We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Pitch Report for Punjab vs Gujarat Match at Brabourne Stadium
Five of six scores at the Brabourne Stadium read above 175 runs. To put things into perspective, it has been the best wicket for batting in this edition of the Indian T20 League.
Time: April 8, 7:30 PM IST
Probable Playing Teams for Punjab vs Gujarat Match
Probable XI for Punjab: Mayank Agarwal (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Bhanuka Rajapaksa/Odean Smith, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Vaibhav Arora
Probable XI for Gujarat: Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade (wk), Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Abhinav Manohar, Rashid Khan, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Aaron, Mohammed Shami
Power Players for Punjab vs Gujarat Match
With 6 wickets at a strike rate of 12, Rahul Chahar is the highest wicket-taker for Punjab. His best figures of 3 for 25 came at the very same venue.
Shubman Gill’s eye-catching 84 off 46 helped Gujarat post a competitive total amidst the fall of wickets and a slow start. He was equally good against spin and pace. The Brabourne wicket should suit his brand of cricket.
Liam Livingstone was the Player of the Match against Chennai for his belligerent knock of 60 runs and bowling figures of 2 for 25. He provided additional fantasy points with his strike rate of 188 and 10 boundaries.
Jonny Bairstow has been in impressive form in Test cricket, and his numbers in the Indian T20 League add fuel to the fire: 1,038 runs at an average of 42 and strike rate of 142. His inclusion will further bolster Punjab’s firepower.
Smart Picks for Punjab vs Gujarat Match
Mohammad Shami and Lockie Ferguson both are strike bowlers – an aspect favourable in fantasy cricket. The duo has taken 9 wickets between them at a strike rate of 10.5.
Kagiso Rabada has taken a wicket each in both games, but it is his batting that has been providing bonus points for the fantasy players: he has hit five fours and a six.
Rashid Khan has done what he does best: smother one end up with his accurate bowling. His bowling figures read 1 for 27 and 1 for 30.
Gujarat already have six bowling options and it seems Rahul Tewatia’s bowling services won’t always be needed. He, however, has been in the thick of things with his bat: a match-winning 40* against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and a quickfire 14 off 8 against Delhi.
Shikhar Dhawan has looked good in bits and pieces. With Mayank Agarwal unable to break free right away, the onus of scaling up the run rate seems to have fallen on Dhawan. His scores so far read 43, 16, and 33.
Hardik Pandya seems to have taken the responsibility of holding the innings together. He has scores of 31 and 33, but both innings came at a strike rate of below 120. But perhaps, the biggest satisfaction for fantasy players lies in the fact that he has started bowling.
Match Preview
It is Punjab’s batting prowess versus Gujarat’s potent bowling that has produced exciting cricket this season. As far as the recent form is concerned, Gujarat emerged victorious in both games and Punjab won two of three matches.