The biggest prize in cricket is up for grabs this summer as the top 10 teams battle it out in the 2019 ICC World Cup in England.
As fans, it’s not just watching the best players battle it out to look forward to. Fantasy cricket means you have the opportunity to get involved as well.
Dream11 is the official partner of the ICC tournament’s fantasy league. And we are with you every step of the way with our tips and picks to guide you through each round.
Here, we help you navigate through the eighth round which includes five matches and begins on Saturday with Pakistan’s clash against Afghanistan.
TOP TIP
Indian pacers a must-have
Shami becomes second Indian to take a World Cup hat-trick.
India play England and Bangladesh in round eight, making it logical to stock up the team with the Men in Blue. Jasprit bumrah is in red-hot form and is likely to play a key role in both clashes. The pacer has been the go-to bowler whenever the 2011 champions needed a breakthrough and he has never disappointed.
Mohammad Shami is another Indian pacer who is likely to claim big wickets over the next two games. The 28-year-old entered the starting-XI after Bhuvaneshwar Kumar was side-lined due to injury. He has bagged eight wickets in two games against Afghanistan and West Indies, including a hat-trick at the death against the former.
With India playing twice in one round, it’s strongly recommended to fill your team with Virat Kohli’s men. The bowlers have made more of an impact in the last two games and banking on them to do the same in the next two could be a good call.
BATSMEN
Virat Kohli (11 credits)
The Indian skipper has made it a habit to score half-centuries, registering 50-plus scores in each of his last four innings. Kohli has always been the player to rise up to the occasion and after fifties against Australia and Pakistan, he could go for the biggie against England and claim his first ton of the tournament.
The 30-year-old has unsurprisingly been India’s most consistent batsman. England and Bangladesh could be the next entrants into his list of victims this tournament.
David Warner (10.5 credits)
The Aussie opening pair of David Warner and Aaron finch has arguably been the most dangerous duo so far. Both players are perched up on top of the leading run-scorers chart, scoring big at will.
Warner has scored 500 runs in seven innings, smashing two tons and three fifties. Finch and the southpaw have scored tons in alternate games for over four games now. With the Aussie skipper registering a 100 against England, it’s statistically likely that Warner will get into triple digits against the Kiwis.
Babar Azam (10 credits)
Babar Azam of Pakistan is in pristine touch.
Pakistan have announced their arrival into the top-four race with wins over South Africa and New Zealand. Babar Azam scored a century against the latter, embodying a tremendous innings under pressure.
The 1992 champions will be highly motivated to push for a semis spot and Azam could very well be the key.
Pakistan face tournament minnows Afghanistan and the 24-year-old could reach a big score if he gets going. He is also most likely to play the anchor role in a collapse and hence a safe pick for this round.
BOWLERS
Jasprit Bumrah (9.5 credits)
Bumrah is leading a bowling attack which could make a case for being India’s most dangerous in at least over a decade. The 25-year-old has claimed nine wickets so far, with most of those proving to be game-changing instants.
On Sunday, Bumrah will be up against a highly competent batting order and could be made to work for the wickets. But it’s more than likely that the pacer will shine over the two games in this round as India look to top the table.
Shaheen Afridi (8 credits)
Afridi has has a breakthrough year in international cricket.
Mohammad Amir and youngster Shaheen Afridi could also be good picks, given the Men in Green face an Afghanistan side that batted their full quota of 50 overs just once this tournament.
The 19-year-old claimed six wickets in three outings, dismissing Colin Munro, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham in Pakistan’s recent win over the Kiwis. Afridi could gun down the Afghan middle-order and propel his team closer to a top-four finish.
At just eight credits, Afridi could prove to be a good bargain.
ALL-ROUNDERS
Ben Stokes (9 credits)
Ben Stokes has probably been England’s only positive over the past two games in which his 80+ scores have come at a losing cause.
Dependable with the bat and handy with the ball, Stokes could fetch heaps of points against India. The southpaw is the hosts’ best hope of a recovery from two straight defeats.
Hardik Pandya (9 credits)
Pandya will be in confident mood post his IPL displays.
The swashbuckling Hardik Pandya has been a Swiss army knife for the Men in Blue. He has picked up wickets when needed and batted across the middle-order, as required by the team.
In the two games that India play in this round, a Pandya cameo featuring a short but dynamic innings from the all-rounder is very much on the cards. He could also provide a breakthrough in the middle-overs should the spinners hit a dry spell.
WICKETKEEPER
MS Dhoni (9 credits)
The veteran Indian wicketkeeper has received some criticism for his slow strike-rate in the World Cup. But it’s worth noting that the 2011 World Cup winning captain has produced well-paced innings on slow batting surfaces when the majority of India’s batting line-up failed to cope.
With two games to play, Dhoni has a higher chance of claiming more catches, stumpings and even score more runs. The former skipper should hence be treated as a straight-forward pick.
Captain: Bumrah
Vice-captain: Kohli
