IPL 2016: Fantasy Championship guide KKR v MI

When two of the best batsmen in the world get together and decide that they are going to put a show for the audience, there is very little that any bowler can do (except if you are Mustafizur Rahman). Straight drives, flicks, cover drives, straight long sixes, quick running, the Kohli-ABD show had just about everything. And while that would have been enough to cheer any RCB fan, Sarfaraz Khan’s ‘ramp shot’ sponsored innings sent the fans into a frenzy.

Warner did try and put up a challenge but Sunrisers’ top heavy batting lineup just couldn’t muster any real threat to RCB’s daunting score.

Now, the official fantasy website is still down and hence this article too is going to be about the Fandromeda game. But remember, as and when the developers of the official website wake up from their unearned vacation; I’ll be making it my priority.

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians

Transfer in: Rohit Sharma, Brad Hogg/Harbhajan Singh, Shreyas Gopal (uncapped player)

Transfer out: Virat Kohli, ABD, Harshal Patel

Both these teams have had contrasting results in their first games. While KKR cruised to a 9-wicket victory, Mumbai succumbed to a 9-wicket loss.

KKR have always had the same strategy in the last 4 editions of the IPL. Bowl first, get the opposition out for a paltry total and then unleash Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir onto the opposition. If Mumbai don’t lose too many wickets to the KKR spinners and are able to dismiss the openers for a low score, they can put KKR out of their comfort zone.

But Mumbai have their own problems to deal with. They have always been slow starters and for some reason, I don’t know what the management was thinking in the last game by playing just 6 batsmen, which included Pollard and Pandya. If they don’t alter that strategy quickly, Rohit, Simmons, and Buttler would have their task cut out.

I already have Bumrah, Russell and Uthappa in my team for this game.

When you hear of Eden Gardens the first player that comes to your mind is Dada. The second player that comes to your mind is (rather should be) Rohit Sharma. He has a great affinity for the Eden Gardens and it is rightfully reflected in his stats. Recently he scored an unbeaten 98 against the Windies in a World T20 warm-up game. Get him in!

Now, the pitch should be spin friendly and looking at Brad Hogg’s performance in the last game, I’ll certainly bring him in if KKR bowl first. There might be chances of dew making its appearance in the second innings and that is what makes me ponder about his selection if KKR bowl second as he being a wrist spinner, won’t be able to make much impact with the wet ball. And thus, I would leave him out if KKR bowl second.

These will be my only two transfers for this game. I leave out Munro because of his inability to play spin and Harbhajan could prove to be a handful for him. There are reports that Simmons could be rested and thus, I do not need to discuss him. Narine might not play as he arrived only on Tuesday night and even if he does, I would want to watch him first as he has remodeled his action again.

Manish Pandey and Gambhir looked in good touch in the last game but at this stage, I‘ll rather save the transfer. If you really want to make another transfer, Harbhajan could be a good bet as the pitch would assist him and he would be operating against 2 left handers in Gambhir and Munro. Get Bhajji in if Mumbai bowl first (don’t select Hogg in this case).

For the uncapped player, there are two good options in Surya Yadav and Shreyas Gopal. While Surya’s batting position is not certain, Gopal is sure to bowl his quota of 4 overs and hence I go for him

Batting Captain: Rohit Sharma(Because of his record at the Eden Gardens)

Bowling Captain: Brad Hogg/Harbhajan (depending on what player you bring in)

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