Fantasy League

PREVIEW

Every team has now played 1 match each and now we have a better understanding of team compositions, strategy of captains and form of players.

Here’s our pick for the players that need to be in your Fantasy squad for the upcoming matches.

INDIAN- Batsmen:

• Virat Kohli- With the form he is in right now, even the opposition’s bowlers would have him in his team and make him his Batting star. Virat’s magical inning of 75 in his first IPL match of this season, has set the tone for rest of his campaign. It will be a cardinal sin to not have him in your team!

• Manish Pandey- Having made a glorious start to his international career in Australia, it is safe to say that Manish Pandey has well and truly arrived! No one will forget his blistering knock in the final of the 2014 IPL final when he single handedly won KKR the final. Manish Pandey looks in great touch and will be assisted by the batting friendly track at the Eden Gardens.

• Sarfarz Khan- Sarfaraz’s last 9 innings: 51, 59, 76, 21*,74,74,81,48 and 35. Isn’t it incredible how this little genius isn’t even 19 yet? Sarfaraz scores at a very brisk pace, can play orthodox and un- orthodox shots with equal ease.

Plus, Virat loves and respects him too.

He may be an uncapped player but the kid has a very bright future ahead. A must have for your team.

P.S. “Sarfaraz dhoka nahi dega”

• Shreyas Iyer- Shreyas didn’t have a good start to this year’s tournament but trust me when I say this, the boy can bat and he will come good in the next match or the subsequent next. Rated as the best batsman in the domestic circuit, Shreyas had a brilliant IPL 2015 and was the only silver lining to the abysmal season of Delhi. With Delhi under new leadership and management, once they get their line up sorted, Shreyas will have a definite role and will be one of the stand out performers of the team and in the league!

• Manan Vohra- Stylish and elegant, Vohra’s rise has been subtle but substantial. One of the reasons Sehwag stated while announcing his retirement was to see Vohra get a constant run in the team. After having a brilliant IPL 2014, Vohra’s chances got limited once Punjab acquired Murli Vijay. Vohra’s start to the current season has been really good too, scoring 38, he gave his team a formidable start before the middle order collapsed.

Differentials: Gautam Gambhir/ Robin Uthappa, Karun  Nair, Deepak Hooda, Rohit Sharma.

OVERSEAS:

• AB De Villiers: Virat Kohli described him as the greatest batsman of our generation. Need any more reason besides this to have him in your team?!

• Kevin Pieterson: Every time KP steps out to bat, it looks like he has got a point to prove. Innovator of the switch hit, KP has mastered the shortest format of the game and adds great value to any team he is in.

• David Warner: He is the best Australian batsman in the shortest format of the game. He can single handedly take any game away in a very short period and is the destructor in chief of the Sun Risers. Having begun the IPL this season in a brutal manner, this little pocket of dynamite is going to create even more explosions.

• Quinton De Kock: De Kock loves India and the biggest proof , is his amazing knack of scoring truck loads of runs in India. Retained by Delhi for specifically that reason, De Kock plays spin and pace with equal ease, something that you don’t associate with an International player.

• Joss Buttler: The Englishman’s first IPL stint has everyone excited. Buttler can hit sixes with so much ease that it looks ridiculous at times. One of the major reasons why he was one of the most sought after player in the IPL auction. Mumbai paid big bucks for him and so should you, to have him in your team.

Differentials: Aron Finch, Chris Lynn, Chris Gayle, Glenn Maxwell.

INDIAN- Bowlers

• Jasprith Bumrah- Having made his name in the IPL and then being India’s strike bowler in the recently concluded World T20, Bumrah has come a very long way. With his knack of bowling Yorkers at demand and having a beautiful slower delivery, Bumrah is a must have for your team.

• Ashwin- What would the IPL be like without the exploits of the self proclaimed Fernando Torres of his team?! India’s best off spinner, Ashwin is a wicket taking bowler and with MSD behind the stumps to back him up, you just cannot leave him out of your team.

• Yuzvendra Chahal- The success of any team is directly linked to the quality of leg spinner in it’s rank. Like Samuel Badree for West Indies. Chahal is the best wicket taking option for RCB. He has a big heart and is not afraid to get hit. He was the leading wicket taker for RCB last year with 23 wickets and has started this year’s IPL with 2 wickets in his first match. No one assures wickets in his 4 overs like Chahal.

• Mohit Sharma- Mohit has been a very handy bowler for MSD in shorter formats. Has a slower delivery which is touted as one the best and almost unplayable. A very handy bowler to have in your team.

• Piyush Chawla- One of the most underrated bowles in the IPL, Piyush can easily surprise you for someone who will go for plenty of runs but ends up taking wickets and that too, the most important ones. He comes on to bowl in the middle overs and at a time when the batsmen look to take on any bowler. With a very deceptive Googly, Piyush is very hard to pick for someone who has never played him before. He can be a dark horse for any fantasy team that picks him.

Differentials: Rajat Bhatia, Dhawal Kulkarni, Amit Mishra, Sandeep Singh

OVERSEAS:

• Andre Russel: Andre Russel opens the bowling for KKR and usually picks up early wickets. He is fast and generates steep bounce. Add to this his flamboyant batting and fielding skills, Russel HAS to be in your team.

• Shane Watson: Watson has the ability to break crucial partnerships. His reading of the game is extra ordinary plus he bowls a heavy ball which makes it extremely hard for the batsman to go after him right away.

• DJ Bravo: Purple cap holder last season, Champiyan DJ Bravo is one of the best T20 bowlers. You would hardly see him going wicketless in a match. I would have in just for his swanky dance moves, he is that good.

• James Faulkner: Specialist bowler in the death overs. Faulker has adapted well to T20 cricket and is a wicket taking bowler for any team he plays for.

P.s. Don’t pick him when he is up against Kohli.

5) Carlos Brathwaite: Still a fairly unknown commodity as far as his bowling prowess is concerned, Carlos is a very handy bowler to have in the side. Doesn’t go for runs and has the ability to bowl in the block hole with ease.

Differentials: Mitch Johnson, Chris Morris, Brad Hogg.

My pick for today’s match between Gujarat and Pune

6-5 combination.

Team 1

Aron Finch, Rahane, Bravo, I Sharma, KP,Raina, R. Ashwin, M. Marsh, Rajat Bhatia, Dinesh Karthik and Jadeja

Team 2

Mccullum, Faulkne, Praveen Kumar, KP, MS Dhoni, Rahane, Bravo, Raina,Jadeja,Ishant and Bhatia