Highest first innings scores to end in an innings defeat: With Shan Masood (151) and Abdullah Shafique (102) making merry on a flat Multan surface, not many could have predicted what would happen next.Pakistan lost the first Test against England by innings despite hitting 556 in their first innings.
England responded with 823/7d, their third-highest Test score. Harry Brook hit the fifth-highest individual score by an England player in Tests, with his 317 flattening the hosts. He combined with the great Joe Root (262) in a record 454-run stand to take the visitors from 249/3 to 703/4.
With England taking a lead of 267, the question is – has a team ever lost a Test match by an innings after scoring 500-plus?
List of highest first innings score to end in an innings defeat
4. 432 by England against Australia, The Oval, 2001
England reponded to Australia’s mamoth 641/4d with a respectable 432 at The Oval in 2001. Because of rain on the fourth day, Australia enforced the follow on to push for victory and seal a 4-1 series win.
Thanks to the late, great Shane Warne and magnificent Glenn McGrath, they did. The legendary legspinner took 4/64 in the second innings after his 7/165 in the first to finish man of the match. McGrath, who toiled for 30 overs in the first dig, took 5/43 in the second.
3. 477 by England against India, Chennai, 2016
England again. This time against India in 2016, known as the match of Karun Nair.
After hitting 477 batting first, England barely had a sniff. KL Rahul (199) and Parthiv Patel (71) struck 152 for the first wicket. But, after Virat Kohli was dismissed, the match was even with India 211/3. But, that’s where England’s joy ended.
Karun Nair played the innings of his life, turning his first Test century into a triple. He took England’s attack apart in his 381-ball stay, finishing 303*.
In response, England were bowled out for 207 in 88 overs. Ravindra Jadeja was at his very best, taking 7/48 in 25 overs to seal a 4-0 series win in the five-match series.
2. 492 by Ireland against Sri Lanka, Galle, 2023
Hitting 492 batting first at Galle usually means you’re in the driving seat. Unfortunately for Ireland, Sri Lanka’s top four went on a rampage in response. Nishan Madushka (205) and Kusal Mendis (245*) hit double centuries along with tons for Dimuth Karunaratne (115) and Angelo Mathews (100*) as the hosts piled on 704/3d.
Ireland tried hard in their second innings, but couldn’t get enough to get Sri Lanka batting again. Ramesh Mendis took 5/64, with strong support from Prabath Jayasuriya (2/88 off 32 overs) and Asitha Fernando (3/30) to bowl the Irish out for 202 in 77.3 overs to seal victory by an innings and 10 runs.
1. 556 by Pakistan and England, Multan, 2024
Pakistan became the first team in history to suffer an innings defeat after hitting 500+ in the first dig. It is quite remarkable to even think of it.
Shan Masood’s team completely capitulated in the second innings, bowled out for just 220 on what was still a very flat pitch on day five. The hastening loss was their sixth-straight in Test cricket, with another third innings collapse following on from their 2-0 loss to Bangladesh soon before.
Harry Brook, Joe Root and England took Pakistan’s attack to the cleaners in the first match of their 2024 series in Multan. The visitors racked up over 800 in response to Pakistan’s 556, with Brook slamming his first triple hundred after Root struck his sixth double hundred.
Where does Brook’s 317 rank among the highest individual scores for England in Test cricket? Here is a look at the top five.
List of highest individual scores by an England player in Tests
5. Harry Brook 317 vs Pakistan, Multan, 2024
Harry Brook comes in at fifth. His love affair with Pakistan continued, not only hitting his fourth century in six innings, but going huge. After his sixth knock in the country, he averages 130.83 with 785 runs.
Brook joined Root with England 249/3, still trailing Pakistan by 307. The two put an England record partnership of 454 to completely break the spirit of the hosts.
After Root was dismissed, Brook continued on his merry way. He finished with 317 off just 322 balls with 29 fours and three sixes in a testament to his fitness in sapping conditions Multan. England finished with a huge 823/7d and won by an innings and 47 runs.
4. Andy Sandham 325 vs West Indies, Kingston, 1930
Andy Sandham’s 325 in 1930 was quite the contrast to Brook’s 317. Opening the innings, Sandham batted for 640 balls and led the way as England piled on 849 – their second-highest Test total in history.
There were contributions right down the order – most notably Les Ames’ 149 – as the hosts were made to toil for 258.2 overs. In the end, the match was drawn as West Indies finished on 408/5 chasing a (slightly) improbable 836 for victory.
3. Graham Gooch 333 vs India, Lord’s, 1990
Graham Gooch is one of England’s finest players. To finish with 8,900 runs at an average of 42.58 in the era he played in is testament to his talent.
A highlight was his 333 against India at Lord’s in 1990. He set up England’s mammoth score of 653/4d batting first, batting through until the score reached 641.
Incredibly, Gooch also made a century (123) in the second innings as England set India 472 to win. The visitors fell short by 247 runs.
2. Wally Hammond 336 vs New Zealand, Auckland, 1933
The great Wally Hammond’s 336 in the 1933 Auckland Test is one of cricket’s incredible achievements. The next-best score in the Test was Stewie Dempster’s 83, followed by Bob Wyatt’s 60. No other player scored above 40.
Hammond batted 318 minutes for his 336. “The crowd swelled to 15,000 as news of the onslaught spread, and after passing 200 Hammond “hit out with almost reckless abandon” and he raced to 250 in 22 minutes,” the report read. “He moved from 200 to 300 in 47 minutes – and that included a delay when he broke his bat when he was on 297 and was forced to send for a replacement.”
1. Leonard Hutton 364 vs Australia, The Oval, 1938
One of the most one-sided Tests in history. Leonard Hutton wore out the Australians over 797 minutes in the 1938 Ashes Test at The Oval, hitting 364 off 847 balls. The iconic Hutton would go on to score 6,971 Test runs at an average of 56.67, with his highest score showcasing his greatness.
England piled on 903/7d, which remains their highest Test total to date. Australia were obliterated in response, bundled out for 201 and 123 to lose by an innings and 579 runs.
The 28-year-old last represented Australia during their tour to India in 2023. Post which, he was a part of the squad during the 2023/24 summer, but failed to get a game. He looked in good nick during the first leg of the Marsh One Day Cup 2024/25 as well. The Queenslander started the season with a quick-fire 51 against Tasmania during the rain-curtailed game, and followed it up with a well-made 38 against Victoria.
Renshaw performed admirably as opener in India earlier in his career. Thus, with the Asian nation set to tour Australia this summer, it is safe to say that he has a golden opportunity to script a comeback for ages.
Matt Renshaw Interview: Big summer ahead
During an interview with Arvind Kalyana Krishnan for CricBlog, Renshaw drew light on the prospect of playing in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Further on, the 28-year-old also predicted two Indian players who could do well in the eagerly-awaited series. While speaking to Arvind ahead of the cricket summer in Australia, Renshaw expressed his eagerness to watch the Rohit Sharma-led side take on the Pat Cummins-led side in the upcoming five-match Test series, and was hopeful of being a part of it.
Below is the audio and transcript of the conversation between Matt Renshaw and Arvind Kalyana Krishnan
Arvind Kalyana Krishnan:My first question to you is regarding the upcoming cricket season. How have your preparations been coming along? What are your expectations for this summer?
Matt Renshaw: Yeah, really looking forward to it. Should be a good summer with India coming over. Hopefully, I can have a lot of fun and try and make that team. But yeah, currently the aim is to just try and win games for Queensland and the Brisbane Heat.
Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: You’re someone who has played international cricket. You have a very good domestic record. So for this season in the Queensland team or any other side, are there any youngsters you feel could set the stage on fire? Any youngsters to watch out for in your opinion?
Matt Renshaw: Yeah there’s a fair few from all around the country. We haven’t played much yet so it’s hard to tell but yeah there are a few really good players in Australia as well as in the Queensland team…..We’ve got a fair few good youngsters. Tom Whitney is an upcoming fast bowler who I think will get plenty of chances in the future.
Arvind Kalyana Krishnan: Like you mentioned earlier, India are coming here to Australia and you’re someone who has played the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India and have a few noteworthy knocks as well. You’ve played against the players who will be coming down under again, a lot of them. So any Indian players in particular who you think can do well in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25? Any Indian players or probably any Australian players who you think would do good in this series?
Matt Renshaw: Yeah I think Jaiswal. I think I’ve watched a bit of him and he looks like a really nice player. So yeah, it’s gonna be interesting to see how he comes across to Australia. Then the usual Jasprit Bumrah. I mean I’ve never faced him either, so yeah, he’s someone who always comes across and does well overseas.
In a thrilling display of teamwork and talent, India secured their 20th T20I victory of 2024 with a decisive series win over Bangladesh. The highlight of the thumping 86-run win certainly was the all-round brilliance (74 off 34 & 2/23) of a fast-bowling all-rounder not named Hardik Pandya. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s exceptional performance signifies a promising development for the Indian team.
As we reflect on the match, while the safe options from our preview didn’t deliver as expected, the differentials proved to be spot on. Nitish Kumar Reddy shone with an outstanding 164 points, almost doubling the second-highest scorer, Rishad Hossain (88 points), who was one of our top risky captain/vice-captain picks. Moreover, as predicted – Mahmudullah, selected by under 19% of players – also made a significant impact with 63 points.
With the final match of the series on the horizon, let’s explore the upcoming fantasy preview and identify players who could shape your success.
In the IPL, the average first innings score jumped from 174.4 in 2023 to 204.6 this year. Out of 13 matches played across the last two editions, the chasing team has won seven times, while the team batting first has claimed victory six times, indicating no discernible bias based on the toss.
No bowling type has proven particularly effective in Hyderabad. The only Chinaman to play during this period is Kuldeep Yadav, who bowled 4 overs for just 22 runs and took one wicket.
While it’s a medium-sized ground, the batting-friendly nature of the surface suggests plenty of runs, especially if India bats first.
Thunderstorms are forecast in the days leading up to the match, but conditions should be warm and humid without rain interruptions on Saturday evening.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for IND vs BAN 3rd T20 2024 – Top Dream11 Picks for the Match
Given the unpredictability surrounding India’s lineup, including their batting order and bowling choices, this match is tricky to predict. Low investment is advisable, and it’s better to play bigger contests with multiple combinations rather than small leagues.
Top wicket-keeper picks:
Sanju Samson: Though Samson hasn’t yet made a significant impact in this series, he has been in good nick overall. With Hyderabad being a venue where he has previously scored a century and a half-century in the IPL, Samson will look to capitalise and deliver a strong performance.
Top batter picks:
Suryakumar Yadav: After accumulating just 37 runs in two innings, Suryakumar Yadav will be eager to end the series on a high note.
Abhishek Sharma: After showing promise but falling short in both games, Abhishek too like other members of the top 3 will want to convert his starts into a big score, especially at his home IPL venue in Hyderabad, where he strikes at over 200. He could also contribute with a couple of overs, boosting his fantasy value.
Top all-rounder picks:
Rishad Hossain: Rishad picked up three (lucky) wickets in the final over of the innings in Delhi but struggled with his lengths earlier on, often overpitching and getting hit. Despite this, he remains a solid fantasy pick due to his leg-spin and lower-order hitting potential.
Nitish Kumar Reddy: After an all-round performance that earned him the Player of the Match award in the previous game, Nitish is a must-pick. He’s likely to take the new-ball again, especially with Hardik Pandya possibly rested.
Mahmudullah: Playing his last T20I, there’s every chance that the 38-year-old veteran may bowl an over or two along with his usual middle-order batting. His all-round potential makes him a decent pick for this match.
Top bowler picks:
Varun Chakravarthy: The leading wicket-taker in the series, Chakravarthy has been hard for Bangladesh to handle. He’ll be keen to make another impact in Hyderabad and push for the Player of the Series award.
Harshit Rana: As KKR’s leading wicket-taker in the IPL this year, Rana, at just 22, demonstrated the wide range of skills he possesses and is emerging as one of the country’s most promising fast-bowling prospects.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Team
Mayank Yadav: After a decent performance in Delhi following an impressive debut in Gwalior, the Indian speed sensation will be eager to finish the series on a high note. His pace differential between his stock delivery and slower ball is remarkable, but he could further enhance his wicket-taking ability — and, consequently, his fantasy potential — by refining his over construction and finding the right mix of deliveries.
Riyan Parag: After watching Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh grab the spotlight in Delhi, Parag might to be promoted up the order in this match, giving him more batting time. Additionally, he could bowl a couple of overs and is known for his fielding in key positions, making him an appealing option for fantasy points.
Litton Das: Another poor showing in Delhi has dropped Litton’s stocks, which actually makes him a sneaky differential pick. As the opener and wicket-keeper, he’s still a solid batter. If he gets going, he can deliver big fantasy points.
Ravi Bishnoi: Bishnoi’s unique bowling action, where he releases the ball beyond perpendicular (to the left), often ends in wickets by either bowled or LBW (extra fantasy points!). Just two wickets away from 50 T20I wickets, if he gets an opportunity, he’ll be aiming for the milestone in Hyderabad.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib: Although Sakib was expensive in Delhi, his skiddy nature, ability to bowl high-pace and hit-the-deck hard makes him a potential threat.
Towhid Hridoy: Hridoy’s stocks have dropped massively after failing to impress in the first couple of matches, but then, Bangladesh’s batting unit has failed as a whole in both the games. He remains the team’s highest run-scorer in T20Is for 2024, making him an intriguing differential pick for the third and final match of the series.
Mustafizur Rahman (bowling first): Mustafizur remains Bangladesh’s primary death bowler. His ability to pick up cheap wickets in the final overs enhances his fantasy value. Not to mention, he enjoys bowling in Hyderabad, where he’s taken 10 wickets at an economy rate of 6.83, making him an excellent pick if Bangladesh bowls first.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz: India’s right-hand heavy lineup (and their left-handers being good hitters of off-spin) pretty much eliminates his threat as a bowler, but the slightly large boundaries in Hyderabad could play to his advantage. His potential to impact the game with both bat and ball makes him worth considering at least.
As advised earlier, back your visualisation and try out multiple combinations. This is more of a grand leagues match.
I encourage you to build your own Fantasy XI using the insights provided in the article. Instead of giving you a ready-made team, I’ve offered a base team. Use it as a starting point to select the players you believe will lead you to victory!
IND vs BAN 3rd T20 2024 Dream11 Prediction – Base team
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
The inaugural champions of the IPL, Rajasthan Royals, have failed to lift the title since 2008. Over the years, they’ve had quality players in their squad, including 2022 where they reached the final, but failed to win the title for the second time.
They had a strong squad in IPL 2024 as well, but Jos Buttler’s absence in the playoffs hurt them badly. In the end, batting depth hurt the Royals. Shimron Hetmyer, who had been a star performer for them in lower order, failed to get going last season and Rovman Powell too failed to make an impact with the bat.
Despite that, Rajasthan had a good core with a host of Indian players in Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel & Avesh Khan performing well for them. Skipper Sanju Samson too is 29 years old but quite experienced in the IPL.
Along with this, they had a great mix of experience as well with Trent Boult, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Sandeep Sharma being the key players for the men in pink.
Teams are allowed to retain up to 6 Players either through direct retentions or using the Right to Match (RTM). There is no limit for the retentions of overseas players but teams can retain a maximum of two uncapped players. Any Indian player who has last played in international cricket 5+ years ago and has no central contract from the BCCI can be retained as an “uncapped player”.
RTMs will depend on the number of retentions (6 – No. of Players Retained). The salary caps for the retained players is:
1st Retention: 18 Crores
2nd Retention: 14 Crores
3rd Retention: 11 Crores
4th Retention: 18 Crores
5th Retention: 14 Crores
Uncapped Player: 4 Crores
So teams will have to be cautious while retaining the 4th & 5th player as releasing them now and buying them back using the RTM may be a better deal as there aren’t many players who will fetch more than what the amount they’ll be retained for.
Who should RR retain for IPL 2025?Big Headaches for the Royals
With the 4th & 5th retentions costing a big chunk of the purse, there will be plenty of brainstorming for the RR management as they’ve got at least four quality players whom they’d love to retain.
But, the question is are they willing to pay 18 crores or let them into the auction and buy back using the RTM?
Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson will be the first retention for the Royals. He is a integral part of their set-up and has performed well for them over the years. Sanju scored 531 runs in 15 innings last year at an average of 48.30 and struck at 153.50, including five fifties.
He has scored 450+ runs thrice in the last four years, indicating his growing consistency. Samson is young and has the experience of leading the franchise. Of course, he can also keep wickets which makes him a complete package for the Royals.
Expect RR to retain Sanju Samson for IPL 2025.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal is another no-brainer retention for the Rajasthan Royals. The young opener is currently one of the best in world cricket. Yashasvi is a game changer and a proven match-winner. He can single-handedly win games when on song which we’ve already seen in the IPL.
Jaiswal scored 625 runs in 14 games at an average of 48.10 and struck at 163.60 including 5 fifties and a century in 2023. He didn’t have as great a season as he would’ve liked in 2024 (failed to convert starts into big scores) but still scored 435 runs in 15 innings at an average of 31.10 at a rate of 155.90 including a fifty and a hundred.
Expect RR to retain Yashasvi Jaiswal for IPL 2025 as well.
Riyan Parag
IPL 2024 was the breakout season for Riyan Parag. He scored 573 runs in 14 innings at an average of 52.10 and struck at 149.20 including four half-centuries. He was a key batter for the Royals in the middle order and played some exceptional knocks last year.
Parag impressed with the ball too against Sri Lanka. He is just 22 years old, and can contribute with the bat, ball and is an excellent fielder who occupies the hot-spot positions. It may sound big, but Parag should be the third retention ahead of Jos Buttler for the Rajasthan Royals as it might backfire if they let him go into the auction.
Sandeep Sharma
Sandeep Sharma, who last played international cricket back in July 2015, can be retained by the Royals as an uncapped player. He is 31 years old and has been a key bowler for Rajasthan in the last couple of seasons. He picked up 13 wickets in 10 matches last year at an economy of 8.18 and a bowling strike rate of 17.50.
He has been done well in the death overs and he’s very experienced in the IPL. Getting a good domestic pacer at 4 crores will be a good deal for the Royals.
Rajasthan Royals RTM Options
Jos Buttler
It may sound a bit insane when someone suggests that a T20 franchise shouldn’t retain Jos Buttler in the side. However, that’s the predicament RR find themselves in. The fourth retention will cost Rajasthan 18 crores and they can’t really let go of anyone from Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag.
Buttler has had a couple of decent seasons in the last two years. He scored 359 runs in 11 innings in IPL 2024. His average was 39.90 and struck at 140.80 and scored two centuries.
Buttler, without any doubts, is among the best in world cricket. But, he has had some fitness issues in recent times which is a bit concerning. Plus, he’s England’s white-ball captain, so there’s always the possibility of him leaving the tournament like he did back in 2024 which turned to be very costly for Rajasthan. I feel Rajasthan Royals can get him back using the RTM as he’s not expected to go for 18 crores or more in the auction.
Trent Boult
Trent Boult is one of the best pacers in world cricket. He is a genuine wicket-taker with the new ball and can bowl towards the end of the innings as well. Boult was the spearhead of RR’s pace attack in the last auction cycle but they’ll have to let him go into the auction and try getting him back using the RTM option.
Boult had 16 wickets in 15 games last year at an economy of 8.31 and a strike rate of 20. The left-arm pacer was a key player for Rajasthan and they’ll surely look to get him back in Pink for the next few years.
This how Rajasthan Royals are likely to approach the IPL 2025 retentions and they’ll mostly have their key players back if they manage to get both Buttler and Boult using the RTM in the mega auction.
They have the options of using the RTM for players like Yuzvendra Chahal, Dhruv Jurel and even Avesh Khan but all of them can be brought back without using the RTM. They have a core of young Indian players and a great opportunity to build a strong side around them.
Australia all-rounder Cameron Green, who left the England limited overs tour early due to a back injury, has been ruled out of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). It was originally hoped that he would play as a specialist batsman, but the injury was much more serious than first thought.
Journalist Peter Lalor shared the news, with a stress fracture in Green’s back ruling him out of the entire summer. ESPNcricinfo also reported that back surgery is on the cards for the all-rounder, which Green has decided to do, as confirmed officially by Cricket Australia.
Green’s absence makes things all the more trickier for Australia. This will involve more overs for fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, as well as making a call as to who opens the batting with Steve Smith likely to move back to number four.
Both issues are cause of concern for Australia against a strong Indian team who have won their last two series down under and are playing with great confidence. In addition to needing to make a decision on who partners Usman Khawaja, Marsh has been short of bowling of late, with his workload limited in the UK. So, the Australians will need overs out of him heading into the series.
Nevertheless, expect plenty of bowling from Nathan Lyon, who will be after a big series himself. Australia’s most prolific offspinner has found the going tough in India’s last two visits, taking a total of 30 wickets at an average of 37.8 and strike rate of 85.8.
Cameron Green ruled out of 2024/25 BGT due to serious back injury
Green will undergo an operation on his back, ruling him out of action for up to six months. This means he will miss Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka in early 2025 as well as the Champions Trophy. Plus, he will be a big doubt for the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The operation was considered the appropriate course of action as a “unique defect in an adjacent area to the fracture is believed to be contributing to the injury”. It is a similar surgery India’s Jasprit Bumrah underwent, according to cricket.com.au.
India’s first home T20I series as world champions kicked off with an emphatic seven wicket victory with 49 balls to spare over Bangladesh in Gwalior. Despite resting several regulars, India’s depth was on full display.
In our fantasy preview for the match, we identified Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh (bowling first) as the top, safe captaincy options, and both delivered with standout performances, serving as C and VC respectively in the Dream Team. Varun Chakravarthy also made good on our analysis, picking up three wickets and dismissing Jaker Ali bowled, exactly as visualized.
As the focus shifts to Delhi, India will aim to wrap up the series with another dominant showing. With key performances from the opening game fresh in mind, let’s dive into who could make the difference in the second T20I.
Bangladesh may consider bringing in Tanzid Hasan, who, prior to Shanto’s 27 in Gwalior, was their second-highest run-scorer in T20Is for 2024, trailing only Towhid Hridoy. There’s also an outside chance of Tanzim Hasan Sakib replacing Shoriful Islam.
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Pitch Report and Weather
This will be Delhi’s first T20I since the first match of the IND vs. SA T20I series in 2022, where South Africa successfully chased down 212 runs with five balls to spare.
In the IPL, the average first innings score surged from 175.5 in 2023 to a whopping 235.2 this year. Notably, in the last two editions, 8 out of 12 matches (i.e. 66.7%) have been won by the team batting first. In 2024, the team batting first won 5 out of 5 times.
A hot and clear night is forecast. Given the stats, the captain who wins the toss may be tempted to bat. But, there is the chance of dew.
IND vs BAN 2nd T20 2024: De
The graph clearly shows that leg-spinners have been the most effective bowlers at this venue in T20s since 2023.
The ground is relatively small, with the shortest boundaries measuring around 58 meters and the longest at about 70 meters. Expect a high-scoring match, particularly if India bats first.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for IND vs BAN 2nd T20 2024 – Top Dream11 Picks for the Match
Top wicket-keeper picks:
Sanju Samson: Looked at ease, timing the ball beautifully at the top of the order. As a wicketkeeper and opener, he’s a must-have for your team.
Top batter picks:
Suryakumar Yadav: Despite his surprisingly poor IPL record at the venue (158 runs in 10 innings, AVG: 15.8, highest score: 26), for which there’s no real logical reason, the Indian skipper is an automatic pick.
Abhishek Sharma: After an unfortunate run-out in Gwalior, he’ll be eager to make up for it, especially with his impressive IPL record in Delhi (AVG: 58.7, SR: 217.3). And, as always, his knack for scoring quick runs through boundaries (bonus fantasy points!) makes him an enticing option.
Towhid Hridoy: He struggled in Gwalior as Mayank Yadav’s maiden over derailed his innings, but Hridoy is still Bangladesh’s best T20 batter, and it’s hard to overlook him on a flat wicket.
Top all-rounder picks:
Hardik Pandya: Batting at No. 5, bowling four full overs, and fielding in key positions, Hardik’s all-round involvement makes him a must-pick.
Rishad Hossain: Lower-order batter but likely to get time at the crease given Bangladesh’s fragile lineup. More importantly, as discussed earlier, his leg-spin could prove to be effective at this venue.
Top bowler picks:
Varun Chakravarthy: Though he had an expensive start in Gwalior, Chakravarthy bounced back with 3/16 in his last three overs, beating Bangladesh’s batters on both edges. His straight lines often lead to bowled/LBW dismissals, which can earn valuable extra fantasy points.
Mayank Yadav: The 22-year-old bamboozled Bangladesh’s batting with his high-pace hard-length deliveries, and there’s no reason why he can’t do the same again.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Team
Arshdeep Singh: In-form and the Player of the Match in Gwalior with 3/14, Arshdeep could have easily been in the top picks section. If India bowls first, he’s an absolute must-have. For head-to-head or smaller contests, he can’t be left out due to his high selection percentage. However, in larger contests where India bowls second, you can take the calculated risk of leaving him out. The average Powerplay score in IPL 2024 at Delhi was over 80, and wickets were hard to come by for any bowling type.
Litton Das: Like Samson, Litton opens the innings and takes the gloves, which should’ve made him a default pick. But his poor form this year (236 runs in 15 T20Is, AVG: 16.9, SR: 95.5) makes him a gamble. Still, on a flat Delhi wicket, I’d be tempted to back him one more time.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz: Mehidy’s 35*(32) in Gwalior helped keep Bangladesh’s innings afloat, and he picked up a wicket too. But on a flat Delhi pitch against a largely right-handed Indian batting order, how effective will his bowling be? That said, he offers all-round value. With his high selection percentage, dropping him in smaller leagues might not be wise, but in larger contests, you can afford to take the risk.
Nitish Kumar Reddy: Reddy’s fantasy potential has risen after batting at No. 4 ahead of Riyan Parag and bowling a couple of useful overs in the middle, making him a top differential pick for this match.
Mustafizur Rahman (bowling first): Bangladesh’s first-choice death bowler, The Fizz, will bowl critical overs at the end of the innings, where he can accumulate fantasy points by picking up cheap wickets.
Mahmudullah: With a very low selection percentage, Mahmudullah can be a fantastic differential pick in bigger leagues. He’s likely to be Bangladesh’s sixth bowling option and may be called upon in this match. Plus, if there’s another top-order collapse, batting at No. 5, he could rack up valuable runs.
I encourage you to build your own Fantasy XI using the insights provided in the article. Instead of giving you a ready-made team, I’ve offered a base team. Use it as a starting point to select the players you believe will lead you to victory!
IND vs BAN 2nd 2024 Dream11 Prediction
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
Delhi Capitals (DC) are among those teams yet to win an IPL title, and they’ll be hoping to do so in 2025. They have failed to qualify for the playoffs since 2021 and their best season till date is when they lost the final in 2020 against Mumbai Indians.
DC have had quality players in their ranks over the years but they’ve failed to perform consistently as a team. They parted ways with their head coach Ricky Ponting and it will be quite interesting to see how they approach the retentions and mega auction for IPL 2025. It shouldn’t be a big concern for them on whom to retain ahead of the auction. We’ll talk about that but first let’s understand the retention rules.
Teams are allowed to retain up to six players either through direct retentions or using the Right to Match (RTM). There is no limit for the retentions of overseas players but teams can retain a maximum of two uncapped players. Any Indian player who last played international cricket 5+ years ago and has no central contract from the BCCI can be retained as an “uncapped player”.
RTMs will depend on the number of retentions (6 – No. of Players Retained). The salary caps for the retained players is:
1st Retention: 18 Crores
2nd Retention: 14 Crores
3rd Retention: 11 Crores
4th Retention: 18 Crores
5th Retention: 14 Crores
Uncapped Player: 4 Crores
So teams will have to be cautious while retaining the 4th & 5th player as releasing them now and buying them back using the RTM may be a better deal as there aren’t many players who will fetch more than what the amount they’ll be retained for.
Who DC should retain for IPL 2025: A Solid Indian Core
DC had a relatively young squad in IPL 2024. Their batters did well but they lacked quality and depth, plus a X-Factor player with the ball. They can do well as a team if they are able to fix these issues.
Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant will be the first retention. He provides an aggressive middle order option. In fact, the dynamic left-hander can bat anywhere in the order.
Pant specialises in taking the attack to the opposition and he’ll lead the Capitals as well. He had a good season in IPL 2024 where he scored 446 runs in 13 innings at an average of 40.50 and struck at 155.40, including 3 fifties. The keeper-batter has been a key player for DC over the years and he’s expected to be the face of the franchise for many more years to come.
Players DC should retain for IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant.
Axar Patel
Axar Patel has been a consistent performer for the Delhi Capitals with both bat & ball in the past few seasons. His batting has improved exceptionally well, which we saw in the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Axar is also flexible with his batting order which is a great thing for the Capitals and he is a proven performer with the ball as well.
He scored 235 runs in 12 innings in IPL 2024 at an average of 29.40, striking at 131.30 and picked up 11 wickets at an economy of 7.66 and his bowling strike rate was 24. He is a true all-rounder and should be the second retention for the Delhi Capitals.
Players DC should retain for IPL 2025: Axar Patel.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav is amongst the best spinners in white-ball cricket. He is a genuine wicket-taker and has been a crucial player for DC, especially, in the middle overs of the game. He picks up wickets in clusters and has been consistent in recent seasons.
Kuldeep picked up 16 wickets in IPL 2024 at an economy of 8.65 and strike rate of 16.10. At the moment, he’s arguably the best spinner in Indian white-ball circuit and is expected to be the third retention for DC.
Abhishek Porel (Uncapped)
Delhi Capitals can also retain the 22-year-old Abhishek Porel ahead of the mega auction. The young wicket-keeper batter impressed a lot last season where he scored 327 runs in 12 games at an average of 32.70 and strike rate of 159.50. This included a couple of fifties.
Abhishek did well while batting in the top order for DC and he also provides a back-up wicket-keeping option for Delhi. He is young, talented and can turn out to be a great investment for the Delhi Capitals.
Right to Match Picks for Delhi Capitals
Harry Brook
Harry Brook was picked up by the Delhi Capitals for IPL 2024 but he had to withdraw from the tournament due to personal reasons. He should be available for IPL 2025 and is eligible to be retained using RTM.
Brook is one of the most impressive young batters in world cricket. He had an exceptional ODI series against Australia recently where he led the side in Jos Buttler’s absence. Brook can open the innings or bat in the middle order and plays shots all around the groundl. He is always improving against spin as well.
He didn’t have a great debut season back in 2023 when he played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, but he’s a quality batter and surely worth retaining in the auction.
Tristan Stubbs
Delhi can also use their RTM on the likes of Mukesh Kumar or Khaleel Ahmed as both are quality domestic pacers. However, I feel using the RTM on Tristan Stubbs will be a better decision. Stubbs scored 378 runs in 13 games at an excellent average of 54 and a whopping strike rate of 190.90 including three fifties.
Stubbs is currently amongst the best middle order batters in white-ball cricket. He is capable of winning games single-handedly and retaining him will give good depth to the Capitals in their batting.
There are many other players who DC can consider retaining like Jake-Fraser McGurk, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed & Anrich Nortje. But, most of them can be brought back cheaply compared to the retention amount.
Retaining the likes of Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and using RTM for Harry Brook & Tristan Stubbs will form a solid young core. Plus, their middle order will be mighty strong.
They’ll have an excellent squad for IPL 2025 if they can build a good top order and pace attack on top of the retentions.
India’s recent 2-0 victory over Bangladesh in the Test series was capped off by a phenomenal display in Kanpur. In a match where rain stole two-and-a-half days, India raced to a result, blitzing through just 312 deliveries across both innings at a staggering run rate of 7.36 – the highest ever in a Test match.
Amidst the chatter of approach and legacy, the triumph in Kanpur served as a powerful testament to the team’s unmatched skills, without which neither taking 20 wickets in 121.2 overs nor scoring 383 runs in 52 overs would’ve been possible.
While fans are still buzzing over the team’s fearless style of play, the stage is now set for another showdown as the T20 series kicks off this Sunday in Gwalior.
While adding an extra bowler is an option, having four bowling options in the top six and India’s preference for batting depth — demonstrated in the T20Is in Sri Lanka — makes this unlikely. Varun Chakravarthy could replace Ravi Bishnoi, given his KKR experience and Gambhir’s influence.
IND vs BAN 1st T20 2024: Suryakumar Yadav is ready to lead India.
Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, Gwalior Pitch Report and Weather
The newly-built Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium will be hosting its first international match. “In the 12 games played here in June, teams crossed 200 four times. The pitches here have supported batters and it won’t change on Sunday as well,” a Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) official told The Indian Express.
There even was a game between the Bhopal Leopards and the Malwa Panthers on the 21st of June in which 517 runs were scored in 39.9 overs. A very hot evening is forecast.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for IND vs BAN 1st T20 2024 – Top Dream11 Picks for the Match
Top wicket-keeper picks:
Litton Das: Despite struggling for form in T20Is in 2024 (232 runs in 14 innings, AVG: 17.8, SR: 94.7), Das remains one of Bangladesh’s best options with the bat. His top-order batting role and potential wicket-keeping duties make him a fine fantasy pick.
Sanju Samson: Like Das, Samson will not only keep wickets for India but also bat in the top-order. Moreover, he’s entering the T20I series on a high note, having scored a century and two 40s his last three innings of the Duleep Trophy, all at healthy strike rates.
Top batter picks:
Suryakumar Yadav: Without question, the best T20 batter in the world today. The absence of a left-arm spinner in Bangladesh’s line-up make him a prime candidate to dominate in this series.
Towhid Hridoy: With 865 runs at a SR of 145.13, Hridoy is the highest run-scorer in the Bangladesh Premier League since 2023, and has been one of their most consistent T20 batters in recent times.
Abhishek Sharma: With a staggering strike rate over 200 in IPL 2024, Abhishek Sharma stormed into the Indian T20I squad for the series against Zimbabwe, where he notched up an excellent century in just 47 balls. His knack for scoring score runs through boundaries (bonus fantasy points!) makes him an enticing option.
Top all-rounder picks:
Hardik Pandya: India’s premier all-rounder, Pandya has been in fine form after a challenging IPL. Besides his 13 wickets at an average of 19.5, he’s averaging 43.8 at a SR of 153.3 with the bat in T20Is in 2024. His multi-faceted contributions make him undroppable.
Rishad Hossain: Standing at 6’2”, Rishad is a towering 22-year-old wrist-spinner who has impressed with both bat and ball. He was Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup, and will be eager to leave his mark in this series against India.
Riyan Parag: Parag bowled his full quota of four overs in 2/3 matches in the T20I series in Sri Lanka. While he may not complete his overs here, he’s expected to contribute at least a couple in each game, in addition to batting in the top five. His potential to chip in with both bat and ball makes him an appealing pick.
Top bowler picks:
Arshdeep Singh: The left-arm seamer’s extremely high selection percentage makes him very difficult to leave out. He’s bound to bowl crucial overs at the death, where he can rack up fantasy points with wickets.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Team
Mustafizur Rahman (bowling first): Bangladesh’s first-choice death bowler, The Fizz, will bowl critical overs at the end of the innings, where he can accumulate fantasy points by picking up cheap wickets.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib: With 11 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.21 in the T20 World Cup — including a 2-fer against India featuring the prized scalps of Kohli and SKY — Tanzim Hasan, who appears to have added extra pace to his game, could be a standout differential for your fantasy team.
Harshit Rana (especially bowling first): As KKR’s leading wicket-taker in the IPL this year, Rana, at just 22, demonstrated the wide range of skills he possesses and is emerging as one of the country’s most promising fast-bowling prospects.
Varun Chakravarthy: If he plays, Chakravarthy — arguably India’s top T20 spinner — could be a decent option. Bowling a stump-to-stump line, he brings LBW/bowled dismissals into play, which can earn valuable extra fantasy points.
Top safe C/VC options: Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh (bowling first) Top risky C/VC options: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman/Tanzim Hasan Sakib (bowling first)
IND vs BAN 1st T20 2024 Dream11 Prediction
I encourage you to build your own Fantasy XI using the insights provided in the article. Instead of giving you a ready-made team, I’ve offered a base team. Use it as a starting point to select the players you believe will lead you to victory!
IND vs BAN 1st T20 2024 Dream11 Prediction
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes, with the stats and writer’s views in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
Crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points seemed to be slipping away for India as the Green Park puddles wouldn’t budge. Two-and-a-half days were lost to inclement weather and poor drainage, leaving both India and Bangladesh needing to produce something special to force a victory in Kanpur.
Rohit Sharma’s India was the team to do so, achieving the win with an incredible one-and-a-half sessions to spare. After the impressive Yashasvi Jaiswal hit three fours in the first over, Rohit made his intentions clear, belting his first ball for six off Khaled Mahmud after India bowled Bangladesh out for 233 on the fourth day.
It led to deserved praise for Rohit the leader in the aftermath. “When we gathered inside [the dressing room] for a small huddle, Rohit Sharma mentioned that we are going to go hammer and tongs and try and make, you know, 400 runs, probably, in 50 overs,” said R Ashwin.
“Rohit walked out and just tonked the first ball for a six. So, when you walk the talk, I think obviously the dressing room doesn’t have any other choice but to follow that same pattern. We had 50 runs out of three overs. There was no looking back after that.”
However, some of the praise I feel has gone a little overboard. “India have had many captains that have transformed the way they play, but Rohit might just be outdoing them all,” posted ESPNcricinfo, linking to an article by Alagappan Muthu stating Rohit’s legacy is above the captains before him as he is “cutting right into one of the core values of Indian cricket” and “rewiring his own generation and encouraging the next one to put the win above all else.”
Such a statement is always going to divide opinion and generate huge reach on social media. So, fair play to ESPNcricinfo on that front. However, is it right? With 18 matches under his belt as captain taking over a side that already had a very strong standing in Test cricket, is it too premature to state Rohit’s legacy stands above his predecessors?
As an Australian who is on the outside looking in, I think so.
Rohit Sharma is doing a fine job as Test captain, but talk of a greater captaincy legacy than Kohli is still premature.
In 2014, Virat Kohli took over an Indian team that was on its knees following MS Dhoni’s prompt retirement midway through the Australian series. They had lost three consecutive Test series in a row in South Africa (1-0), New Zealand (1-0), England (3-1), and were 2-0 down in Australia after as many matches. They had also lost eight consecutive Tests away to England and Australia in 2011/12.
The playing XI for home Tests would often consist of one pace bowler who would play as a specialist fielder. As a result, they barely fired a shot overseas. In fact, fast bowlers averaged 36.65 runs per wicket and struck every 63.9 deliveries under Dhoni’s captaincy.
Now, this isn’t an attempt to bash Dhoni in the slightest. I have the utmost respect for him as a player and consider him to be one of the finest white-ball captains the game has ever seen. His three ICC titles and countless memories with Chennai Super Kings are testament to that. However, India’s record away from home highlighted the task the next captain faced.
Rohit, on the other hand, has taken over a settled team sprinkled with incredible bowling prowess. Of course, your man-management skills and on-field tactics must be sharp to get the best out of your team, no matter the talent in the squad. Rohit is doing a fine job in that regard. However, when looking at legacies, one must always look at what the captain took over when he began and where he helped take the team to.
Virat Kohli helped transform the India team into one which could compete and win overseas.
Kohli, after making an immediate impression as skipper in Australia in 2014/15, went on to captain 68 Tests – the most of any player from India. Out of these 68, Kohli won 40 with a win percentage of 58.82, putting him second behind Steve Waugh (71.92) and Ricky Ponting (62.33) among players who have led their team in at least 25 Tests.
“Going back to Kohli’s start of captaincy, (he) played a big role in turning the cricket around, and (Rahul) Dravid has continued the same in the recent four years. The influence of someone like that (Kohli) around a team would be great, and they’ve got star players,” Ponting said to Sky Sports earlier this year.
This is a stunning achievement when you consider where India were when Virat took over. What’s more stunning, however, is the journey towards the result. As mentioned, India’s pace bowling threat was non-existent, but Kohli drove a change in culture as well as a style of play. Instead of fast bowlers being specialist fielders at home, they began focusing more on their fitness and playing key roles even when conditions suited spin. Soon after, India were competing – and winning – away from home, with their first-ever series win in Australia in 2018/19 the fruits of the labour.
"Virat Kohli was not a tactical captain" "Virat Kohli's test captaincy was only shouting mc bc on field"
Ishant Sharma was a bowler reborn, benefitting from shifting to a fuller length. He took 121 wickets at 25.85 under Kohli. Mohammed Shami (168 wickets at 24.82) and Umesh Yadav (104 wickets at 30.68) were other beneficiaries.
But, one of the highlights of Virat’s captaincy was fast-tracking Jasprit Bumrah to the Test team when many thought it was too soon. Bumrah, who took 103 wickets at 21.55 under Virat’s captaincy, is considered the best fast bowler India have produced.
Bumrah was fast-tracked into the Indian Test team with incredible success.
Overall, India’s fast bowlers averaged 26 under Kohli – more than 10 runs less than under Dhoni. The strike rate of 51.3 was more than 12 points better. In this period, India took 20 wickets in a Test 28 times, including 13 overseas.
Now, this is not to say Rohit can’t surpass Virat’s legacy as Test captain in the future. For me, it’s too early to say it has now. After all, we are talking about this following a 2-0 series win at home against a team they should be beating, with all due respect. When we talk about incredible attacking cricket and belief in the seemingly impossible, India’s near miss of their chase of 364 at Adelaide in 2014, where Kohli hit a sumptuous 141 off 175 balls, is the kind of attitude that was soon embedded in the Indian team.
However, missed opportunities in England and South Africa in 2018 and 2022 is a painful point for Virat and India, which Rohit can help rectify. India tour England for five Tests in 2025, which shapes up to be a thrilling series against an attacking English side. One thing is for sure – Rohit will ensure India’s standards are sky-high, driving every one of his players to express themselves.
If Rohit can help lead his team to victory there, as well as winning a five-match series in Australia, drawing comparisons with his predecessors would be far more appropriate. For now, it shouldn’t be understated or forgotten what the previous captain did for Indian cricket.
