2018-2019 Ranji Trophy semifinal, Kerala vs Vidarbha: Dream11 Prediction, Playing XI Updates & Fantasy Cricket Tips - January 24th, 2019

In the second semi-final of the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy, defending champions Vidarbha take on Kerala in what promises to be an exhibition of good cricket over the next five days.

While Vidarbha have been rampant in the competition with the possession of the likes of Umesh Yadav and Wasim Jaffer, Kerala have quietly gone about their business and will have nothing to lose after already punching over the weight to an extent.

With the match set to take place at Wayanad, Kerala, it is sure to be another great match in the Ranji Trophy competition this year.

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Squads to choose from

Vidarbha

Faiz Fazal (C), Wasim Jaffer, Sanjay Ramaswamy, Ganesh Satish, Akshay Wadkar, Akshay Wakhare, Umesh Yadav, Rajneesh Gurbani, Aditya Sarwate, Mohit Kale, Suniket Bingewar, Atharwa Taide, Apoorv Wankhade, Aditya Thakare and Siddesh Wath

Kerala

Ponnam Rahul, Sachin Baby (C), Vinoop Manoharan, Sanju Samson, Vishnu Vinod, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Jalaj Saxena, Sijomon Joseph, Basil Thampi, MD Nideesh, Sandeep Warrier, Akshay Chandran, Arun Karthik, Rohan Prem and V Jagadeesh

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Playing XI Updates

Vidarbha

Vidarbha destroyed Uttarakhand in what was a brilliant display of pace bowling from Umesh Yadav. With Wasim Jaffer and Wadkar going strong, Vidarbha have every right to be counted as favourites for this match. They should field the same side that won them the quarterfinal match.

Possible XI: Fazal (C), Ramaswamy, Jaffer, Satish, Kale, Wadkar (WK), Sarwate, Wakhare, Bingewar, Umesh and Gurbani

Kerala

Kerala would be sweating on Sanju Samson's fitness after the star batsman was injured in the first innings against Gujarat. He should be fit for the semi-final match with Kerala also ideally fielding the same side for their historic clash against Vidarbha.

The onus will be on Jalaj Saxena again to turn the tide towards Kerala and guide them to an improbable win over the defending champions.

Possible XI: Rahul, Azharuddeen (WK), Joseph, Manoharan, Sachin Baby (C), Samson/Arun Karthik, Vinod, Saxena, Thampi, Nideesh and Warrier

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Fantasy Tips and Suggestions

Wicket-keeper: Vishnu Vinod is the preferred wicket-keeper although Wadkar is in brilliant form too. The former RCB opener has the ability to destroy bowling attacks and if Kerala are to upstage the defending champions, then Vinod has to fire big.

Batsmen: Sachin Baby, Wasim Jaffer and Sanjay Ramaswamy are viable picks to go for. Faiz Fazal has also been in good form and could be a useful pick as well along with Ponnam Rahul.

All-rounders: Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarwate have done exceedingly well for their respective teams and should be amongst the eleven players being drafted into the side

Bowlers: Umesh Yadav, Rajneesh Gurbani, Basil Thampi and Sandeep Warrier are the ideal set of bowlers to select in your fantasy sides. Umesh Yadav is fresh off a nine-wicket haul in the quarter-final while Sandeep Warrier is the leading wicket-taker for the Kerala team. All of them would be useful picks along with Akshay Wakhare.

Captain: Faiz Fazal and Jalaj Saxena are the prime options for captaincy. Faiz Fazal is a very dependable batsman who has a knack of scoring big runs and one can expect him to go big in the semi.

Fantasy Suggestion #1: Vishnu Vinod (WK), Faiz Fazal, Sachin Baby, Mohit Kale, Sanju Samson, Jalaj Saxena, Aditya Sarwate, Sandeep Warrier, Basil Thampi, Umesh Yadav and Rajneesh Gurbani. Captain: Faiz Fazal

Fantasy Suggestion #2: Akshay Wadkar(WK), Wasim Jaffer, Mohit Kale, Sanjay Ramaswamy, Ponnam Rahul, Jalaj Saxena, Vinoop Manoharan, Umesh Yadav, Basil Thampi, Sandeep Warrier and Akshay Wakhare. Captain: Jalaj Saxena

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