KKR Vs PBKS – IPL 2021 Match #21 Quick Review! Mavi-Krishna, Sunil Narine, Rahul Tripathi, and captain Morgan the positives. A brilliant catch by Ravi Bishnoi, but not much else for PBKS.
Moments of The Day: Kolkata’s Pacers Vs Intent-less Punjab
The IPL is full of surprises and memorable moments. Here are my moments of today:
Shivam Mavi & Prasidh Krishna have been earmarked of representing India. Krishna had a brilliant debut series already. Today, Shivam Mavi’s spell of 4-0-13-1 set the tone for a disciplined KKR bowling performance. Prasidh Krishna was a touch expensive but three wickets nevertheless. If they keep on contributing, Lockie Ferguson on the bench does not look as bad anymore.
Sunil Narine’s stocks have been decline over the past couple of seasons. Ever since his action was remodeled, his bowling has been less threatening. Similarly, since oppositions figured Narine’s short-ball weakness and with the departure of Chris Lynn, his X-factor is gone missing. Today, his spell of 4-0-22-2 took the game in KKR’s direction and the bowled to Moises Henriques was the ball of the match.
In a low scoring match, Punjab sent Kolkata’s openers back. In came Narine, pulled Arshdeep Singh’s delivery only for Ravi Bishnoi to run in and take a superb diving catch. Catch of the tournament so far.
Captain Eoin Morgan finally comes to the party – After Bishnoi’s catch, KKR felt the jitters with 17/3. With 45 runs (4 single digit scores including a duck) in the previous five matches, Morgan’s calm and counterattacking 47*(40) sealed the game. Biggest positive of the game for KKR. Wonderful support by Tripathi as well – wholehearted cricketer. If Shubman Gill or Nitish Rana can get in form, KKR has all the ingredients to be a dangerous side.
Honorable Mention:Rahul Tripathi’s diving catch, Varun Chakravarthy’s 4-0-24-1, Morgan’s 3 catches, Russell’s run out, Chris Gayle’s direct hit.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Dawid Malan
Punjab Kings have iterated through Jhye Richardson, Riley Meredith, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Moises Henriques, Fabian Allen, and Chris Jordan. None of them (barring Meredith in the BBL) were in-form players coming into the IPL. Except for Dawid Malan. #1 internationally ranked batsman in this format, his exclusion has been surprising. On the flip side, Pooran has scored 28 runs in 5 innings including 3 ducks, with 19 as his best today. Chris Jordan scored 17 ball (30) today, more than Pooran in his 6 games.
106, 120, & now 123 (courtesy Chris Jordan). They have also scored 221 & 195, but inconsistency & slow starts from KL Rahul-Mayank Agarwal is not helping. Need to reflect a bit.
IPL 2021 Points Table, Orange Cap, & Purple Cap Leaders
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table, Orange Cap, & Purple Cap. We will keep updating it in every article!
Shikhar Dhawan – 259 runs (DC, 4 matches)
Harshal Patel – 12 wickets (RCB, 4 matches)
Teams
Played
Won
Lost
Tied No-Result
Points
Net Run Rate
1. Chennai Super Kings
5
4
1
0
8
+ 1.612
2. Delhi Capitals
5
4
1
0
8
+ 0.034
2. Royal Challengers Bangalore
5
4
1
0
8
+ 0.096
4. Mumbai Indians
5
2
3
0
4
-0.032
5. Kolkata Knight Riders
6
2
4
0
4
-0.305
6. Punjab Kings
6
2
4
0
4
-0.608
7. Rajasthan Royals
5
2
3
0
4
-0.681
8. Sunrisers Hyderabad
5
1
4
0
2
-0.18
IPL 2021 Points Table
Tomorrow’s Preview
Tomorrow is the another double header! The Delhi Capitals take on Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Also, if you have not yet read our IPL Previews, here is a list of all of them! Check them out and share ahead:
RR Vs KKR– IPL 2021 Match #18 Quick Review! Despite being hit by injuries & returns (Jofra Archer, Liam Livingstone, Ben Stokes), RR came together as a side.
Moments of The Day: Disciplined Rajasthan Royals Make KKR Toil
The IPL is full of surprises and memorable moments. Here are my moments of today:
Although Morris starred with wickets of finishers Russell, DK, & Cummins, the platform was set by Jaydev Unadkat (4-0-25-1), Sakariya (4-0-31-0), and Mustafizur Rahman (4-0-22-1). With the ball gripping, the accurate left-arm off cutters troubled KKR’s batsmen. Add to that, direct hit by Jos Buttler, Morris inflicting Morgan’s run-out, and brilliant catches by Jaiswal, Sakariya, and Parag. The combined effort restricted KKR to 133 at the Wankhede.
Yashasvi Jaiswal replaced Manan Vohra and impressed right away. After a dropped catch, came back with a brilliant diving catch and a sparkling 22 with 5 fours. He should definitely get a long run this time around.
World T20 World Cup Spotlight: Samson, Dube, and Team England
Sanju Samson is often criticized for throwing away his wicket after a couple of nice drives. A particular observation in the IPL has been a couple of glorious hundreds followed by single digits throughout the tournament. With the 23-men squad for the T20 World Cup and Rishabh Pant & KL Rahul almost locked in, the reserve wicketkeeper-batsmen spot seems to be a direct shootout between Ishan Kishan (glorious debut) & Sanju Samson. Kishan has been struggling at MI and hence, Samson batting through the innings and taking RR home will give him an edge.
With Hardik Pandya struggling at MI & Vijay Shankar not doing too well either, Shivam Dube’s composed 46 in the last game and a supportive 22 should bring him back to the conversation for the medium pace-all round option.
England are the reigning ODI champions and favorites with India in the upcoming World Cup. With Ben Stokes & Jofra Archer injured, Liam Livingstone going home due to bio-bubble fatigue, Alex Hales not in the reckoning, and Jos Buttler & Eoin Morgan struggling for runs, Chris Jordan & Tom Curran struggling at the death, are England really prepared for the challenge? You are not going to win a World Cup with only a Jonny Bairstow.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Eoin Morgan
Eoin Morgan was unfortunately run out without facing a ball, but he now has scores of 2, 7, 29, 7, and now 0. Questionable captaincy decisions as well. With the likes of Ben Cutting, Tim Seifert, and Lockie Ferguson on the bench, Morgan is not pulling his weight in this side.
IPL 2021 Points Table, Orange Cap, & Purple Cap Leaders
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table, Orange Cap, & Purple Cap. We will keep updating it in every article!
Shikhar Dhawan – 231 runs (DC, 4 matches)
Harshal Patel – 12 wickets (RCB, 4 matches)
Teams
Played
Won
Lost
Tied No-Result
Points
Net Run Rate
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore
4
4
0
0
8
+ 1.009
2. Chennai Super Kings
4
3
1
0
6
+1.142
3. Delhi Capitals
4
3
1
0
6
+0.426
4. Mumbai Indians
5
2
3
0
4
-0.032
5. Punjab Kings
5
2
3
0
4
-0.428
6. Rajasthan Royals
5
2
3
0
4
-0.681
7. Sunrisers Hyderabad
4
1
3
0
2
-0.228
8. Kolkata Knight Riders
5
1
4
0
2
-0.675
IPL 2021 Points Table
Tomorrow’s Preview
Tomorrow is the another double header!
RCBtakes on CSK tomorrow & SRH Vs DC. What are your thoughts?
Also, if you have not yet read our IPL Previews, here is a list of all of them! Check them out and share ahead:
Moments of The Day: Unadkat, Miller, & Morris Come Back In Style
The IPL is full of surprises and memorable moments. Here are my moments of today:
Rajasthan Royals have had two major purchases in the last few years—Jaydev Unadkat & Chris Morris. While Chris Morris has not had a major IPL season since the 2015 season with Delhi (Daredevils), Unadkat has been bitterly disappointing at RR. Today Unadkat ended up with 4-0-15-3, devouring the entire DC top order. Morris, who had been denied a run by Samson in the first game, came back with 36 (18) with 4 sixes.
The Fizz (Mustafizur Rahman) was the big positive for today. Post-injuries, his impact had dramatically reduced from the heights of his dream debut year. He was finally hitting speeds of 135 kph+ and putting revolutions on the ball. The dismissals of Stoinis & Curran were especially satisfying. With Unadkat-Fizz occupying the ‘specialist off-cutter’ position, & Sakariya/Morris for support, this is turning out pretty nicely for RR.
The fielding is finally doing justice to the standard of the IPL. After a horrendous few days, RCB-SRH brought things back on track. Today, it got even better—Samson’s flying screamer, Parag’s run out of Pant, Tewatia’s running back catch, Miller’s run out of Ashwin, & Dhawan’s 3 catches (6 in total this IPL).
Honorable Mentions:Lalit Yadav impresses; Rishabh Pant almost bails out DC with a 50; Avesh Khan’s 3 wickets
T20 World Cup Spotlight: South Africa, the Dark Horse?
Given that the T20I World Cup is around the corner, and pandemic induced rules has changed the rules to 23-player squad, we will be analyzing the impact of each match on the various T20I World Cup squads.
There was a point today where Miller & Morris partnership were facing Kagiso Rabada. Miller’s career can be divided into three phases:
Killer Miller (Pre-2016)
Where Is Miller? (2016-2020)
Accumulator Miller (Post-2020)
Frankly, if this third phase is anywhere close to ‘Killer Miller’ phase, South Africa might just have a chance for the T20I World Cup. With AB De Villiers’ return possible, the young SA squad impressing against Pakistan(Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, Russie Van der Dussen, Klassen, Linde, Shamsi), & the IPL experience of Faf-ABD, QDK, Miller, Morris, Rabada-Nortje-Ngidi, count this Protea team out at your own peril.
The Chris Woakes & Tom Curran Conundrum – Woakes ended up with 15* & 4-0-22-2 today & 2/18 in the first game, while Curran had figures of 21 & 3.4-0-35-0 & 1/40 in the last game. Curran has played 28 T20I for England, while Woakes only has 8, last of which came in 2015. Time for a straight switch.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Delhi’s Team Selection
Although the Capitals made a game out of a 148 score, their tactics should still be questioned. Why was Amit Mishra dropped? What is Rahane’s role in the team? Smith-Hetmyer? Frankly, DC’s depth is so good, but I am just afraid the constant changing & chopping will not help in the stability.
RR already dealing with Jofra Archer’s injury have been dealt with Ben Stokes being ruled out of the tournament. Hopefully he recovers well, but maybe blessing in disguise given David Miller & Liam Livingstone’s form.
IPL 2021 Points Table
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table. We will keep updating it in every article!
Teams
Played
Won
Lost
Tied No-Result
Points
Net Run Rate
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore
2
2
0
0
4
+0.175
2. Mumbai Indians
2
1
1
0
2
+0.225
3. Punjab Kings
1
1
0
0
2
+0.2
4. Delhi Capitals
2
1
1
0
2
+0.195
5. Rajasthan Royals
2
1
1
0
2
+0.052
6. Kolkata Knight Riders
2
1
1
0
0
0.00
7. Sunrisers Hyderabad
2
0
2
0
0
-0.4
8.. Chennai Super Kings
1
0
1
0
0
-0.779
IPL 2021 Points Table
Tomorrow’s Preview
The PBKS take on the CSKin Mumbai. Who do you think will win this one?
Also, if you have not yet read our IPL Previews, here is a list of all of them! Check them out and share ahead:
