IPL 2016: Fantasy Championship guide SRH v GL

Change is good, change is refreshing but when you chop and change too much, you could end up with a lot of uncertainties. While the Delhi Daredevils management didn’t make it clear as to why Quinton de Kock, Zaheer Khan, Shahbaz Nadeem and Chris Morris were dropped, I think it had more to do with the rotation policy that they have been applying all through the tournament. When it comes off it looks visionary, but when it doesn’t it seems perplexing.

Rising Pune Supergiants, on the other hand, welcomed their new recruits and greeted them in the best possible way by stacking up a victory. While George Bailey didn’t have much to do, Usman Khawaja was instrumental in setting the platform for the chase. Ajinkya Rahane in his ever so beautiful way anchored the entire chase and ensured that RPS had one end assured for the length of their chase.

Late order surges from MS Dhoni and Thisara Perrera meant that Pune could finally register their third win of the campaign.

Let’s get to business now!

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Lions:

SRH have had a long break and would love to start racking up the wins again especially with Yuvraj Singh returning to the fore. Kane Williamson’s return in the last game proved to be vital for the SRH side as he scored a classy 50 and has now given them some assurance with the number 3 spot.

Gujarat Lions, on the other hand, have had to deal with the failures of Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum and that has left their fragile middle order with a lot of work to do, something that they are not ready for.

Now, I already have McCullum, Dwayne Bravo, Suresh Raina and Shivil Kaushik in my team for this game.

I don’t see the need of bringing in any other Lions player for this game.

Smith could be a hit or a miss especially against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra and Mustafizur Rahman. And as I already have McCullum in my side, there is no need for Smith.

The first and the most obvious choice for this game would be David Warner. He has had an excellent record for SRH in Hyderabad and against a mediocre bowling line up, he could set the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium ablaze.

Mustafizur has been instrumental in stopping the run flow in the death overs but he hasn’t really picked up a lot of wickets. Also, considering the rain factor in Hyderabad for today’s game, Bhuvi seems a better choice as he could exploit the overhead conditions at the start of the innings and could also gift you with a few cheap points with his death bowling skills. Another reason for going with Bhuvi instead of Mustafizur is the fact that all my overseas players play either today or tomorrow and hence I cannot transfer them out to get him.

But if Bravo doesn’t play today as well, I would bring in Mustafizur instead of Bravo and would leave out Bhuvi because ‘Fizz’, according to me, is a little better with the ball in the end than Bhuvi. But bring in any one of these two only if SRH bowl first because the match could be a shortened one.

For the uncapped player, I have to get in someone who bowls (because of my team combination) and thus, if Pravin Tambe plays, I’ll get him in. If Tambe doesn’t play, the next best option is one either Bipul Sharma or Ashish Reddy, whoever plays.

Batting captain: David Warner

Bowling captain: Dwayne Bravo (if Gujarat bowl first and he plays)/Bhuvi (if SRH bowl first and Bravo plays)/Mustafizur (if SRH bowl first and Bravo doesn’t play)/Shivil Kaushik (if Gujarat bowl first and Bravo doesn’ play)

Happy team picking!