IPL 2021: Kings XI Punjab New name: Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) has changed its name. The franchise captain KL Rahul and owned by Mohit Burman, Ness Wadia, and Preity Zinta will now be called Punjab Kings. KXIP is said to be attending IPL Auctions 2021 with a new brand identity.Official contacts have been made to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about the change, but written approvals are still pending. Punjab Kings will now attend IPL Auctions 2021 scheduled for February 18th under their new name."The team has been planning to change the name for a long time and I think it needs to be done before this IPL 2021. A source from the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry told PTI on Monday that it is not a surprising decision."KXIP is one of the eight franchise teams that competed in the latest edition of the T20 League in the United Arab Emirates.In the tournament's 13-year history, they were runners-up once and finishing third again.The next IPL bid is scheduled to start in the second week of April, and the auction will take place on Thursday. The auction will see 292 players, including 164 Indians, come under the hammer with Rs 196.6 crores per transaction.Also Read: IPL 2021 Auction: Top 10 facts from the final player's list
On paper, Punjab Kings and the Rajasthan Royals have more than a few things in common in the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Both affected by the withdrawal of players and locked at six points each, the two teams will look to revive their falling campaign during their clash at Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday.Wicketkeeper captains KL Rahul and Sanju Samson comfortably sit among the top six scorers of the tournament, but their individual efforts have left no impact on their team's performances so far.With the odds stacked against them in their 14th attempt to lift the elusive trophy, Punjab Kings will hope for their coach Anil Kumble and the leadership group to get their campaign back on track.Also Read- Virat Kohli to quit RCB captaincy after the end of IPL 2021 seasonDuring his playing career, Kumble had back India from the clutches of defeat on numerous occasions. With the former India captain name doing the rounds for a second stint as head coach of the national team once Ravi Shastri completes his tenure after the T20 World Cup, the legendary leg-spinner will look to prove his mettle as a franchise coach.Before his fallout with Virat Kohli, Kumble had coached India to the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final. However, his brief tenure as coach of the Punjab Kings has yet to produce the desired results. The Mohali-based franchise finished sixth in 2020 and is currently at the same spot midway into the IPL 2021 season.Tuesday's competition will be more about what kinds of starts can be made by the top order players on both sides. As for the Kings, Rahul and Mayank are expected to open with Chris Gale providing just the right momentum to their innings at No.3.Prabhsimran Singh is another exciting prospect at the top of the order in case he gets into the XI. The middle order will be manned by Mandeep Singh, M Shahrukh Khan and a toss-up between new recruit Aiden Markram and West Indian Nicholas Pooran, eager to get over a nightmarish first phase, where he got four ducks.Leg-spin remains Punjab's forte and the addition of experienced campaigner Adil Rashid, alongside the India pair of Ravi Bishnoi and Murugan Ashwin, could come in handy in UAE conditions. The withdrawals of Riley Meredith and Jhye Richardson means Mohammed Shami is set to be partnered by either Chris Jordan or Nathan Ellis. Left-armer Arshdeep Singh's improved death bowling will also strengthen his case.Similarly for the Rajasthan, a lot will depend on the start provided by power-hitters Liam Livingston and Evin Lewis. Coming to the IPL after some sensational performances in "The Hundred" for Birmingham Phoenix, Livingston will be excited to stretch his run, while at the same time his skills will be tested against a high-quality leg-spin.Weakened by the withdrawal of Ben Stokes, Joss Butler and Jofra Archer, Rajasthan hope that their Indian Players like Rahul Tewatia, Riyan Parag, Jaydev Unadkat and Chetan Sakariya to turn the tide.Also Read- Pakistan vs New Zealand: Entire tour called off due to security concerns minutes before 1st ODI
Punjab Kings will face the Rajasthan Royals in match 32 of IPL on Tuesday. Both teams will begin their journey in the second leg of IPL from this match. Punjab Kings have a history of not getting their team combination right, which is the reason why they have struggled so hard over the years to find a balanced eleven. With 3 wins and 5 losses, they are placed at the 6th spot in the standings with 6 points.Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, had a decent the first half of the IPL. Their biggest concern is that their English overseas players will not available for the remainder of the tournament. They have quality Indian players who can win matches for them. The Royals have placed themselves at the 5th spot in the standings with 6 points.Match Details:Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, Match 32Venue:Dubai International Cricket Stadium, DubaiDate &Time:September 21st at 7:30 PM IST, and at 6:00 PM local timeLive Streaming:Star Sports Network and Disney+HotstarWeather Report:The temperature is expected to hover around 34°C on the matchday with 61 % humidity and 19 km/hr wind speed. There are no chances of precipitation during the game.Pitch Report:The surface will assist the quick bowlers in the early innings, and the boundaries are quite bigger than normal. The batters need to give themselves time on this wicket, and once they are set, they can shift the gears. The team batting first have more chances of winning this match.Also Read- IPL 2021, PBKS vs RR: Battle for survival between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan RoyalsProbable Playing XIs for PBKS vs RR:Punjab KingsLokesh Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Moises Henriques, Harpreet Brar, Adil Rashid, Mohammad Shami, Murugan Ashwin / Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep SinghRajasthan RoyalsYashasvi Jaiswal, Liam Livingstone, Sanju Samson (c&wk), Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, David Miller, Chris Morris, Rahul Tewatia, Chetan Sakariya, Jaydev Unadkat, Tabraiz ShamsiTop Picks for PBKS vs RR Dream11 Match:Top Picks – BatsmenMayank Agarwal deserved a century in the last match against Delhi Capitals, but he remained not out on 99 runs from 58 deliveries. He had a great first half of IPL, where he has scored 260 runs in 7 matches at an average of 43.33.Riyan Parag is an upcoming star for India. He can bat, bowl, and moreover, he is a brilliant fielder as well. So far in this year’s IPL, he has scored 78 runs and has picked up one wicket as well.Top Picks – All-RoundersChris Morris is a match-winner who can contribute equally well with both bat and ball. He has picked up 14 wickets in 7 matches and has even scored 48 runs in 4 innings.Liam Livingstone is likely to open the innings for Rajasthan Royals in Jos Buttler’s absence. He is a tremendous striker of the cricket ball and has performed well for England in recent times.Top Picks – BowlersMohammad Shami is always effective on overseas pace-friendly wickets. So far in this year’s IPL, he has picked up 8 wickets in 8 matches at an economy of 8.16.Jaydev Unadkat is a player who can bowl at any point of the match. Unadkat uses his variations very effectively. He has picked up 4 wickets in 4 matches in this IPL at an economy of 7.06.Top Picks – WicketkeepersLokesh Rahul will play the anchor role for Punjab Kings. The 29-year-old stylish batsman is currently the second-highest run-scorer in this year’s IPL, with 331 runs in 7 matches, averaging 66.2.Also Read- Virat Kohli to quit RCB captaincy after the end of IPL 2021 seasonSuggested Playing XI No.1 for PBKS vs RR Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:Sanju Samson, Lokesh Rahul (c), David Miller, Mayank Agarwal, Riyan Parag, Chris Morris, Liam Livingstone (vc), Jaydev Unadkat, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Harpreet BrarSuggested Playing XI No.2 for PBKS vs RR Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:Lokesh Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Chris Morris (vc), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tewatia, Liam Livingstone, Arshdeep Singh, Chetan Sakariya, Tabraiz ShamsiPBKS vs RR Risky Captaincy Choices:Universe Boss Chris Gayle task his time initially to get settled, but once he is settled, it’s curtains for the bowlers. In 8 matches in this IPL, he has scored 178 runs at an average of 25.42. He will be a risky captaincy pick for your fantasy teams.Rahul Tewatia can play unorthodox shots, which are really effective at the end of the innings, while he is a cunning bowler as well. You can take a risk and pick him as your fantasy team skipper.Player you should avoid:Moises Henriques has played 3 matches so far in this year’s IPL and has managed to score only 16 runs in 2 innings. It’s better to avoid him while making your fantasy teams.Also Read- Pakistan vs New Zealand: Entire tour called off due to security concerns minutes before 1st ODI
In the battle between kings, Chennai will face the Punjab in the 53rd match of the IPL 2021. It is a crucial match for both sides. Chennai will aim to finish in the top 2 spots, while on the other hand, Punjab must win this match to stay in the qualifying race. Chennai Super Kings are in a troubled position right now, since they lost their last two games to the Delhi Capitals and the Rajasthan Royals. Currently, they are in second place in the standings with 18 points. Punjab relies mainly on their top order batters and the lack of mid-order players has been one of its main concerns during this tournament. At one point they were cruising well against RCB, but ended up on the losing side by 6 runs. They need to have a close look at the results of KKR, MI, and RR for their qualification scenarios. Currently, they are in the 6th spot in the standings with 10 points.Match Details:Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings, Match 53Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, DubaiDate &Time: October 7th at 3:30 PM IST, and at 2:00 PM local timeLive Streaming: Star Sports Network and Disney+HotstarPitch Report:The batters have struggled a lot to score runs in the last game between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. The wicket is more on the slower side when the score of 160 is defendable on this wicket.Probable Playing XIs for CSK vs PBKS:Chennai Super KingsRuturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina / Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Josh Hazlewood, Deepak ChaharPunjab KingsLokesh Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Deepak Hooda/Sarfaraz Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Moises Henriques, Harpreet Brar, Mohammad Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep SinghTop Picks for CSK vs PBKS Dream11 Match:Top Picks – BattersRuturaj Gaikwad is stealing the show with the bat for Chennai Super Kings. Currently, he is second in the list of leading run-scorers in this tournament, having scored 521 runs in 13 matches, including one century and 3 half-centuries. Mayank Agarwal is a bit under the shadow of Lokesh Rahul, but has done well in the second leg of the IPL, scoring 2 half-centuries in his last 4 matches.Top Picks – All-RoundersRavindra Jadeja is one of the premier all-rounders in the Chennai lineup. He has done a remarkable job with his all-round performances in this IPL. In 13 matches, Jadeja has scalped 10 wickets at an economy of 6.75 and has also scored 212 runs at an average of 70.66. Playing in his first game in the second leg of the IPL, Moises Henriques proved his worth by picking 3 wickets against RCB, and he also scored 12* runs with the bat.Top Picks – Bowlers'Lord’ Shardul Thakur is well known for giving breakthroughs whenever needed for his side. He is the leading wicket-taker for Chennai in this edition of the IPL, with 15 scalps in 13 matches at an economy of 8.52. Mohammed Shami has been phenomenal in the second leg of IPL. In the last 5 matches, he has already picked up 10 wickets, with the best figures of 3 for 21.Top Picks – WicketkeepersLokesh Rahul likes to take the game deep, though it has backfired for his side on some occasions. He has been a consistent performer over the last 4 years and has scored heaps of runs. In 12 matches in this edition, he has scored 528 runs at an average of 52.8 and a strike rate of 129.09.Suggested Playing XI No.1 for CSK vs PBKS Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:Lokesh Rahul, Aiden Markram, Mayank Agarwal (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moises Henriques, Moeen Ali (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammad Shami, Shardul Thakur, Deepak ChaharSuggested Playing XI No.2 for CSK vs PBKS Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:KL Rahul (vc), Shahrukh Khan, Aiden Markram, Mayank Agarwal, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Bravo, Moeen Ali, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Josh HazlewoodCSK vs PBKS Must Picks for Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:Players Statistics Dream11 Points Ruturaj Gaikwad 521 runs 782 Faf du Plessis 470 runs 745 Ravindra Jadeja 221 runs 10 wickets 768 Lokesh Rahul 528 runs 799 Mayank Agarwal 429 runs 647 CSK vs PBKS Risky Captaincy Choices:Faf du Plessis is fifth in the list of leading run-scorers in this tournament, with 470 runs in 13 matches. It’s worth a risk and you can pick him as your fantasy team skipper. Shahrukh Khan is a genuine finisher for Punjab Kings. He has scored 16 and 22* in his last 2 matches. You can take a risk and pick him as your fantasy team captain.Player you should avoid:MS Dhoni struggled a lot to score runs in this tournament. Considering his current form, it’s better to avoid him while making your fantasy teams.Also Read- Sagar Rana murder case: Delhi court denies bail to Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar
RCB vs KKR: RCB up against confident KKRBowling has over the years been the Achilles heel of the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He came back to bite them in the first match of IPL 2022 against the Punjab Kings where they failed to defend 205.It will be tough for Vav de Plessis and his men when they take on the Kolkata Knight Riders at DY Patel Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday night. KKR kicked off its campaign with a convincing six-wicket victory over defending champion Chennai Super Kings.The place was a great hunting ground for Kolkata who never lost a match there. Furthermore, they enter the competition with the psychological advantage of beating RCB in three games, including last season's playoffs. Although the RCB facelift was largely unused in the previous game, Hearts would win with a top-flight performance led by Captain Du Plessis, who began his campaign for his new franchise with 88 off 57 balls.Add to that the form of Virat Kohli and the ability of young Anuj Rawat, and RCB is off to a good start. His middle system, anchored by Dinesh Karthik, has plenty of firepowers, including the dangerous David Wylie, Sheriff Rutherford, and Shahbaz Ahmed. With an explosive batting lineup, the main square you'll need to check past champions is bowling.While they still miss the services of Josh Hazelwood, the quick attacks from Willy and Mohamed Siraj, who have forgotten the first start, will have to put their house in order. Siraj, who has failed on more than one count, has to put the night of terror behind him and start over. He gave RCB an extra 22, in which Siraj scored 10 runs.And in an effort to throw the ball wide, the 28-year-old's streak and height dominated all over. Unlike the previous match, RCB should focus on bowling early with Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga. Using the Shahbaz spinner, which only throws one, can also help the RCB.On the other hand, Kolkata ticked most of the boxes against CSK and the depth of their strike could be a worrying factor for the opponent. Starting with Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer, they have potential winners up to No. 8 hitter Sunil Naren.Umesh Yadav will be their main weapon in the power game, and one area they will need to improve is their 47 death overruns in the last three times against CSK. Since the dew factor is important to a team's strategy, winning the lottery would be the obvious choice.previous view - SRH vs RR: Sanju Samson expects RR to play fearless cricket
