The 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) season heads into match 34 with Delhi Capitals set to host Mumbai Indians at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Thursday.
As fans, watching the action is not the only thing to look forward to – IPL fantasy games mean you have the opportunity to get involved as well.
As the IPL’s official partner, Dream11 runs a daily contest for each game apart from the default format which is conducted per round.
Here, we focus on helping you navigate your way through the former.
BATSMAN
Shikhar Dhawan – Delhi Capitals (9.5 credits)
While both of India’s limited-overs openers will be on show on Thursday on opposite sides of the crease, it is Delhi’s Shikhar Dhawan who gets the nod due to his superior form this campaign.
The move to bring back the left-hander into the Delhi fold is paying dividends for the franchise with Dhawan’s experience proving to be crucial.
Dhawan has already registered two half-centuries in the tournament this year with the latest of them being a superb unbeaten innings of 97 against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens.
Back on his home ground after a long stretch on the road, Dhawan will be eager to put in another positive display and anchor the innings for Delhi.
BOWLER
Kagiso Rabada – Delhi Capitals (9 credits)
There is no need to look beyond Kagiso Rabada for the bowler’s slot with the Delhi pacer having his best-ever IPL campaign.
The South Africa fast bowler missed the entire 2018 edition due to an injury but he has been a revelation this season with 17 wickets in just eight outings.
From defending a score of 10 in a Super Over to blowing away the opposition’s batting order, Rabada has done it all this campaign and is only getting better with each passing game.
The ‘Purple Cap’ (most wickets) holder has been picking up wickets at an astonishing strike-rate of less than 12 and he can be expected to further burgeon his wicket-tally on Thursday.
#KagisoRabada will dominate the world cricket in the years to come... what an athlete. #SRHvDC #VIVOIPL #GameBanayegaName
— Pragyan Prayas Ojha (@pragyanojha) April 14, 2019
ALL-ROUNDER
Hardik Pandya – Mumbai Indians (9.5 credits)
While there are several contenders for the slot including Kieron Pollard and Chris Morris, it is Hardik Pandya who ends up as our pick given the consistency he has shown over the course of the campaign.
The Mumbai and India all-rounder has played some crucial cameos down the order already for his side with the latest of them coming in a 16-ball 37 against RCB where he scored 22 runs in a single over.
The right-hander has been striking the ball at a rate of nearly 192 this season. Although expensive, Pandya has managed to claim six wickets so far but his bowling contributions will be a bonus given the terrific form he has shown with the bat.
Hardik Pandya’s batting. Different level this #IPL. #MIvRCB
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 15, 2019
WICKETKEEPER
Rishabh Pant – Delhi Capitals (9.5 credits)
Both teams have two explosive wicketkeeper batsmen at their disposal but it is Delhi’s Rishabh Pant who just about shades Mumbai’s Quinton de Kock.
While his current batting average of 35 pales in comparison to his 2018 showings where he averaged nearly 53, Pant has still been collecting runs at a good strike-rate of over 161.
With the youngster only recently snubbed from India’s 2019 World Cup squad selection, he will be even more determined to play a big innings on Thursday to send a reminder of his undeniable batting prowess.
CAPTAIN – Kagiso Rabada
VICE CAPTAIN – Hardik Pandya
