Rising Pune Supergiants vs Kings XI Punjab
Transfers made – 2; Transfers remaining – 5
Virat Kohli out – Ajinkya Rahane in
Quinton de Kock out – Adam Zampa in
(Uncapped) Deepak Hooda out – Krunal Pandya (combination pick, uncapped trick employed)
Batting captain – Ajinkya Rahane
Bowling captain – Adam Zampa
Batting captaincy options – Ajinkya Rahane, Murali Vijay, Hashim Amla, Usman Khawaja
Of the 4, Rahane more often than not would return you a 50 irrespective of the situation his team finds itself in. The deck at Vizag has been unpredictable, with teams batting first finding it extremely difficult to put bat on ball, while teams chasing coast their way through.
Even if you consider the fact that teams batting second know what they are after and hence they are more successful at the venue, it doesn’t explain the ease in shot-making that we have seen during the successful chases here. So, I don’t want to use more substitutes than what is absolutely necessary on this match.
Bowling captaincy options – Adam Zampa, Sandeep Sharma and Mohit Sharma
Zampa has been unbelievable this IPL, and he is being used defensively as well by MS Dhoni – a ploy that usually increases a bowler’s fantasy potential. Kings XI implode even in normal situations; I don’t expect them to fare any better against the leg-spinner on this deck. Therefore I bring him in and captain him. The Sharmas, on the other hand, have been consistently good, but don’t seem to be getting too many wickets to show for.
Nature of the deck - We have so far seen two pitches, a bowling paradise and the other a reasonably good batting deck. Look out for what happens at the toss.
Uncapped player order – KC Cariappa, Deepak Chahar, Murugan Ashwin, Anureet Singh
KXIP – Fantasy Clinchers
Almost every bowling unit gets canned at Chinnaswamy, so there is no logical reason for them to make any changes – which makes it difficult to predict. Considering how ‘tactically’ they have cut down on their needless players, I don’t think there are any on the bench worthy of being given chances either.
RPSG – Fantasy Clinchers
When Dhoni puts his belief on a player, he can pretty much do nothing and still have his place secured in the side – Thisara Perera is a classic example of that. Given how the 33-year-old talked about using Perera as a specialist death bowler next season after the match against Delhi Daredevils, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him playing again at the cost of more deserving players.
They could try a couple of new players like they have done in the last two matches, but it’s anyone’s guess as to who will replace whom.
Match call – Chasing team to win.
Gujarat Lions vs Mumbai Indians
Transfers made – 1; Transfers remaining – 4
Ajinkya Rahane out – Rohit Sharma in
(uncapped) Adam Zampa out – Deepak Hooda in (uncapped trick employed)
Batting captain – Rohit Sharma
Bowling captain – Dwayne Bravo (Bumrah and McClenaghan are better options)
Batting captaincy options – Rohit Sharma, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina
Rohit is the most dependable of the available lot, and therefore, I would stick with him. Mumbai Indians have one of those attacks that McCullum can come good against – Krunal doesn’t really spin the ball, Harbhajan Singh spins it in, and there are no pacers who can swing it. Unless you have a lot of subs remaining, that’s not a gamble worth taking though. Guptill more or less comes under similar category as well.
Harbhajan Singh has got the better of Raina before and with pacers who can bounce him out, the Gujarat captain might not be a great option. I expect Bumrah and McClenaghan to sort out Dwayne Smith, while there are a lot of factors that should go their way for the likes of Ambati Rayudu and Aaron Finch to produce good returns.
Bowling captaincy options - Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell McClenaghan, Dwayne Bravo
All these 3 could easily give you a couple of wickets. With Bravo already in, I have just decided to captain him. I had to pick between the Caribbean allrounder, who gave me two matches as against one of these two Mumbai Indians pacers who gave me just one – I went with the former. Bumrah and McClenaghan are clearly better options for this match though.
Uncapped player order – Krunal Pandya, Pravin Tambe, Shivil Kaushik, Shadab Jakati, Eklavya Dwivedi
Nature of the deck – The deck used here last match had a bit of assistance for swing bowlers up front, good carry for pacers in general and pretty much nothing for spinners. Today, however, will see a different one. Again, you will get some clues at the toss.
MI – Fantasy Clinchers
There are no reasons for Mumbai Indians to change their playing XI, with everything coming together exceptionally well for them last match. Looks like I would have to wait another season to see Nathu Singh in action.
GL – Fantasy Clinchers
The Lions might bring in a pacer for Jakati given how easily Mumbai Indians busted the Daredevils’ ploy to counter them with spinners. Apart from that, the rest of the players should keep their place.
Match call – Mumbai Indians to win
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