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3 Unfairly Treated Cricketers Who Have Been Sidelined by the Indian Selectors but Deserve More Chances

By Nitesh Mathur, Broken Cricket Dreams, 5/26/2022

India bowed out of the 2021 T20 World Cup without putting up a proper fight. A lot has changed since then.

Rohit Sharma is now the all-format Indian captain, Rahul Dravid the new coach after Ravi Shastri’s departure, and a new-look India’s T20 tour of South Africa squad is announced.

Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, comeback kid Dinesh Karthik, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav, and Hardik Pandya all made deserving entries or returns to the T20 side.

IPL performances have been duly rewarded, selectors have displayed some positive thinking, but is the selection aggressive enough?

Also Read: 54 Contenders for the Indian 2022 T20 World Cup Squad — Do Rohit & Virat Deserve a Spot?

3 Indian Cricketers Who Deserve More Chances in T20I

Despite rests for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and injuries to Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, and Suryakumar Yadav, three players could not find a spot in the 18-man squad. It is hard for anyone to break into the Indian team these days, but team India is making a huge mistake by not giving them a chance at all.

Also Read: Indian Cricket’s Abundance of Talent: A Blessing or a Curse?

1. Prithvi Shaw

Age: 22

Eight years ago, Prithvi Shaw burst onto the scene by scoring 546 (330) in a school competition. Comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar were inevitable (and even Sehwag & Lara for that matter). He then won the U-19 WC as captain and has produced runs at the domestic circuit and IPL level.

Things looked bright, but he has only played 5 Tests (1 century, 2 50s), 6 ODIs, and a sole T20I (debut golden duck by the way).

History of fitness issues has not helped advance Shaw’s case, and he has often been depicted as ‘careless’ or ‘carefree’ in his batting approach. However, this is exactly the need of the hour for Indian cricket in T20Is.

Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, and even Ishan Kishan play a similar brand of cricket as openers, but Shaw is a breath of fresh air. This season he has produced knocks of

38 (24) – 2 Sixes/4 Fours, 61 (34) – 2/9, 51 (29) – 7/2, 41 (20) – 7/1, 37 (27) – 1/5

And when he has not gone big, he has knocked singles and made sure the partnership with David Warner flourishes. Prithvi Shaw might not rack up the running charts and stay till the end, but what he provides is worth much more – an impetus to the team from Ball One of the match.

The real question is, will he even get an audition for the T20 WC squad?

IPL 2022: 10 matches, 283 runs, 152.97 SR, 37 fours, 10 sixes, 28.3 average

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2. Rahul Tripathi

Age: 31

Rahul Tripathi was always considered one of those key Indian uncapped players who ‘punches above his weight’ and ‘provides a bit of spark and energy in the field,’ but has always been seen a level below international quality (like a Swapnil Asnodkar, Manvinder Bisla, Nitish Rana, and now Rajat Patidar).

But has Rahul Tripathi been unfairly pigeonholed? He batted with flair this year at SRH (413 Runs, 3 50s, 158.24 SR) and was the catalyst behind KKR’s run to the final last year (397 runs, 2 50s, 140.28 SR). His highest score in each of the last 6 IPLs read

93, 80*, 50, 81, 74*, 76

This means that when he is in the mood, he goes big. But more than the stats, it is Tripathi’s infectious attitude while batting. He starts hitting from ball 1, can float anywhere in the batting lineup, and adapts to any situation. Fast bowlers, spinners, doesn’t matter. 120/2 or 0/1 – he comes in with the same aggression and mindset as a modern day #3 batter should.

Mitchell Marsh, Moeen Ali, Dawid Malan, Mohammad Hafeez, and Devon Conway are the template to bat at #3 these days. Gone are the days of Steve Smith and Virat Kohli steadying the pace.

Tripathi has done all in his power to showcase his ability, but will he ever get a chance?

It is now or maybe never for him.

IPL 2022: 14 matches, 413 runs, 158.23 SR, 40 fours, 20 sixes, 37.54 average

3. Sanju Samson

Age: 27

Sanju Samson has been the most ill-treated of them all. Samson has barely received any chances at the international level since his debut in 2015:

1 T20 Vs Zimbabwe (2015), 1 Vs SL (Jan 2020), 2 Vs NZ (Jan-Feb 2020), 3 Vs Aus (Dec 2020), 3 Vs SL (Jul 2021), 3 Vs SL (Feb 2022).

There is barely any continuity. In his last series in February, he did not bat in the first T20I and scored his personal best – a crucial 39 (25) with 2 fours & 3 sixes at #4. Yet, he has been dropped while the likes of Ishan Kishan & Venkatesh Iyer have been retained despite poor IPL form. What message are the selectors and coach sending?

In Qualifier 1 of IPL 2022, Samson gave an apt reply with the bat.

First ball he faced – SIX! What followed was carnage. His next scoring shots were 4,4,4,6,6. He scored 30 (13) before he even took a single. Now, that is T20 mentality!

That 47 (26) was a more impactful innings than Jos Buttler’s 89 (56).

Sanju Samson and the IPL Inconsistency Myth

He has been on the IPL scene since 2013 but has always carried the perception of ‘inconsistency’, ‘not enough domestic runs’, or ‘throws his wicket away.’

Let us dig a bit deeper. This may have been true from 2013-2016 (where his average hovered between 20.4-26.45 & SR between 112.35-125.15). In each of those years, he would make one or two sparkling fifties and then fall off.

However, from 2017-2022, he has scored 3 hundreds, 12 fifties, striking it between 136.72-150.36 and averaging between 30.07-40.33. Runs in these five years?

386, 441, 342, 375, 484, 421*

His numbers might not be KL Rahul-esque (659, 593, 670, 626, 616) whose SR hovers around 135. Rahul plays an opener/anchor role, while Samson is the middle order intent batter who can keep the game moving and hit spinners out of the attack.

In essence, Sanju Samson has become more consistent, more lethal, and a true match winner.

IPL 2022: 15* matches, 421 runs, 150.35 SR, 40 fours, 24 sixes, 30.07 average

Embed from Getty Images

Why India Need to Select At Least One of Them?

Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tripathi, and Sanju Samson, literally the only three Indian batters with a modern day T20 batting mindset, were omitted from the South Africa squad list. Although India has about 24 T20Is to try out new players before the 2022 T20 World Cup later this year, their exclusion reveals India’s reluctance to play ultra-aggressive cricket.

Among Indian players, only Dinesh Karthik (187. 28), Rajat Patidar (156.25), Shivam Dube (156.21), Rishabh Pant (151.78) have comparable Strike Rates. Samson, Tripathi, and Shaw have taken the leap of faith with risk & reward. The real question is, will Indian selectors?

Samson’s own words summarizes the Shaw-Tripathi-Samson Paradox beautifully. At Breakfast with Champions, he stated that

“When you’re doing a role like this. In T20s, when you are there to hit sixes…you need to have guts inside yourself, you need to be brave enough to do that role…failures will happen…If I get to play, I play. If I don’t, I don’t.”

“I am not here to score lots and lots of runs…I am here to score a small amount of runs which are very effective for the team.”

India Need to Revive the Memories of 2007

India last won a T20 World Cup way back in 2007. It was the inaugural edition, nobody knew what this beast T20 cricket would come, and the IPL had yet to be announced.

Stalwarts Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sourav Ganguly stepped aside to give youngsters a chance. Robin Uthappa, Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla, Sreesanth, Joginder Sharma, RP Singh, and even the timeless Dinesh Karthik would make the squad. The Pathan brothers, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, and Virender Sehwag were the ‘seniors’ in the side lead under a certain captain MS Dhoni.

And guess what happened? India won—a young team with nothing to lose who just went out there, took risks, and expressed themselves.

Fast forward 15 years and 6 T20 World Cups later, India has yet to win another trophy. What’s worse? They have not even played close to their potential (Virat Kohli dragged into the finals and semi-finals of the 2014 & 2016 editions).

It might be time for a couple of seniors to step aside and give a free reign to players who can go there and play their natural, free-flowing, expressive cricket.

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, 2021. Originally published on 05/26/2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Photo Courtesy: IPLT20.com Indian Premier League Official Website (iplt20.com)

RR Vs SRH – IPL 2021 Match 28 Review: Jos Buttler’s Century Breaks Warner-Less SRH

RR Vs SRH – IPL 2021 Match #28 Quick Review!

Match Details, Scorecard, & Video Highlights

Scorecard: RR Vs SRH Video Highlights

Toss: SRH won the toss and chose to field first.

Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

Umpires: Chettithody Shamshuddin & Chris Gaffaney

What Actually Happened

  • Winner: Rajasthan Royals won by 55 runs
  • Scores: RR 220-3 Vs SRH 165-8
  • Player of the Match: Jos Buttler
  • Best Figures
    • Rashid Khan – 1/24
    • Mustafizur Rahman – 3/20
  • Most Runs
    • Jos Buttler – 124 (64)
    • Manish Pandey – 31 (20), Jonny Bairstow – 30 (21)

Moments of The Day: Buttler & Samson Make It Rajasthan’s Day

Here are my moments of today:

  • It is game 7, and Sanju Samson is still delivering good scores? Sanju Samson & consistency, well that is a good change. Since becoming the captain of the RR side, his batting seems more mature & calculated, taking more responsibility on himself. Following his epic 119, he followed it with low scores of 4, 1, & 21. However, he has come back with steady 42*, 42, & 48 (33) today. Does Samson have an upper hand against an out-of-form Suryakumar Yadav for a World T20 spot?
  • Jos Buttler had a David Warner-esque tournament before this game. A score of 49, 41, and 40 in the other 4 innings for a total of 130 runs in 6 matches. He started scratchy today and but accelerated after the halfway stage. Batting till the 19th over, he scored all around the ground in the flat Delhi pitch. His dancing shots at the end of the innings were truly special, taking RR from 111 in 13 overs to 220 by the 20th. In Buttler’s own words, “I can finally stop Alastair Cook telling me, ‘I’ve got one more T20 hundred than you.’ ”
  • Mustafizur Rahman is enjoying a second wind, taking 8 wickets so far. His wrist is finally back to the usual & pace is returning as well. After numerous injuries & inconsistency, I am glad he is finally back. Check out Jarrod Kimber’s brilliant analysis of his topsy-turvy career here.

Honorable Mention: Manish Pandey’s aggressive 31 (20); Riyan Parag & David Miller’s cameos; Rashid Khan opens the bowling and goes for 4-0-24-1 in high-scoring encounter

Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: David Warner Gets Dropped

Alright I confess. At the end of last game, I suggested David Warner should get dropped for Jason Roy. Warner was indeed axed unceremoniously. However, instead of going with an aggressive Roy-Bairstow opening combination, they went with Mohammad Nabi.

  • The issue with that call is that Nabi was only given one over. It was at the backend of the innings when Buttler was only in a six-hitting mode and ended up conceding 21 runs.
  • At the beginning of the match, Abdul Samad was slotted to open. When the time came, Manish Pandey walked in (although he did well), and Shankar-Jadhav batted at 4-5. With Nabi at 6 (quickfire 17 off 6) and Samad at 7, they were never going to chase 220. Should have been sent earlier. There are too many voices in the SRH dugout.
  • Kane Williamson himself had an uncharacteristically off-day with a 21-ball 20.
  • Rashid Khan’s batting form is a concern. 3 ducks and a 17 in four outings now.

Warner was a total team-man throughout the game, supporting the team from the boundary right through the game. IPL legend.

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 380 runs (PBKS, 8 matches)
  • Harshal Patel – 17 wickets (RCB, 7 matches)
TeamsPlayedWonLostTied
No-Result
PointsNet Run Rate
1. Delhi Capitals 862012+0.547
2. Chennai Super Kings752010+1.263
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore 752010 -0.171
4. Mumbai Indians74308+ 0.062
5. Rajasthan Royals73406-0.190
6. Punjab Kings83506-0.368
7. Kolkata Knight Riders72504-0.494
8. Sunrisers Hyderabad71602-0.623
IPL 2021 Points Table

Also, if you have not yet read our IPL Previews, here is a list of all of them! Check them out and share ahead:

  1. Chennai Super Kings – CSK Preview
  2. Delhi Capitals – DC Preview
  3. Kolkata Knight Riders – KKR Preview
  4. Mumbai Indians – MI Preview
  5. Punjab Kings – PBKS Preview
  6. Rajasthan Royals – RR Preview
  7. Royal Challengers Bangalore – RCB Preview
  8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – SRH Preview

Copyright (2021: 4/12/2021)– @Nitesh Mathur, aka Nit-X – bcd@brokokencricketdreams.com

Home » Sanju Samson

Image Courtesy: David Warner by Naparazzi via CC by SA-2.0

KKR Vs PBKS – IPL 2021 Match 21 Review: Bowlers, Captain Morgan Inspire Big KKR Win

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.

Match Details, Scorecard, & Video Highlights

Scorecard: KKR Vs PBKS Video Highlights

Toss: RR won the toss and chose to bat first.

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

Umpires: Paul Reiffel & Yeshwant Borde

What Actually Happened

  • Winner: Kolkata Knight Riders won by 5 wickets.
  • Scores: PBKS 123-9 KKR 126-5
  • Player of the Match: Eoin Morgan
  • Best Figures
    • Prasidh Krishna – 3/30
    • Moises Henriques – 1/5 (1 over), Mohammad Shami – 1/25 (4 overs)
  • Most Runs
    • Mayank Agarwal – 31 (34)
    • Eoin Morgan – 47 (40)

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)
TeamsPlayedWonLostTied
No-Result
PointsNet Run Rate
1. Chennai Super Kings54108+ 1.612
2. Delhi Capitals54108+ 0.034
2. Royal Challengers Bangalore54108+ 0.096
4. Mumbai Indians52304-0.032
5. Kolkata Knight Riders62404-0.305
6. Punjab Kings 62404-0.608
7. Rajasthan Royals52304-0.681
8. Sunrisers Hyderabad51402-0.18
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:

  1. Chennai Super Kings – CSK Preview
  2. Delhi Capitals – DC Preview
  3. Kolkata Knight Riders – KKR Preview
  4. Mumbai Indians – MI Preview
  5. Punjab Kings – PBKS Preview
  6. Rajasthan Royals – RR Preview
  7. Royal Challengers Bangalore – RCB Preview
  8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – SRH Preview

Copyright (2021: 4/12/2021)– @Nitesh Mathur, aka Nit-X – bcd@brokokencricketdreams.com

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RR Vs KKR IPL 2021 Match 18 Review: KKR Abysmal As Sanju Samson, RR Pacers Shine

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.

Match Details, Scorecard, & Video Highlights

Scorecard: RR Vs KKR Video Highlights

Toss: RR won the toss and chose to bat first.

Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Umpires: Navdeep Singh & Sundaram Ravi

What Actually Happened

  • Winner: Rajasthan Royals won by 6 wickets.
  • Scores: KKR 133/9 – RR 134/4
  • Player of the Match: Chris Morris
  • Best Figures
    • Chris Morris – 4/23
    • Varun Chakravarthy – 2/32
  • Most Runs
    • Rahul Tripathi – 36 (26)
    • Sanju Samson – 42* (41)

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.

Honorable Mention: Riyan Parag’s catch & Parag-Tewatia selfie celebration, Tripathi’s counterattack

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)
TeamsPlayedWonLostTied
No-Result
PointsNet Run Rate
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore44008+ 1.009
2. Chennai Super Kings43106+1.142
3. Delhi Capitals43106+0.426
4. Mumbai Indians52304-0.032
5. Punjab Kings52304-0.428
6. Rajasthan Royals52304-0.681
7. Sunrisers Hyderabad 41302-0.228
8. Kolkata Knight Riders51402-0.675
IPL 2021 Points Table

Tomorrow’s Preview

Tomorrow is the another double header!

RCB takes 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:

  1. Chennai Super Kings – CSK Preview
  2. Delhi Capitals – DC Preview
  3. Kolkata Knight Riders – KKR Preview
  4. Mumbai Indians – MI Preview
  5. Punjab Kings – PBKS Preview
  6. Rajasthan Royals – RR Preview
  7. Royal Challengers Bangalore – RCB Preview
  8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – SRH Preview

Copyright (2021: 4/12/2021)– @Nitesh Mathur, aka Nit-X – bcd@brokokencricketdreams.com

Home » Sanju Samson

RCB Vs RR IPL 2021 Match 16 Review: Devdutt Padikkal Announces Himself On the Big Stage

RCB Vs RR– IPL 2021 Match #12 Quick Review! Padikkal’s maiden IPL ton the highlight of the day.

Match Details, Scorecard, & Video Highlights

Scorecard: RCB Vs RR Video Highlights

Toss: MI won the toss and chose to bat first.

Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Umpires: Jayaraman Madanagopal & Sundaram Ravi

What Actually Happened

  • Winner: Chennai Super Kings won by 45 runs.
  • Scores: RCB 181/0RR 177/9
  • Player of the Match: Devdutt Padikkal
  • Best Figures
    • Mohammad Siraj – 3/27
    • Chetan Sakariya – 0/35
  • Most Runs
    • Shivam Dube – 46 (32)
    • Devdutt Padikkal – 101* (52)

Stars of The Day:

The IPL is full of surprises and memorable moments. Here are my moments of today:

  • Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia rescue RR to a respectable total. Rajasthan were struggling at 18/3 and later 43/4. Shivam Dube’s counterattack with support from Riyan Parag – 25 (14) & Rahul Tewatia – 40 (23) got RR to a respectable 177/9. Unfortunately, this was never going to be enough at the Wankhede.
  • When RCB last reached the final in 2016, Virat Kohli opened the batting and scored 973 runs. Moving from Chennai to Mumbai, the flow came back to his batting with a steady 72*. The star of the day was Devdutt Padikkal. At one stage, Padikkal was on 80* (36) while Kohli was still in his twenties. That is domination. One to watch out for sure. With Maxwell & AB De Villiers already performing, Kohi-Padikkal’s form at the top is yet another box ticked.
  • Speaking of which, RCB finally have their death bowling figured out. Mohammad Siraj & Harshal Patel have been the pick of the bowlers. Siraj is giving RCB ideal starts with eye catching in-swinging deliveries while Harshal Patel’s off cutters are too hot to handle. While Patel is the purple cap holder with 12 wickets to his name, Siraj is #6 on the economy charts with a miserly 6.06 economy to go with his five wickets.

Honorable Mentions:

Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: RR’s Campaign Going South Quickly

  • Manan Vohra is not giving RR the starts that they want. With only 3 fifties in more than 50+ IPL games, it is not a particularly impressive record. Ben Stokes’ injury, release of Robin Uthappa, and Liam Livingstone going home (due to bio bubble fatigue), these are not good signs for RR. Already at the bottom of the table, they need a few Tewatia shows to rescue them from that position.

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)
TeamsPlayedWonLostTied
No-Result
PointsNet Run Rate
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore44008+ 1.009
2. Chennai Super Kings43106+1.142
3. Delhi Capitals43106+0.426
4. Mumbai Indians42204+0.187
5. Sunrisers Hyderabad 41302-0.228
6. Kolkata Knight Riders41302-0.7
7. Punjab Kings41302-0.824
8. Rajasthan Royals41302-1.011
IPL 2021 Points Table

Tomorrow’s Preview

MI takes on PBKS tomorrow. 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:

  1. Chennai Super Kings – CSK Preview
  2. Delhi Capitals – DC Preview
  3. Kolkata Knight Riders – KKR Preview
  4. Mumbai Indians – MI Preview
  5. Punjab Kings – PBKS Preview
  6. Rajasthan Royals – RR Preview
  7. Royal Challengers Bangalore – RCB Preview
  8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – SRH Preview

Copyright (2021: 4/12/2021)– @Nitesh Mathur, aka Nit-X – bcd@brokokencricketdreams.com

Home » Sanju Samson

CSK Vs RR IPL 2021 Match 12 Review: The Super Kings Are Back

CSK Vs RR– IPL 2021 Match #12 Quick Review! Dominating victory by the Chennai Super Kings!

Match Details, Scorecard, & Video Highlights

Scorecard: CSK VS RR Video Highlights

Toss: MI won the toss and chose to bat first.

Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Umpires: Paul Reiffel & Virender Sharma

What Actually Happened

  • Winner: Chennai Super Kings won by 45 runs.
  • Scores: CSK 188/9RR 143/9
  • Player of the Match: Moeen Ali
  • Best Figures
    • Chetan Sakariya – 3/36
    • Moeen Ali – 3/7
  • Most Runs
    • Faf Du Plessis – 33 (17)
    • Jos Buttler – 49 (35)

Stars of The Day: CSK’s Left Arm All-Rounders – Sam, Moeen, Jadeja

The IPL is full of surprises and memorable moments. Here are my moments of today:

  • Chetan Sakariya with his second 3-fer in the IPL. He had a dream day with scalps of Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, & MS Dhoni, India’s former middle order. Oh yeah and he also got the duo of Agarwal-KL Rahul in the first game. Happy for him, after he endured some tough days personally.
  • When Jos Buttler performs, RR qualifies. As easy as that. At 87-2 in 11 overs, things were looking in RR’s favor. With Jadeja’s wicket of Buttler & Moeen Ali in tandem, RR collapsed to 95-7.
  • Sam Curran & Moeen Ali again show their worth. Sam finished things off with 13 (6) before his 3-0-12-2 spell (taking Manan Vohra and Sanju Samson) put the initial breaks on RR. Moeen Ali – 26 (20) with 2 sixes and sealed the game with 3-0-7-3. Glad to see CSK utilizing these English talents better than the England cricket team themselves.
  • Sir Jadeja is Everywhere. 2 wickets, 4 catches (on different parts of the ground). Looks like IPL 2021 has only 5 contributors in the field:
    • Dropped Catches, Shikhar Dhawan, Riyan Parag, Jadeja, or Hardik Pandya (direct hits)

Honorable Mentions: Dwayne Bravo’s finish – 20* (8); Faf & Rayudu Cameos; Unadkat-Tewatia’s 42 run partnership saves face.

Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Comedy of Errors

  • In the 20th over, there was a Sam Curran & Shardul Thakur (stranded) run-outs, no-ball yorkers, Dwayne Bravo’s bat flying everywhere, and a huge six. It was all happening at the Wankhede. Comedy of errors at its finest.

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 186 runs (DC, 3 matches)
  • Harshal Patel – 9 wickets (RCB, 3 matches)
TeamsPlayedWonLostTied
No-Result
PointsNet Run Rate
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore33006+ 0.75
2. Chennai Super Kings32104+1.194
3. Delhi Capitals32104+0.453
4. Mumbai Indians32104+0.367
5. Kolkata Knight Riders31202-0.633
6. Rajasthan Royals31202-0.719
7. Punjab Kings31202-0.967
8. Sunrisers Hyderabad30300-0.483
IPL 2021 Points Table

Tomorrow’s Preview

Tomorrow is the first double header!

MI takes on DC tomorrow. 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:

  1. Chennai Super Kings – CSK Preview
  2. Delhi Capitals – DC Preview
  3. Kolkata Knight Riders – KKR Preview
  4. Mumbai Indians – MI Preview
  5. Punjab Kings – PBKS Preview
  6. Rajasthan Royals – RR Preview
  7. Royal Challengers Bangalore – RCB Preview
  8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – SRH Preview

Copyright (2021: 4/12/2021)– @Nitesh Mathur, aka Nit-X – bcd@brokokencricketdreams.com

Home » Sanju Samson

RR Vs DC IPL 2021 Match 7 Review: Day of Redemptions

RR Vs DC – IPL 2021 Match #7 Quick Review! The day of redemptions for Unadkat, Morris, Miller, & Mustafizur. Another last over game.

Match Details, Scorecard, & Video Highlights

Scorecard: RR Vs DC Video Highlights

Toss: won the toss and chose to first.

Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Umpires: Sundaram Ravi & Virender Sharma

What Actually Happened

  • Winner: Rajasthan Royals won by 2 wickets
  • Scores: RR 147/8 – PBKS 150/7
  • Player of the Match: Jaydev Unadkat
  • Best Figures
    • Jaydev Unadkat – 3/15
    • Avesh Khan – 3/22
  • Most Runs
    • Rishabh Pant – 51 (32)
    • David Miller – 62 (43)

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!

TeamsPlayedWonLostTied
No-Result
PointsNet Run Rate
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore22004+0.175
2. Mumbai Indians21102+0.225
3. Punjab Kings11002+0.2
4. Delhi Capitals21102+0.195
5. Rajasthan Royals2 1102+0.052
6. Kolkata Knight Riders211000.00
7. Sunrisers Hyderabad20200-0.4
8.. Chennai Super Kings10100-0.779
IPL 2021 Points Table

Tomorrow’s Preview

The PBKS take on the CSK in 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:

  1. Chennai Super Kings – CSK Preview
  2. Delhi Capitals – DC Preview
  3. Kolkata Knight Riders – KKR Preview
  4. Mumbai Indians – MI Preview
  5. Punjab Kings – PBKS Preview
  6. Rajasthan Royals – RR Preview
  7. Royal Challengers Bangalore – RCB Preview
  8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – SRH Preview

Copyright (2021: 4/12/2021)– @Nitesh Mathur, aka Nit-X – bcd@brokokencricketdreams.com

Home » Sanju Samson

KKR Vs MI IPL 2021 Match 5 Review: Kolkata Seniors Throw It Away

KKR Vs MI– IPL 2021 Match #5 Quick Review! The Mumbai Indians sure know how to win games & Kolkata Knight Riders sure know how to lose them. As a KKR fan, the ending was hard to watch. Great heist from MI nevertheless.

Match Details, Scorecard, & Video Highlights

Scorecard: KKR Vs MI Video Highlights

Toss: KKR won the toss and chose to field first.

Venue: MA Chidambaram, Chepauk, Chennai

Umpires: Chettithody Shamshuddin & Chris Gaffaney

What Actually Happened: Collapse of Epic Proportions

  • Winner: MI won by 10 runs
  • Scores: MI 152/10 Vs KKR 142/7
  • Player of the Match: Rahul Chahar
  • Best Figures
    • Andre Russell – 5/15
    • Rahul Chahar – 4/27
  • Most Runs
    • Suryakumar Yadav 56 (36)
    • Nitish Rana 57 (47)

Moments of The Day: Rahul Chahar Turns The Game

The IPL is full of surprises and memorable moments. Here are my moments of today:

  • Andre Russell, the bowler had a dream of a game. Barely able to lift himself with all the injuries & muscle, he came up with figures of 5-15 in 2 overs. Cleaned up the tail pretty nicely.
  • Rahul Chahar turns the game, literally. Chahar was the catalyst of the collapse that turned 72-0 in 8.4 overs to 142/7 in 20. Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan, & most importantly, the well set Nitish Rana. The ball that dismissed Tripathi was the ball of the tournament so far. Rana unnecessarily danced down the pitch (to Chahar’s last ball by the way) & Shakib threw it away back-to-back sent panic into the KKR dressing room. DK-Russell lost their natural games trying to preserve their wickets, and in the process, gifted MI the game.

Honorable Mentions: Bumrah’s 19th shows his class; Russell’s 2 dropped catches a blessing in disguise

T20 World Cup Watch: Suryakumar, Krunal Strengthen Their Cases

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 T20I World Cup squad.

  • In a pitch where nobody got going, Suryakumar Yadav batted beautifully – 56 (36) with 2 sixes. SKY is going from strength to strength after the India debut. He has a foot inside that World Cup squad.
  • The difference between the two sides was Krunal Pandya. From 126/7 in 17.3 overs, Krunal’s 15 (9) in 3 overs took MI to a respectable 152. When KKR were in a comfortable position, a miserly spell of 4-0-13-1 stalled KKR’s chase. He has been in-and-out of the T20I side, and this performance will just push him up the ladder.

Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: KKR Fans

  • The senior KKR batsman fail to live up to the hype. The strength of KKR was supposed to be their star-studded middle order—Eoin Morgan 9 (9), Dinesh Karthik 8* (11), Russell 9 (15), & Shakib 9 (9) this season. Yet, their only victories in the last two seasons have been due to Rana-Tripathi-Gill or Varun-Lockie.
  • DK not being able to finish the game & not even hitting a boundary was quite unlike him. Morgan hit one boundary, Shakib’s only 4 was an under edge against Rohit Sharma, & Russell’s only 4 was off of a free hit. Andre Russell, the batsman, has been especially disappointing over the last two seasons. 2019 apart and his contributions from the bat are minimal, especially with the likes of Lockie Ferguson & Ben Cutting on the sidelines.

Shah Rukh Khan summed it up perfectly.

  • Also hope Rohit Sharma is okay – twisted his ankle before his first ball. Ended up completing the over, but given his injury history, definitely a concern.

IPL 2021 Points Table

No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table. We will keep updating it in every article!

TeamsPlayedWonLostTied
No-Result
PointsNet Run Rate
1. Delhi Capitals11002+0.779
2. Mumbai Indians2 1102+0.225
3. Punjab Kings11002+ 0.2
4. Royal Challengers Bangalore11002+0.05
5. Kolkata Knight Riders211000.00
6. Rajasthan Royals10100-0.2
7. Sunrisers Hyderabad10100-0.5
8.. Chennai Super Kings10100-0.779
IPL 2021 Points Table

Tomorrow’s Preview

The Sunrisers Hyderabad take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai. 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:

  1. Chennai Super Kings – CSK Preview
  2. Delhi Capitals – DC Preview
  3. Kolkata Knight Riders – KKR Preview
  4. Mumbai Indians – MI Preview
  5. Punjab Kings – PBKS Preview
  6. Rajasthan Royals – RR Preview
  7. Royal Challengers Bangalore – RCB Preview
  8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – SRH Preview

Copyright (2021: 4/13/2021)– @Nitesh Mathur, aka Nit-X – bcd@brokokencricketdreams.com

Home » Sanju Samson

PBKS Vs RR IPL 2021 Match 4 Review: Samson’s Broken Dream In Mammoth Chase

PBKS Vs RR– IPL 2021 Match #4 Quick Review! The Rajasthan Royals falls meters short of an improbable victory against the Punjab Kings.

Match Details, Scorecard, & Video Highlights

Scorecard: PBKS Vs RR Video Highlights

Toss: RR won the toss and chose to field first.

Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Umpires: Anil Chaudhary & Sundaram Ravi

What Actually Happened

  • Winner: RR won by 4runs
  • Scores: RR 221/6 Vs PBKS 217/7
  • Player of the Match: Sanju Samson
  • Best Figures
    • Chetan Sakariya – 3/31
    • Arshdeep Singh – 3/35
  • Most Runs
    • KL Rahul – 91 (50)
    • Sanju Samson – 119 (63)

Moments of The Day: Sakariya, Arshdeep Win Hearts

The IPL is full of surprises and memorable moments. Here are my moments of today:

  • Chetan Sakariya & Arshdeep Singh – In a match aggregate of 438 runs, the highest wicket takers (and almost most economical) were 22-year old Arshdeep & 23-year old Sakariya. They were both smart with their variations and were given death bowling responsibilities—an area where even international level bowlers fail, they excelled. Oh and Sakariya took a blinder to dismiss Pooran while Arshdeep’s caught and bowled off Manan Vohra received much deserved praise from coach Jonty Rhodes.
  • KL Rahul Keeps On GoingProbably India’s best batsman of this generation, KL Rahul’s consistency in the IPL has been stellar. Last 3 seasons – 659, 593, & 670 runs. Today he struck it nicely with a wonderful 91, batting until the final over. Hope his that strike rate picks up from last year.

Honorable Mentions: Chris Gayle’s 40, Buttler’s counterattack

T20 World Cup Watch: India’s Power Hitters

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 T20I World Cup squad.

  • Despite India having Hardik Pandya, India are missing power hitters down the order. Krunal Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, & Dinesh Karthik might be smart, impactful finishers, but out-and-out hitters are missing. Think Yusuf Pathan or Andre Russell type players. Yesterday Abdul Samad impressed hitting 2 sixes against Pat Cummins, and today Deepak Hooda 64 (28) – 6 sixes & Riyan Parag 25 (11) – 3 sixes thrilled with their clean striking.

Wildcard entry for one of them?

Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Samson So Close Yet So Far

  • Sanju Samson was the highlight of the day, even in a losing cause. After Stokes was dismissed for a duck and 2 down pretty, not many would have given RR a chase, but Buttler, Parag, Dube, & Samson took the game really slow. 5 needed off 2, Samson took responsibility on his own shoulder. Should he have run or not? What do you say? But as it turned out, Samson swatted away the last ball and what initially looked like a last-ball six turned out to be meters short. Broken Cricket Dream of the Day. Well played, lad.
  • Catches Lose Matches….or at least that is what the last 4 days (and IPL 2020) have showed us. Today, it was even worse. Stokes, Tewatia, Buttler dropped catches from the Royals, while Murugan Ashwin, KL Rahul, & Mayank Agarwal took turns for the Kings. Take out the dropped catches, and this is no longer a high scoring game.

I am not saying all fielding standards are bad, but it seems to be all or nothing these days. Blinders from Sakariya, Arshdeep, and Tewatia, and comical drops all around. Even Shami’s caught & bowled had miscommunication written all over it.

IPL 2021 Points Table

No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table. We will keep updating it in every article!

TeamsPlayedWonLostTied
No-Result
PointsNet Run Rate
1. Delhi Capitals11002+0.779
2. Kolkata Knight Riders110 02+ 0.5
3. Punjab Kings11002+ 0.2
4. Royal Challengers Bangalore11002+0.05
5. Mumbai Indians10100-0.05
6. Rajasthan Royals10100-0.2
7. Sunrisers Hyderabad10100-0.5
8.. Chennai Super Kings10100-0.779
IPL 2021 Points Table

Tomorrow’s Preview

The Mumbai Indians take on the Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai. 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:

  1. Chennai Super Kings – CSK Preview
  2. Delhi Capitals – DC Preview
  3. Kolkata Knight Riders – KKR Preview
  4. Mumbai Indians – MI Preview
  5. Punjab Kings – PBKS Preview
  6. Rajasthan Royals – RR Preview
  7. Royal Challengers Bangalore – RCB Preview
  8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – SRH Preview

Copyright (2021: 4/12/2021)– @Nitesh Mathur, aka Nit-X – bcd@brokokencricketdreams.com

Home » Sanju Samson

IPL 2021 Rajasthan Royals Preview: Can RR Aim Correctly Without Their Archer?

Rajasthan Royals 2021 Preview.

There used to be a time when frugal IPL auction buys and uncapped Indian players was the norm for RR. Now it is the complete opposite. They are overdependent on foreign players.

If Buttler has a great season, they make the top 4. Otherwise, same old story. Here is the preview.

Also Read: IPL 2021 Auctions Review, RR All-Time XI

IPL History

2008 (Champions), 2013 (3rd), 2015, 2018 – (4th)

How Did They Do Last Year?

8th. Except for Jofra Archer maiden overs, Ben Stokes opening century, Riyan Parag’s Bihu dance celebration, & a glimpse into Kartik Tyagi’s potential, not much to write home about.

Injury & COVID-19 News

Jofra Archer is bound to miss at least 4 matches due to a hand injury. Given that the T20I World Cup is England’s focus right now, it is unlikely that Archer will be risked much.

Complete Rajasthan Royals Squad

Batsman: Yashashvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Manan Vohra, Anuj Rawat, Akash Singh

WK: Sanju Samson

All-Rounders: Shivam Dube, Mahipal Lomror, Rahul Tewatia

Spinners: KC Cariappa, Shreyas Gopal, Mayank Markande

Fast Medium: Kartik Tyagi, Jaydev Unadkat, Chetan Sakariya

Overseas: Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, David Miller, Chris Morris, Mustafizur Rahman, Ben Stokes, Andrew Tye

Uncapped (even in first class): Kuldip Yadav

Predicted RR XI

Rumors suggest that England captain Eoin Morgan has inside information from rival camp of Rajasthan Royals. Maybe a Buttler-Stokes opening partnership to better help England prepare for the upcoming World Cup?

I would still start out with Jaiswal as an opener. (But then I am no captain of the best limited overs side in the world).

  1. Jos Buttler2. Yashasvi Jaiswal/ Manan Vohra/Riyan Parag, 3. Ben Stokes, 4. Sanju Samson (C/WK), 5. Shivam Dube, 6. Rahul Tewatia, 7. Chris Morris8. Shreyas Gopal, 9. Kartik Tyagi, 10. Mayank Markande/Jaydev Unadkat, 11. Mustafizur Rahman/Andrew Tye

Will David Miller get another season on the bench? (Or one game before a 0 (0) run out benches him for the rest of the season).

Watch Out For

  • Chris Morris. Has been sold for plenty at the auction, but some signs he is getting back to his best. Since his breakthrough season with Delhi a few years ago, he has not made a huge mark on the IPL. Is this the year?
  • Sanju Samson went from India’s #4 in the Australia tour to out of the squad. With an extended 23 men squad available for the T20I world cup, can he impress the selectors once again?
  • Buttler-Stokes in the top order.

Where Can Things Go Wrong For the Royals?

Lack of pace. The Fizz, Tye, Unadkat, & even Morris are arguably the world’s best off cutter bowling combination in the world. Without Jofra Archer though, they might fail to defend scores in Mumbai, Kolkata, & Bangalore.

Only so many Tewatia specials can save the Royals.

Venues & Fixtures

Venues

Mumbai- 5, Delhi – 4, Kolkata – 3, Bangalore – 2

Fixtures

  • 12 April: RR vs PBKS (Mumbai)
  • 15 April: RR vs DC (Mumbai)
  • 19 April: CSK vs RR (Mumbai)
  • 22 April: RCB vs RR (Mumbai)
  • 24 April: RR vs KKR (Mumbai)
  • 29 April: MI vs RR (Delhi)
  • 2 May: RR vs SRH (Delhi)
  • 5 May: RR vs CSK (Delhi)
  • 8 May: RR vs MI (Delhi)
  • 11 May: DC vs RR (Kolkata)
  • 13 May: SRH vs RR (Kolkata)
  • 16 May: RR vs RCB (Kolkata)
  • 18 May: KKR vs RR (Bangalore)
  • 22 May: PBKS vs RR (Bangalore)
  • 25 May: Qualifier 1 (Ahmedabad)
  • 26 May: Eliminator (Ahmedabad)
  • 28 May: Qualifier 2 (Ahmedabad)
  • 30 May: Final (Ahmedabad)

Prediction

Prediction7th
Most Runs Jos Buttler
Most WicketsMustafizur Rahman
Emerging PlayerMr. Liam Livingstone, I presume?
Surprise PackageShivam Dube
X FactorJos Buttler
Broken Cricket DreamDavid Miller
Rajasthan Royals Preview Predictions

What do you think of the Rajasthan Royals Preview? Your First XI? Will they make the IPL 2021 qualifiers?

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Copyright (2021: 4/3/2021)– @Nitesh Mathur, aka Nit-X – bcd@brokokencricketdreams.com