Probable XI –
Royal Challengers Bangalore –
Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Kona Srikar Bharat (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Daniel Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed, Kyle Jamieson/George Garton, Harshal Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
Punjab Kings –
Lokesh Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Deepak Hooda, Shahrukh Khan, Fabian Allen/Moises Henriques, Nathan Ellis, Mohammad Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh
Small League Combination 1 –
1. Lokesh Rahul(VC)
2. Ab De Villiers
3. Aiden Markram
4. Shahrukh Khan
5. Devdutt Padikkal
6. Glenn Maxwell(C)
7. Daniel Christian
8. Yuzvendra Chahal
9. Harshal Patel
10. Mohammad Shami
11. Ravi Bishnoi
– Glenn Maxwell and Lokesh Rahul looks safest C/VC choices considering their current lethal forms with the bat.
– Dropped Virat Kohli as he’s available in higher credits and Shami has taken him four times under 38 balls.
– Taking punt on Ab De Villiers who has phenomenal numbers at venue and H2H matches.
– Shahrukh might be a decent credit saver pick especially while batting second.
– Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravi Bishnoi are must picks at this spin favoured surface.
– Taking punt on Daniel Christian as he’s expected to bat at middle order and bowl a couple of overs too.
Small League Combination 2 –
1. Lokesh Rahul
2. Ab De Villiers(C)
3. Virat Kohli
4. Aiden Markram
5. Shahrukh Khan
6. Glenn Maxwell
7. Shahbaz Ahmed
8. Mohammad Shami
9. Mohammad Siraj
10. Ravi Bishnoi
11. Yuzvendra Chahal(VC)
– Ab De Villiers might be a good captain choice especially if a couple of top order batters depart early.
– Taking punt on Yuzvendra Chahal as VC since he has bagged wickets at a strike rate of just 13 in 14 H2H innings.
– Shahbaz Ahmed might get to bowl a couple of overs at this slow surface and bat at 4-5 down.
– Mohammad Siraj might be a decent pick at the place of Harshal Patel especially if Bangalore bowls second.
– Aiden Markram and Ravi Bishnoi can be tried as C/VC in 10-20 members league.
Grand League Combination –
1. Nicholas Pooran
2. Ab De Villiers
3. Mayank Agarwal
4. Aiden Markram
5. Glenn Maxwell
6. Shahbaz Ahmed
7. Daniel Christian
8. Fabian Allen
9. Mohammad Shami
10. Yuzvendra Chahal (C)
11. Ravi Bishnoi(VC)
– Yuzvendra Chahal and Bishnoi looks open C/VC choices at this surface of Sharjah.
– Dropped Lokesh Rahul as he might not go big in two consecutive matches especially while chasing.
– Shahbaz Ahmed and Daniel Christian will be crucial picks with both bat and ball especially if top order doesn’t do well.
– Fabian Allen might be a decent GL pick considering his 4-5 down batting and 2-3 overs with the bowl.
