Fantasy: Dhawan and Narine will be safe bets

The battle of the mid-table dwellers will see Punjab Kings go up against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Match No. 2 of the Indian Premier League 2023.

Pitch and ConditionsSpinners have had a bigger say at the PCA Stadium, Mohali. In T20s since 2020, spinners have conceded runs at 6.6 RPO and taken a wicket every 17 balls. The same numbers for pacers stand at 8.5 and 22 respectively. 

The Mohali T20I between India and Australia from last year saw the 200-mark being breached in both innings. Even there, spinners conceded at 8.5 RPO and took a wicket every 25 balls, while pacers conceded at 12.1 RPO and took a wicket every 33 balls. 

Suggested TeamWhile you could go for the above team, you can also choose your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI. 

Captaincy Options

For Small Leagues: Sunil Narine (C), Shikhar Dhawan (VC)

For Grand Leagues: Nitish Rana (C), Jitesh Sharma (VC)

Stats That Matter

Punjab were the worst batting side against spin in IPL 2022. (Balls/Dismissal - 17.4, Strike Rate - 114.9)

Kolkata were the worst batting side against pace in IPL 2022. (Balls/Dismissal - 15.3, Strike Rate - 142.3)

Nitish Rana averages just 20.9 against PBKS, which is his lowest against an opponent in this competition. In his last five innings against them, he has been dismissed for a single-digit score four times, with three of them being ducks.

Tim Southee has had the wood over Shikhar Dhawan in T20s. Shikhar averages 16.7 against him and has a strike rate of 98.7

Grand League Punts

A spin-friendly track could mean that Rana will be fed a diet of spin, something he would relish. Last season, he struck at 151.4 against spinners and averaged 32.6 runs/wicket.

Jitesh Sharma was a revelation in IPL 2022, and has seen an extended purple patch. In all T20s since 2021, he averages 35.2 and has a scarcely believable strike rate of 178.9. It being the Mohali's first game of the season, the surface is likely to be fresh and conducive for run-scoring.

Probable XIs

Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Matt Short, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Sikandar Raza, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana (C), Mandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakaravarthy.