The two new entrants of the IPL take on each other in what is a must win encounter for the Gujarat Lions. With BCCI announcing that Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals will be making a comeback in 2018, this could be the last chance for these two teams to win the title, as it is most likely that they would be making way for RR and CSK next year. Unless the BCCI decides to hold a 10 team event.
The Lions are in free fall right now. And with Andrew Tye being ruled out of the event things look to be heading southwards for them. Their overseas stars need to shoulder more responsibility and get the job done, or else the playoff spot will remain a distant dream.
Also Read: Preview and Match Result Predictions for Rising Pune Supergiant vs Gujarat Lions
Rising Pune Supergiant must be on cloud 9 after demolishing RCB in the last game. Their middle order looks to be in decent form and they could be buoyed by Stokes’ return for this game. Ajinkya Rahane’s form is a matter of concern, as even when has got going, he hasn’t really scored very quickly. Lockie Ferguson put up a stupendous performance in the last game, taking the nonchalant RCB batsmen for a ride.
The Pune track hasn’t been a batting paradise this season. 160 has been par.
Let’s get to business now!
IPL Fantasy Tips on the next page
IPL Fantasy League
Transfer out: Jos Buttler, ABD, Krunal Pandya, Nitish Rana
Transfer in: Ben Stokes, Steve Smith, Rishab Pant, Rahul Tripathi
Now, I don’t have any player from this game in my side.
With RPS playing twice in 3 days, it only makes sense to get in at least 2 RPS players for this game.
The first RPS player that I get in is Steve Smith. His brilliance with the bat is unparalleled at this stage, and he has looked assured as ever this season, quietly accumulating the runs at the start, accelerating during the middle overs, and going berserk during the end. Get him in, he is the most assured player in this RPS line up.
The second player that I get in for this game is Ben Stokes. He has reportedly recovered from his little shoulder mishap and should be part of the team for the rest of tournament. His all round abilities, and especially the fact that he has been successful in the death overs off late has forced me to get him ahead of Tahir. Tahir has been taken to the cleaners in the past few games and with dew playing a huge role during May, his threat could be further reduced.
I can’t draft in any other overseas players for this game, as all my overseas players feature either today or tomorrow. So, McCullum and co. stay out. At this stage of the tournament, Smith seems a much safer choice than McCullum/Finch.
Now, as I transfer out both of overseas wicketkeeper batsmen, I’ll need to somehow get a wicketkeeper into my team. For that I get in a wicketkeeper either from the next game or from this one. Sanju Samson, Rishab Pant and Dinesh Karthik are the choices available. All of them play 2 quick games, so there is no way you can take a call keeping the schedule in mind.
I rule put Samson, despite him being a top order batsman, as he’ll be up against Bhuvi in his first game and thus his inclusion doesn’t really serve the double game purpose. Also, Samson doesn’t keep wickets and thus wouldn’t be able to get those cheap 20 wickets.
Between Pant and Karthik, I opt for Pant because of the fragile DD top order. Karthik might not even get to bat(like against Mumbai).
For the uncapped player I get in the in form Tripathi. In order to resolve the wicketkeeper issue, you could maybe leave out Tripathi and get in Ishan Kishan and not get either of Karthik or Pant.
Captain: Ben Stokes(if RPS bowl first)/Steve Smith(if RPS bat first)
Fandromeda Fantasy Tips on the next page
Fandromeda
Transfer out: Jos Buttler, ABD, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
Transfer in: Steve Smith, Ben Stokes, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishab Pant, Suresh Raina
Now, I don’t have any player from this game in my side.
I’ll be bringing in Steve Smith and Ben Stokes in my team for this game, as RPS play twice in three days. I have already mentioned the reasons for getting these two ahead of all other players in the IPL Fantasy League section.
Again, like in the IPL Fantasy, I don’t have any wicketkeeper in my squad and will have to draft one in.
Three options are available, Samson, Pant and Karthik. I’ll be bringing in Pant into my side for this game. You can refer to the IPL Fantasy League section for the reasons.
The last two transfers would be bringing in Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina in for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma,as RCB don’t play for 4 games and MI don’t play for 6.
Batting Star: Steve Smith(if RPS bat second)/Suresh Raina(if GL bat second)
Bowling Star: Ben Stokes
