FANTASY
Follow UsThe last game of the group stage is upon us. Contrary to what public opinion might suggest, the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League provided many entertaining games in the season, especially towards the backend. With no Mumbai Indians or Chennai Super Kings among the mix for the playoffs, we are sure to be enamored with a never-seen-before kind of phenomena, with only Rajasthan Royals having a title against their name.
In the final league game, which is now rendered inconsequential, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings will lock horns for one final time at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai in order to end their campaign on a high.
GROUND DETAILS
In the 40 innings played thus far at the Wankhede Stadium in the ongoing season of the IPL, the average first innings total is 167, and the average winning total is 189. The highest target chased by the team is 199 runs by the Gujarat Titans against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on 27th April.
The pacers have scalped 145 out of the total 208 wickets, which is 69.7 percent of the wickets at this venue compared to 63 wickets, which is 30.3 percent by the spinners. The fast bowlers, on average, have picked 3.6 wickets per innings compared to 1.6 by the spinners.
SUGGESTED TEAM
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing 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.
SUGGESTED CAPTAIN
For a power-hitter batting in the middle order, Livingstone has exhibited top-notch consistency throughout the season. Among non-openers, Livingstone has scored the joint-most fifties and has scored the 5th most runs this season. In all three phases of the game, Livingstone has had an SR of 150+ and such sustained aggression is extraordinary for a player like Livingstone who hasn’t played many IPLs before. I can’t think of a better choice than Livingstone for this role.
Our Criclyics Player Projection predicts Livingstone to score 22-32 runs and pick 0-1 wickets
X-FACTORS
SRH’s middle order (No.3 to 5) has been among the best in this year’s IPL. When compared to the middle order (No.3 to 5) of other teams, they have scored the second-most runs (1054) and the second-best RR (9.0). One of the primary reasons behind the same is Aiden Markram, who scored 360 runs at an average of 51.4 with a strike rate of 140. With three fifty-plus scores, he has proven that he can be consistent and that is the reason why he is on our list of X-factors.
Our Criclyics Player Projection predicts Markram to score 12-18 runs
Rabada as a strike bowler has worked well for Punjab this season as he has taken 22 wickets, the most by a pacer and the 3rd most by any bowler this season. Only once in 12 matches, Rabada has been wicket-less this season. In 50% of the matches he has bowled, he has picked 2+ wickets this season. Only Hasaranga and Chahal, who have played all 14 matches have picked at least 1 wicket in most instances this season than Rabada.
Our Criclyics Player Projection predicts Rabada to score 2-3 wickets
Probable XIs:
Punjab Kings: Jonny Bairstow, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, Mayank Agarwal (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Harpreet Brar, Rishi Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Priyam Garg, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Glenn Phillips, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (C), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Umran Malik, T Natarajan
