20s, he has scored 175 runs off 88 balls against him, with a boundary every 3.52 balls.
  • Imran Tahir has the best IPL bowling strike rate in the CSK team (15.2).
  • Suresh Rainia is the only batsman to have scored at least 350 runs in each of the last ten IPL seasons. Expect him to bounce back well in this game.

Prediction:

Can’t wait for this clash. The atmosphere will be electric, and CSK will be looking to make it a memorable return to their cherished home ground. I think the occasion will spur them on, and backed by an amazing home record, CSK will pick up the win.

IPL 4th Match Preview: Sunrisers Hyderabad v Rajasthan Royals

Charbel Coorey
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0

Dwayne Bravo

KL Rahul

Sunil Narine

IPL 2018 is off to an amazing start, with three amazing performances leading to victories on the opening two days of the tournament. So what does the 4th match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals have in store for us? Both sides have lost the dynamic Australian duo – Steve Smith for Rajasthan Royals, and David Warner for Sunrisers Hyderabad, but both sides still contain plenty of quality.

Finishing in a respectable third last season, Sunrisers Hyderabad certainly have what it takes (on paper at least) to make a strong impact in this year’s tournament. Their bowling attack, comprising of Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shakib Al Hasan, can be counted on to deliver at least ten overs of real quality, and if they can get the support they crave from the remaining bowlers, they can start their tournament off on the right note. Their batting also has what it takes to perform off the back of good bowling performances.

RAAAASHID! Key player, for sure.

For Rajasthan Royals, can they match Chennai’s stunning return to the IPL? They sure spent big in the IPL Auction, picking up the likes of Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Jaydev Unadkat for large sums, but for me, there is a little uncertainty about their chances in this match. Ben Stokes is nursing a back injury and Jaydev Unadkat will be under pressure to justify his price tag. However, their batting line up packs a punch, and if they can fire against SH’s decent bowling attack, it will give them confidence for the rest of the tournament.

What impact will Ben Stokes have?

Key to a Sunrisers Hyderabad win

SH possess a bowling attack that I think other IPL teams would be jealous of…. RCB, anyone?
The performances of Rashid Khan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, as well as Shakib Al Hasan, is key to SRH’s chances. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a proven performer – leading IPL wicket taker in 2017, and has the wood over opposition skipper Ajinkya Rahane in IPL matches. Rashid Khan was recently the quickest ever to 100 ODI wickets (44 matches), and Shakib Al Hasan has been one of the premier all-rounders for a decade. 
However, these three performing well is not enough. Siddharth Kaul may be asked to shoulder a load with Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the death, as he holds a respectable economy rate of 8.3 in 10.4 overs, including 11 wickets.

Key to a Rajasthan Royals win

What can the top six achieve?
There is plenty of excitement about SH’s attack, but RR need to believe their top six can either set them up for or chase a score. Ajinkya Rahane (SR of 118.54 in T20s) needs to execute his stroke making game perfectly, to enable the others to go large. Rahul Tripathi (SR 131.61), Sanju Samson (123.22), Heinreich Klaasen (146.28), Ben Stokes (138.12) and Jos Buttler (142.80) all have what it takes to turn the game in RR’s favour.

Will it be their day?

Be sure to read my very passionate article on this issue…

Predicted teams:

For SH, Kane Williamson takes over the captaincy from the suspended David Warner. Alex Hales, Warner’s replacement, will likely open the batting with the in-form Shikhar Dhawan. Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Deepak Hooda and Wriddhiman Saha should make up the middle order.
Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: 1. Alex Hales, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Kane Williamson (c), 4. Manish Pandey, 5. Shakib Al Hasan, 6. Deepak Hooda, 7. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Siddarth Kaul, 11. Sandeep Sharma
For RR, the top six as mentioned have a key role to play. Jofra Archer, Dhawal Kulkarni and Jaydev Unadkat should take up the bowling spots, with an additional place potentially taken by either Ankit Sharma or Krishnappa Gowtham.
Rajasthan Royals XI: 1. Ajinkya Rahane (c), 2. Rahul Tripathi, 3. Sanju Samson (wk), 4. Heinrich Klaasen, 5. Ben Stokes, 6. Jos Buttler, 7. Stuart Binny, 8. Ankit Sharma/Krishnappa Gowtham, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Dhawal Kulkarni, 11. Jaydev Unadkat

Stats and Facts:

  • Key battle: Bhuvneshwar Kumar v Ajinkya Rahane. Bhuvi has had the wood over Rahane in IPL cricket, dismissing him six times. In the 75 balls he’s bowled to him, only 69 runs have been scored.
  • Alex Hales, David Warner’s replacement, has a strike rate of 143.54 in T20s.
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar has won the Purple Cap the last two IPL seasons.
  • Kane Williamson will become SH’s youngest captain – 27 years, 244 days, and has a good record against the Royals current bowling roster (73 runs in 38 balls, with only one wicket lost).
  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 7, Sunrisers Hyderabad: 3, Rajasthan Royals: 4

Prediction:

Another interesting game to look forward to as the IPL begins to heat up. After three amazing match winning performances from three different batsmen, the floor is open for another amazing performance. Looking at the two sides, a great performance is perhaps more likely to come from the SH squad, who look quite balanced. At home, I will pick them for a win, and make Rajasthan Royals wait for a win on their comeback.
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