Squads –
GG –
Danushka Gunathilaka, Isuru Udana, Angelo Jayasinghe, Mohammad Amir, Sarfraz Ahmed, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anwar Ali, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ashan Daniel, Mohommed Shamaaz, Nuwan Thushara, Samit Patel, Suminda Lakshan, Pulina Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Lahiru Madushanka, Dilshan Madushanka, Kevin Koththigoda, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Mohammad Hafeez
JK –
Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Krishan Sanjula, Suranga Lakmal, Jayden Seales, Ashen Bandara, Upul Tharanga, Wahab Riaz, Chanika Gunasekara, Chaturanga de Silva, Rathnaraja Thanuradan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shoaib Malik, Usman Shinwari, Maheesh Theekshana, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Theivendram Dinoshan, Ashan Randika, Krishan Sanjula, Avishka Fernando, Faf du Plessis
Team News –
GG –
– Galle Gladiators have a very good squad this season with some really good National players along with some experienced Foreign players like Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Amir and Samit Patel
– Ben Dunk has replaced Sarfaraz Ahmad in the squad until he is on National Duty till 8th Dec 2021, while Tabraiz Shamsi has also been replaced by Afghani Spinner Noor Ahmed in the squad.
– Samit Patel has joined the squad after the Abu Dhabi T10 while Noor Ahmed and Mohammad Amir were part of the last day action in Abu Dhabi T10 so their availability chances for 1st game are very less.
– Kusal Mendis amd Danushka Gunathilaka will open the innings. Both are back after being banned by Sri Lanka in early this year.
– Bhanuka Rajapaksa will bat at 1 down followed by Mohammad Hafeez at 4. Rajapaksa was in stellar for this Abu Dhabi T10 scoring around 250 runs.
– Ben Dunk will bat in middle and keep the Wickets. Samit Patel will follow Dunk and will be also useful with bowl.
– Samit Patel, Pulinga Tharanga and Kevin Koththigoda will lead the spin attack.
– Isuru Udana, Dhananjaya Lakshan and Nuwan Thushara will lead the pace attack.
JK –
– Jaffna Kings previously known as Jaffa Stallions were the winner of the last LPL.
– Faf du plessis has withdrawn himself from the Lanka Premier League due to Covid Scare.
– Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Wanindu Hasaranga where part of Abu Dhabi T10 qualifiers and Final so their chances of playing the 1st game are very less.
– Usman Shinwari and Jayden Searles are the foreign players available for selection.
– Upul Tharanga and Avishka Fernando will open the innings. If Gurbaz plays then Avishka will shift to no 4.
– Chaturga de Silva will bat at 1 down. He was striking the balk really good in T20 World cup recently.
– Ashen Bandara and Shoaib Malik will bat in middle. Availability of Malik is still under doubt.
– Thisara Perera will be the lead Allrounder of the team and will contribute through both bat and bowl.
– Matheesh Theekshana and Praveen Jayawickrama will lead the spin attack of team.
– Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Usman Shinwari and any 1 of Jayden Searles/Wahab Riaz will lead the pace attack of the kings.
Probable XI –
GG –
Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksha (C), Mohammad Hafeez, Ben Dunk (WK), Samit Patel, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Isuru Udana, Pulinga Tharanga, Kevin Koththigoda, Nuwan Thushara
JK –
Upul Tharanga, Avishka Fernando, Chaturanga de Silva, Ashen Bandara, Shoaib Malik (not sure), Thisara Perera(C), Jayden Searles/Wahab Riaz, Maheesh Theekshana, Usman Shinwari, Praveen Jayawickrama, Suranga Lakmal
Pitch Report –
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
The pitch in Colombo is expected to be good for batting but spinners may also come handy as the game progresses.
Team Blueprint –
WK –
R Gurbaz( Open, RHB + wk, strikes from the word go, very good form scoring 343 runs in 13 games in Abu Dhabi T10 2021, Must if plays )
BAT –
Kusal Mendis(Open, RHB, 1468 t20 runs in 66 games , averages 19 on this venue, poor form recently )
Bhanuka Rajapaksa ( 1 down, LHB, has been in great form, scored 249 in just 8 innings this T10 league)
Danushka Gunathilaka( Open, LHB, 257 runs + 9 Wickets on this venue, strikes the ball at 130 in T20s)
Avishka Fernando( Open/2 down, RHB, amongst the top scorers for SL in last year amd half, poor T20 World Cup, still must have )
Upul Tharanga( Open, LHB, very experienced with 3300+ t20 runs, 32 in Abu Dhabi last game )
S Malik( 2/3 down, RHB+ part time off spin, not bowling much nowadays)
ALL –
W Hasaranga( 2/3 down + leg spin, #1 white ball bowler in world currently, 16 wickets in 8 games this T20 WC, Must have, less chances of Playing 1st game )
T Perera( Middle order, LHB + Right Arm medium fast, averages 22 with bat at columbo, 18 wickets in 18 t20 games at this venue )
Samit Patel( Slow left arm spin + RHB, very handy Allrounder, 5000+ runs + 265 wickets in T20 career, Must )
Mohammad Hafeez(2 down, RHB + off spin, too experienced, 2450 runs + 61 wickets in t20s, Must have any day )
P Tharanga(Leg Spin, 44 wickets in 36 t29 innings, wicket taking option )
C De Silva ( 1 down, LHB, 963 runs + 75 Wickets in t20 cricket, quite experienced, Must have )
BOWL –
M Theekshana( Off spin, mystery bowler, 26 wickets in 28 t20s, economy less than 6 in t20s )
Wahab Riaz( Left arm fast, one of the best in death overs, 3 Wickets in 3 games at this venue , Must have )
M Amir( Left arm medium fast, swing bowler, very experienced, less chances of playing this game )
N Thushara(Right Arm Fast, got good pace, 50 Wickets in t20s )
Isuru Udana( Left arm medium fast + RHB, one of the best at death overs, Must have)
Jayden Searles( Right Arm Fast bowl, hit the deck bowler, 25 wickets in 25 t20s, economy very high in range of 9)
Usman Shinwari ( Left arm fast, hit the deck bowler, 116 T20 wickets in just 96 games, recently out of form )
K Koththigoda( Right Arm leg spin, very weird action, 12 Wickets in 12 t20s, good mystery bowler)
Suranga Lakmal ( Right Arm medium fast, known for his swing early on, has been out from white ball cricket for a while now, 62 wickets in 55 t20 innings )
D Lakshan( Right Arm medium fast, 17 wickets in 29 t20 games, can also be handy with bat )
C/VC Options –
GG –
Mohammad Hafeez
Bhanuka Rajapaksa
D Gunathilaka
JK –
Thisara Perera
Avishka Fernando
C De Silva
