India cricket
IPL 2021: Who will play whom in the playoffs?
The IPL 2021 playoff lineups were confirmed after the end of the thrilling round-robin league phase on Friday (October 8). The table-topping Delhi Capitals are one of the early favorites to win the Indian Premier League's 14th edition. Probably, this is the final season of veteran cricketer MS Dhoni. Not to mention, all of Chennai's players would be keen to give Dhoni a proper farewell by winning the Indian Premier League. In Qualifier 1, both teams will compete for a spot in the final. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore will face Kolkata Knight Riders in the elimination match. Let's take a look at the favorites of the playoffs round.
IPL 2021: Lineups for the Playoffs
Qualifier 1 (DC vs. CSK)
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Date: October 10 | Time (BST): 8 pm
Verdict: Delhi favourite to beat CSK
At the end of the IPL 2021 round-robin league stage, Delhi Capitals came out on top of the point table. Delhi gained 20 points in the league phase by winning 10 games and losing four. Importantly, Delhi defeated Chennai in both of their league matches. In comparison to Chennai, Delhi's squad contains more talented young players and a good number of them are in tremendous forms. As a result, team Capitals will be more confident against the Super Kings ahead of the qualifier 1 encounter on Sunday. On the other side, Chennai have some experienced players who are expected to outperform the opponent in terms of game strategy and on-field displays.
READ: Tigers trounce Oman A in warm-up match
Delhi Capitals probable playing XI
Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel, Ravi Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (Captain & wicket-keeper), Ripal Patel, Shimron Hetmyer,
Chennai Super Kings probable playing XI
Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood, Ambati Rayudu, Moeen Ali.
Read KKR vs. PBKS: KL Rahul guides Punjab to 5-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021
Eliminator (KKR vs. RCB)
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Date: October 11 | Time (BST): 8 pm
Verdict: Kolkata favourite to beat RCB
Shakib Al Hasan played in the last two Kolkata's round-robin league fixtures, helping his side to finish fourth in the points standings. Kolkata squad is now on a roll, and they have found a winning formula that they can rely on. Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore would be the Kolkata Knight Riders' eliminator opponent. The Bangalore team is also formidable enough to crush the opposite bowling lineups on any given day. Both teams have some extraordinary players and they won a round-robin league match against each other once. Therefore, this fixture promises to be fascinating.
READ: T20 World Cup warm-up match: Bangladesh take on Oman A Friday
Kolkata Knight Riders probable playing XI
Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (captain), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper)
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s probable playing XI
Virat Kohli (captain), Devdutt Padikkal, AB de Villiers, Dan Christian, Shahbaz Ahmed, George Garton, KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Glenn Maxwell, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Read IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
Qualifier 2 (DC/CSK vs. KKR/RCB)
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Date: October 13 | Time (BST): 8 pm
The winner of the eliminator and the loser of qualifier 1 will compete for a final spot in the qualifier 2 match. Chennai and Delhi are the two most consistent teams in this year's IPL. Interestingly, whoever wins qualifier 2 will be the favorite to win the competition, because playing two playoffs will make them stronger heading to the final.
READ: I didn't ask for votes in BCB election: Nazmul
Despite having some quality players in the squad, Kolkata and Bangalore have failed to maintain consistency in this campaign and this could halt them to advance to the final. However, it will be a knockout game, and the competing teams will try their best to reach the final.
Bottom Line
According to the playoff schedule, the Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings are the two hot favorites to advance to the IPL 2021 championship match. Meanwhile, if Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore can effectively execute their strategies on the field, they will have a chance. Both Kolkata and Bangalore teams can lose momentum at crucial stages of a game, which can put a halt to their progress. Fans of the Indian Premier League are anticipating an entertaining playoff round this year.
Read IPL 2021: Will Shakib Al Hasan Play in a crucial MI vs. KKR match?
IPL 2021: Kolkata, Mumbai, Rajasthan in three-way race for a playoffs spot
Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have already qualified for the Indian Premier League's 14th season playoffs. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals are vying for the last playoff spot. Punjab Kings are still in the race mathematically, but their chances are primarily dependent on the results of the round-robin league's other fixtures. Who have a better chance of qualifying for the IPL 2021 playoffs are discussed in this article.
Read: KKR vs. PBKS: KL Rahul guides Punjab to 5-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021
IPL 2021: Who will be the Fourth Team in the Playoffs?
Chennai Super Kings lead the IPL 2021 points standings with 18 points as of October 3rd. On the other hand, holding the bottom position with 4 points, Sunrisers Hyderabad are on the verge of getting out of the tournament.
IPL 2021 points table (as of October 3)
Team
Match
Win
Lost
Points
NRR
CSK (Q)
12
9
3
18
0.829
DC (Q)
12
9
3
18
0.551
RCB (Q)
12
8
4
16
-0.157
KKR
13
6
7
12
0.294
PBKS
13
5
8
10
-0.241
RR
12
5
7
10
-0.337
MI
12
5
7
10
-0.453
SRH
12
2
10
4
-0.475
Read IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
Kolkata Knight Riders
Shakib Al Hasan was finally given an opportunity to take part in the playing XI in Kolkata's most recent encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Shakib contributed with the ball, picking up a wicket in his four overs. Kolkata won the match by 6 wickets and climbed to the fourth position in the points standings. In the round-robin league stage, the Knight Riders have only one game left. However, they outperform the Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in terms of run rate. If Kolkata win their next match against Rajasthan Royals on October 7, they will qualify for the playoffs (Thursday). They won't have to rely on the outcomes of other games.
Read: IPL 2021: Will Shakib Al Hasan Play in a crucial MI vs. KKR match?
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians were beaten by Delhi Capitals by four wickets in their most recent match, dropping to second last in the points standings. The next match for Mumbai is on Tuesday against Rajasthan Royals (October 5). The Mumbai Indians must win the game by a large margin to improve their run rates. Furthermore, whoever lose the match will be eliminated from contention for a final playoffs spot.
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals have struggled to put up their best performances in the UAE phase of the IPL 2021. They have won two and lost three in their last five matches. Rajasthan won their latest match against tournament favorites Chennai Super Kings by 7 wickets in Abu Dhabi and showed some promise as a unit. Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman has been one of Rajasthan's most consistent players with the ball. He has the potential to play a pivotal role in their upcoming games against Mumbai Indians (October 5) and Kolkata Knight Riders (October 7). Rajasthan will move to the next round if they win both games.
Read: IPL 2021: Scenarios of Playoffs Qualification for Eight Teams
Verdict
If the top two teams in the league stage lose their qualifier 1 match of the knockout round, they will be given another opportunity in the playoffs. Therefore, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore are all hoping to finish in the top two positions in the points table.
On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders are in a great position to make the final playoffs spot despite having only one match remaining. If Mumbai, Rajasthan, and Kolkata lose any of their remaining matches, they will be eliminated from the competition. The remainder of the round-robin league fixtures of IPL 2021 will surely be thrilling.
Read T20 World Cup: Bangladesh team reaches Oman
IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
Kolkata Knight Riders are ahead of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2021 round-robin league points table. Kolkata Knight Riders resumed their campaign with a thumping win over Royal Challengers Bangalore, moving them into fourth place in the points standings. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals resumed with a narrow victory against Punjab Kings before losing three consecutive matches. Any defeat from this stage onward will be a huge setback for both teams. Let's have a look at who has the best chance of making it to the next round.
Read: IPL 2021: Will Shakib Al Hasan Play in a crucial MI vs. KKR match?
IPL 2021 Playoffs Race: Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Rajasthan Royals
Kolkata Knight Riders have accumulated 10 points in 11 games. While Rajasthan Royals have 8 points in the same number of matches. Among others, Mumbai Indians have 10 points, but Kolkata have better run rates than Mumbai. On the other hand, Punjab Kings have 8 points, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have only 4.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders were behind Rajasthan Royals in the points table before the IPL 2021 resumed in mid-September in UAE. However, they made an encouraging start in the UAE phase, winning three of their past four league games. They are now in fourth place, ahead of the defending champion Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals.
Kolkata defeated Bangalore by a crushing 9-wicket margin on September 20. They defeated Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets on September 23. However, they were defeated by Chennai Super Kings by a mere 2-wicket margin on September 26. Kolkata fought back strong against Delhi Capitals, winning by three wickets on Tuesday (September 28).
Read:IPL 2021: Scenarios of Playoffs Qualification for Eight Teams
Kolkata's current team combination has looked solid, and they are on track to maintain their domination over their opponents. Bangladesh's star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has yet to play a match in the UAE phase, and he is unlikely to do so before the end of the round-robin league.
So far, Rahul Tripathi has scored the most runs (315 in 10 innings) for Kolkata with a strike rate of 144.49. On the other hand, Prasidh Krishna has 12 wickets in 10 innings at a strike rate of 19.2 for the Knight Riders.
Kolkata Knight Rider’s remaining fixtures:
01/10/2021: Punjab Kings (at Dubai)
03/10/2021: Sunrisers Hyderabad (at Dubai)
07/10/2021: Rajasthan Royals (at Sharjah)
ICC Men's Player of the Month Nominees for August 2021
The world's best Test batsman Joe Root has been nominated for the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for August. In the recent Test series against India, Joe Root has been in superb form. The right-hand batsman’s magnificent first-innings century aided England's huge victory over India at Leeds. The England captain will be a strong contender for the award. Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi and India's Jasprit Bumrah are the other two candidates. Both of the fast bowlers have performed well for their respective national teams. Let's have a look at the ICC Men's Player of the Month Nominees for August 2021.
Who are the Finalists for the August ICC Men's Player of the Month award?
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Joe Root, and Jasprit Bumrah were all performed well in the longer version format in the last month. That's why they have been nominated for the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for August. Let's take a look at how they did in August.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)
Test: 2 | Wkts: 18 | BBI: 6/51 | Econ: 2.76 | Ave: 11.27
Left-arm bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi was on fire during Pakistan's Test series against the Windies last month. He grabbed 18 wickets in four innings with an incredible 11.27 average. Pakistan needed to win the second match of the two-match series to level the series. Shaheen Afridi rose to the occasion and took ten wickets for his team. Pakistan won by 109 runs and drew the Test series against the Windies at 1-1.
Shaheen was named player of the match as well as player of the series. Shaheen Shah Afridi is a strong contender for the ICC Player of the Month award after his impressive showing with the ball against the Caribbean side.
Read Right man, right decision, right time
Joe Root (England)
Test: 3 | Runs: 507 | HS: 180* | 100s: 3 | Ave: 126.75
England's captain Joe Root has been in excellent form this year. He has continued to impress with the bat in the ongoing Test series against India. Last month, the right-handed middle-order batsman hammered three hundred against India.
Root was crucial to England's victory in the third match, as his 121-run first-innings knock helped England to a big lead over India. England finally won by an innings and 76 runs, bringing the series to a 1-1 draw. Joe Root is without a doubt one of the leading contenders for the award since his individual performance is absolutely remarkable.
Read BAN vs. NZ 2021: Fourth Match Preview
Jasprit Bumrah (India)
Test: 3 | Wkts: 14 | BBI: 5/64 | Econ:2.60 | Ave:20.07
Right-handed medium-pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been India's key strike bowler in recent years. He has the ability to make important breakthroughs. Bumrah can disrupt the opposition batting order with his accuracy and swinging deliveries. Bumrah is leading India's bowling arsenal in the present series against England. He got 14 wickets in five innings in the month of August.
Bumrah took the most wickets for India in the series-opening match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. He got 9 wickets in the match. Overall, Jasprit Bumrah's performance for India in August was impressive, and he is a strong candidate for the ICC Men's Player of the Month award.
Read ENG vs. IND 2021: English Openers Set Up Final Day Thriller Against India
Verdict
Shaheen Shah Afridi is the frontrunner to win the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for August following his fantastic bowling performance against the Windies in the longer-version bilateral contest. The left-arm bowler made the most noteworthy contribution to Pakistan's national team in the Test series against the Windies. Meanwhile, English skipper Joe Root has been the standout player for the host in the series against India. On the other side, Jasprit Bumrah has been spearheading the Indian bowling attack in the crucial Test series against England. Overall, it will be a difficult decision to make. Hopefully, the award will go to the most worthy contender.
ENG vs. IND 2021: India Win Fourth Test at the Oval
India won the fourth Test against England by 157 runs at the Oval, taking a 2-1 series lead. India also have climbed to the top of the ICC Test Championship points table. The match was evenly poised till the final day. India eventually came out as a winner thanks to a tight bowling performance by the bowlers. Opener Rohit Sharma was the actual difference-maker in the contest. His magnificent century in the second innings helped India put up a huge total to defend. The fourth match report of the ENG vs. IND 2021 series has been discussed in this article.
ENG vs. IND 2021 Series: Fourth Test Match Report
India’s First Innings
England pacers took full advantage of the pitch after Captain Joe Root decided to bowl first at the Oval. England bowled India out for 191 runs in the third session of day 1.
Captain Virat Kohli scored 50 runs to help India pass the 100-run barrier. Shardul Thakur made 57 runs after his departure, assisting India in scoring close to 200 runs in their first innings. Chris Woakes got the most wickets with four, while Ollie Robinson took three.
READ: Right man, right decision, right time
England’s First Innings
England batsmen responded with 290 runs after doing well in the bowling department. As a result, England took a crucial 99-run lead in the first innings. After England's dismal start to the game (62/5), Ollie Pope and Jonny Bairstow put on a crucial 89-run stand for the sixth wicket. Chris Woakes (50) batted aggressively in the late middle order, helping England to a total of around 300.
Ollie Pope made the most runs for England with 81, while Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, and Dawid Malan all contributed significantly to the team. Fast bowler Umesh Yadav was India's most successful bowler. He got three wickets, while Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja both taking two.
Read Mushfiqur opts to quit wicket-keeping in T20Is: Domingo
India’s Second innings
India walked out to bat in the third session of day 2 with plenty of time on their hands to construct a massive score in their second innings. India batted for near six sessions and scored 466 runs in their innings.
Someone from the top order needed to bat for a long time in order to propel India's innings forward. Thankfully, India's opener Rohit Sharma came to the rescue with a patient 127-run knock.
READ: BAN vs. NZ 2021: Fourth Match Preview
Rohit stayed in the middle for 80 overs, forming two important partnerships with KL Rahul (46) and Cheteshwar Pujara (61). When India lost their top-order batsmen, they had 237 runs on the board. Later, Virat Kohli (44), Rishab Pant (50), and Shardul Thakur (60) contributed well with the bat, giving England a big target to chase on day 5.
Chris Woakes was England's most successful bowler, with three wickets. Moeen Ali and Ollie Robinson both had two wickets.
Read New Zealand bounce back as Tigers suffer first defeat
England’s Chase
England got off to a great start in pursuit of a huge 368-run target. The openers put up a century partnership before England lost their first wicket in the first hour of session 1 on day 5. Rory Burns (50) and Haseeb Hameed (63) each scored fifty.
After their departures, England struggled to build partnerships and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Captain Joe Root (36) tried to rebuild the innings, but he was unable to find an ideal partner to carry the innings forward. England finally lost the match after being bowled out for 210 runs.
All of the Indian bowlers did a fantastic job of keeping the English batsmen under strain. Umesh Yadav got three wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shardul Thakur each claimed two wickets for India.
Read Bangladesh require 129 to wrap up series vs New Zealand
Player of the Match
Rohit Sharma produced one of his finest Test innings in this match. India's position in the contest was reaffirmed thanks to his superb hundred. Rohit Sharma was named player of the match for this reason.
Verdict
India currently have the upper hand after winning the crucial fourth match in the ENG vs. IND Test series. India will not lose the series if England win the fifth Test, which begins on Friday (September 10).
Apart from winning the contest, Rohit Sharma's stunning century in the second innings was India's biggest outcome in the match. If Rohit Sharma had not delivered an exceptional innings, the outcome of the match could have been different.
England will need to win the final Test in order to level the series. Therefore, England will surely go all out against India right from the start in an attempt to seize control of the fifth match.
READ: ENG vs. IND 2021: English Openers Set Up Final Day Thriller Against India
ENG vs. IND 2021:England Clinch Their First Win in ICC Test championship
England registered their first victory in the ICC Test Championship (2021-2023 cycle) after beating India by an innings and 76 runs in the third Test of 5-match series on Saturday (August 28) at the Headingley, Leeds. With this thrashing victory, England also tied the series at 1-1. England dominated over India from the beginning of the match and this momentum continued till the very end. Captain Joe Root once again displayed his absolute class in the contest with a dominating century in England's first innings. The third match report of the ENG vs. IND 2021 series is discussed in this article.
Third Test Match Report of ENG vs. IND 2021 Series
England were anxious to win the third match of the series after losing the second Test by 151 runs against India.
England's bowlers had to shoulder the bulk of the responsibility to put Indian batters on the back foot. Thankfully, they were able to accomplish it by bowling with incredible consistency. Anderson, Robinson, and Overton all targeted the off corridor in an attempt to force Indian batters to play shots. The English bowlers executed their tactics well, bowling India out for only 78 runs in the first innings.
Read WI vs. PAK 2021: West Indies-Pakistan Test Series Ends in 1-1 Draw
Only two batters, Rohit Sharma (19) and Ajinkya Rahane (18), reached double figures. James Anderson (3), Craig Overton (3), Ollie Robinson (2), and Sam Curran (2) did an excellent job with the ball For England.
After the English pacers' excellent bowling, the local supporters were anticipating some strong batting displays from the English batsmen. The English top order did not disappoint the home crowd, scoring 350 runs for the loss of only four wickets before the Indian pacers made a dramatic comeback in the afternoon session of day two.
READ: Tigers start training ahead of NZ T20Is
English skipper Joe Root was brilliant with the bat. He played a 121-run knock in 165 balls. Rory Burns (61), Haseeb Hamid (68), and Dawid Malan (70) contributed as well. After taking a big 354-run first-innings lead, England were finally bowled out for 432 in the first session of day 3.
England had total control of the match at that point, and the English team management hoped to wrap up the series before the end of day-3. However, India finished the day with 215/2 runs on board thanks to Rohit Sharma (59), Cheteshwar Pujara (91), and skipper Virat Kohli's (55) resilience with the bat.
Read BAN vs. NZ 2021: How Bangladesh Can Clinch the T20I Series Against New Zealand
Though things changed drastically at the start of the first session of day-4, when India lost their last eight wickets in only 19.3 overs, allowing England to bowl India out for 278 runs in the second innings. India suffered an innings defeat as a result of this unexpected collapse.
Ollie Robinson took 5 wickets in the second innings for England, and he was named player of the match for his total of 7 wickets in the match.
Read ICC Test Championship 2021-2023: Bangladesh Likely to Start Campaign against Pakistan
England gained 12 Test championship points as a result of the victory. England have now climbed to the top of the ICC Test Championship points table with 14 points. India are currently in second place with 14 points, ahead of Pakistan (12) and the West Indies (12).
The following two matches in the ENG vs. IND 2021 Test series are also crucial for both sides in terms of the ICC Test rankings. India are presently ranked second (119 points), only 7 points behind the table-topper New Zealand. On the other hand, England are in fourth place (107 points), just one point behind third-placed Australia. Both teams have a strong chance to rise up the ICC team rankings if they win the remaining matches in the series.
Read 100-Ball Cricket Match: Southern Brave Win Inaugural Tournament
Verdict
The ENG vs. IND 2021 Test series is now evenly balanced after each team claiming a victory. India's captain Virat Kohli hasn't hit an international century in 54 innings. He must stand up in the next two matches for the sake of India. While English captain Joe Root has been in scintillating form this year. His batting made the difference in the third Test, and he will be the main man for the remainder of the series. The fourth match of the series will begin on September 2 at the Oval in London. The match will be vital in order to keep a strong position in the series. Whoever wins the fourth Test will have an edge going into the fifth match.
Read T20 Ranking : How Bangladesh Can Become No. 5 T20I Team at the End of the New Zealand series?
ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Dubai to Host Epic India-Pakistan Group Stage Match
The seventh edition of the T20 World Cup was postponed for a year due to the coronavirus. India was slated to host the event, but because of a massive outbreak of covid-19 in India, it will now be hosted by the UAE and Oman. The ICC has already announced the fixtures of the tournament. Interestingly, India and Pakistan are both placed in the same group of Super 12 round. The arch-rivals will go head-to-head in their Opening Encounter in Dubai on 24th October. The possibilities of India and Pakistan winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 have been discussed in this article.
What are the chances of India winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2021?
India are one of the favorite teams to win the seventh edition of the Twenty20 World Cup, which will begin in mid-October. India now have some good Twenty20 players by virtue of the IPL (franchise based T20 league). So, we should expect a well-balanced squad from India for the next mega event.
India have one of the finest batting lineups in the world. Led by flamboyant skipper Virat Kohli, India have power hitters Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Rishab Pant, and Hardik Pandya in their lineup. They are capable of scoring swiftly against any opponent in the world. So, India will have no problem scoring runs in this tournament.
Read Mushfiqur, Liton return as Bangladesh announce squad for NZ T20Is
India have a diverse bowling attack that can unsettle any batting lineup in the world. Bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Yuzvendra Chahal are all good in the T20 format. You may expect them to flourish for India in the competition.
India would be a difficult team to beat if they can establish their groove early in the tournament. India have failed to reach the final of any ICC limited-overs event since 2011. Can India win a limited-overs World Cup for the first time in ten years?
Five important players of India
Virat Kohli (batsman), Rohit Sharma (batsman), Hardik Pandya (All-rounder), Yuzvendra Chahal (Spinner), Jasprit Bumrah (medium-pacer)
Probable Squad of India
Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan (Wicket-Keeper), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (Wicket-Keeper), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
Read ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021: Who Are Favourites?
What are the chances of Pakistan winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2021?
Pakistan are one of the world's best limited-overs national teams. They have some talented players in the Twenty20 format. We should expect them to go all out for the big tournament. Pakistan may be one of the top contenders to win the ICC T20 World Cup this year if they can maintain consistency throughout the tournament.
Pakistan's premier batsman Captain Babar Azam is ranked among the best batters in the ICC rankings across all formats. Pakistan's batting lineup also includes Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafiz, and Shoaib Malik. These players have a lot of experience on the international stage and they know how to win big trophies.
Read BAN vs. NZ 2021: Notable T20I Records Between Bangladesh and New Zealand
Pakistan have always produced great fast bowlers, and the current side has a few dangerous pacers as well. Shaheen Shah Afridi has established himself as Pakistan's premier strike bowler over the last two years. Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Nawaz are all capable of upsetting the batting lineups of the opponent.
Pakistan will be a deadly side in the upcoming tournament if they can find their best form. Pakistan's lone T20 World Cup triumph came in 2009. Will Pakistan win its second Twenty20 World Cup in November?
Five important players of Pakistan
Babar Azam (batsman), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicket-keeper & batsman), Mohammad Hafeez (all-rounder), Shoaib Malik (all-rounder), Hasan Ali(medium-pacer)
Read ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh Cricket Team’s Full Schedule
Probable Squad of Pakistan
Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicket-Keeper), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sharjeel Khan, Haider Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Qadir, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Danish Aziz, Arshad Iqbal
Verdict
After assessing both sides' squad depths, it is clear that India and Pakistan are the two strong contenders for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. The two teams will meet in the Super 12 stage's opening match of Group 2 on October 24. In that match, we will be able to see how competitive they are with one another. Whoever win their first match will have a greater belief in their own capabilities. Both India and Pakistan's players are expected to give it their all in this blockbuster contest.
Read T20 World Cup: Bangladesh to take on Scotland on opening day
IPL 2021: Those who are at the Top Before the Tournament Resume
The IPL 2021 was postponed earlier this year due to the coronavirus epidemic in India. Later, the BCCI contacted the United Arab Emirates to host the remaining tournament during the September-October period. The decision was made within a month, and the UAE was picked to host the remainder of the competition. The UAE and Oman will co-host the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in October-November window following this franchise-based Twenty20 competition. Only 29 matches were played in the IPL 2021 before it was postponed. Before the IPL 2021 resumes in September, let's take a look at who's at the top.
New Zealand Win Inaugural ICC Test Championship Final
New Zealand have won the first ICC Test Championship after beating India in the final by 8 wickets on Wednesday at the Rose Bowl, Southampton. There was a reserve day for the championship match in case the rain interrupts during the play. Eventually, the match ended on the sixth day. New Zealand were superb on the final day and they were desperate to win the contest. It was a collective effort that guided New Zealand to win the most prestigious ICC tournament. This article discusses how New Zealand crowned champion after beating India in the inaugural edition of the ICC Test Championship final.
ICC Test Championship Final Match Report
Rain disrupted every day of the ICC Test Championship Final between New Zealand and India, and the game was not even held on the first day. As a result, the match lasted till the reserve day.New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson opted to bowl first in a swinging condition at the Rose Bowl ground.
The Kiwi pacers were excellent in line and length in the first innings, with neither bowler conceding more than 3 runs per over. Especially, Kyle Jamieson was outstanding in terms of accuracy. He took five wickets for 31 runs, including Rohit Sharma, Rishab Pant, and Captain Virat Kohli.
Read BAN vs AUS: How Ashraful, Shakib shocked Australia
India were bowled out for 217 after playing 92.1 overs. Ajinkya Rahane was the top scorer (47) for team India, while Virat made 44 runs.
In response, New Zealand scored 249 runs to take a crucial 32-run lead over India in the first innings. Devon Conway led the way with 54 runs, while Captain Kane Williamson chipped in with 49. Fast Bowler Mohammad Shami picked up the highest 4 wickets for India.
India had hoped to bat out the whole day on the final day but were bowled out for 170 after the drinks break in the second session. Rishab Pant scored the highest 41 runs for India, while Tim Southee claimed the most four wickets for New Zealand.
Read BAN vs Zim 2021: BCB May Use the Zimbabwe Series as an Opportunity to Find New Talents
New Zealand had nearly 50 overs to reach the 139-run winning target. Thanks to 96* runs unbeaten stand between Kane Williamson (52) and Ross Taylor (47) guided New Zealand to the victory in the third session of the sixth day. Spinner Ravi Ashwin snatched both the wickets for India. Pacer Kyle Jamieson was named player of the match after taking seven wickets in the match.
Top Performers in the Inaugural ICC Test Championship
We saw some incredible performances and unforgettable matches over the course of the two-year-long ICC Test Championship. Here we mentioned some of the top performers in the inaugural edition of the tournament.
Most Runs
Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne was the most runs scorer in the Test Championship tournament, He made 1,675 runs in 23 innings with an average of 72.82. England’s Joe Root (1,660) and Aussie middle-order batsman Steven Smith (1,341) came in second and third respectively on the list.
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Most Wickets
India’s off-spinner Ravi Ashwin had the most wickets in the tournament. He picked up 71 wickets with an average of 20.33 in 26 innings. Australia’s Pat Cummins (70) and England’s Stuart Broad (69) were among the top three wicket-takers in the tournament.
High Scores
Australia’s David Warner was the only player to score 300 runs in an innings in this tournament. His unbeaten 335* runs against Pakistan was the highest innings of the competition, followed by Zak Crawley (267) and Virat Kohli (254*).
Best Bowling Figures
Lankan bowler Lasith Embuldeniya's 7/137 wickets haul against England was the best bowling figure in an innings in the championship. Ravi Ashwin (7/145) and Jasprit Bumrah (6/27) finished second and third respectively on the list.
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Bottom Line
Before winning the Test championship, New Zealand’s biggest achievement on the international stage was winning the ICC Champions Trophy in 2000. The Kiwis played two back-to-back 50-over World Cup finals in 2015 and 2019 but lost both the finals against the arch-rivals Australia and England respectively.
So, New Zealand were desperate to win a major ICC tournament prior to the ICC Test Championship Final against India, and they finally have done it. This New Zealand team is arguably the best ever in their cricket history and they deserve a lot of credit.
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Who will host the T20 World Cup and the rest of IPL 2021?
The IPL 2021 has been postponed indefinitely due to the worsening situation of covid-19 in India but the remaining 31 matches of the tournament likely to be played before or immediately after the T20 World Cup. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in India between October and November. No team wants to come to India now because of the Coronavirus situation. As host, India will have to decide where the World Cup and IPL14 will be staged later this year. This article has discussed, who will host the T20 World Cup and the rest of IPL 2021?
Reason for postponing IPL 2021 in the middle of the tournament
IPL 2021 was indefinitely postponed on Tuesday due to a massive outbreak of novel Coronavirus. Including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, every day 3/4 lakh people in India are infected with covid-19. At the moment, the pandemic is killing between 3,000 and 4,000 people per day in India.
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In this situation, the Indian Cricket Board decided to keep the IPL going by creating bio-bubbles for the tournament. The BCCI was forced to suspend the IPL indefinitely in the third week of the tournament after some players and team management members were diagnosed with the coronavirus.
The BCCI has been criticized for continuing to run the IPL in such a difficult situation. Meanwhile, a lawyer has filed a case worth Rs 1,000 crore in the Supreme Court against the Indian Cricket Board.
The favorite to host the T20 World Cup and the rest of IPL 2021
According to Indian Cricket Board President Sourav Ganguly and other BCCI officials, they will meet with the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the next one to two months to discuss hosting the Twenty20 World Cup. The third wave of coronavirus could hit the entire subcontinent, including India by November of this year. As a result, India will not be able to host the T20 World Cup. In this case, the BCCI is considering hosting the tournament in a different country.
The United Arab Emirates is India's first choice as an alternative. Last year, the UAE successfully hosted the IPL. That's why the Indian Cricket Board is considering staging the World Cup as well as the remainder of the IPL 2021 in the UAE this year.
Besides, Sri Lanka was being considered a probable host country for the T20 World Cup. The UAE is widely regarded as the best place to host such a massive tournament during the coronavirus outbreak. In that case, all T20 World Cup matches will take place in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah in October and November. On the other hand, the remainder of the IPL 2021 will likely be held in September.
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Bottom Line
The T20 World Cup and the remaining matches of the IPL will be held in a different location since India's condition is very fragile due to Covid-19. We have learned from the above discussion that who will host the T20 World Cup and the rest of IPL 2021? But one thing is certain, the coronavirus epidemic cannot be contained without adequate covid-19 bio-bubbles. So, regardless of which country is staging the tournaments, this is a serious matter.