T20 Series Match 2 Preview - India Vs Australia; Predicted XIs; Fantasy XI

Match Timing: 26 Nov 2023 19:00 IST

Venue: Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram

The second-string sides of India and Australia will face off in the 2nd T20I of the series. India leads the series 1-0 and will look to make it 2 in 2. Australia on the other hand will look to win this match and make it 1 all with 3 more matches to follow. The Indian team will look to get a good start with the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaekwad, and Ishan Kishan in the top 3. The skipper SuryaKumar Yadav will provide the firepower in the middle order. Such is the bench strength of India that the second-string team also can give a win against the big teams. Surya is coming on the back of a match-winning knock of 80 in the 1st T20 and will look to extend his purple patch in T20 cricket. Tilak Verma and Rinku Singh will be the designated finishers; Rinku has already played a crucial role in the last match's win. The spin department will be led by Axar Patel, who can also bat really well, and Ravi Bishnoi. There is also a chance that Washington Sundar might get the nod in place of Axar or Bishnoi. The pace bowling will be led by Arshdeep Singh, comprising the likes of Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, and Mukesh Kumar.

Australia on the other hand has not played the players who were part of the World Cup. The likes of Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell will come into the team at some stage, but for now, they will open with Steve Smith and Matthew Short. After the scintillating century in the last match, Josh Inglis will remain at No 3. Australia will hope that the middle order of Marcus Steinis, Tim David, and Matthew Wade will make some runs in this match. Tanveer Sangha will once again carry out the duties as the lead spinner. Pace bowling comprises Jason Benhrendroff, Sean Abbott, and Nathan Ellis. They are not likely to make any changes to the playing XI 

Predicted XIs

India

Yashasvi Jaiswal

Ruturaj Gaekwad

Ishan Kishan(Wicket-Keeper)

Suryakumar Yadav (Captain)

Tilak Verma

Rinku Singh

Axar Patel

Ravi Bishnoi/Washington Sundar

Mukesh Kumar

Arshdeep Singh

Prasidh Krishna/Avesh Khan

Australia

Steve Smith

Matthew Short

Josh Inglis (Wicket-Keeper)

Aaron Hardie

Tim David

Marcus SToinis

Matthew Wade (Captain)

Sean Abbott

Jason Behrendroff

Nathan Ellis

Tanveer Sangha

Fantasy XI

Suryakumar Yadav (Captain)

Steve Smith (Vice-Captain)

Ishan Kishan

Marcus SToinis

Tim David

Rinku Singh

Matthew Wade

Axar Patel

Arshdeep Singh

Jason Behrendroff

Mukesh Kumar

Match 33 Preview - India Vs Sri Lanka; Predicted XIs; Fantasy XI

Match Timing: 2 Nov 2023 14:00

Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Team India is the only unbeaten side in this tournament, and they lock horns with fellow Asian heavy-weight Sri Lanka. India has been immensely balanced and the absence of Hardik Pandya does not seem to have any effect on the team's performance; such is the bench strength of India. Sri Lanka on the other hand has struggled a bit after losing a few players to injuries, but they still have the fire in their belly to overcome the big teams. They recently defeated England and knocked them out of the World Cup.

India will look to extend its winning streak in the tournament and will make sure to stay on top of the table. The batting looks really great with both the senior pros Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli being in great touch. Rohit has also been playing an attacking brand of cricket and is giving the team a solid start in the powerplays in every match. He is in the top 5 run-getters in this tournament and would be itching to move up the chart. His aggressive brand of cricket means that he is not able to convert those 50s into hundreds, but today might be a day where he would love to make it big in front of his home crowd. Kohli on the other hand is scoring centuries as usual; he already has 2 centuries in this tournament and would be looking to score his 49th ODI hundred and equal the Sachin Tendulkar's record of most centuries in ODIs.The bowling is extremely effective with Bumrah and Shami leading the way. Siraj is good in patches but is not at his best. But expect Siraj also to join the party against the same opponent whom he destroyed with his pace and swing in the Asia Cup finals.

Sri Lanka is fresh from their emphatic win against the defending champions England. They would look to have one more win in their kitty and increase their chances of reaching the semi-finals. The onus would be on stand-in skipper Kusal Mendis and the experienced Angelo Mathews. Mendis looked in great touch in the first 2 matches but is not making the same impact from there on. Angelo Mathews is a replacement player who came into the side, but Sri Lanka should look to use his experience. He played at No. 7 in their last match, and No.7 is too low for a player of Mathew's caliber. They should look to send him up the order and utilize his batting skills, as he possesses a great record against India. Their bowling will be led by Dilshan Madhushanka, and the return of Dushmantha Chameera will give more confidence to the side.

Predicted XIs

India

Rohit Sharma(Captain)
Shubhman Gill
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul (Wicket-Keeper)
Suryakumar Yadav
Ravindra Jadeja
Mohammed Shami
Jasprit Bumrah
Kuldeep Yadav
Mohammed Siraj

Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka
Dimuth Karunaratne
Kusal Mendis (Captain & Wicket-Keeper)
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Angelo Mathews
Charith Asalanka
Dhananjay de Silva
Maheesh Theekshana
Dushmintha Chameera
Kasun Rajitha
Dilshan Madhushanka

Fantasy XI

Rohit Sharma (Captain)
Virat Kohli (Vice-Captain)
Shubhman Gill
Kusal Mendis
Angelo Mathews
KL Rahul
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Siraj
Dilshan Madhushanka

Match 32 - New Zealand Vs South Africa; Predicted XI; Fan

Match Timing: 1 Nov 2023 14:00

Venue: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

Both South Africa and New Zealand have been in great form in this World Cup. South Africa lost only one match against the Netherlands which was one of the biggest upsets in this event. Barring that South Africa has been in great touch and has won 5 matches till now. They are on the verge of qualifying for the semi-finals. Win against the Kiwis will book their place in the semi-finals. 

Their bench strength is so good that Reeza Hendericks has to sit out despite being in great form. Their first-choice openers - Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma will look to provide good starts as they have been doing. The middle order led by Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaassen has the flexibility and the firepower to power them to a mammoth total. The only concern that remains will be how they would cope if put in to chase, especially after the closely fought game against Pakistan. The presence of Marco Jansen provides balance to the team, and their pace battery is certainly among the best going around. The twin spin of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi also are in good nick and can deliver if the need arises.

New Zealand will still be without their regular captain Kane Williamson. But even in the absence of the skipper the New Zealand team has been going strong with the likes of Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, and Daryl Mitchell firing all cylinders in the batting department. It would be a test for the Kiwis to face the Proteas fire with the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Gerald Coetzee bowling the thunderbolts. The middle order and lower order are certainly in good touch and can go big when the top order provides a good platform. One particular name that stands out here is Glenn Phillips, his spell of 3-37 in 10 overs against Australia was extremely good it makes it even better when you see that Australia scored 388 in 50 overs. Trent Boult and Mark Henry lead the pace attack; such is the quality of their attack that they have to keep a player of Tim Southee's caliber out of the team. Mitchell Santner is among the leading wicket-takers and will lead them in the spin department.

This match should be neck to neck with a slight advantage to South Africa as they have a more aggressive batting lineup.

Predicted XI:

South Africa

Quinton de Kock (Wicket-Keeper)
Temba Bavuma (Captain)
Rassie van der Dussen
Aiden Markram
Heinrich Klaassen
David Miller
Marco Jansen
Gerald Coetzee
Kagiso Rabada
Keshav Maharaj
Tabraiz Shamsi/Lungi Ngidi

New Zealand

Devon Conway
Will Young
Rachin Ravindra
Daryl Mitchell
Tom Latham (Captain & Wicket-Keeper)
Glenn Phillips
James Neesham
Mitchell Santner
Matt Henry
Trent Boult
Lockie Ferguson

Fantasy XI

Devon Conway
Quinton de Kock
Rachin Ravindra
Glenn Phillips
Daryl Mitchell
Heinrich Klaassen
Marco Jansen
Mitchell Santner
Trent Boult
Matt Henry
Gerald Coetzee

Match 31 - Pakistan Vs Bangladesh; Predicted XI; Fantasy XI

 Match Timing: 31 Oct 2023, 14:00

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

The battle of Pakistan and Bangladesh has recently been more competitive and they have had some closely fought matches in the last decade. But this time, both the teams have very little to play for. Bangladesh is all but out of the world cup, and Pakistan is on the brink of elimination from the tournament and a slip up against Bangladesh will mean that Men in Green will be out. But, you can never rule out Pakistan in any situation, they have time and again showed that they can make it from any position, although it looks a tall task this time to reach the semis.

Pakistan's problem starts from the top. Abdullah Shafique is good, but they also need an aggressive player to play the big shots in the first powerplay, and Imam-ul-Haq is doing little there. They can probably bring in Fakhar Zaman for this match and see if he can make any difference with his big hits. 

Babar Azam is having an under-par tournament partly due to the high standards he has set for himself, and hehas been unable to convert the 50s to a big score. And his captaincy has been under threats with few questionable decisions in the close matches. 

Mohammad Rizwan is the only man in good form for Pakistan, but he lacks the support from the middle and lower order. 

The fast bowlers, Haris Rauf in particular, have been quite expensive in this tournament. Although, Shaheen Afridi has been in the wickets, but he has also been leaking runs and not being very effective in the crunch moments. And spin performance has been extremely under-par.

Bangladesh have their own issues, and it start even before the tournament is started surrounding the controversary between Tamim Iqbal and captain Shakib Al Hasan. Even after that, Bangladesh was able to start the tournament ona  winning note with a win over Afghanistan, but after that it has been a downward trend for the Bangla tigers, as they lost 5 matches on the trot.

Bangladesh's situation is no better than their counterparts. Neither the openers nor the middle order seem to be finding their groove. The only batsman who is able to play is Mahmudullah and he too comes in at No. 7. If the Bangladesh have to give fight to Pakistan in this match, they will need their senior duo of Litton Das, Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim to fire. The fast bowlers have been decent with their performances, but their spinners are also not doing too well. 

Predicted XIs:

Pakistan

Abdullah Shafique
Fakhar Zaman/Imam-ul-Haq
Babar Azam (Captain)
Mohammad Rizwan (Wicket-Keeper)
Saud Shakeel
Iftikhar Ahmed
Shadab Khan
Mohammad Nawaz
Shaheen Afridi
Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Haris Rauf

Bangladesh

Tanzid Hasan
Litton Das
Mehdy Hasan Miraz
Najmul Hossain Shanto
Shakib Al Hasan (Captain)
Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicket-Keeper)
Mahmudullah
Mahedi Hasan/Nasum Ahmed
Taskin Ahmed
Mustafizur Rahman
Shoriful Islam

Fantasy XI

Babar Azam (Captain)
Shakib Al Hasan (Vice-Captain)
Abdullah Shafique
Litton Das
Mohammad Rizwan
Mushfiqur Rahim
Shaheen Afridi
Taskin Ahmed
Mehdy Hasan Miraz
Haris Rauf
Shoriful Islam

Match 12 Preview - India Vs Pakistan; Predicted XI; Fantasy XI

Match Timing: 14 October 2023 14:00

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

In the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in Ahmedabad, India holds a significant advantage, bolstered by the composure of Rohit Sharma, the intensity of Virat Kohli, and the tactical prowess of Jasprit Bumrah. Their batting lineup, brimming with aggressive players, sets a formidable tone. The key to their success lies in effectively countering Pakistan's left-arm pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, especially in the initial overs.

The potential return of Shubman Gill could prove pivotal, as his aggressive style could disrupt Shaheen's rhythm early on. Pakistan's bowlers, particularly vice-captain Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali, might face a daunting task against India's strong batting lineup. This match could be an opportunity for Indian batsmen to capitalize on Pakistan's bowling vulnerabilities, especially targeting Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali.

A crucial subplot in this encounter is the battle between India's left-arm wrist-spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, and Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam. Kuldeep's regained form and his ability to deceive batsmen could pose a significant threat to Babar's batting prowess. However, for Pakistan to neutralize Kuldeep's impact, they must first navigate through the challenges posed by India's ace pacers, Bumrah and Siraj.

The selection dilemma for India revolves around the choice between R Ashwin and Shardul Thakur, with both players vying for the No. 8 slot in the batting order. The decision hinges on the pitch conditions. If the pitch favors spin, Ashwin's experience and expertise make him a viable option. On a batting-friendly surface, Shardul Thakur's aggressive batting style could prove beneficial.

In this emotionally charged contest, where historical rivalries and cricketing legacies collide, India stands as the favorite. The outcome of this match may be determined by how well India handles Shaheen Shah Afridi's early onslaught and how effectively they exploit Pakistan's bowling weaknesses. The clash between Kuldeep Yadav and Babar Azam adds an intriguing dimension, making this encounter a spectacle that cricket fans worldwide eagerly anticipate.

Predicted XIs

India

Rohit Sharma (Captain)

Shubhman Gill/Ishan Kishan

Virat Kohli

Shreyas Iyer

KL Rahul (Wicket-Keeper)

Hardik Pandya

Ravindra Jadeja

Shardul Thakur/ R. Ashwin

Jasprit Bumrah

Kuldeep Yadav

Mohammed Siraj

Pakistan

Abdullah Shafique

Imam-ul-Haq

Babar Azam (Captain)

Mohammad Rizwan (Wicket-Keeper)

Saud Shakeel

Iftikhar Ahmed

Shadab Khan

Mohammad Nawaz

Shaheen Shah Afridi

Hasan Ali

Haris Rauf

Fantasy XI

Mohammed Siraj(Captain)

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Vice-Captain)

Rohit Sharma

Virat Kohli

Abdullah Shafique

Babar Azam

Mohammad Rizwan

KL Rahul

Hardik Pandya

Haris Rauf

Jasprit Bumrah