In match four of the Indian T20 League 2021, 2008 winners Rajasthan take on 2014 runners-up Punjab at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday.

Rajasthan never really got going in last year’s edition, winning only 3 of their first 9 games, and finishing last in the points table. They will be eager to make a better start this time around. S Samson is the new captain of the team and is expected to be helped by the likes of B Stokes and J in the batting department. C Morris was their star signing in the auction and will replace Archer in the death-overs role for the first few games. Youngsters like Y Jaiswal, R Parag and K Tyagi will need to step up for the team and do well.

Punjab will be desperate to start with more urgency this time as they lost 6 of their first 7 matches in the tournament last year. Despite winning 5 of their last 7 games, they missed out on a place in the playoffs and finished 6th in the points table. Led by KL Rahul once again, the team boasts of some world-class players like C Gayle, D Malan, N Pooran, M Henriques and new addition J Richardson. The middle-order has been solidified with the addition of S Khan. A fully fit Shami and spinner R Bishnoi are expected to partner Richardson in the bowling department.   

After both teams failed to make it to the playoffs last season, and players on both sides desperate to start their campaign with a win, expect a cracking game of T20 cricket at the Wankhede on Monday.

Match Details

• Match: Rajasthan vs. Punjab, Match 4
• Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
• Date & Time: Apr. 12, 2021, at 7:30 PM IST

Statistics

• Head-to-Head Record: Rajasthan (12) - Punjab (9)
• Last 5 Games Record: Rajasthan (3) - Punjab (2)
• Average 1st Innings Score (Last 5 Games): 168 runs 
• Chasing Record (Last 5 Games): Won 4, Lost 1

Probable Playing XI

Rajasthan

J Buttler (WK), Y Jaiswal, S Samson (C), B Stokes, R Parag, S Dube, R Tewatia, C Morris, S Gopal, M Rahman, K Tyagi

Punjab

M Agarwal, KL Rahul (C & WK), C Gayle, N Pooran, S Khan, D Hooda, J Richardson, C Jordan, R Bishnoi, A Singh, M Shami

Weather and Pitch Report

Mumbai is expected to have clear weather during the match. The temperature will be around 31 degrees during the game. 

As seen in the previous match, the pitch at the Wankhede Stadium is very batting-friendly. While the pacers should get some bounce and movement with the new ball, the batsmen will enjoy batting as the stadium has small boundaries and the ball comes onto the bat nicely. With not much spin from the surface, the extra bounce can be useful for the spinners here.

Keeping in mind the dew factor, both captains will look to chase on winning the toss. The results of the last five matches also favor the side batting second. A first-innings score of around 195 runs should be a competitive one.

Top Fantasy Picks

• L Rahul struggled in the last T20I series against England, but was back among the runs in the ODI series afterward, scoring 177 runs in just three games. He was the Orange Cap winner last year, making 670 runs in 14 matches at an average of 55.83 with 1 century and 5 half centuries.
• C Gayle was instrumental in turning Punjab’s form midway through the last edition, scoring 288 runs in just seven matches at a strike rate of 137.14. Although he did not score many runs in the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka, he is never too far away from hitting form in this format.
• J Richardson had a great run in the Aus T20 League this season, picking up 29 wickets in 17 matches at an average of 16.31. He was quick and pacy in the T20I series against New Zealand and took 4 wickets in five games. He can be a very handy lower-order batsman too.
• J Buttler is a dangerous player at the top of the order and has been in good form lately. He scored 2 half centuries in the 5-match T20I series against India, which included a match-winning knock of 83 at a strike rate of 159.61. He will look to get Rajasthan off to a flying start here.
• S Samson started last year’s tournament in brilliant form, scoring 74 and 85 in the first two matches, but could not contribute much after that. He has been in decent form in the recent domestic games and has the added responsibility of leading the side this time around.
• B Stokes can never be far from action whenever he is on the field. His power-hitting was on display when he scored a brilliant 99 off just 52 balls in the second ODI against India, which included 10 massive sixes. He has a knack of picking wickets at crucial points in the game too.

Howzat Dream Team

• Wicketkeeper: J Buttler, S Samson, L Rahul
• Batsmen: M Agarwal, C Gayle, Y Jaiswal
• All-rounders: B Stokes, J Richardson
• Bowlers: K Tyagi, M Shami, C Jordan

• Captain: J Buttler/S Samson
• Vice Captain: L Rahul/C Gayle

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 in the coming days. 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!