Transfers made – 2; Transfers remaining – 66
Martin Guptill out – Andre Russell in
Rohit Sharma out – Gautam Gambhir in
Ashish Reddy out – Manan Vohra in
Batting captain – Gautam Gambhir
Bowling captain – Andre Russell
Batting captaincy options – Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey
It might be surprising that I have left out both Murali Vijay and Manan Vohra from the list, but despite the form they are in, they will up against a quality bowling attack that can make short work of them. Now, among the 3 in contention, Pandey’s success will depend on how soon one of the other two gets out, something I don’t like banking on.
Between Gambhir and Uthappa, the latter has been struggling to convert his starts and so it has to be the Knight Riders’ captain.
Bowling captaincy options – Andre Russell and Morne Morkel
Umesh Yadav and Morne Morkel getting in and doing well last match will have an effect on Russell’s bowling potential in the upcoming matches, and it is expected to be the same till one of them gets dropped. But since I don’t even have a single bowling option for this match, I will anyway have to waste a substitution to get one in. It, therefore, makes sense to rope in someone who is equally good with the bat.
Chawla will have to deal with two left-handers in the middle order on a good batting wicket; unless they bat as recklessly as they did against Mishra, the leggie won’t be getting many wickets here.
Nature of the deck – Flat
Leftovers
I have already explained enough about why I wouldn’t have any of Shaun Marsh, David Miller, Shakib Al Hasan or Glenn Maxwell in my team. None of them have put in a performance to change that stance.
Some of you might be tempted to get Maxwell in after his cameo last game, but he neither likes disconcerting bounce, which Morkel generates, nor the ball being taken away from him, which both their spinners are capable of. It is for this reason that the Knight Riders specialise in getting the Australian all-rounder out. Also, he bats at No.5, which is not a position that usually returns you a lot of points.
Uncapped pick – Manan Vohra
