IPL 2016: Fantasy Championship guide GL v SRH

When AB de Villiers has an off day in the field, there is very little that can go right for you. The law of averages finally caught up with Kohli and ABD and they couldn’t muster a century stand. Both of them fell for ‘human’ scores and that was the main reason RCB could not put up much of a fight. But it is cruel to expect both of them to always do the bulk of the scoring and while yesterday the other batsmen did put up a good show, it was by no means a good total on a ‘usual’ Wankhede track.

Bowling continues to be RCBs Achilles heel and already it seems like the bowling is just not good enough for RCB to be hopeful of finally landing the big prize.

Mumbai Indians have had their share of problems as well and I don’t think that this win will solve a lot of them but it at least helps them move a little further up in the table. They need to figure out a way to slot Martin Guptill in because he is just too good a player to be warming the bench. Guptill and Rohit Sharma can open and Jos Buttler can keep wickets, which could mean Unmukt Chand getting to play ahead of Parthiv. But knowing the unpredictable nature of MIs think tank, Corey Anderson could end up playing before Guptill does.

Let’s get to business then!

Gujarat Lions vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Transfer out: Andre Russell, Robin Uthappa (only if GL bat first), Krunal Pandya

Transfer in: Dwayne Bravo/ Mustafizur Rahman, Suresh Raina (only if GL bat first), Deepak Hooda 

The Lions have had a good rest period and would be raring to get things in motion again. Jaddu is back from his wedding and would walk straight into the playing XI. Aaron Finch isn’t playing as he suffered a hamstring strain while batting in the last match. Dwayne Smith could get a go but other than that Gujarat Lions look a settled unit.

Sunrisers as always will be praying for David Warner to score big because without Yuvraj and Williamson they look short of match winners with the bat.

I just have Warner in my team for this game.

Now, apart from Warner, the only player in the Hyderabad team that is worth picking is Mustafizur Rahman. But as SRHs batting unit is not that reliable, I will pick him only if SRH bowl first because if they bat first and score a paltry total, the batsmen will not look to go after Mustafizur and hence will just look to play him out. This drastically affects his ‘point providing’ potential.

If Gujarat bowl first, I’ll surely go for DJ Bravo as he would up against a weak SRH middle order (during the death overs) and I’m sure they won’t be able to cope against his brilliance.

The short ball has always haunted Suresh Raina but there is no bowler in the SRH outfit who could trouble him with that and thus, I bring him in. He has had a decent start to the IPL and it is only time that he kicks on and makes a significant contribution with the bat. Get him in!

But for the first time in this tournament the ‘cost equation’ makes its appearance. I am not able to bring in Raina, Bravo, and Pravin Tambe into my team as my budget is exceeding by 15k.

This problem will solve itself if SRH bowl first as then I wouldn’t need to get Bravo in but if Gujarat Lions bowl first, I get in Bravo and leave out Raina.

With Finch out, I am a bit tempted to get Brendon McCullum in but for that, I would have to transfer out either Shane Watson or ABD both of whom play their next game on Friday and hence I don’t want to waste two transfers to get McCullum in. Also, he fell to Sandeep Sharma’s outswinger in the game against Punjab and against a similar bowler in Bhuvi, I am sure he would be stifled again.

For the uncapped player pick, I have to go with Deepak Hooda because of the budget constraints.

So, in a nutshell, if SRH bat first, get in Bravo and Hooda; if GL bat first, get in Raina, Mustafizur, and Hooda.

Batting captain: David Warner

Bowling captain: Dwayne Bravo/ Mustafizur Rahman

Happy team picking!

How is the match expected to play out? – IPL 9, Match 15 Preview: Gujarat Lions aim to keep the fire burning