Squads –
RR –
Steve Smith (c), Ankit Rajpoot, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, Mahipal Lomror, Manan Vohra, Mayank Markande, Rahul Tewatia, Riyan Parag, Sanju Samson, Shashank Singh, Shreyas Gopal, Varun Aaron, Akash Singh, Anirudha Joshi, Anuj Rawat, Andrew Tye, David Miller, Jaydev Unadkat, Kartik Tyagi, Oshane Thomas, Robin Uthappa, Tom Curran, Yashasvi Jaiswal
KKR –
Dinesh Karthik (c), Andre Russell, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Nitish Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Rinku Singh, Sandeep Warrier, Shivam Mavi, Shubman Gill, Siddhesh Lad, Sunil Narine, Chris Green, Eoin Morgan, M Siddharth, Nikhil Naik, Pat Cummins, Rahul Tripathi, Tom Banton, Varun Chakravarthy
Team News –
RR –
– After a six hitting festival against CSK RR made a history by chasing the highest IPL score of 223 last game. Sanju Samson and Steven Smith scored Their respective 50s but the real hero of the show was Rahul Tewatia who smashed 5 sixes of Sheldon Cottrell in one over to win it for RR.
– Steven Smith, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran and Jofra Archer will be RR 4 foreign players.
– Jos Buttler and Steve Smith will open the Innings. Buttler failed last game but is not someone to drop. Smith opened in both the innings and is scoring with a very good strike rate and already has 2 59s in 2 games.
– Sanju Samson will bat in 1 down. Sanju has been dealing only in sixes in both the games and has scored 159 runs with a strike rate of 214.
– Rahul Tewatia will bat at 2 down followed by Uthappa at 3 down. Tewatia hit massive 5 sixes in a over last game scoring 53 last game.
– Riyan Parag and Tom Curran have to play the roles of finishers. Parag played some good knock last season and can also bowl.
– Shreyas Gopal and Rahul Tewatia will bowl spin for Royals. Riyan Parag and Steven Smith can assist them if needed.
– Tom Curran, Jofra Archer and Jaydev Unadkat will lead the pace attack. Jofra and Curran will bowl in death.
KKR –
– The Knight Riders won their last game against SRH comprehensively by 7 Wickets. Subhman Gill 70* and Eoin Morgan 42* were the stars of the win.
– Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Pat Cummins will be their likely 4 foreign players.
– Shubhman Gill and Sunil Narine will open the Innings for KKR. Gill showed his class with a match winning 70 last game. Form if Sunil Narine is a bit of concern after 2 back to back failures.
– Nitish Rana will bat at 1 down. Rana is a very attacking Batsman and was very consistent scoring 350+ runs last season. Rana scored a quickfire 26 of 13 balls last game.
– English team t20 captain Eoin Morgan will bat 2 down. He is one of the best hitters in world cricket and was brilliant with his 29 ball 42 last game.
– Andre Russell and Dinesh will bat in middle and be involved in finishing the game. Russell can be promoted any day. Kartik’s batting position is not fixed.
– Sunil Narine amd Kuldeep Yadav will lead the spin attack along with Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy .
– Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi and Andre Russell will be likely leading the pace attack.
Probable XI –
RR –
Jos Buttler, Steve Smith (c), Sanju Samson(wk), Robin Uthappa, Riyan Parag, Tom Curran, Rahul Tewatia, Shreyas Gopal, Jofra Archer, Jaydev Unadkat, Ankit Rajpoot
KKR –
Shubhman Gill, Sunil Narine, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik (c, wk), Pat Cummins, Kuldeep Yadav, K Nagarkoti, Sivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy
Pitch Report –
Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
Dubai Pitch has favored the spinners historically but batters are getting more help here at dubai now.
Average Score : 157
Lowest Score : 71/10
Highest Score : 211/3
Team Blueprint –
WK –
Jos Buttler ( Opener, international opener, 311 runs in 8 games IPL 2019 including 3 50+ scores, 4(7b) last game, Must have)
Sanju Samson ( 1 down, SR of 214 this IPL, 74(32b), 85(42b) in last 2 games, Must have)
Dinesh Karthik ( 1/3 down, had a decent IPL 2019 with 242 runs at a SR of 143, 30 runs 1st game, his batting order is not fixed)
BAT –
Steve Smith ( Open, very consistent, 4000+ t20 runs at Average of 32, 69, 52 in 2 games, Must have)
Eoin Morgan ( 2 down, English team t20 captain, 6000+ t20 runs in 271 games , 42(29b) last game, very experienced, Must have )
Robin Uthappa ( middle order, very experienced, 4400+ IPL runs in 177 games, not a good pick as Batting very low )
David Miller( 2 down, 6000+ T20 runs including 3 100s , ignored by lot today, will not play unless there is any injury concerns)
Shubman Gill( Opener, very talented, can play big innings, 294 runs in 13 innings last IPL, 70*(62b) last game , Must in batting section)
Tom Banton ( Opener, strikes the ball at 154 in t20s, very good form , 71,20,46 in 3 t20s against Pak, must have if plays)
Y Jaiswal ( Opener, young takent, highest scorer in u19 WC, 400 runs at average of 133, was dropped last game, must if plays)
ALL –
Andre Russell ( 3-4 down + 2-3 overs of pace, one of the best hitters in t20 cricket, 510 runs at SR of 202 in IPL 2020 also 11 Wickets with bowl ,1w last game)
Sunil Narine ( Open + off spin, mystery spinner, very experienced, 386 T20 Wickets with 10 in last IPL, failed with bat in both games, 1w in 1st game, Must have )
Nitish Rana ( 1 down, very excellent domestic season along with 350 runs with SR of 143 last IPL, 26(13b) last game, Must have, he may also bowl )
R Tewatia ( Leggie, bowls with relly good variations, 53(31b) with 7 sixes last game, must at 8.5cr)
Riyan Parag ( Middle order + Reg Break, 160 runs + 2 Wickets in just 7 games last season, not bowling from 2 games)
BOWL –
Jofra Archer ( Right Arm fast, one of best bowlers in world cricket, 9 Wickets against aus recently in 6 games, wicketless but 2 sixes with bat, Must have will bowl in death )
Pat Cummins ( Pacer, world class bowler, 98 t20 wickets on his name, bowls at 145+ ks , 1w with bowl last game, Must have)
Kuldeep Yadav ( Chinnaman, mystery bowler and a must have choice from KKR, 115 t20 Wickets in 92 innings, was wicketless + very expensive in both games )
P Krishna ( Pacer, raw pace, bowls upto 145ks, poor last IPL with just 4 Wickets in 11 games, good at 8cr , will bowl in death, can play this game )
K Nagarkoti ( Pacer, bowls with an average pace of 144, 11 Wickets in 9 list A games, played but bowled just 1 over last game)
Tom Curran ( Right Arm fast + hard hitter of ball, 153w + 900 runs in 123 t20 games, 1w last game, will bowl in death )
Shreyas Gopal ( Leggie, best bowler of RR, 20 Wickets in 14 games last IPL, poor form with ball in 2 games, but Must have )
Jaydev Unadkat ( Left arm fast, known for his variations in death, experienced, 77 IPL Wickets )
S Mavi( Pacer, 5 Wickets in IPL, eco in very high close to 10, 3 Wickets in 2 games , death bowler for KKR )
M Siddharth( Slow left arm, 5 Wickets in tnpl 2019, can also bowl in powerplay)
Ankit Rajpoot ( Pacer, hit the deck bowler, 1w last game )
Varun Chakravarthy ( Leg spin, a very mystery bowler with lot of variations, Wicket of David Warner last game )
C/VC Options –
RR –
Jos Buttler
Steven Smith
Sanju Samson
KKR –
Andre Russell
Sunil Narine
Eoin Morgan