Predicted Playing XI: Evin Lewis, Chris Lynn*, Joshua da Silva (E), Ben Dunk*, Jahmar Hamilton, Denesh Ramdin, Sohail Tanvir*, Rayad Emrit, Ish Sodhi*, Alzarri Joseph, Sheldon Cottrell

Threat to Sohail Tanvir's spot: The Patriots’ middle order of Hamilton, Ramdin and Tanvir at 5, 6 and 7 looks very thin, particularly in the absence of Fabian Allen. So there is a good chance that the team think-tank could bench Tanvir in favour of a specialist batting option in Nick Kelly, the overseas recruit from New Zealand.

That the squad already has three frontline seamers in Joseph, Cottrell and Emrit and a like-for-like replacement for Tanvir in Dominic Drakes only enhance the chances of the Pakistan international being dropped. 

Playing XI without Sohail Tanvir: Evin Lewis, Chris Lynn*, Joshua da Silva, Ben Dunk*, Nick Kelly*, Denesh Ramdin, Dominic Drakes (E), Rayad Emrit, Ish Sodhi*, Alzarri Joseph, Sheldon Cottrel

This XI is not much of an improvement on the first one, considering Kelly is a top order batsman and Drakes has a dreadful economy rate of 9.88 in his short T20 career. But as long as the team management is convinced, that’s all that matters. 

Substitutes (by order of playing XI chances): Sohail Tanvir*/Dominic Drakes (E), Jahmar Hamilton, Jon-Russ Jaggesar, Imran Khan, Colin Archibald

Pre-season Fantasy Ranking Order: 

1. Sheldon Cottrell – The safest fantasy option in the Patriots team as a result of being the team’s go-to bowler, both up front and at the death.

2. Ish Sodhi – Quick leg-spin is the most threatening bowling type in T20s now, and with decks expected to get slower in the second half of the tournament, Ish Sodhi brings value. He was the 2^nd highest wicket-taker in the In series against early this year India picking up 6 wickets in 20 overs he bowled in 5 matches.

3. Alzarri Joseph – Joseph might not be a popular option, but that’s where – with his pace and hard lengths – the 23-year-old could make a difference to your fantasy team by being a 2-wicket banker game in, game out.

4. Evin Lewis – While Chris Lynn might be a bigger name, his opening partner Evin Lewis, courtesy of being more at home on the slower decks of Trinidad and Tobago, could turn out to be the better fantasy option in this tournament.

5. Ben Dunk – Dunk has been amongst the most successful batsmen in T20 circuit since 2019, and if he gets enough game time in the middle, could turn out to be handy. On form, he should be in the top 3, but the ranking here takes into consideration that the highest he could bat in this setup is No.4.

6. Chris Lynn – With some of the best batting decks in the tournament – Sabina Park, Warner Park, and Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium – not part of this edition, Chris Lynn isn’t as appealing as he usually is in T20s.

7. Rayad Emrit – What helps Emrit - who is one of the most expensive bowlers in CPL since 2018 - is that being the captain of the Patriots, he can’t be dropped. As long as the 39-year-old bowls his full quota of overs, he can always get you the “junk” wickets.

8. Denesh Ramdin – Unless the wicketkeeper-batsman plays at No.3, there isn’t much value here.

9. Joshua da Silva – Fabian Allen not being part of the squad assures Da Silva of a spot in the XI. Touted as the brightest all-format batting talent in the Caribbean, the 22-year-old could spring a surprise or two if he plays in the top order.

10. Dominic Drakes – Drakes’s bowling doesn’t suit the shortest format, but add his batting ability to it, there is something to work with from a fantasy point of view. The 22-year-old left-arm pace bowling all-rounder stands a decent chance to move up the order if he starts the season well. 

Overload value with SKNP: Negative

Overload value explained: While making your fantasy teams, be it daily or seasonal, you will encounter situations where you have to take a call on getting in more than a certain number of players from a team into your squad. With St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, a team that’s likely to finish in the bottom half, you will be better served if you keep it to the minimum requirement of, say, 4 in daily fantasy teams.

Budget pick – Ish Sodhi 

Differential – Alzarri Joseph 

Steals – Joshua da Silva and Dominic Drakes