IPL 2020: Alyssa Healy trolls Boria Majumdar for putting RCB’s failure on AB de Villiers

IPL 2020 | Qualifier 2: DC vs SRH - Match Preview, Predicted XI & Dream11 Fantasy Picks

After two contrasting results in their respective last games, both Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad would be on their toes to secure a spot in the final. For Delhi it would be even more intense as the franchise would be trying to make it to the finals for the first time in 13 years, while Hyderabad has been able to do it twice before, winning once and losing the other time. Delhi Capitals looked totally out of sorts in their qualifier against Mumbai Indians as neither the bowlers nor the batsmen were able to cope up with the pressure built by the opposition. Hyderabad on the other hand have been able to transcend into the best version of themselves in the past four games and look like the only team that can challenge the might of Mumbai Indians. Rabada-Nortje-Dhawan: Three Musketeers on whom Delhi’s hopes lie In the entire tournament, Delhi have been able to win games in which the three have been able to perform to their potential or at least two of them have been able to hit the rhythm. The initial phase of the IPL saw Kagiso Rabada hit form while Anrich Nortje helped in the middle phase of the game. Shikhar Dhawan did well in the middle as well. So these are the three people that Delhi would have to back on to deliver for them. While Dhawan is among the top run-getters, Nortrje and Rabada to are among the leaders in the bowling table, therefore they have the potential to win it for the team. Holder-Williamson would have the SRH baton in their hands In the last few matches, Jason Holder has proved those correct who picked him as the best bet to replace Mitchell Marsh. Holder has picked up 13 wickets and has also played crucial innings in the chases. Kane Williamson in the last game did what he has been known the best for – keeping calm in pressure situations and finishing the chase. Hyderabad would be happy to see him in form and do the best for the team. Qualifier 2 - DC vs SRH: Match Details Match Number- 59 Date: 07 November 2020, at 7:30 PM IST, 06:00 PM Local, 2.00 PM GMT Venue: Abu Dhabi Broadcast: Star Sports and Hotstar Pitch Report The pitch in Abu Dhabi performed not at all in the way it has been expected. It not only offered swing to the pace bowlers in the first innings but was two-paced right from the start as well. In this case, it would be hard to predict how the pitch would play in this game. In such situations, the best thing for a captain is to lose the toss. Weather and Toss: The weather in Abu Dhabi has been ideal for playing cricket as it has remained precipitation free and the humidity has gone down as well. The toss becomes crucial in the sense that the team fielding first would at least have a target in front of themselves, which is always ideal in a situating as tough as qualification, especially on a wicket that the team is not sure about and dew anticipated. Team News Delhi Capitals The Delhi Capitals could not deliver with probably their best team in the tournament. In such a scenario, it seems highly unlikely that they would change. However, the change that seems possible is Daniel Sams and Prithvi Shaw getting out and Harshal Patel and Shimron Hetmyer coming to the team in their place. Expected XI Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, Harshalo Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje Sunrisers Hyderabad Sunrisers have been playing their best form of cricket so far and in such a situation, they would obviously not change the team. If Wriddhiman Saha is fit by game time, he is a natural selection in the team in place of Sreevats Goswami. Expected XI David Warner (c), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Manish Pandey, Kane Williamson, Priyam Garg, Jason Holder, Abdul Samad, Rashid Khan, Shahbaz Nadeem, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan Qualifier 2 - DC vs SRH: Dream 11 team and suggestion Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner (c), Kane Williamson, Kane Williamson, Priyam Garg, Jason Holder (vc), Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje Captain: David Warner Vice- Captain: Jason Holder Powered by Froala Editor Powered by Froala Editor

Rohit Sharma likely to travel to Australia; will surely play T20, Test series

Rohit Sharma’s return to the Mumbai Indians camp in the last few games has given a sigh of hope to the Board of Cricket Control in India that the star batsman will be able to travel to Australia for a full tour. The Indian team relies heavily on Rohit Sharam at the top of the order and the possibility of him playing against Australia would bode well for the men in blue. “A decision will be taken soon in this regard. It’s only fair that Rohit stays with the team and does his strength and conditioning work under physio Nitin Patel and trainer Nick Webb. Let’s see how it goes,” PTI quoted an unnamed BCCI official as saying. The Indian squads for all T20, ODI and Test series are set to fly to Australia on November 11, a day after the completion of the ongoing edition of the IPL. BCCI hopes that Rohit will be fit at least for the Test series that will start from December 17, after the white-ball series. The BCCI officials also said that the team management will rest him for the ODI series in hope for his return for the T20 series and Test series.

Virat Kohli likely to miss last two tests against Australia

India captain Virat Kohli is expected to miss the last two Tests of the upcoming four-match Test series against Australia starting December 17, as per a PTI report. Virat Kohli is expecting his first child in January 20121 and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) understands that the skipper will opt for paternity leave to be with his wife, actor Anushka Sharma. There is no confirmation regarding the schedule of Virat Kohli’s departure from Australia but BCCI expects that Kohli will leave the series midway after the completion of first two Tests scheduled to be played in Adelaide and Melbourne, PTI report added. “The BCCI has always believed that family is a priority. In case, the skipper decides on availing paternity break, he will then be available only for the first two Test matches,” PTI quoted an unnamed BCCI source as saying. Shedding light on the complications for cricketers amid coronavirus pandemic, a BCCI source said PTI that in normal circumstances, Kohli would have flown back home for the delivery of his child and then a return flight to Australia would have made him available for the fourth and the last test of the series scheduled to start on January 15 in Brisbane. But, in these times, due to covid-19 and subsequent biosecure protocols, that would not be a viable option for both Kohli and the team.

IPL 2020: RCB think-tank open up on crucial selection calls against Sunrisers

After the Royal Challengers Bangalore crashed out of the tournament last night against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, the head of cricket operations, Mike Hesson and the head coach Simon Catich addressed the media on the outlook of the team’s performance in IPL 2020. OneCricket asked the duo about the contentious decision to drop Josh Philippe and bringing an out of form Aaron Finch who has really looked out of sorts this season and also Moeen Ali instead of bringing back Ishrur Udana who has shown his worth in the team this year. “Once we made the decision to open with Virat, that changed the whole dynamic of the potential batting order. We discussed if the young Josh would bat at number three or Moeen Ali will bat at that position looking at the matchups with the Sunrisers bowling attack. Fall of wickets at wrong times did not help the issue as the team had planned for Moeen to bat at number three but only if the wickets had fallen at the backend or after the end of the first powerplay,” RCB head coach Simon Catich said. On the question of Why Ishuru Udana, coach Catich heaped a lot of praise on the Sri Lankan left-arm pacer and said that he had provided the team with much-needed depth in the bowling department. However, he added that the decision to include Adam Zampa was purely based on the conditions and the type of pitch that was available for the last game as the think tank believed there will be a lot more purchase for spinners than a pacer and hence Zmapa made the cut above Udana.