Despite losing the opener, round one has belonged to South Africa after that resounding win against Australia. And now these two sides meet again at a venue where the Proteas conceded 377 runs against the same opposition nine years ago. Even though both these sides present a completely different look now, the conditions are expected to be similar as the teams are set to be welcomed by a batting paradise as opposed to the slow pitches in the first round. So pick your fantasy based on that.
Batsmen:
David Warner might have had a poor game in his last outing but he also scored a half-century against the West Indies and his form in the IPL was nothing short of extraordinary. With short boundaries on offer, he is a must have in the team despite the price tag. The same goes with someone like Steven Smith. He might not have fired in this tournament yet but things should change with the change in venue.
As the skipper, Smith will be more motivated especially after that embarrassing loss. Hashim Amla is another option to be explored but he will cost 7500 rupees just like Aaron Finch. You cannot take both of them especially if you want to pick AB de Villiers In your side. In that case, you can pick Farhan Behardien as the flexible player as he can also send in some tidy overs apart from being the finisher.
Wicket-keeper batsman:
Yes Quinton de Kock could make a huge impact here but with shorter boundaries expected, it is just too big a gamble to leave out de Villiers. Fantasy users will have to take in account the kind of damage he can cause to your side if he isn’t present. But if you are keen on backing someone like de Kock to do the job, then pick him and strengthen the batting department by picking Faf du Plessis, who is returning from an injury.
All-rounder:
Glenn Maxwell is a serious contender considering the conditions that are on offer but he is also terribly out of form so the confidence levels are low at the moment. Likes of James Faulkner and Mitchell Marsh are other options to be explored but none of them have been in great form recently and they also cost a lot of money compared to the South African Chris Morris.
Morris has great abilities with the ball which will come to the fore on perfect batting conditions. If he can deliver at the death with his variations, then he can have a say on the scoring rate and could also end up picking a few wickets in the process. With the bat, he is going to be dangerous with shorter boundaries aiding him. He costs only 6500 rupees and should remain your first choice all-rounder unless you opt for a gamble.
Bowlers:
Mitchell Starc is expected to return to the side after being rested for the previous encounter. But will he be effective on this batting paradise against a team that has the potential to nullify his threat? It is advisable to wait and watch the kind of impact he can make before picking him for the future fantasy matches. A wicket-taking option like Adam Zampa should always be under your radar irrespective of the conditions that are on offer and he is also going to cost just 4500 bucks.
From the South African point of view, Aaron Phangiso is an option since he can be a decent container on this surface. He will cost only 5000 rupees and the users are expected to have less money to spend considering a heavy batting line up that is on offer. With young pace sensation Kagiso Rabada costing just 5000 rupees, users can consider him as well for their fantasy sides considering the likes of Morne Morkel cost more.
Our ideal team: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Farhan Behardien, AB de Villiers, Chris Morris, Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, Adam Zampa and Aaron Phangiso.
DISCLAIMER: The article just contains suggestions and Sportskeeda are not responsible or liable for the outcome.
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