People are proud of their strengths. Even in one’s darkest days, one can always count one’s strengths to help them find a way out. People cherish their strengths, guard them with care and cash in on them every now and then to help them climb that quintessential ladder. But when someone puts a dagger through those strengths, it kills one’s soul!
The RCB camp would be highly demotivated and disheartened after last night’s shambolic batting performance despite boasting of three of the best T20 batsmen of this generation. It is bound to send them into that uncertain ‘self doubt’ territory, a place which sucks up your confidence and leaves you with nothing but apprehension about your own abilities.
Virat Kohli is not alien to such circumstances though, with the high flying Indian test team going through similar circumstances when they were outmuscled by Australia in the first test at Pune. He got the team together and wanted them to share the loss as a team, something which he says brought the team closer. Something similar needs to happen with this RCB team, else they can bid goodbye to another title charge.
In this entire situation there is one man who needs be applauded the most and that is Gautam Gambhir. He rallied his troops on like a true leader, not fazed by the quality of the opposition, or the number of runs(or the lack of it) on the board. Incredible field settings, incredible assessment of the conditions and excellent execution led to KKR pulling off a record victory.
In the afternoon game, Hashim Amla once again helped Kings XI put up a big score on board and this time the KXIP bowlers rose to the occassion against a star studded GL batting line up. None of the batsmen except Karthik could do anything of note and KXIP romped to a huge victory.
Mumbai Indians vs Rising Pune Supergiant
The Maha Derby is back again and Mumbai would be itching to take revenge for the last time when Steve Smith’s brilliance helped Pune just about get over the line. But since then Mumbai haven’t lost a game and are sitting pretty at the top of the table. Pune had a slight dip in form after that initial win but an MSD special helped them get their campaign back on track!
Let’s get to business now!
IPL Fantasy League Fantasy Tips on the next page
IPL Fantasy League
Transfer out: Rishab Pant, Iqbal Abudlla, Chris Morris
Transfer in: Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes/Imran Tahir, Rahul Tripathu/Krunal Pandya
Now, I already have Jos Buttler and Jasprit Bumrah in my side for this game.
I won’t be getting in any other Mumbai player into my side for this game as they don’ t play a game for sometime now. Also, with RPS playing their next game on Wednesday itself, makes more sense to stack up my team with RPS players.
There are four players in my consideration set for this game: Ajinkya Rahane, Steve Smith, Ben Stokes and Imran Tahir.
Now, I can transfer out only one overseas player for this game, as all other overseas players play either today(Jos Buttler) or have a game tomorrow(ABD and Rashid Khan).
The first player that I get in is Ajinkya Rahane. I can transfer out Rishab Pant, as DD won’t be playing anytime soon and thus Rahane seems to be the ideal replacement. With he playing two matches in 3 days, and on pitches that will help the ball come onto the bat, I expect him to give me a return of at least 120 points before I transfer him out. He is as dependable as it gets(despite a not so very good season), get him in!
For the second transfer, I’ll be transferring out Chris Morris and getting in one from Ben Stokes and Imran Tahir into my team. Ideally I would have wanted to get in Steve Smith, but my team combination does not allow me to do so. If you can, he should be the first player that you get in for this game.
Imran Tahir would have to bowl with the wet ball, if RPS bowl second, and that is when I would prefer to get Stokes in rather than Tahir. If RPS bowl first, Tahir could be better option.
If RPS bat first I’ll get Stokes in. He bats at number 5 and gets to bowl at least 3 overs, with one of them during the death. And with two matches in 3 days, he becomes an indispensable part of the unit. Get him in!
For the uncapped player I’ll be getting in Rahul Tripathi, if RPS bat first, as I won’t be able to afford Krunal Pandya then. If I get in Tahir though, I’ll be going in with Krunal Pandya. I can’t be getting in Rana because of the team combination.
Captain: Jos Buttler
Fandromeda Fantasy Tips on the next page
Fandromeda
Transfer out: Manish Pandey, Glenn Maxwell
Transfer in: Ajinkya Rahane, Steve Smith
Now, I already have Jos Buttler, Nitish Rana, Krunal Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Imran Tahir in my team for this game!
I’ll be making just one change to my side for this game and that would be getting in Steve Smith for Glenn Maxwell. Steve Smith milked the Mumbai bowling the last time round and has been in fine form all through his time in India. I rate him higher than Ben Stokes because Stokes has been pushed down to number 5 and doesn’t do too much with the ball.
Now, if you have a lot of substitutions in the kitty, you could opt for Ajinkya Rahane in place of Manish Pandey.
Batting Star: Jos Buttler/Steve Smith(whoever bats second)
Bowling Star: Jasprit Bumrah/Imran Tahir(whoever bowl first)
