KOLKATA VS. PUNJAB: INDIAN T20 LEAGUE 2021, MATCH 45 | PREDICTION, PLAYING 11 AND FANTASY CRICKET TIPS
Kolkata take on Punjab in Match 45 of the Indian T20 League 2021 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday evening.
Kolkata have taken the second phase of the game by storm, as they have won 3 of their 4 matches played here in the second leg. They are currently in the fourth spot in the standings with 10 points and have a slight edge over the other teams due to positive net run rate.
It has been the same old story for Punjab this year too. They have lost 3 of their 4 matches in the second leg and are finding it difficult to move ahead in the standings. The team is currently placed 7th with just 4 wins in 11 matches this season. A loss here will make it almost impossible for them to qualify for the playoffs.
Match Details
- Game: Kolkata vs. Punjab, Match 45
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
- Date & Time: Oct. 1, 2021, at 7:30 PM IST/6 PM Local
Probable Playing XI:
Kolkata
Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (C), Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy, Sandeep Warrier
Punjab
KL Rahul (C & WK), Mayank Agarwal, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Fabien Allen, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Mohammad Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh
Weather Report
The weather is expected to be hot in Dubai, with the temperature predicted to be around 35 degrees during the game.
Pitch Report
The pitches in Dubai have traditionally favored pace bowlers, though there has been some joy for the spinners too. The batters have struggled to put up big scores in the last 3 matches played here. The surface doesn’t change much throughout the entire course of the match. The average score on this pitch during this season has been 159 runs.
Toss
The team batting second has won 2 of the last 3 games played here as the pitch tends to get a little batter to bat as the match progresses. So, putting a total on the board is proving to be difficult in Dubai. A first-innings score of around 170 runs can be a competitive one here.
Top Fantasy Picks
Wicketkeeper
- KL Rahul failed to get going in the second leg, given his ability and the high standards he has set. Although he has made 422 runs in 10 matches at an average of 52.75 and a strike rate of 132.28, he has only scored 91 runs in the last 3 matches. He needs a big score here.
Batters
- Rahul Tripathi has played a key role in Kolkata’s good run in the second leg. He is the leading run scorer for the team in the ongoing season, with 315 runs in nine innings at an average of 35 and a strike rate of 144.49. He got out for just 9 runs in the last game against Delhi.
- Aiden Markram has been a fine replacement to the Punjab batting unit this season. He has scored 95 runs in the three matches at an average of 47.5 in the second leg. Moreover, he is a handy off-spinner as well.
All-Rounder
- Venkatesh Iyer has been a revelation at the top of the order for Kolkata in the UAE. Coming on the back of some excellent performances in domestic cricket, he has made his mark straightaway. He has scored 126 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 144.82. Moreover, he had figures of 2/29 with the ball in the last game.
Bowlers
- Varun Chakravarthy's mystery spin has been the go-to weapon for skipper Morgan in the second leg, with 4 wickets to his name. He is the second-highest wicket taker for Kolkata this season, taking 11 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 6.81.
- Arshdeep Singh has been impressive for Punjab this season. He bowls wide yorkers quite well and is pretty effective in the death overs. He has taken 13 wickets in 9 matches, with the best figures of 5/32, the last time he played at this venue.
Howzat Dream Team
- Wicketkeeper: KL Rahul
- Batters: R Tripathi, A Markram, M Agarwal, S Gill
- All-rounders: S Narine, V Iyer
- Bowlers: L Ferguson, V Chakravarthy, A Singh, M Shami
- Captain: L Ferguson/V Iyer
- Vice Captain: M Agarwal/KL Rahul
NOTE: The Howzat dream team above is just a suggestion. You can select your own fantasy 11, and play all the fantasy cricket matches from the Indian T20 League. Also, don’t forget to make any necessary changes to your team once the actual playing 11 is announced by each team (30 minutes before the start of the match) as some players you have selected might not be part of the team suggested.
Get fantasy cricket tips on your favorite fantasy sports app and select your own team, Howzat!
