Rant

So let's start with the XI first. SRK has got enough chances and Tewatia too. He is not the same player like 2022–23. Both should be dropped. And I know it's very early, but if Jos Buttler plays like this for 3–4 matches, I might get tempted to try Banton. He is a good player of spin. And Rabada bro, please leave us 😭. So yeah, a lot of questions on the starting XI itself.

Now comes batting. Gill was maximising the powerplay but Sai needs to gear up a bit. Glenn looked promising and was the only guy after Gill who was trying to hit boundaries. SRK, Tewatia and Washi were too slow. In one 5-over phase we scored just 34 runs which is honestly shameful. We were around 123/3 in 13–14 overs, we could have started hitting and maybe reached 185–190. No one batted with a strike rate above 150+. In games these days players go at 180+, but in our whole team no one crossed even 150.

In bowling though, Gill did a great job as captain and took the match till the last over. Maybe he could have used Siraj instead of Rabada for that 12run over and asked Rabada or Ashok to bowl pace-off. Positive signs are Rashid getting back in form and Lord Krishna, what can I even say 🔥

From next match we should maximise powerplay, maybe something like 76/1 or 68/0. Then middle overs at around 9.5–11 RR. And if 2–3 wickets fall around 12 overs, send Rashid to just swing. I don't care if he gets out on a duck, even a 6 ball 22 run cameo helps a lot.

The XI I would love to see next match:

Gill, Sai, Jos, Kushagra, Washi, Glenn, Holder, Rashid, Manav/Nishant, Siraj, Krishna, Sai Kishore

Manav is a bowling all-rounder and Nishant is a batting all-rounder. I would be tempted to play Nishant. Sai Kishore can also choke teams by giving very few runs and his arm ball is very accurate.

Bowling plan I would try:

• PP: 3 overs Siraj, 2 Holder, 1 Sai/Rashid
• 6–10: 3 Sai/Rashid, 1 Washi/Manav/Nishant, 1 Krishna
• 11–15: 4 Sai/Rashid, 1 Krishna
• 16–20: 2 Holder, 2 Krishna (if someone has a bad day then Siraj can cover)

If pitch is not spin friendly then reduce Washi/Manav/Nishant by one over and give it to a pacer.

Batting expectations:

• Gill around 165+ SR
• Sai around 158+
• Jos around 168+
• Glenn around 180–185
• Finishers should try to touch 200 SR (even 190–195 is fine)

And at last, if the team loses it's okay, but at least play the best XI and show fight. We have given enough chances to SRK, Tewatia and Rabada.

Love you all, see you in the next matchday thread ❤️