CLT20 2014: Fantasy Guru - The knockout special

Kolkata Knight Riders v Hobart Hurricanes

If KKR bat first

This fixture wouldn't be as easy for Kolkata Knight Riders as it may look, given that Gautam Gambhir now pretty much goes into games with a 3-man spin attack and all-rounders to fill in for the rest, which leaves them prone to attack in the remaining 8 overs.

With Kuldeep Yadav finding it difficult to create an impact in the Powerplay overs and Piyush Chawla, being a leg-spinner, not likely to be used early on in the game, chances are highly likely that, with the exception of Sunil Narine's one over, Hobart Hurricanes would not face any of the 3 frontline tweakers in the first 6 overs. Whether they will able to cash in on that will decide the fate of the game. If they do, Shoaib Malik could steer them through to a competitive score, keeping in mind Narine will have his variations in check after being reported.

If Ben Dunk, Tim Paine and Aiden Blizzard don't deliver in the first 8 overs, the middle order will be left with too much to do. The Knight Riders' top order, on the other hand, will be facing an acid test against the trio of Hurricanes' fast bowlers - Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger and Ben Laughlin, especially if they bat under the lights (bat second). With Jacques Kallis being a shadow of his former self, none of the top 4, including that of Robin Uthappa, are good enough to get through the new ball spells if the ball does a bit.

Manish Pandey, despite scoring plenty in the last match, will be left out of my team, since he will be up against a solid bowling unit. A lot of work has to be done by Ryan ten Doeschate and Suryakumar Yadav if the Knight Riders are to ease through this match with a win.

Considering all these factors, bat first or bowl first, 5 players make their way into my team without question: Narine, Kuldeep, Chawla, Malik and, for combination reasons, Blizzard.

Condition 1: Knight Riders bat first

In addition to the above mentioned 5 players, Robin Uthappa, Ten Doeschate and Doug Bollinger will be added. Bollinger ahead of Hilfenhaus, as the former is relatively better at the death. Uthappa comes in, as there wouldn’t be too much of swing if it is a 4’o clock start. Ten Doeschate can be trusted with the responsibility of taking the team to a competitive total.

Condition 2: Knighr Riders chase

In addition to the above mentioned 5 players, both Hilfenhaus and Bollinger make their way in. Under lights, Hilfenhaus against a suspect top 4 has a potential for a lot of points. I would like to have Ten Doeschate again, but the combination doesn’t let me have him. So, while he could come in handy, I have no other option but to have him out. Uthappa is one notable exclusion, but I really don’t see him surviving the pacers.

Chennai Super Kings v Kings XI Punjab

With Glenn Maxwell struggling to overcome his weaknesses against the deliveries going away from him, a lot would depend on how David Miller fares as far as this match is concerned. Given the inept bowling attack of the Super Kings, especially with the new ball, both the Kings XI openers - Virender Sehwag and Manan Vohra - could be amongst runs, as well.

While Vohra could give in to the occasion, the right hander needs to be taken in, as he solves a couple of major concerns: budget and combination. Sehwag can’t be ruled out from scoring heavily, as, even in his worst days, the out-of-favour Indian opener takes the spinners to task, which is the Chennai-based side’s strength.

Leaving out Maxwell can cost me, but it doesn’t make sense to have him in repeatedly knowing he isn’t at his best and gives it away too cheaply.

Coming to the bowling side of it, George Bailey could employ Akshar Patel to price out the overseas opening duo of Kings XI - Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum, and the left-arm spinner is fully capable of doing it. Karanveer Singh will be handful, as well, as if the openers escape the Akshar-trap, they will definitely fall prey to the leggie. Not to mention the urge to score runs resulting in a wicket or two for the spinners. So, both of them find a place in my team.

Regarding the Super Kings, Suresh Raina is a no-brainer. It would only be a matter of time before one of the spinners get rid of Smith and McCullum. The issue, though, is what kind of damage would they do before they are sent back to the pavilion. I find it a gamble worth taking, and hence draft McCullum in. Faf du Plessis at 4 has never interested me.

Tougher games call for better players, and this could be the match where MS Dhoni does his customary thing: destroy the opposition. Ravindra Jadeja is a safe bet, as he may be pushed up the order to counter Akshar; even if he isn’t, he is sure to bowl 4 overs. Therefore, both of them will find a place in my team.

Players in (in preference order)

Suresh Raina

David Miller

Akshar Patel

Karanveer Singh

Ravindra Jadeja

Virender Sehwag

MS Dhoni

Brendon McCullum