The Abu Dhabi T10 League 2024 will start on November 21 and run till December 2 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Organised by the Emirates Cricket Board, the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2024 will see as many as 10 teams compete in a total of 40 matches.

Ajman Bolts, Bangla Tigers, Chennai Brave Jaguars, Deccan Gladiators, Delhi Bulls, Morrisville Samp Army, New York Strikers, Northern Warriors, Team Abu Dhabi and UP Nawabs are the teams that will compete in the eighth edition of the Abu Dhabi T10.  

As per the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2024 schedule, each team will play seven league matches in the league phase. 

The top five teams in the standings after all 35 league matches will qualify for the playoffs.

The top two teams in the standings will clash in the Qualifier 1 for a place in the Abu Dhabi T10 2024 final.

Meanwhile, the fourth and fifth-placed teams in the standings will square in Eliminator 1 to stay alive in the competition.

The winner of Eliminator 1 will face the third-placed team in the standings in Eliminator 2 for a spot in Qualifier 2. The loser of the first qualifier will then lock horns with the winner of the second eliminator in Qualifier 2 for the other spot in the final.

All Abu Dhabi T10 2024 matches will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

New York Strikers are the defending champions of the Abu Dhabi T10 after beating Deccan Gladiators in the 2023 final.

Northern Warriors and Deccan Gladiators are the most successful teams in the tournament’s history with two titles each.

Jos Buttler, Shakib Al Hasan, Rashid Khan, Kieron Pollard, Faf du Plessis, Jonny Bairstow, Phil Salt, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Marcus Stoinis, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult and Matheesha Pathirana are some of the high profile names that will feature in the upcoming T10 tournament.

Where to watch Abu Dhabi T10 League 2024 live in India

The Abu Dhabi T10 League 2024 will be telecast live on Star Sports Network’s TV channels in India.

Live streaming of the Abu Dhabi T10 League 2024 will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website. It will also be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India.

Abu Dhabi T10 League 2024 schedule and live match start times

All timings are in India Standard Time (IST)

Thursday, November 21

Team Abu Dhabi vs Ajman Bolts - 5:00 PM

Morrisville Samp Army vs Bangla Tigers - 7:15 PM

Deccan Gladiators vs Chennai Brave Jaguars - 9:30 PM

Friday, November 22

Northern Warriors vs Delhi Bulls - 2:45 PM

New York Strikers vs Morrisville Samp Army - 5:00 PM

UP Nawabs vs Team Abu Dhabi - 7:15 PM

Ajman Bolts vs Deccan Gladiators - 9:30 PM

Saturday, November 23

Morrisville Samp Army vs UP Nawabs - 2:45 PM

Bangla Tigers vs New York Strikers - 5:00 PM

Chennai Brave Jaguars vs Northern Warriors - 7:15 PM

Deccan Gladiators vs Team Abu Dhabi - 9:30 PM

Sunday, November 24

UP Nawabs vs Northern Warriors - 2:45 PM

Delhi Bulls vs Ajman Bolts - 5:00 PM

New York Strikers vs Deccan Gladiators - 7:15 PM

Morrisville Samp Army vs Chennai Brave Jaguars - 9:30 PM

Monday, November 25

Team Abu Dhabi vs New York Strikers - 5:00 PM

Chennai Brave Jaguars vs Ajman Bolts - 7:15 PM

Delhi Bulls vs Bangla Tigers - 9:30 PM

Tuesday, November 26

UP Nawabs vs Deccan Gladiators - 5:00 PM

Bangla Tigers vs Northern Warriors - 7:15 PM

Morrisville Samp Army vs Delhi Bulls - 9:30 PM

Wednesday, November 27

Ajman Bolts vs Bangla Tigers - 5:00 PM

Team Abu Dhabi vs Chennai Brave Jaguars - 7:15 PM

UP Nawabs vs New York Strikers - 9:30 PM

Thursday, November 28

Deccan Gladiators vs Bangla Tigers - 5:00 PM

Delhi Bulls vs Chennai Brave Jaguars - 7:15 PM

Northern Warriors vs New York Strikers - 9:30 PM

Friday, November 29

Team Abu Dhabi vs Morrisville Samp Army - 2:45 PM

New York Strikers vs Delhi Bulls - 5:00 PM

Chennai Brave Jaguars vs UP Nawabs - 7:15 PM

Northern Warriors vs Ajman Bolts - 9:30 PM

Saturday, November 30

Bangla Tigers vs UP Nawabs - 2:45 PM

Northern Warriors vs Team Abu Dhabi - 5:00 PM

Ajman Bolts vs Morrisville Samp Army - 7:15 PM

Deccan Gladiators vs Delhi Bulls - 9:30 PM

Sunday, December 1

Qualifier 1 - 5:00 PM

Eliminator 1 - 7:15 PM

Eliminator 2 - 9:30 PM

Monday, December 2

Qualifier 2 - 6:30 PM

Abu Dhabi T10 2024 final - 9:00 PM

Abu Dhabi T10 League 2024 teams and squads

Ajman Bolts: James Neesham (Icon), Mohammad Nabi, Alax Hales, Obed McCoy, Ravi Bopara, Terrance Hinds, Shehan Jayasuriya, Mark Deyal, Ali Abid, Safeer Tariq, Huhammad Mohsin, Shevon Daniel, Arineshto Vhezha, Ijas Ahmadzai, Dunith Wellalage, Mujheeb Ur Rahman, Lungi Ngidi, Gulbadin Naib, Haider Ali

Bangla Tigers: Shakib al Hasan (Icon), Rashid Khan, Liam Livingstone, Iftikhar Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik, Hazratullah Zazai, Dasun Shanaka,Joshua Little, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Shehzad, Mir Hamza, David Payne , Luqman Faisal, Nav Pabreja, Hafis Almas Ayub, Tashinga Musekiwa, Ravindu Rathnayke, Imran Khan, Towhid Hridoy 

Chennai Brave Jaguars: Rassie van der Dussen (Icon), Chris Lynn, Nuwan Thushara, Thisara Perera, Dan Lawrence, Aayan Khan, George Munsey, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Joshua Brown, Nick Hobson, Akila Dhananjaya, Oshane Thomas, Matiullah Khan, Sabir Ali, Kavindu Nadeeshan, Garuka Sanketh, Ali Khan, Kobe Herft 

Deccan Gladiators: Jos Buttler (Icon), Anrich Nortje, Marcus Stoinis, Maheesh Theekshana, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Tom Koher-Cadmore, Zahoor Khan, Luke Wood, David Wiese, Usman Tariq, Khary Pierre, Aryan Lakra, Abrar Ahmed, Malsha Tharupati, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Gleeson, Rilee Rossouw 

Delhi Bulls: Rovman Powell (Icon), Muhammad Rohid, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazlahaq Farooqi, James Vince, Wanindu Hasaranga, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Wade, Tom Banton, Salman Irshad, Kasun Rajitha, Nikhil Chaudhary, Saghir Khan, Shahid Iqbal Bhutta, Isai Thorne, Pavan Rathnayake, Fabian Allen, Harshir Seth 

Morrisville Samp Army: Faf du Plessis (Icon), Qais Ahmad, Andries Gous, David Willey, Imad Wasim, Karim Janat, Rohaan Mustafa, Jack Taylor, Sajid Khan, Kjorn Ottley, Hazrat Bilal, Taimoor Ali, Umair Ali Khan, Brain Bennett, Leonardo Julien, Amir Hamza Hotak, Sharafuddin Ashraf 

New York Strikers: Kieron Pollard (Icon), Mohammad Amir, Sunil Narine, Akeal Hossain, Muhammad Waseem, Muhammad Jawadulla, Matheesha Pathirana, Donovan Ferreira, Evin Lewis, Dewald Brevis, Doug Bracewell, Kusal Perera, Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Choudhary, Nathan Edward, Dumindu Sewmina, Asif Ali, Reece Topley 

Northern Warriors: Trent Boult (Icon), Finn Allen, Johnson Charles, Sherfane Rutherford, Saqib Mahmood, Colin Munro, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ankur Sangwan, Brandon King, Fareed Malik, Shohidul Islam, Ziaur Rahman, Sagar Kalyan, Muhammad Uzair Khan, Shaqkere Parris, Ackeem Auguste 

Team Abu Dhabi: Phil Salt (Icon), Noor Ahmad, Kyle Mayers, Jonny Bairstow, Lockie Ferguson, Shimron Hetmyer, AM Ghazanfar, Adam Milne, Kadeem Alleyne, Asif Khan, Rumman Raees, Haider Ali, Zeeshan Nasser, Muhammad Arfan, Ramon Simmonds, Muditha Lakshan, Angelo Mathews  

UP Nawabs: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Icon), Dawid Malan, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Andre Fletcher, Binura Fernando, Odean Smith, Najibullah Zadran, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Curtis Campher, Ryan Burl, Farhan Khan, Hafeez ur Rehman, Khalid Shah, Joshua Bishop, Ashmead Nedd, Masood Gurbaz, Khalid Ahmad Gurbaz 

Photo credit: Imago

Legendary West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle holds the record for the most Player of the Match awards in T20 cricket history.

Widely regarded as the greatest T20 batter of all-time, Chris Gayle won 60 Player of the Match awards in T20 format in his illustrious career.

Apart from representing the West Indies cricket team in T20 international cricket, Gayle donned jerseys of numerous teams in various T20 leagues across the world. 

Gayle also holds the record for the most runs in T20 history. Between 2005 and 2022, the hard-hitting batter amassed 14,562 runs in 463 matches at an average of 36.22 and a strike rate of 144.75. He slammed 22 centuries and 88 fifties in cricket’s shortest format.

Former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell, Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik and former West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard share the second spot for the most Player of the Match awards in T20 cricket. All four cricketers won 42 Player of the Match awards in their stellar T20 career.

Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan and Alex Hales of England are third on the list with 41 Player of the Match awards in T20 format. Know players with most Player of the Match awards in T20 cricket. 

Most Player of the Match awards in T20

Player	Span	Matches	Awards
Chris Gayle	2005-2022	463	60
AB de Villiers	2004-2021	340	42
Andre Russell	2010-2024	492	42
Shoaib Malik	2005-2024	542	42
Kieron Pollard	2006-2024	660	42
Shakib Al Hasan	2006-2024	428	41
Alex Hales	2009-2024	449	41
Shane Watson	2004-2020	343	38
Rashid Khan	2015-2024	423	38
Glenn Maxwell	2010-2024	429	38

Meanwhile, former Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli has the record for the most Player of the Match awards in T20 international cricket. 

Virat Kohli has won 15 Player of the Match awards in T20 internationals since making his debut in 2010.

The right-handed batter has scored 4,037 runs in 117 T20Is at an average of 51.75 and a strike rate of 138.15. He has hit one hundred and 37 half-centuries in T20I format. 

The likes of India’s Suryakumar Yadav, Malaysia’s Virandeep Singh, Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi are joint second on the list for the most Player of the Match awards in T20 international cricket. 

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma features third with 13 Player of the Match awards. Get list of players with most Player of the Match awards in T20 international cricket. 

 Most Player of the Match awards in T20 international cricket

Player	Span	Matches	Awards
Virat Kohli	2010-2024	117	15
Suryakumar Yadav	2021-2023	60	14
Virandeep Singh	2019-2024	78	14
Sikandar Raza	2013-2024	82	14
Mohammad Nabi	2010-2024	121	14
Rohit Sharma	2007-2024	151	13
David Warner	2009-2024	103	12
Dinesh Nakrani	2019-2024	56	11
Mohammad Rizwan	2015-2024	93	11
Shadab Khan	2017-2024	97	11

Photo credit: Alamy

Nepal’s young batting all-rounder Kushal Malla holds the record for the highest strike rate in T20 cricket. 

Since making his T20 international debut against Zimbabwe in Singapore in September 2019, Kushal Malla has recorded an impressive strike rate of 174.88 in 35 T20 matches that he has played so far.

Gibraltar’s Kayron Stagno features second on the list for the highest strike rate in T20 cricket. 

After making his T20I debut against Belgium in June 2022, Kayron Stagno has slammed 508 runs in 19 matches at a strike rate of 173.97.

Romanian cricketer Taranjeet Singh is third on the list for the highest strike rate in T20 cricket. 

Between 2021 and 2023, the veteran all-rounder smashed 815 runs in 24 matches at a strike rate of 171.21.

Canada batter Aaron Johnson and West Indies�?star all-rounder Andre Russell complete the top five list.

Aaron Johnson has registered a strike rate of 170.42, having scored 605 runs in 13 matches between 2022 and 2024.

On the other hand, hard-hitting batter Andre Russell has a staggering record in T20 cricket. 

Having made his T20 debut in 2010, Russell has accumulated 8,314 runs in 485 matches at a magnificent strike rate of 170.05.

Among Indian cricketers, Karnataka’s bowling all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham has the highest strike rate in T20 cricket history. Gowtham has a strike rate of 158.18 in over 90 T20 matches that he has played so far. 

The likes of Akash Vasisht (156.35), Urvil Patel (155.41), Siddharth Chitnis (153.15), Abhinav Manohar (153.11), Gaurav Puri (152.75), Saurav Chauhan (152.09) and Suryakumar Yadav (152.02) are the other Indian cricketers on the list.

Know the top 10 cricketers with the highest strike rate in T20 cricket.

Highest strike rate in T20 cricket

Player	Span	Matches	Runs	Strike Rate
Kushal Malla	2019-2024	35	745	174.88
Kayron Stagno	2022-2023	19	508	173.97
Taranjeet Singh	2021-2023	24	815	171.21
Aaron Johnson	2022-2024	13	605	170.42
Andre Russell	2010-2024	485	8314	170.05
Saber Zakhil	2019-2023	27	687	170.04
Faisal Khan	2019-2024	34	969	169.40
Finn Allen	2017-2024	113	3203	168.93
Jamie Overton	2015-2024	128	1180	166.90
Zeeshan Kukikhel	2021-2023	15	522	165.18

Photo credit: Alamy

West Indies cricket team batsman Chris Gayle currently holds the record for hitting the most sixes in T20 cricket. 

Often regarded as the greatest T20 batsman in history, the Chris Gayle has clobbered 1056 sixes in just 463 matches and has amassed a staggering 14,562 runs at an average of 36.22 and strike rate of 144.75. The southpaw is the only cricketer to aggregate more than 14,000 runs and smash over 1000 sixes in the shortest format of the game.

Since making his T20I debut against New Zealand in 2006, Gayle has cemented himself as one of the most feared batsmen in world cricket and helped West Indies claim the ICC World T20 titles in 2012 and 2016.

Chris Gayle has hit 124 sixes in T20 International matches, which is the fourth-highest only behind Rohit Sharma (182) of India, New Zealand’s Martin Guptill (173) and Australia's Aaron Finch (125).

Apart from representing the West Indies, Gayle has played for several franchises in the Indian T20 League, Caribbean Premier League, Big Bash, Pakistan Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League. 

The Jamaica-born cricketer broke the record for the fastest T20 hundred in history when he scored a blitzkrieg 66-ball 175 for Bangalore against Pune in the Indian T20 League. Gayle also holds the record for the joint-fastest fifty along with Yuvraj Singh and Hazratullah Zazai having smashed a 12-ball half-century while playing for Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash.

Apart from Gayle, his West Indies teammates Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell are in the top three list for most sixes in T20 cricket. While Pollard has hit 794 sixes, Russell has smashed 582 maximums.

Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum (485) and retired Australia all-rounder Shane Watson (467) complete the top five list for the most sixes in T20 cricket.

Most sixes in T20 cricket

Player	Matches	Sixes
Chris Gayle	463	1056
Kieron Pollard	625	812
Andre Russell	436	587
Brendon McCullum	370	485
Colin Munro	376	480
Shane Watson	343	467
Rohit Sharma	407	462
Aaron Finch	382	452
AB de Villiers	340	436
Alex Hales	389	431

Most sixes in T20 Internationals

Player	Matches	Sixes
Rohit Sharma	148	182
Martin Guptill	122	173
Aaron Finch	103	125
Chris Gayle	79	124
Eoin Morgan	115	120
Virat Kohli	115	117
Paul Stirling	121	117
Evin Lewis	53	111
Colin Munro	65	107

Featured photo: IPL/BCCI

Flamboyant West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle holds the record for the most sixes in a calendar year. Chris Gayle smashed 135 maximums in 36 matches in 2015.

Representing the West Indies national team in international cricket as well as playing for several T20 franchises across the globe, Gayle clobbered the most sixes in the year 2015. He represented franchises including Bangalore in the Indian T20 League, Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League (BBL), Barisal Bulls (now Fortune Barishal) in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and Somerset in the T20 Blast that year.

In 2015, Gayle was in staggering form as he amassed 1,665 runs in 36 innings at an impressive average of 59.46. The swashbuckling southpaw registered three hundreds and 10 fifties. Along with 135 sixes, the Jamaica-born cricketer hit 123 fours.

Nicknamed the ‘Universe Boss�? Gayle has been known for his big-hitting prowess over the years. Such has been his dominance, he also owns the record for the most sixes in a calendar year in 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2017.

In 2012, Gayle slammed 121 sixes in 40 matches, which is currently the second-highest in a calendar year.

Playing for Bangalore, Barisal Burners (now Fortune Barishal), Sydney Thunder and the West Indies cricket team, Gayle scored 1,532 runs in 38 innings at an average of 47.87. He recorded two centuries and 13 fifties in 2012.

The left-hander has also smashed 116 sixes in 2011, 112 maximums in 2016, 101 sixes in 2017 as well as 100 maximums in 2013.

Interestingly, Gayle also holds the record for most sixes in T20 cricket. The hard-hitting batter has smashed 1056 sixes in 463 matches.

Apart from Chris Gayle, compatriot Andre Russell is currently the only other cricketer to hit more than 100 sixes in a calendar year. The West Indies all-rounder clobbered 101 maximums in 46 matches in the calendar year of 2019.

During that period, Russell represented Kolkata in the Indian T20 League, Dhaka Dynamites and Rajshahi Royals in the Bangladesh Premier League and Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He accumulated 1,080 runs in 41 innings at an average of 38.57 including registering four half-centuries. Apart from his 101 sixes, Russell also recorded 68 fours in that year.

New Zealand wicket-keeper batter duo of Glenn Phillips, Brendon McCullum and former West Indies captain Kieron Pollard complete the top 10 list.

While Phillips managed to hit 97 sixes in the calendar year of 2021, Kieron Pollard smashed 96 sixes in 2019. Meanwhile, Brendon McCullum clobbered 94 sixes in 54 matches in 2017.

Most sixes in a calendar year

Player	Year	Teams	Matches	Innings	Sixes
Chris Gayle (West Indies)	2015	Team Bangalore, Barisal Bulls, Jamaica Tallawahs, Melbourne Renegades, Somerset, West Indies	36	36	135
Chris Gayle (West Indies)	2012	Team Bangalore, Barisal Burners, Sydney Thunder, West Indies	40	38	121
Chris Gayle (West Indies)	2011	Team Bangalore, Matabeleland Tuskers, Sydney Thunder, Western Australia	31	31	116
Chris Gayle (West Indies)	2016	Team Bangalore, Chittagong Vikings, Jamaica Tallawahs, Lahore Qalandars, Melbourne Renegades, Somerset, West Indies	48	47	112
Chris Gayle (West Indies)	2017	Team Bangalore, Karachi Kings, Rangpur Riders,  St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, West Indies	44	43	101
Andre Russell (West Indies)	2019	Team Kolkata, Dhaka Dynamites, Jamaica Tallawahs, Multan Sultans, Rajshahi Royals	46	41	101
Chris Gayle (West Indies)	2013	Team Bangalore, Dhaka Gladiators, Jamaica, Jamaica Tallawahs, Sydney Thunder, West Indies	33	33	100
Glenn Phillips (New Zealand)	2021	Team Rajasthan, Auckland, Barbados Royals, Gloucestershire, New Zealand, Welsh Fire Men	59	57	97
Kieron Pollard (West Indies)	2019	Team Mumbai, Dhaka Dynamites, Peshawar Zalmi, Trinbago Knight Riders, West Indies	62	58	96
Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)	2017	Team Gujarat, Brisbane Heat, Lahore Qalandars, Middlesex, Rangpur Riders, Trinbago Knight Riders	59	58	94

Interested in cricket betting? Click here to check out the list of top sites.

Featured photo: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE / AFP

Indian T20 League 2022 begins with a blockbuster clash that pits Chennai against Kolkata at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday, March 26. The two sides last met in the Indian T20 League 2021 final, with Chennai emerging victorious and clinching the title.

Both sides are no strangers to success in the Indian T20 League, with Chennai having four titles to their name while Kolkata have clinched the coveted prize twice.

However, the head-to-head between the teams is dominated by Chennai, who have 17 wins in 25 meetings with Kolkata. The latter have won this fixture on eight occasions.

Ahead of the Indian T20 League 2022 season opener between the two teams, we look at a few key battles between the players from the opposing camps, which could decide the outcome of the contest.

Chennai vs Kolkata key player battles

MS Dhoni vs Varun Chakravarthy

While a player of MS Dhoni’s calibre can roll back the years in the blink of an eye, the former Chennai skipper has found it challenging to get going against Kolkata spinner Varun Chakravarthy in recent times. In fact, Chakravarthy has dismissed Dhoni in all three innings that he has bowled to the Chennai legend in the Indian T20 League.

Since Dhoni is known for being a good player of spin, his struggles against Chakravarthy come as somewhat of a surprise. Besides being dismissed three times in as many innings against the Kolkata spinner, Dhoni managed just 10 runs off the 12 balls he faced against Chakravarthy. If Dhoni does come in to provide Chennai with a flourishing touch to finish their innings, there is no doubt that Chakravarthy should be Kolkata’s go-to bowler.

MS Dhoni record vs Varun Chakravarthy
Innings	Runs scored	Balls faced	Dismissed	Strike rate
3	10	12	3	83.33

Ambati Rayudu vs Sunil Narine

Another veteran from Team Chennai who has uncharacteristically struggled against a spinner from Kolkata is middle-order batter Ambati Rayudu. For the most part, the right-hander has looked comfortable against spin but has generally struggled whenever facing the charismatic finger spin of Sunil Narine.

The man from the Caribbean has the edge over Rayudu in the head-to-head battle between the two players. While Narine has dismissed Rayudu thrice in 12 innings against Chennai in the Indian T20 League, what stands out even more is the Indian batter’s numbers against Narine. Rayudu has managed just 49 runs from 55 balls against Narine and is likely to have similar problems against the spinner come Saturday.  

Ambati Rayudu record vs Sunil Narine
Innings	Runs scored	Balls faced	Dismissed	Strike rate
12	49	55	3	89.09

Dwayne Bravo vs Andre Russell

One more intriguing battle that we are likely to see in this contest is one between two teammates from the international stage. Andre Russell facing Dwayne Bravo has given cricket fans plenty of memories over the years, and there’s no reason why Indian T20 League 2022 should be any different when the two all-rounders from the Caribbean square off in the middle.

Numbers indicate that Russell enjoys batting against Bravo in their player battle. In four innings where Bravo has bowled to Russell, the Kolkata all-rounder has smashed 78 runs from 30 balls at a strike rate of 260 without ever being dismissed. Conversely, Russell has bowled 11 balls to Bravo over two innings, with the latter managing just 11 runs in that time and being dismissed once.

Dwayne Bravo vs Andre Russell
Batsmen	Bowler	Innings	Runs scored	Balls faced	Dismissed	Strike rate
Dwayne Bravo	Andre Russell	2	11	11	1	100.00
Andre Russell	Dwayne Bravo	4	78	30	0	260.0

Author: Andre Pitts

Featured photo: AFP / MANJUNATH KIRAN / ARUN SARKAR

SportsAdda ambassador Brett Lee believes Rajasthan will miss the services of their core Englishmen in episode 1 of SportsAdda presents T20 Crazy, powered by Sportsbet.io.

Sitting down with Manish Batavia for a free-wheeling chat, the former Australian speedster reflected upon the challenges Rajasthan will have to tackle in the absence of their frontline wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler.

“He's a massive loss. You know when you lose a player of that ability and calibre that you need some other player to step up. He's almost a two-man player.�?/span>

The former Aussie spearhead opined that it is tough to fill in the English wicket-keeper’s boots.

“He will go out there and dominate, will take on the bowlers, he hits inside out, he hits with the ball coming into the legs as well. He's definitely a quality player. So they have to make sure to find someone who can step up."

Russell to revive Kolkata’s campaign   

The SportsAdda ambassador believes Andre Russell can have a significant impact on the Kolkata setup. After a relatively quiet Caribbean Premier League campaign, the T20 bigwig and marauder has to lead a Kolkata unit that failed to click in the first half of the Indian T20 league.

When asked about the possible bowling option from the Bangalore unit that is likely to trouble the big man, Lee had his thoughts ready.

“Someone like Mohammed Siraj with a bit of extra whip with his action when he gets that extra bounce. The thing with Russell is that when he first comes in, he doesn’t like the ball short, he doesn’t like that big quick yorker as most batsmen don’t like. However, once he’s in, he can play.�?/span>

Lee had some words of wisdom for the Kolkata team about supporting Russell to the tee.

“When he’s not scoring runs or taking wickets, Kolkata struggle. They need someone like Russell to play with freedom, and I hope that they go and tell him to play the stellar cricket that he knows and what we all love to watch.�?/span>

Binga wished that he (Andre Russell) got the necessary backing within the team to lift Kolkata from the bottom half of the points table.

“If you go out there and get out first ball, so be it, but if you play with that confidence and freedom, you will have a much better half of the tournament.”�?/span>

Featured photo : SportsAdda

Kolkata will look to bring their Indian T20 League 2021 campaign back on track after four consecutive defeats when they face Punjab at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday, April 26.

Led by England's World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, Kolkata have failed to click as a unit and slipped to the bottom of the points table after they lost to Rajasthan in their last encounter. The two-time champions have won just one of their first five matches in the high-profile T20 League.

On the other hand, Punjab will be high on confidence after the KL Rahul-led side thrashed the defending champions Mumbai by nine wickets on Friday. The 2016 finalists will look to continue their winning momentum against Kolkata in Ahmedabad on Monday. Punjab are currently placed fifth in the points table with two wins and three losses.

Punjab vs Kolkata probable playing XI

Punjab had found their best combination in Chennai, but their season now shifts to Ahmedabad. However, the place of Nicholas Pooran, who has scored 0, 0, 9, 0, in the playing XI is expected to be under review though his turn did not come in the last match.

The franchise may also replace Fabian Allen with England fast bowler Chris Jordan.

Bottom-placed Kolkata are expected to make few changes to their playing XI against Punjab. Several of their big stars including captain Eoin Morgan and opener Shubman Gill have failed to perform in the initial few matches. The franchise has many batting options on the bench which includes Karun Nair, Gurkeerat Singh Mann and Sheldon Jackson. 

In the bowling department, Kolkata might bring in Lockie Ferguson in place of Pat Cummins.

Punjab predicted XI: KL Rahul (captain/wicketkeeper), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Shahrukh Khan, Moises Henriques, Fabian Allen/Chris Jordan, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh

Kolkata predicted XI: Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (captain), Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy, Prasidh Krishna

Punjab vs Kolkata prediction: Who will win?

In Punjab vs Kolkata head-to-head record in the Indian T20 League, Eoin Morgan’s side has a clear edge over KL Rahul’s men. The two-time champions have won 18 of the 27 matches played between these two sides while Punjab have registered just nine victories. Additionally, Kolkata have won four of their last five fixtures between the teams. Eoin Morgan and his men are tipped to triumph over Punjab at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday.

Create fantasy cricket team with Punjab vs Kolkata

Top Tip: Best Batsmen

Punjab swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle will be the player to watch out for against Kolkata. Gayle has a stellar record against his former side, amassing 700 runs in 18 matches at a strike rate of 152.17. He has smashed one century and five fifties against Kolkata.

For Kolkata, former captain Dinesh Karthik will look to play a match-winning innings to help his side return to winning ways. The 35-year-old has a decent record against Punjab, aggregating 557 runs in 24 matches at a strike rate of 142.45, with four fifties to his name.

Top Tip: Best Bowlers

In the bowling department, Punjab fast bowler Mohammed Shami is tipped to be the wrecker-in-chief for his side against Kolkata. Shami has bagged eight wickets in nine innings against the opposition at a strike rate of 25.5.

Meanwhile, Punjab’s biggest bowling threat will be mystery spinner Sunil Narine. The 32-year-old has scalped 28 wickets in 19 innings against KL Rahul and his men.

Top Tips: All-rounder and Wicket-keeper

Punjab all-rounder Moises Henriques is tipped to bring all his experience into play against Kolkata. Henriques has a great record against Kolkata both with the bat and the ball. He is expected to play an important role for Punjab at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday.

On the other hand, Kolkata’s Andre Russell is one of the most influential all-rounders in the shortest format of the game. Russel has scored 251 runs and picked 14 wickets against Punjab in just 10 matches. Kolkata will hope Andre Russell can put in a match-winning performance on Monday.

For the wicket-keeper position, Dinesh Karthik would be the preferred choice over KL Rahul. Karthik is one of the most successful wicket-keepers in the Indian T20 League history as he has taken 120 catches and completed 31 stumpings. 

Now that you know the stats, head to SportsAdda's Fantasy Cricket, make your team and win prizes!

Featured photo: IPL/BCCI

The Indian T20 League 2021 has started in the best way possible with as many as four thrillers encountered in the first week already. While Virat Kohli’s Bangalore lead the points table with two wins at the moment, history is evident that the road ahead is topsy-turvy and full of uncertainty.

SportsAdda ambassador Brett Lee gives us his predictions in episode 2 of SportsAdda presents T20 Crazy, powered by Sportsbet.io, where the former Indian T20 League winner talks about what to expect in the upcoming week.

Punjab to hit more sixes than Chennai

Punjab pulled off a thrilling win against Rajasthan in their opening match of the season thanks to their batsmen who had done the job in that match. With KL Rahul scoring 91 runs in 50 balls and Deepak Hooda hitting 64 runs, Punjab have both their international and domestic guns firing this season. 

Gayle's short cameo of 28-ball 40 meant Punjab had ended up hitting 13 sixes while batting first. And Lee sees the trend following against Chennai as well.

“I have got to pick Punjab because they have the firepower. I’m backing them,�?he said.

Rohit Sharma to find form gradually

Though Mumbai have started to find their footing in the Indian T20 League 2021 already, the same couldn't be said about their skipper Rohit Sharma. While the opener was dismissed for just 19 runs against Bangalore in the first match, the 33-year-old gave his wicket away after a sedate start (43 off 32) against Kolkata which led to a batting collapse for the five-time champions.

Brett Lee added that the Indian opener will take his time to get into a groove. “I’d like to say yes but I’m thinking he was a little bit behind the timing last time.

“He is one of my favourite batsmen to watch, but I think he is going to take a few more games to find his natural form and get into the rhythm.�?/span>

Mohammed Siraj to dominate proceedings against Kolkata

Despite Andre Russell’s heroics against Mumbai in the last match, where the West Indies all-rounder returned with bowling figures of 5/15, Brett Lee feels that Mohammad Siraj will steal the show against Kolkata on Sunday.

While Siraj has managed just two wickets this season so far, conceding 47 runs in the process, Binga feels Kohli will use him well in the powerplay.

“To me, Bangalore will have the best bowler in the game. I am banking on Mohammed Siraj because he has got some really good pace. I know it is in Chennai, and the pace goes off towards the end, but he will be a good option with the new ball,�?Lee pointed out.

Mumbai to beat Delhi

Both Mumbai and Delhi have won one and lost another in their opening two games. And while Mumbai’s win against Kolkata was an unlikely one, Rishabh Pant’s Delhi had run riot against Chennai in the first match.

However, when it comes to Chepauk, Brett Lee feels the five-time champions hold a massive advantage. When asked who was the favourite for next Tuesday’s clash, Lee said, “Very simple, Mumbai. They love playing in Chennai.�?/span>

To know more about SportsAdda ambassador Brett Lee’s take on week 1 of Indian T20 League 2021, Click here.

SportAdda’s brand ambassador, Brett Lee has been left impressed with the performances of young uncapped Indian players in the Indian T20 League. The former Australia bowler has said that these players will play a key role in the title challenge this season

In a chat with Manish Batavia, the former pacer also talked about the potential role of Manish Pandey for Hyderabad and spoke highly of Sanju Samson’s captaincy,

“That’s what the Indian T20 League is about. We always hear about the overseas players coming in like Chris Gayle and David Warner but I’ve always said that the uncapped Indian players will stand up,�?said Lee. 

“That team that’s going to win the Indian T20 League 2021 in my opinion will be the young uncapped Indian players stepping up to support the overseas players.�?/span>

Binga impressed with captain Samson

Despite a substandard return with the ball, Rajasthan were right on the cusp of a brilliant victory in their tournament opener against Punjab. A certain Sanju Samson, playing his first Indian T20 League match as a captain, scored a brilliant half-century, but his knock was somehow overshadowed by his decision of not taking a single in the penultimate ball of the run chase.

Rajasthan went on to lose the game, but Lee thinks that it was indeed a right call from the batsman.

“The way I looked at it, I believe he made the right call. On one hand, you have Samson who knows the pace of the wicket. Should he have taken the single? I believe no. If Morris had played enough deliveries, I’d have said yeah give it Morris. But in a situation like this where you don’t take the single, you have to finish the show.

“I actually believe he is a fantastic captain. His leadership qualities were outstanding really. His timing, the way he brought the players on in terms of bowlers, the changes; they were all perfect. To me, he ticks every box,�?Lee added.

Russell embodies T20’s unpredictability

Kolkata all-rounder Andre Russell became the first player to pick a five-fer in two overs in the Indian T20 League, but his effort against Mumbai went in vain as his team went on to lose the fixture by 10 runs. A lot has been said about Russell in recent times and this is what Binga had to say about the big West Indian.

“Look T20 cricket is such a fickle format because if you take that five-fer out of the equation and go back just less than a week, there were a lot of speculations about him being out of form last year,�?Lee said.

“The talk of the town was that Russell would not even play the entire tournament this year. But he had a wonderful game and now everybody’s saying he is the best all-rounder,�?he added.

Lee urges Manish Pandey to 'step up'

Manish Pandey has had decent outings for Team Hyderabad and despite his best efforts, the one-time Indian T20 League winners still remain winless in two games. 

Speaking about the batsman, Lee has said that he was very much unimpressed with his shot selections and has urged him to up the ante. “I think he understands what he has to do in order to win the games.�?/span>

“I’m not trying to throw him under the bus, but I was perplexed with his shot selection and the way he got out. He is a senior player now and he needs to step up.�?/span>