Time: September 26, 7:30 PM IST
Deadline: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Pitch report
The average first and second innings scores read 179 and 156 respectively at Abu Dhabi this season. Although runs came thick and fast, the fast bowlers had their share of fun: they have taken 18 of 28 wickets. The spinners, meanwhile, were taken to the cleaners.
Power players
Jonny Bairstow’s rich run of form continues. Despite losing David Warner early to an unfortunate run out, Bairstow kept firing on all cylinders. Had it not been for Yuzvendra Chahal’s sharp wrong ‘un, Bairstow would have taken his team over the line singlehandedly. Not to forget his performance in the previous season: he scored 445 runs in a mere 10 matches.
Andre Russell can strike anytime. Seldom does he fail and their opening game was one of those bad days in the office. If there’s anyone who can chase down 100 runs of the last 5 overs, it is Russell. We witnessed him snatching victories from the jaws of the defeats last season, and with the pitches in the UAE getting better, a Russell special seems to be on the cards.
The same was the case with David Warner – just that he was the unluckiest of all. Maybe he will think twice before leaving the crease. If not run out, you can always get Mankaded if you leave the crease too early. That said, Warner being the highest run-scorer in the last three of the four seasons he was a part of, will remain a highlight in every fantasy game prediction.
Mohammad Nabi is likely to make it to the playing XI in place of the injured Mitchell Marsh. He took 12 wickets in as many matches and maintained an impressive economy of 5.1 in the Caribbean T20 League. With the bat, he played a finisher’s role and rose triumphant in high-pressure situations.
Smart picks
Manish Pandey seems to be the one to keep the innings glued together. He ran hard between the wickets against Bangalore, also making sure the well-set Bairstow gets most of the strike. If need be, Pandey can use the long handle to send the ball into orbit. He is handy in every position, making him valuable in fantasy cricket. He also has a hundred to his name in the Indian T20 League.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar may have gone wicketless, but he conceded only 25 runs in 4 overs despite bowling in the powerplay as well as death.
Pat Cummins, the most expensive player of the season, had an ordinary start with the ball. He may not have served the purpose for his team but made amends for the fantasy players with the bat. He spanked four sixes against Jasprit Bumrah, eventually smashing 33 off 12.
Shivam Mavi was the pick of the bowlers for Kolkata, taking 2 for 32. He dismissed the likes of Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma.
Probable XIs
Kolkata: Shubman Gill, Sunil Narine, Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Nikhil Naik, Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Sandeep Warrier
Hyderabad: David Warner (c), Jonny Bairstow, Manish Pandey, Priyam Garg, Vijay Shankar, Mohammad Nabi, Abhishek Sharma, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan