IPL 2021: MI vs RCB
If you’re someone who is more than just a fantasy player and a genuine cricket fan who also loves numbers, kindly do watch all the sections in the video. Will be worth your time 🙂
SECTION 1: VENUE:
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Average scores at Chennai:
| Year | Matches | Avg 1st innings score | Avg 1st innings winning score |
| IPL 2019 | 8 | 144/5 | 166/4 |
| Overall | 57 | 164/6 | 173/6 |
Toss impact at Chennai: (only venue where batting first have won more games)
| Year | Matches | Bat 1st won | Bat 2nd won | Toss win bat | Toss win bowl |
| Overall | 57 | 35 | 22 | 36 | 21 |
| IPL 2019 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
In IPL 2019, while defending 150+ at Chepauk
Matches:5, won: 4, lost: 1
IPL overall, while defending 150+ at Chepauk
Matches: 39, won: 29 (74%), lost: 10
Stadium wise numbers in IPL: (All the numbers mentioned below are since 2018)
Stadium wise runs break-up:
Stadium wise Pace vs Spin:
Phase wise numbers at Chennai: (last two seasons)
| Overs | Average wickets | Others |
| 1-6 | 1.9 | 1.3-1.4 |
| 7-15 | 2.2 | 2.3-2.4 |
| 16-20 | 1.4 | 2 |
So, at Chennai, you can expect more wickets with the new ball than any other venue and interestingly, the lowest at the death among all the current venues.
You already know how to use that in your fantasy team.
Best bowling type at the venue: Off-spin (Thanks to Bhajji)
SECTION 2: Predicted XI’s:
RCB:
Kohli (C) (RHB)
Devdutt Padikkal (LHB)
Maxwell* (RHB)
ABD (WK)* (RHB)
Rajat Patidar/Sachin Baby (RHB/LHB)
Sundar (LHB, RAO)
Dan Christian* (RHB, RAM)
Shahbaz Ahmed (LAO, LHB)
Kyle Jamieson* (RAM, RHB)
Chahal (RALB)
Saini (RAF)/Siraj (RAM)
*As per the current overseas combination and the conditions at Chepauk, two should play among Shahbaz, Siraj & Saini.
MI:
Rohit (C) (RHB)
QDK (WK) (LHB)/Lynn (Kishan opens, if QDK misses due to quarantine)
Suryakumar (RHB)
Kishan (LHB)
Hardik (RHB, RAM)
Pollard (RHB, RAM)
Krunal (LHB, LAO)
NCN/Chawla (RAM/RALB)
Rahul Chahar (RALB)
Boult (LAM)
Bumrah (RAF)
*Doubts on QDK’s availability. While all other South African players are currently in quarantine and will not be available for the first game for their respective sides, there are reports that QDK had a bubble to bubble transfer through a charter plane. But so far, I haven’t seen him anywhere with the team.
*If QDK misses, Lynn can open. Or MI can open with Kishan (more likely to happen) and play Tiwary or Neesham in the MO.
*MI have the luxury to go with just the 3 overseas and play an extra Indian spinner as Hardik is bowling fit.
SECTION 3: Recent Form:
RCB:
Kohli:
Pre-season form: Good
Devdutt:
Pre-season form: Excellent
(Will be coming directly without match practice)
Maxwell:
Pre-season form: Very good
Practice game: 44(31)
ABD:
Pre-season: Hasn’t played any cricket after lPL 2020
Rajat Patidar:
Pre-season form: Good. Ideal position in domestic: 3-4
Practice game: 54(35), 104(49)
Shahbaz Ahmed:
Pre-season form: Good. Ideal position in Domestic: MO
Practice game: 39(15), 95(48) (opened)
KS Bharat:
Pre-season form: Average. Ideal position in Dom: Open in T20, can also bat in MO
Practice game: 38*(28), 47(26) (opened)
Sundar:
Pre-season form: Excellent with the bat, average with the ball.
Sachin Baby:
Pre-season form: Excellent. Ideal position in Domestic: 4-5
Dan Christian:
Pre-season form: Good
Practice game: 3/38
Mohammad Siraj:
Pre-season form: Good. But hasn’t played white ball cricket from a long time.
Practice game: 4-24-1
Yuzi Chahal:
Pre-season form: Poor
Practice game: 4-20-2
Navdeep Saini:
Pre-season form: Poor
Practice game: 3/40, 2/33
Daniel Sams:
Pre-season form: Good
*Unavailable due to isolation
Kyle Jamieson:
Pre-season form: Poor last few games for NZ
Harshal Patel:
Pre-season form: DNP in Vijay Hazare & SMAT.
Practice game: MoM in first practice game for a couple of wickets and 30 odd runs down the order.
Adam Zampa:
Pre-season form: Average
MI:
QDK:
Pre-season form: Decent.
Rohit:
Pre-season form: Good
Ishan Kishan:
Pre-season form: Good
Suryakumar:
Pre-season form: Excellent
Hardik:
Pre-season form: Good
Pollard:
Pre-season form: Good
Krunal:
Pre-season form: Excellent with the bat, poor with the ball.
Rahul Chahar:
Pre-season form: Good
Trent Boult:
Pre-season form: Good
Bumrah:
Pre-season form: Good. Has been away from white ball cricket for a while.
Adam Milne:
Pre-season form: Decent
NCN:
Pre-season form: Good
Piyush Chawla:
Pre-season form: Good
Jayant Yadav:
Pre-season form: Good
SECTION 4: Player Battles:
(Very useful section for 5 overs Live fantasy)
Rohit vs Siraj & Saini:
| Balls | 38 |
| Runs | 65 |
| Outs | 0 |
Add Christian to this list, and Rohit has never been dismissed by any current RCB pacer in this game. (Yet to face Jamieson)
Rohit vs Sundar:
| Balls | 19 |
| Runs | 17 |
| Outs | 2 (17 & 20) |
Rohit vs Chahal:
| Balls | 31 |
| Runs | 29 |
| Outs | 1 (2014) |
(Has hit Chahal just one four and is yet to hit a six against him)
QDK vs Sundar:
| Balls | 37 |
| Runs | 34 |
| Outs | 0 |
QDK vs Leg-spin in T20’s
| Innings | 34 |
| Outs | 12 |
| Average | 25.2 |
| HS | 29 |
QDK vs Chahal:
In T20’s
| Year | Balls | Runs | Outs |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 | 15 | 22 | 1 |
| 2019 | 9 | 8 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 28 | 33 | 4 |
ODI’s in 2018:
| Balls | 17 |
| Runs | 10 |
| Outs | 2 |
We dropped QDK due to Chahal last season, and interestingly, he again got out to him. Will the trend continue this year too?
Surya vs Chahal:
| Balls | 46 |
| Runs | 58 |
| Outs | 2 |
(Never been dismissed by any other RCB bowler who is likely to play in this game)
Ishan vs Chahal:
| Balls | 15 |
| Runs | 28 |
| Outs | 2 |
Ishan vs Saini:
| Balls | 20 |
| Runs | 38 |
| Outs | 0 |
Pollard vs Christian:
| Balls | 35 |
| Runs | 71 |
| Outs | 4 |
Last faced in 2019, when Pollard smashed 6 balls 22* against Dan.
Pollard vs Chahal: (since 2017)
| Balls | 33 |
| Runs | 55 |
| Outs | 4 |
(Last season: 20* off 6)
Hardik vs Chahal:
| Balls | 22 |
| Runs | 23 |
| Outs | 1 |
Hardik vs Siraj, Saini and Sundar:
| Balls | 50 |
| Runs | 79 |
| Outs | 0 |
Virat vs Boult (in T20’s)
| Balls | 29 |
| Runs | 44 |
| Outs | 0 |
| SR | 151 |
Padikkal vs Boult:
| Balls | 14 |
| Runs | 18 |
| Outs | 1 |
Maxwell vs Bumrah: (Bumrah’s most dismissals against any batsmen)
| Balls | 58 |
| Runs | 67 |
| Outs | 6 |
Maxwell vs Chahar:
| Balls | 17 |
| Runs | 18 |
| Outs | 2 |
AB vs Krunal (till 2017)
| Balls | 32 |
| Runs | 33 |
| Outs | 4 |
AB vs Krunal (After 2017)
| Balls | 15 |
| Runs | 18 |
| Outs | 0 |
Went on to score 70, 75, 55 and 15 against MI after 2017.
Bumrah vs RCB: (His most wickets against any IPL team)
| Innings | 15 |
| Overs | 58 |
| Wickets | 19 |
| SR | 18.3 |
| Best | 3/14 |
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Deadline: April 9, 7PM. No edited and multiple comments allowed.
SECTION 5: History between the two teams
Before we talk about the two teams’s H2H history, we cannot miss MI’s history in their opening games every season.
MI in their opening IPL games since 2013:
2020: Lost
2019: Lost
2018: Lost
2017: Lost
2016: Lost
2015: Lost
2014: Lost
2013: Lost
But 2021 opener is their best chance to break the streak, here’s why:
At Chennai, in IPL history:
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost |
| Mumbai | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| RCB | 9 | 2 | 7 |
Interestingly, RCB are on a five match losing streak at Chepauk and MI are on a 5 game winning streak here. Infact, all these 5 wins have come against CSK, who we know how dangerous are, at home.
Overall H2H: Mumbai 19 – RCB 10
Last 5 years: Mumbai 8 – RCB 2
2020: RCB won in Super over
Padikkal 54(40) (Boult)
Kohli 3(11) (Chahar)
ABD 55*(24)
Boult 4-34-2
Bumrah 4-42-0
Rohit 8(8) (Sundar)
QDK 14(15) (Chahal)
SKY 0(2)
Kishan 99(58)
Pollard 60*(24)
Chahal 4-48-1
Sundar 4-12-1
Zampa 4-53-1
2020: MI won by 5W’s
Padikkal 74(45)
Kohli 9(14) (Bumrah)
ABD 15(12) (Pollard)
Bumrah 4-1-14-3
Chahar 4-43-1
QDK 18(19) (Siraj)
Kishan 25(19) (Chahal)
Surya 79*(43)
Sundar 4-20-0
Chahal 4-37-2
Siraj 3.1-28-2
2019: MI won by 6 runs
QDK 23(20) (Chahal)
Rohit: 48(33)
Surya: 38(24) (Chahal)
Hardik: 32*(14)
Chahal: 4-38-4
Saini 4-40-0
Siraj: 4-38-2
Umesh: 4-26-2
Kohli 46(32)
AB: 70*(41)
2019: MI won by 5W
Kohli 8(9) (Behrendorff)
AB: 75(51)
Moeen: 50(32), 4-18-2
De Kock: 40(36)
Rohit: 28(19)
Surya: 29(23)
Hardik: 37*(16) 3-21-1
Chahal: 4-27-2
Section 6: Better numbers in first or second innings:
(Very useful section for full match fantasy and second innings fantasy)
Kohli vs MI: (Much better in second)
1st: 14I, 303R, 23A, 50:2
2nd: 13I, 334R, 33A, 50:1
Maxwell vs MI:
1st: 6I, 162R, 27A, HS: 47
2nd: 6I, 92R, 15.3A, HS: 56
AB vs MI: (Better in first)
1st: 11I, 466R, 58A, 50:2, 100:1
2nd: 12I, 260R, 32.5A, 50:2
Chahal vs MI: (Good in both, better in first)
1st: 19O, 9W, SR: 12.7
2nd: 31O, 10W, SR: 18.6
Sundar vs MI: (Better in second)
1st: 6O, 0W
2nd: 17O, 5W, SR: 20.4
Siraj vs MI: (Better in second)
1st: 11O, 2W, SR: 33
2nd: 9.1O, 5W, SR: 11
Saini vs MI:
Wicket-less in 4 & 7 overs that he has bowled in first and second innings respectively.
Rohit vs RCB: (Better in first)
1st: 12I, 399R, 36A, 50:4
2nd: 15I, 298R, 22A, 50:3
QDK vs RCB: (Better in first)
1st: 3I, 152R, 50A, 50:2
2nd: 5I, 186R, 37A, HS: 108
Ishan vs RCB:
1st: 0(1)
2nd: 6I, 200R, 33A, HS: 99
Hardik vs RCB:
1st: 3I, 65* R
2nd: 8I, 152R, 38A
Pollard vs RCB: (Much better in second)
1st: 12I, 192R, 19.2A
2nd: 13I, 347R, 69.4A
SKY vs RCB: (Better in second)
1st: 9I, 117R, 19.5A
2nd: 5I, 127R, 42.3A
Bumrah vs RCB: (Good in both, better in second)
1st: 40O, 11W, SR: 21.8
2nd: 18O, 8W, SR: 13.5
Boult vs RCB: (Good in both, better in first)
1st: 12O, 6W, SR: 12
2nd: 8O, 3W, SR: 16
Rahul Chahar vs RCB:
1st: 12O, 2W, SR: 36
2nd: Yet to play
NCN vs RCB:
1st: Yet to play
2nd: 6.3O, 3W, SR: 13
Chawla vs RCB: (Better in second)
1st: 49O, 5W, SR: 24.5
2nd: 19.1O, 7W, SR: 16.4
Krunal vs RCB:
1st: 28O, 6W, SR: 28
2nd: 8O, 3W, SR: 16
Section 7: Player performance at the venue:
MI & RCB batsmen at Chepauk:
MI & RCB bowlers at Chepauk:
Section 8: Finding the fantasy value:
Top Picks:
Virat Kohli: Quite an obvious choice, and he’s a top pick not just because of his reputation and current form but also because:
He is back opening the innings, and if you’re a Virat fan who is waiting for since forever for his next ton, you’ll be happy to know Virat’s all IPL centuries have come while opening the innings
Virat Kohli in IPL, since 2016:
| Bat Position | Innings | Runs | Average | SR | 50/100 |
| Open | 40 | 1755 | 51.6 | 146 | 12/5 |
| No 3 | 26 | 935 | 42.5 | 128 | 8/0 |
| No 4 | 3 | 51 | 25.5 | 106 | 0/0 |
Virat has the second highest average for any opener in IPL. (KL at first)
No specific threat against a particular opposition bowler who has troubled him in this format. Trent Boult who has dismissed him 3 times in 2019 ODI’s giving away just 7 runs is yet to dismiss him in T20’s.
Virat against Boult in IPL + T20I’s:
| Balls | 29 |
| Runs | 44 |
| Outs | 0 |
No slow leggies or slow spinners in the opposition to trouble Virat:
Virat has recently struggled against spin, especially, leg-spin, but not every leg-spinner troubles Virat. He averages well against spinners who bowl above 90 kmph and struggles against the ones who bowl under 90 kmph and gives a lot of flight.
Chahar, Krunal and Chawla all come under the first category.
(Chahar has dismissed him once in 8 deliveries, but that is a very low sample size)
Virat Kohli vs spinners in T20’s since 2016:
| Virat Kohli | Innings | Average |
| 90-100 kmph | 79 | 85.9 |
| <90 kmph | 92 | 45.8 |
Also, decent record at the venue and above factors makes Virat a good choice for your fantasy captaincy, and even better if he chases.
Captaincy suitability: Both small & grand leagues.
Suryakumar Yadav:Excellent form with the bat, very high on confidence after his performance for India and an exceptional player of spin. (which is extremely important at a venue like Chepauk) Also, has done well against RCB recently. Scores of 0, 79*(43), 38(24), 29(23). More importantly, except Chahal, has never been dismissed by any other current RCB bowler.
Captaincy suitability: Both small leagues and grand leagues.
Rohit Sharma:Good form with the bat, and no particular opposition bowler to have troubled Rohit in the past. Good numbers batting first against RCB, so you can prefer him as one of your captaincy options batting first.
Captaincy suitability: Both small & grand leagues.
Chahal: Always a reliable bowler when he plays for RCB, conditions favourable for spin and good numbers against MI too, in both the innings.
Chahal vs MI:
| Innings | 13 |
| Overs | 50 |
| Wickets | 19 |
| Average | 21.8 |
| SR | 15.8 |
Captaincy Suitability: Small leagues, Mini GL & GL.
Bumrah: Even though he’ll be playing white ball cricket after a long time, he is one of the very best in this format. And he loves playing against RCB.
Bumrah vs RCB: (His most wickets against any IPL team)
| Innings | 15 |
| Overs | 58 |
| Wickets | 19 |
| SR | 18.3 |
| Best | 3/14 |
Captaincy suitability: Small leagues (bowling first), Mini GL & GL.
ABD: Would have been listed right at the top if he was playing regular cricket. Has great numbers against MI and offers a allround value with his keeping too, but has been out of quarantine on 7th and has not played any competitive game after last IPL.
AB vs MI: (His most runs against any IPL team)
| Innings | 22 |
| Runs | 726 |
| Average | 45.4 |
| SR | 146 |
| 50 | 4 |
| 100 | 1 |
| HS | 133 |
In last 5 innings vs Mumbai, he has 3 fifties and averages 72
Captaincy suitability: Mini GL, GL and if you want to consider in SL, then prefer batting first.
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