Fantasy Preview: Pack the team with batters

It is the second match of the inaugural edition of the WPL, and two teams filled with stars will take center stage. Royal Challengers Bangalore-W will lock horns with Delhi Capitals-W.

As mentioned, both teams are filled with stars. Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Renuka Singh, Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and the list goes on. It is just not about the fame of these players. In both the teams, there is a plethora of international experience.

Between the two Smriti and Lanning, there is a huge gulf of difference in terms of captaincy experience. Lanning has skippered in 100 W-T20Is as compared to 11 by Smriti.

Ground details

The entire WPL is being played across two venues, and both of those have been graveyards for bowlers. However, the sample size has been bigger at Brabourne. In 10 W-T20Is, batting teams have scored at a run rate of 8.3. Among venues across the world where five-plus matches have been witnessed, Brabourne is the only venue where the run rate is over 7.5.

While batting first, out of the 10 innings, only thrice has there been a total of less than 150. On an average 165 runs have been scored in the first innings.

Nothing much separates the pacers and spinners, both have been taken to the cleaners. In terms of wickets percentage, pacers (55.8%) have the edge over spinners (44.2%). The pacers have bagged a wicket every 19.7 balls as compared to 24.4 balls by spinners. But, spinners (7.9) have been slightly better than pacers (8.5) in the economy section.

Suggested team

While 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 Suggestion

For small league: Marizanne Kapp (capt), Ellyse Perry (vice-capt)

For grand league: Renuka Singh (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues (vice-capt)

Stats that matter

-The current squad Bangalore bowlers, have scalped 37 wickets at an economy of 5.4, and a bowling strike rate of 19.6 in powerplay. Whereas, no Delhi bowler has more than five wickets in this phase. Adding to their woes, only two bowlers have an economy of less than six. Their aggregate comes up to seven wickets at an economy of 6.4 and strike rate of 36.9.

-In W-T20Is since 2022, Alyse Capsey has scored 168 runs at a strike rate of 140 in the first six overs. Shafali with 425 runs at a strike rate of 124.3. Smriti in her 30 innings, has scored 475 runs at a strike rate of 122.7. Devine doesn’t have high strike rates as the other three, but she averages 41.2 with a strike rate of 111.6. All-in-all, an entertaining top order.

Grand league punts

­-Renuka Singh in her W-T20I career has bagged 32 wickets. Out of which, 20 have come in the first six overs. In this phase, she has picked up three or more wickets in an innings four times. Definitely, an initial enforcer.

-Jemimah has a special liking when she plays franchise cricket. It is not that her record isn’t good when playing for India, but it tends to be better in T20 league cricket. In 37 innings, she has scored 1037 runs at an average of 32.4 and a strike rate of 127.7 in franchise cricket. In comparison, she has 1704 runs at an average of 29.4 and strike rate of 114.1.

Here are the top 10 criclytics projection

Probable XI

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Smriti Mandhana (c), Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Disha Kasat, Heather Knight/ Dane van Niekerk, Richa Ghosh (wk), Renuka Singh, Asha Shobana, Komal Zanzad, Megan Schutt, Sahana Pawar

Delhi Capitals: Alice Capsey, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Meg Lanning, Taniyaa Bhatia (wk), Marizanne Kapp, Jess Jonassen, Shikha Pandey, Titas Sadhu, Radha Yadav, Poonam Yadav