FANTASY
Follow UsA Punjabi born in Delhi, leading the southernmost team (RCB) and Karnataka born player leading the northern most team (PBKS), talk about contrasts. The contrasting nature is just not in the states, its even in their fortunes this season. RCB have been running amok with five wins in six matches. Whereas, PBKS have won only two in their six and are in search of consistency.
When it comes to head on rivalry, PBKS have had the wood over RCB with 14 wins in 26 matches. But, in the recent times, RCB have the upper hand with three wins to two. In the last season, KL Rahul-led PBKS won both their league stage matches. However, the question is can they outsmart a confident RCB set up?
HEAD TO HEAD
Overall: Matches – 26, PBKS – 14 wins, RCB – 12 wins
Last five matches: PBKS – 2 wins, RCB – 3 wins
SUGGESTED TEAM
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. Based on algorithms, we have come up with one team.
GROUND DETAILS
In the two matches played in Ahmedabad this season prior to Match 25, the pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium has behaved in opposite ways. Both the matches were played on the same strip, but, both had different approach. In the first match, only 123 runs were scored in the first innings and in the second, 171. In T20s since 2019, on an average, 151 runs have been scored in the first innings at Narendra Modi Stadium.
As for the bowlers, pacers have been highly successful in providing early breakthroughs in T20s since 2019. But, as is the case in most of the Indian venues, spinners have just been economical. Pacers have bagged the large chunk of wickets (69.3%) as compared to 30.7 percent by spinners. Their balls/wicket ratio of 20.1 also betters the spinners’ 28.5.
TEAM COMBINATION
Both the teams are batting heavy units. The likes of KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers have been in sensational form. We have gone with five batsmen including the wicket-keepers, two allrounders and four bowlers. As the pitch isn’t that suited for spinners we have gone with only one spinner.
The two wicket-keepers, Rahul and de Villiers are some of the players whom you wouldn’t want to keep out. The credit issues have made it difficult to keep Virat Kohli in. Deepak Hooda has been sensational for PBKS in this season, scoring runs and rolling his arm when required. Harshal Patel, the purple cap holder, Kyle Jamieson and Arshdeep Singh are few quicks who have made it our fantasy pick.
There could be few interesting match ups
In a contest between one of India’s best spinner and best batsman, the batsman KL Rahul has emerged as the clear winner against the bowler Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal has bagged Rahul only once in seven face-offs, at an average of 85 and while the right-hander has struck him at 160.4.
One Karnataka opener has an advantage against Chahal while the other is complete opposite. In the eight innings, Mayank Agarwal has faced Chahal, he has scored runs quicker than Rahul (183.8) but, has got out to him four times.
A mouth watering contest lies ahead when India’s premier batsman, Kohli locks horns against India’s spear head Mohammed Shami. The latter has the advantage in the tussle between the two as he has dismissed the RCB skipper four times in seven innings.
SUGGESTED CAPTAIN
In the presence of Rahul, it is hard to look past any other player to be the captain of your fantasy side. With 240 runs this season, Rahul is the third highest run scorer. More importantly, Rahul has scored over 350 runs against RCB in IPL at an average of 74.2 and a strike rate of 155.2. In this season, he has three 50+ scores, the joint most alongside Faf du Plessis.
Our Criclytics player projection predicts, Rahul could score 20-30 runs in this match
X-FACTORS
The left-handed opener has come out all guns blazing this season. Padikkal was RCB’s best batsman last year, but, his strike rate was an area of concern. This season, especially in the last few matches, he has been quick. He has scored runs at 145 in the first six overs with a balls/boundary ratio of 4.0. With a century and few 30s, Padikkal is certainly one of the X-factors to watch out for.
Our Criclytics player projection predicts, Padikkal could score 26-38 runs in this match
The superman from South Africa has yet again been RCB’s sa26-vior on several occasions. AB de Villiers’ knock of unbeaten 75 against Delhi Capitals in the last match was one of those. He has 25 man-of-the-match awards, most by any player. This season, AB has scored 204 runs at a strike rate of 174.4. Just a reminder on how good AB has been, RCB had played a large chunk of matches on slow pitches of Chennai. As Saba Karim said in one our exclusive ‘Man vs Machine’ show, we run out of words to describe this player.
Our Criclytics player projection predicts, AB de Villiers could score 27-41 runs in this match
Harshal Patel: Apart from that one over against Chennai Super Kings, Harshal has been exceptional throughout the season. In every match, he has bagged over two wickets and that is one of the reasons why he is the Purple Cap holder. Majority of his wickets – 11 – have come in the last five overs. His slower balls have been his lethal weapon.
Our Criclytics player projection predicts, Harshal Patel could pick 1-2 wickets in this match
*All stats until Match 25