April 17: Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings, 29th match, MCA Stadium, Pune
Safe XI: Matthew Wade, Robin Uthappa, David Miller, Shivam Dube, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali (vice-capt), Hardik Pandya (capt), Dwayne Bravo, Lockie Ferguson, Maheesh Theekshana
Captain: Hardik Pandya Hardik Pandya the batter has flourished in IPL 2022 after moving up to No. 4; previously, he’d batted six or below for the majority of his time at Mumbai Indians. In the 12 IPL games where he has batted at No. 4, he has scored 363 runs at a mind-boggling average of 90.75 and a strike rate of 148.77, which makes him a compelling choice for captaincy in our safe XI. He is the second-highest run-scorer this season with 228 runs in five games at a strike rate of 136.52.
Vice-captain: Moeen Ali The England allrounder has looked in form in the couple of knocks he has played this season – 35 (22) and 48 (35). In the recent Bangladesh Premier League, he was one of the MVP’s of the tournament, scoring 225 runs at a strike rate of 150 and taking nine wickets in eight games at an economy of 7.26.
Hot picks
Shivam Dube: With 207 runs in five outings at an incredible strike rate of 176.92, Shivam Dube is among the top run-scorers in the tournament. He has scored the most runs in middle overs this season – 151 runs at a strike rate of 158.94.
Shivam Dube: With 207 runs in five outings at an incredible strike rate of 176.92, Shivam Dube is among the top run-scorers in the tournament. He has scored the most runs in middle overs this season – 151 runs at a strike rate of 158.94.
Lockie Ferguson: Titans’ pace sensation Lockie Ferguson blew away Rajasthan Royals with 3 for 23 in four overs in a high scoring game. He is the leading wicket-taker for Titans with eight scalps in five outings. In the two games he has played here, he has taken six wickets at an average of 5.83 and an economy of 4.38 – incredible numbers.
Differential picks
Maheesh Theekshana: The 21-year-old mystery spinner from Sri Lanka was the pick of the bowlers in Super Kings’ last game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he picked up 4 for 33. Since 2021 in T20s he has taken 18 wickets in powerplay overs, in 26 innings, at an incredible economy of 6.83.
Maheesh Theekshana: The 21-year-old mystery spinner from Sri Lanka was the pick of the bowlers in Super Kings’ last game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he picked up 4 for 33. Since 2021 in T20s he has taken 18 wickets in powerplay overs, in 26 innings, at an incredible economy of 6.83.
David Miller: David Miller has been very cautious in the middle overs this season scoring only 38 runs in 38 balls but has been a ruthless finisher in T20 cricket recently. Since 2021, he has scored the third-most runs in death overs in T20s – 420 runs at a strike rate of 193.54 and an average of 52.50.
High Risk XI: MS Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu, David Miller, Shivam Dube (capt), Abhinav Manohar, Moeen Ali, Hardik Pandya, Mohammad Shami, Chris Jordan, Lockie Ferguson, Maheesh Theekshana (vice-capt)
Source: ESPN Crickinfo