FANTASY
Follow UsAfter a year-long hiatus, the Women's T20 Challenge will commence from Monday, May 23, at the MCA stadium in Pune, with the Trailblazers locking horns against the Supernovas in the inaugural game.
While Smriti Mandhana will be at the helm of the Trailblazers, Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the Supernovas in the upcoming edition. With 12 overseas stars set to share the dressing room with 36 young Indian players across the three teams, the week-long competition is set to help the Indian side unearth exciting young domestic talent.
SUGGESTED TEAM
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
GROUND DETAILS
In the ongoing IPL, out of the 26 innings played at the MCA stadium, the average first innings total is around the 172-run mark, whereas the average winning total is around 180.
Out of the 160 wickets at the venue, the pacers have taken 115 scalps, which is 71.9 percent of the wickets, compared to 45 wickets, which is 28.1 percent by the spinners. The fast bowlers have picked up 4.4 wickets per innings compared to 1.8 by the spinners.
SUGGESTED CAPTAIN
Smriti Mandhana
The onus of the Trailblazer's batting unit will rely heavily on Smriti Mandhana to help the team get off to a flying start in the powerplay. The southpaw was in sublime form in the World Cup and also smashed a valiant 84 in the summit clash of the domestic T20 champions against Railways. With runs under her belt in the last couple of series, Mandhana will be one of the players to watch out for in the competition.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Mandhana to score 34-52 runs in this match.
X-FACTORS
Deandra Dottin
One of the most destructive players in the shortest format of the game, Deandra Dottin has come back from a career-threatening injury last year to help West Indies reach the semi-finals of the World Cup that concluded earlier in the year.
The right-handed batter is the most sought-after player in the shortest format and previously held the record for the fastest century off 38 balls in T20Is against South Africa in 2018. Along with Harmanpreet Kaur, she will form a formidable batting unit at the top of the order.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Dottin to score 21-31 runs in this match.
Jemimah Rodrigues
After missing out on a place in the World Cup squad, Jemimah Rodrigues will be keen to make amends and score some valuable runs to stake a claim for herself in the Indian team.
The right-handed batter scored 243 runs in six innings at an average of 60.75 and a strike rate of 167.58 in the domestic T20 tournament for Mumbai a month before the Women's T20 Challenge. She will be a vital cog in the batting unit of the Trailblazers, and the fortunes of the side in the middle order will rely on her.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Rodrigues to score 33-49 runs in this match.
Sophie Ecclestone
The number one ranked bowler in this format, Sophie Ecclestone, will lead the bowling unit of the Supernovas. The left-arm spinner scalped 21 wickets in nine innings and was the leading wicket-taker in the World Cup in New Zealand. The 23-year old will be keen to weave her magic against the Trailblazers and guide her team over the line in the opening game.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Ecclestone to scalp 2-3 wickets in this match.
