The two-month-long IPL 2022 comes to an end with the championship match between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals on Sunday (May 29) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Gujarat Titans were crowned IPL 2022 champions following a 7-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals in the final. The Indian Premier League's fifteenth season included a total of 74 matches. There were several outstanding individual performances in this year's league that captivated the cricketing world. Let's take a look at the best players from the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League. IPL 15: Top Performers in Each Category  Some well-known T20 players had a disappointing season, including some embarrassing moments. Oppositely, some had a fantastic season. Moreover, some new outstanding players demonstrated their potential during the IPL 2022. These are the tournament's top performers. Champion: Gujarat Titans Gujarat Titans created history by winning the Indian Premier League title in their maiden season. They were incredibly consistent throughout the season, finishing first in the league and qualifying for the playoffs. They won the IPL 2022 title after defeating Rajasthan Royals twice in the elimination stages, including the final. Read: Gujarat wins Indian Premier League at first attempt Most Runs: Jos Buttler   Rajasthan's English hard-hitter Jos Buttler was the tournament's most consistent batter. He hit a record four hundred and racked up 863 runs in the process. Top 3 Most Runs Player Innings Runs Jos Buttler 17 863 KL Rahul 15 616 Quinton de Kock 15 508 Source: https://www.iplt20.com/stats/2022 Most Wickets: Yuzvendra Chahal Rajasthan’s spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal had an outstanding season with the ball. He picked up 27 wickets at an average of 19.51. Top 3 Most Wickets Player Innings Wickets Yuzvendra Chahal 17 27 Wanindu Hasaranga 16 26 Kagiso Rabada 13 23 Source: https://www.iplt20.com/stats/2022 High Scores: Quinton de Kock Lucknow SuperGiants wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 140*-run against Kolkata Knight Riders was the highest individual score in IPL 15. Top 3 Highest Scores Player Opposition Runs Quinton de Kock Kolkata Knight Riders 140* Jos Buttler Delhi Capitals 116 Rajat Patidar Lucknow SuperGiants 112* Source: https://www.iplt20.com/stats/2022 Best Bowling Figures: Jasprit Bumrah  Mumbai Indians pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s 5-wicket haul against Kolkata Knight Riders was the best bowling figures in the 2022 Indian Premier League.  Top 3 Best Bowling Figures Player Opposition BBI  Jasprit Bumrah Kolkata Knight Riders 5/10 Wanindu Hasaranga Sunrisers Hyderabad 5/18 Umran Malik Gujarat Titans 5/25 Source: https://www.iplt20.com/stats/2022 Most Dismissals: Sanju Samson Rajasthan captain Sanju Samson had the most dismissals in the tournament with 16. Read: Tigers' spin bowling coach Rangana to conduct the camp Top 3 Most Dismissals Player Innings Dismissals Sanju Samson 17 16 Wriddhiman Saha 11 13 Ishan Kishan 14 13 Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Most Catches: Riyan Parag Riyan Parag of the Rajasthan Royals took the most catches with 17. Top 3 Most Catches Player Innings Catches Riyan Parag 17 17 Mayank Agarwal 13 10 Kane Williamson 13 10 Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Highest Partnerships: Quinton de Kock & KL Rahul The only 200-run partnership came in the IPL 2022 between Lucknow’s KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock against Kolkata Knight Riders. Top 3 Highest Partnerships Partners Opposition Runs Quinton de Kock & KL Rahul Kolkata Knight Riders 210* Ruturaj Gaikwad & Devon Conway Sunrisers Hyderabad 182 Robin Uthappa & Shivam Dube Royal Challengers Bangalore 165 Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Most Sixes: Jos Buttler Jos Buttler of the Rajasthan Royals hit the most sixes in the competition with 45. Top 3 Most Sixes Player Innings 6s Jos Buttler 17 45 Liam Livingstone 14 34 Andre Russell 12 32 Source: https://www.iplt20.com/stats/2022 Bottom Line Rajasthan Royals' English batter Jos Buttler was one of the most talked-about players in the IPL 2022. He was on a different level throughout the competition. He set several records and assisted the Rajasthan Royals in reaching the final. Buttler was rewarded for his efforts and was named player of the series. Hardik Pandya's captaincy was very noticeable this season. He was appointed captain of the Gujarat Titans. There were doubts about Pandya's leadership, but he proved everyone wrong by leading Gujarat to victory in the Indian Premier League in their inaugural season. Besides, Hyderabad's bowler, Umran Malik drew everyone's attention by consistently bowling over 150 km/h. Hasaranga de Silva, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kagiso Rabada, KL Rahul, and Quinton de Kock also enjoyed successful seasons with their respective teams.  Read IPL 2022 Final: Who is favourite to win title between Rajasthan and Gujarat?

The round-robin league phase of the ongoing IPL 2022 season will come to an end on Sunday (May 22). Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants have already secured their place in the playoffs, while Rajasthan Royals’ participation in the knockout phase is all but confirmed given their current position in the points table and significant edge over others in terms of run rates. Therefore, only one spot is left for the playoffs, and as per the latest standings, a team from Delhi or Bangalore will advance to the next stage. Let's have a look at who has the best chance of making it to the playoffs round. Also read: IPL 2022: Favourites to Reach the Playoffs Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Who are the favourites to reach 2022 IPL Playoffs? The Delhi Capitals are ahead of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2022 round-robin league points table at the moment. Delhi also have better run rates than Bangalore, which could be vital in the end if both teams finish the first phase with the same points. Both Delhi and Bangalore have accumulated 14 points in 13 games. However, what really separates the two teams are the run rates. Delhi have a 0.255 in comparison to Bangalore’s -0.323 run rate. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals’ place in the playoffs haven’t been secured yet. If they lose against Chennai Super Kings and both Delhi and Bangalore register big wins in their respective final fixtures, then Rajasthan won’t advance to the next stage. However, this scenario is highly unlikely, just like Punjab and Hyderabad’s chances of securing a place in the next round. The Punjab and Hyderabad teams will play against each other in their final fixture of the league stage, and the winner of this match has a chance to advance to the playoffs. However, to make that happen, both Delhi and Bangalore have to lose their respective matches. The IPL 2022 playoffs scenario is now down to the last few games, which will determine which two teams will join Gujarat and Lucknow in the next round. Also read: IPL leader Gujarat beats Bangalore despite Kohli 58   Delhi Capitals The 2022 IPL season has been an up and down season for the Delhi Capitals. They have won seven matches and lost six so far in the league phase. With one game remaining in the league stage, the Delhi Capitals have yet to confirm a playoff spot. However, they have maintained a solid position in the race for the playoffs since the beginning of the season. Delhi’s fate is in their hands, which means they will advance if they beat Mumbai Indians in their league stage final fixture. Delhi Capitals’ final fixture 21/05/2022 (Saturday): Mumbai Indians (at Wankhede) | Time: 8 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) Royal Challengers Bangalore Like the Delhi Capitals, the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL 2022 season hasn’t been so consistent. They have also won seven matches and conceded six defeats so far this season. They have to push hard against Gujarat Titans in their final league fixture in order to increase the run rates. Because only winning won’t take them to the next round if Delhi win against Mumbai.  Royal Challengers Bangalore’s final fixture  19/05/2022: Gujarat Titans (at Wankhede) | Time: 8 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) Also read: RR vs MI: Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2022 playoff dream is about to sink Verdict As per the current scenario, the Delhi Capitals team should feel confident in advancing to the IPL 2022 playoffs as they will face the bottom team, Mumbai Indians, in their last fixture of the league phase. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Gujarat Titans, the top team in the points table. So, they not only have to win the fixture but also have to rely on the outcome of the Delhi vs Mumbai fixture. Therefore, the RCB vs GT match on Thursday evening will be a do-or-die contest for the Bangalore side.

The Gujarat Titans have surprised everyone by becoming the first team to qualify for the IPL 2022 playoffs with two games left. Oppositely, the first team to be knocked out of the league phase is the Mumbai Indians. There are still three spots up for grabs for the next round. Seven teams are fighting for these remaining spots. With 13 matches left before the end of the league phase, the battle for a place in the next round is heating up. Let’s take a look at the playoffs qualification scenarios for the 15th season of the Indian Premier League. Which teams have the best chances to make the IPL 2022 playoffs? Most teams have three games left in the league round in the fifteenth season of the Indian Premier League. Dropping points now will have a huge influence on the team's chances of making the playoffs. Here is the latest points table situation for the present IPL season. Read: Rain interrupts Sri Lanka’s preparation for Bangladesh Tests 2022 Indian Premier League Points Table (as on May 10) Position Team Match Win Loss Points NRR 1 Gujarat Titans (Q) 12 9 3 18 0.376 2 Lucknow SuperGiants 12 8 4 16 0.385 3 Rajasthan Royals                      11 7 4 14 0.326 4 Royal Challengers Bangalore 12 7 5 14 -0.115 5 Delhi Capitals 11 5 6 10 0.150 6 Sunrisers Hyderabad               11 5 6 10 -0.031 7 Kolkata Knight Riders              12 5 7 10 -0.057 8 Punjab Kings               11 5 6 10 -0.231 9 Chennai Super Kings                11 4 7 8 0.028 10 Mumbai Indians (E) 11 2 9 4 -0.894         Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Lucknow, Rajasthan, and Bangalore's chances of making the playoffs The Lucknow SuperGiants, Rajasthan Royals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore are in pole position for the quest for an IPL 2022 playoffs berth. Lucknow have 16 points and they can secure a spot in the next round even without winning their remaining matches in the league phase. But for that, they will have to rely on the outcomes of the other fixtures. On the other hand, Rajasthan and Bangalore are currently sitting in the third and fourth positions in the points table with 14 points each. Both teams are one win away from securing a place in the knockout phase. Read: BAN vs SL Test Series 2022: Five Crucial Players for Bangladesh The remaining fixtures of these three teams  Lucknow SuperGiants: Rajasthan Royals (May 15), Kolkata Knight Riders (May 18) Rajasthan Royals: Delhi Capitals (May 11), Lucknow SuperGiants (May 15), Chennai Super Kings (May 20) Royal Challengers Bangalore: Punjab Kings (May 13), Gujarat Titans (May 19) What are the chances for Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Punjab, and Chennai to advance to the next round? Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Punjab all have 10 points each. However, Delhi still have a strong chance to make it to the playoffs as they have three matches left. In addition, the Capitals have better run rates than the bottom teams in the points table. Chennai have 8 points and, mathematically, they are also in contention for a place in the playoffs. However, they have to rely on other fixtures to advance to the next phase. Read: Shakib tests positive for Covid-19 The four teams' remaining matches Delhi Capitals: Rajasthan Royals (May 11), Punjab Kings (May 16), Mumbai Indians (May 21) Sunrisers Hyderabad: Kolkata Knight Riders (May 14), Mumbai Indians (May 17), Punjab Kings (May 22) Kolkata Knight Riders: Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 14), Lucknow SuperGiants (May 18) Punjab Kings: Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 13), Delhi Capitals (May 16) Chennai Super Kings: Mumbai Indians (May 12), Gujarat Titans (May 15), Rajasthan Royals (May 20) Aftermath The Gujarat Titans have shown real promise in their maiden season in the Indian Premier League. They are the most consistent team in the season and have secured a place in the playoffs as the first team in this year’s edition. Among the other teams, Lucknow SuperGiants, Rajasthan Royals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore are in good position for a playoff berth. Read Shakib tests positive for Covid-19 However, the Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, and Chennai Super Kings all have an outside chance to advance to the next round of IPL 2022. Aside from that, the most successful team in Indian Premier League history, Mumbai Indians are having a particularly difficult season this year. They are already out of contention for the knockout phase after only two victories in eleven games.

The IPL 2022 campaign is the worst-ever for the most successful team in the tournament, the Mumbai Indians. In fact, their eight consecutive losses from the start of the season have been the worst in the tournament’s history. With six more matches to go, the Mumbai Indians' hope to qualify for the playoffs is practically over. Though, mathematically, they can still advance to the next round if they win the RR vs MI contest. However, that chance will also perish if they lose against the Rajasthan Royals on Saturday.  Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians: Team News The champions of the inaugural edition, the Rajasthan Royals, have been in excellent form this season. It seems they are a genuine contender for the IPL 2022. Rajasthan are currently in the second position with 12 points. They are a couple of wins away from securing a place in the playoffs. On the other hand, the Mumbai Indians have yet to register a win in this year’s IPL. They are on their way to surpassing Pune Warriors and Delhi Capitals' eleven straight defeats in the Indian Premier League. Mumbai need to win a match within the next two matches to avoid such an embarrassing record. Read IPL 2022: Mustafizur’s Delhi seek win against Kolkata in the race for top four finish Rajasthan Royals Rajasthan's campaign should feel confident after a comfortable 29-win against Royal Challengers Bangalore in their latest league match. It’s Jos Buttler who has taken the bulk of the responsibility for batting for the Royals. However, Buttler didn’t perform with the bat on Tuesday (April 26), but that didn’t stop Rajasthan from clinching the contest. Young middle-order batter, Riyan Parag stepped up with the bat and made 56 off 31, striking the ball at a rate of 180.64. The bowling department is very strong for Rajasthan this season and they have probably the best options in bowling among the participating teams. Playing XI (RR): Top Order: Jos Buttler, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (Captain, Wicket-Keeper). Middle-Orders: Shimron Hetmyer, Daryl Mitchell, Riyan Parag, Ravi Ashwin, Trent Boult. Lower-Order: Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen. Read Key Takeaways from the DPL 2022 Mumbai Indians The Mumbai franchise lost some of their star players who helped them win multiple IPL trophies over the years. Clearly, losing those players have impacted immensely on the Mumbai Indians' performance this season. None of the Mumbai Indians' main power hitters — Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Kieron Pollard perform well with the bat, which is a big concern. Their bowling hasn’t been impressive either. Playing XI (MI): Top-Order: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan (Wicket-Keeper), Dewald Brevis; Middle-Orders: Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Kieron Pollard, Daniel Sams, Jaydev Unadkat; Lower-Order: Hrithik Shokeen, Jasprit Bumrah, Riley Meredith. Match Schedule (RR vs MI) Time: Saturday (April 30) at 8 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time) | Venue: Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai. Read DPL 2022: Sheikh Jamal win championship, while Khelaghar are relegated Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals: Head-to-Head Mumbai and Rajasthan have met each other 26 times. The Mumbai Indians lead the head-to-head battle with 13 wins. On the other hand, Rajasthan have won 12 matches and one match had no result. Aftermath Rajasthan Royals will undoubtedly start as favourites in the RR vs MI contest, based on their recent form. The Royals team will try to move even closer to the playoffs by beating Mumbai in the game. On the other hand, the Mumbai Indians team’s confidence level has worsened with each defeat in the tournament. There is no more hope left for them in this year’s competition. The only thing the Mumbai team can do is to play with a sense of pressure-free and try to win as many games as possible before the season ends. They can identify their best playing XI by rotating players from the squad, which could be beneficial for the next season. Read IPL 2022: Halfway Through, Playoffs Qualification Scenarios for Ten Teams

Delhi Capitals’ recent loss against the Rajasthan Royals had created a lot of buzz. There were tensions between the two sides in the final over of the match before Rajasthan went on to seal the contest by 15 runs. The Capitals’ side has had five days of rest to regroup, and they are now gearing up to face the Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday evening. The Kolkata side is also under huge pressure to get back on track in their quest for a top-four finish in the IPL 2022 standings.  Team News: Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders Delhi have six points from seven matches, and they have seven more matches to be played in the league phase. The Capitals' team is in the seventh position with a best net run rate of 0.715. Delhi certainly have strong run rates, but they need to win the majority of their remaining league stage fixtures to finish in the top four in the points standings. On the other hand, Kolkata haven’t won a match since Pat Cummins’ stunning knock against Mumbai Indians, which gave them a 5-wicket victory. The Knight Riders have remained winless in their last four encounters, and they have to find a way to overcome Delhi in this fixture. Read IPL 2022: Halfway Through, Playoffs Qualification Scenarios for Ten Teams Delhi Capitals Mitchell Marsh and Tim Seifert both were out of the squad because of covid-19. They have rejoined the squad but whether they will be available for selection against Delhi is not a hundred percent confirmed. Players from the foreign category will have to make their way into the playing XI if they are selected. Apart from them, the rest of the players are available for selection. For Delhi Capitals, left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, opener David Warner, and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav will be key. Predicted Playing XI (DC) Top-Order: Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Sarfaraz Khan, Middle-Orders: Rishabh Pant (Wicket-keeper and Captain), Lalit Yadav, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Lower-Order: Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Khaleel Ahmed. Read IPL 2022 KKR vs DC: Delhi's Mustafizur could be crucial against Kolkata Kolkata Knight Riders  Kolkata’s big names have failed to make an impact to register a win for them. Andre Russell and Tim Southee have performed admirably in their respective roles, but their efforts have not resulted in victories. Pacer Pat Cummins is among the worst economy rate bowlers this season, which is a big concern for the Knight Riders. The Kolkata team needs to find a way to overcome their opponents in order to stay in contention for a top-four finish. Skipper Shreyas Iyer, all-rounder Sunil Narine and power hitter Andre Russell can play a big part in this contest.  Predicted Playing XI (KKR)  Top Order: Sam Billings (wicket-keeper), Sunil Narine, Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Middle-Orders: Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Tim Southee, Lower-Order: Shivam Mavi, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy. Read IPL 2022: Jos Buttler's Record-Breaking Knock Helps Rajasthan Reach the Top Match Time (DC vs KKR): Thursday (April 28) at 8 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time) | Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals: Head-to-Head The two sides have met on 31 occasions. In a head-to-head contest, the Kolkata Knight Riders have a slight advantage against the Delhi Capitals. Kolkata have won 16 games, Delhi have won 14, and one match has ended in a draw.  Verdict Given the recent form of these two teams, Delhi Capitals will start as favourites against the Kolkata Knight Riders. The Knight Riders have struggled to find a way to beat their opponents under their new captain, Shreyas Iyer. It seems they may end this campaign outside the top four unless they show magnificent consistency in the latter stages of the league phase. Oppositely, the Delhi Capitals are in a better position in terms of team spirit and gel. They have good run rates and it will improve even further if they win most of their remaining league phase IPL 2022 fixtures.  Read IPL : Delhi Capitals pummels Punjab kings to win one sided match

The match between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals on Saturday was one of the best in the Indian Premier League this season. Delhi's Rovman Powell fought back with the bat in the final over for a 222-run chase, but Rajasthan won by 15 runs. However, England's Jos Buttler deserves praise for smashing his third hundred in the ongoing IPL 2022 season and setting a massive total for the Rajasthan team. Let's take a look at the records that Buttler shattered during the contest between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals in Indian Premier League in 2008.  Match Report: Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals Rajasthan Royals piled up a massive 222/2 runs in their allotted 20 overs as they batted first at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. Rajasthan's opener Jos Buttler, blasted 116 runs off just 65 balls, including nine sixes. It was Buttler's third century of the season and his second-highest IPL score. Devdutt Padikkal (54) and Sanju Samson (46*) also played important knocks for Rajasthan. Mustafizur Rahman and Khaleel Ahmed each took a wicket for Delhi. Read Sheikh Jamal, Legends of Rupganj in Pole Position to Win DPL 2022 The Delhi Capitals got off to a good start in the chase, scoring 43 runs in the opening stand. However, their momentum was interrupted when they lost wickets in the middle overs. Delhi needed 36 runs in the match's last over. Rovman Powell startled the spectators by striking three sixes in the first three balls of the over. After the third delivery, the batters appealed for a no-ball, but the umpire dismissed their plea and told them to continue. As the tension between the two sides had begun to rise, bowler Obed McCoy made his team's dugout a bit more relaxed by bowling a dot ball on the fourth delivery. He only gave up 2 runs and picked out Rovman Powell in the final three deliveries, sealing the victory for Rajasthan by 15 runs. Jos Buttler was named Player of the Match for his remarkable batting. Rajasthan also climbed to the top of the IPL 2022 points table with 10 points after this win.  Read Mosharraf Hossain Rubel: The late cricketer's major achievements as a player Noteworthy records set by Jos Buttler during the match against Delhi Capitals A number of records were shattered during the encounter between the Rajasthan Royals and the Delhi Capitals on Friday at the Wankhede Stadium. Rajasthan's Jos Buttler was responsible for most of the records. Here are some of Buttler's records from the contest. - After Shikhar Dhawan, Jos Buttler became the second batter in IPL history to achieve back-to-back hundreds. - Buttler became only the second batter in history to hit three hundred in a single IPL season. In 2016, Virat Kohli hit four hundred. Read Bangladesh likely to tour Australia and England in the forthcoming ICC FTP fixtures - Buttler hit nine sixes in the match, breaking Sanju Samson's IPL record of 26 sixes in a season for Rajasthan Royals. Jos Butler currently has 32 sixes for the Royals in the IPL 2022. - Buttler and Devdutt Padikkal surpassed Shane Watson and Ajinkya Rahane's 2015 IPL record for the highest opening partnership for Rajasthan. In their opening partnership against Delhi, Buttler and Padikkal scored 155 runs. It was also the Rajasthan team's highest partnership on any wicket. - Jos Buttler's 116 is the highest individual score in the ongoing Indian Premier League season. - Buttler became the first and only overseas player to achieve three centuries in a single IPL season. Read 2023 ICC Test Championship: Best batting and bowling performances thus far  Bottom Line The Rajasthan Royals have never won another title since winning the inaugural Indian Premier League in 2008. They haven't even made it to the final since then. The Rajasthan team has been very impressive this season. Rajasthan have a genuine chance of winning their second IPL title because of Jos Buttler's striking prowess in the match of Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals. Besides, being in top place in the IPL 2022 points standings halfway through the season is a fantastic feat. Rajasthan can keep improving their run rates and maintaining their position if Jos Buttler and the rest of the players are even more driven in the remaining group stage games.   Read ICC Test Championship 2023: Mominul Haque among the best all-around performances

The Delhi Capitals managed to win two of their first four encounters in the ongoing Indian Premier League season. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore have clinched three out of their first five fixtures. At the moment, Bangalore and Delhi are in the middle of the points table. Therefore, the game is crucial for both sides in order to move up the IPL 2022 points table. Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman has been struggling to pick up wickets after a brilliant start to the campaign. Mustafizur will be hoping to end his wicket drought in the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore.   Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Team News With six points after five games, Royal Challengers Bangalore are presently in the sixth position in the IPL 2022 points table. Oppositely, the Delhi Capitals are in the eighth position with four points. As the fifteenth season of the Indian Premier League is moving closer to its halfway stage, the teams are all set to push for top-four finishes. Therefore, the remainder of the league phase will be crucial for franchisees in their quest for a playoff berth. Let’s take a look at the match preview between the Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Read Imran Khan: The Greatest Pakistani Cricketer Delhi Capitals The Delhi Capitals have one of the best opening pairs in the ongoing season. The Delhi side finds the right combination with Prithvi Shaw and David Warner in the opening positions. Their middle orders are also solid, where skipper Rishabh Pant is responsible for taking charge of the team. Delhi’s bowling has a variation too. Mustafizur Rahman is one of their most economical bowlers. Besides, Khaleel Ahmed and Kuldeep Yadav have picked up wickets for the Capitals. The cutter-master Mustafizur Rahman has been outstanding with his bowling variations, which have made an impact at the start of the innings. However, Mustafizur hasn’t picked up a wicket since his three-wicket haul against Gujarat Titans. The left-arm pacer will be hoping to take a wicket or two in order to make even more of an impact in the match for his side.  Also Read: Root quits as England test cricket captain after 5 years Predicted Playing XI (DC) Top Order: Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Middle-Orders: Rishabh Pant (Wicket-keeper and Captain), Lalit Yadav, Sarfaraz Khan, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Lower-Order: Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Khaleel Ahmed Royal Challengers Bangalore On paper, Royal Challengers Bangalore have a strong batting unit. However, neither of their batters has made the top ten list of most run scorers. However, this record will definitely change in the coming matches, as newly appointed Captain Faf du Plessis, Kohli, and Maxwell are all capable enough batters to find their own rhythm at any time during the season. Read ICC Cricket World Cup Super League: Bangladesh's Current Standings, Forthcoming Fixtures Bangalore’s bowling line-up has real variations. So far, Lankan spinner Hasaranga is among the top five most successful bowlers this season. He will be their main weapon in this fixture, along with Hazlewood and Siraj.    Predicted Playing XI (RCB) Top Order: Faf du Plessis (Captain), Anuj Rawat, Virat Kohli, Middle-Orders: Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Suyash Prabhudessai, Dinesh Karthik (Wicket-Keeper), Wanindu Hasaranga, Siddarth Kaul, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood. Read Andrew McDonald named head coach of Australian cricket team Match Time (DC vs RCB): Saturday (April 16) at 8 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time) | Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Head-to-Head: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals  Both sides have met each other on 28 occasions. In a head-to-head encounter, Royal Challengers Bangalore have a significant lead over the Delhi Capitals. The RCB have won 17 out of 28 matches. In contrast, the Delhi Capitals have won 10 games. Read SA vs BAN 2022: Bangladesh’s Top Five Performers From South Africa Tour Verdict Royal Challengers Bangalore lost their latest match against Chennai Super Kings, while Delhi Capitals registered a dominating victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in their previous match. It will be a tight battle as both sides are in the same kind of form in this ongoing IPL 2022 season. Whoever plays with full potential on the day will have a better chance of clinching the match. Royal Challengers Bangalore can take some inspiration from their overall IPL record against the Delhi Capitals. On the other hand, Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman could be a very effective weapon for the Delhi side. His bowling variations have had an impact on the batters in order to stop the run flow. The left-hand pacer needs to snatch wickets on a regular basis in order to improve his overall bowling figures in the tournament. Also Read: Is Mominul Haque the right man to lead Bangladesh's Test team?

Delhi Capitals have had a difficult start to the IPL 2022 season despite winning their first match by four wickets against the Mumbai Indians. Rishab Pant's side has only won one game in three matches so far, and they need to get back on track if they want to remain in playoffs contention. The Delhi Capitals next encounter is on Sunday at 4 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Delhi's Bangladeshi recruit, Mustafizur Rahman, might be a key player in this match because his cutter is very effective in these conditions. The KKR vs DC match preview is discussed in this article. Team News: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals With six points after four games, Kolkata Knight Riders presently top the IPL 2022 points table. On the other side, the Delhi Capitals are in the seventh position with only two points. The Indian Premier League's 15th season is now in its early stages, with each team competing to craft the best plan for this campaign. However, no club can afford to lose consecutive games in a row since it will jeopardize their chances of making the playoffs. Read Taijul bags six, South Africa end on 453 Delhi Capitals The Delhi Capitals have a well-balanced lineup with a wide range of bowling options. They only need to find the appropriate combination to get positive results. Left-arm pacer from Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman might be an excellent weapon for the Delhi Capitals. Mustafizur took three wickets in his first match of the season. His cutter delivery, slower bouncer, and pinpoint accuracy have the potential to stem the run flow while also assisting in wicket-taking. Besides, Prithvi Shaw and Kuldeep Yadav are performing well for Delhi. Most runs (Delhi): Prithvi Shaw (109) | Most Wickets (Delhi): Kuldeep Yadav (6) Read Mohammedan in trouble after another defeat Probable Playing XI (Delhi) Top Order: David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Sarfaraz Khan, Middle-Orders: Rishabh Pant (Captain & wicket-keeper), Lalit Yadav, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Lower-Order: Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Mustafizur Rahman Kolkata Knight Riders  The performance of Pat Cummins against the Mumbai Indians elevated the standard for the remainder of the season even higher. His aggressive batting style would instill confidence in the team. Among the players, Andre Russell and Umesh Yadav are doing well for Kolkata. Most runs (KKR): Andre Russell (106) | Most Wickets (KKR): Umesh Yadav (9) Probable Playing XI (Kolkata) Top Order: Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Middle-Orders: Sam Billings (wicket-keeper), Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Sunil Narine, Lower-Order: Umesh Yadav, Rasikh Salam, Varun Chakravarthy. Read Bangladesh 139-5 at stumps, trails South Africa by 314 runs Match Time (KKR vs DC): Sunday (April 10) at 4 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time) | Venue: Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai Head-to-Head: Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders In a head-to-head encounter, the Kolkata Knight Riders have a small lead over the Delhi Capitals. Kolkata have won 16 of the 29 games that the two teams have played against each other. Oppositely, the Delhi Capitals have won 13 games. Among the batters, Robin Uthappa has the most runs (392) against the Delhi Capitals for Kolkata. Gautam Gambhir, on the other hand, has scored the most runs (569) for Delhi against the Kolkata Knight Riders. In bowling, Sunil Narine has picked up 22 wickets for Kolkata against Delhi, while Umesh Yadav has picked up 21 wickets for Delhi against Kolkata. Read IPL 2022: Pat Cummins Makes Headlines with Fastest IPL Fifty Bottom Line Delhi Capitals have to make a strong comeback against the current league leader. Because three consecutive losses will put them under a lot of pressure to get back on track. Delhi’s foreign recruits, David Warner, Mustafizur Rahman, and Anrich Nortje, could be vital in this match. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders are in very good form, especially after a thumping win over Mumbai Indians. They will be hoping to continue the momentum in this KKR vs DC match as well and keep hold of their number one position in the 2022 IPL points standings.

Prior to the match, many people would not have bet on Pat Cummins to play a whirlwind knock for Kolkata Knight Riders in order to clinch a magnificent victory over Mumbai Indians. Because Shreyas Iyer, Andre Russell, and Sunil Narine are fit for the role. However, Pat Cummins stunned the Pune crowds with a match-winning knock on Wednesday (April 6). He also equaled the record of KL Rahul’s fastest (14) IPL fifty while chasing the Mumbai Indians target. Let’s take a look at how Cummins' innings helped Kolkata reach the top of the IPL 2022 points standings.  The Highlights of the KKR vs MI Match and Pat Cummins' Splendid Knock The 14th group stage match of the IPL 2022 between Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians took place at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Wednesday. Batted first, Mumbai Indians managed to score 161/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Mumbai had a very quiet start to their innings, losing 3 wickets for only 55 runs at the end of the 11 overs. They were able to reconstruct the innings thanks to Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma’s 83-run stand for the fourth wicket. In fact, the Mumbai team was ruthless in the second part of their innings as they made 106 runs in just 54 balls.  Read SA vs BAN Test Series 2022: Team-Wise Statistics of St. George's Park Ground Suryakumar Yadav scored the highest with 52 off 36 balls, while the Caribbean power-hitter Kieron Pollard made 22 runs off just five deliveries, including three huge sixes. Pat Cummins took the most wickets with two, but he was also the most expensive bowler for the Kolkata Knight Riders. The right-handed medium pacer conceded 49 runs in his spell. In this match, five sixes were hit against his bowling. So, in a way, Cummins was one of the main reasons the Kolkata Knight Riders failed to restrict the Mumbai Indians to under 150 runs. Maybe in the back of his mind, it moved him when he came to bat. Cummins wanted to compensate for his failure in bowling by putting up a fine batting display. In the run chase, Kolkata started to lose wickets at regular intervals, which halted them from making big partnerships in the middle. But opener Venkatesh Iyer played the anchor role for the side by staying at the crease till the end with an unbeaten 50*-run. Read Australia beat Pakistan by 3 wickets in one-off Twenty20 However, most importantly, Iyer’s unbroken 61* runs off just 17 balls stand with Pat Cummins did the job for Kolkata. Cummins himself contributed 56 runs in a 61-run partnership with Venkatesh Iyer. Even so, when Pat came to the crease in the 14th over after the departure of Russell, the Mumbai side was in a good position to clinch the contest. However, the charismatic Aussie paceman had another idea as he took on Mumbai’s prime bowlers, especially Daniel Sams, to seal the match for his side.  Kolkata were 127/5 at the end of 15 overs, and the match had swung back in their favor at that point. However, Pat Cummins didn’t want to take too long and hammered 35 runs in the 16th over by Daniel Sams. He smacked his fellow countrymen all over the park and entertained the local crowds. Besides winning the match for Kolkata, the right-hand batter also completed his fifty in just 14 deliveries with six huge sixes. With this victory, the Kolkata Knight Riders reached the top spot in the IPL 2022 points standings. Read PAK vs AUS Series 2022: Pakistan will play Australia in One-Off T20I The List of the Fastest IPL Fifties Over the years, many brilliant knocks have been witnessed in the Indian Premier League. Among the records in T20 format, probably the most popular ones are the fastest half-century and fastest century. Breaking Yusuf Pathan and Sunil Narine’s 15-ball half-century records, KL Rahul set a new record in 2018 against Delhi Daredevils. He smacked a 14-ball half-century for his side, Kings XI Punjab. Four years later, Pat Cummins equaled the record by smashing a 14-ball fifty against the Mumbai Indians for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Top three fastest IPL Fifties  Balls Player Team Opponent Date 14 Pat Cummins KKR MI 6 April, 2022 KL Rahul KXIP DD 8 April, 2018 15 Yusuf Pathan KKR SRH 24 May, 2014 Sunil Narine RCB 7 May, 2017 16 Suresh Raina CSK KXIP 30 May, 2014 Ishan Kishan MI SRH 8 October, 2021    Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Read SA vs BAN Test Series 2022: Things Bangladesh Must Fix Before Second Match Bottom Line Pat Cummins' fastest half-century was undoubtedly a match-winning effort against the Mumbai Indians. It was not a fluke but a well-calculated innings. Cummins was watchful in the middle and smacked almost all the balls out of the ground with pure timing. This knock will be remembered by all the IPL fans in years to come. Kolkata Knight Riders also moved up to the top spot of the points table with this commanding victory, which will give them an early advantage in their quest for a top-four finish. On the other hand, the Mumbai Indians have yet to win a match in the IPL 2022 and are currently in the second bottom position.

Taskin Ahmed was among the Bangladeshi players selected for the IPL 2022 auction. Though, he was not put up for auction. The Delhi Capitals picked left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman for a base price of Rs 2 crore during the auction. The remainder of the players were not sold, including all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. IPL franchise, the Lucknow Super Giants could not overlook Taskin Ahmed's recent international performance. However, the right-handed pacer declined Lucknow's invitation to play for the national team. Take a look at Taskin Ahmed's recent international success, which attracted Lucknow to him. Taskin Ahmed’s Recent Performance on the International Stage Taskin Ahmed made headlines when he took five wickets in his ODI debut against India in 2014. This right-arm medium pacer was regarded as one of Bangladesh's most promising young pacers at the time. However, Taskin's ambition for cricket started to crumble due to a series of injuries since late 2017. He was not picked for the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup team. Taskin cried in front of the media after being left out of Bangladesh's World Cup squad. Read Women’s World Cup: Bangladesh lost to India by big margin Taskin Ahmed did not give up despite many obstacles. Following his absence from the World Cup squad, he worked hard to regain physical fitness and to enhance his overall bowling variations. The promising bowler returned to the Bangladesh national side in the bilateral ODI series against the West Indies in 2021 and has since represented the country in all formats. Taskin Ahmed has been one of Bangladesh's most successful bowlers since 2021 and he currently leads the pace attack. Bangladesh had a poor showing in the 2021 T20 World Cup, particularly in the Super 12 stage. However, Taskin was one of the few Bangladeshi players that performed well in the event. The cricket community particularly appreciated his bowling spell (2/18) against South Africa. Read SA vs BAN 2022: Bangladesh, South Africa Lock Horns in ODI Series Decider in Centurion Taskin Ahmed has played 34 matches across all formats since January 2021, taking 44 wickets at an average of 36.61. He has 16 Test wickets in 5 games, 17 ODI wickets in 15 games, and 11 T20I wickets in 14 games since 2021. When looking at Taskin's statistics from the last year, it's clear that his average is higher than expected, but his impact as a fast bowler at the start of the innings is significant. Taskin Ahmed’s international bowling stats since January, 2021 Match Wickets BBI Ave Econ SR 34 44 4/46 36.61 4.45 49.2    Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Read Shakib to continue playing in SA despite family issues What made Lucknow Super Giants want Taskin to join the squad? The English recruit from Lucknow, Mark Wood was forced to withdraw from the West Indies series and the IPL 2022 owing to an elbow injury. The Lucknow Super Giants want a young, prominent pacer to take his position. Taskin Ahmed of Bangladesh was their initial pick to replace Mark Wood. There are two main reasons for this: To begin with, Taskin's inclusion will widen the market. Due to Taskin's participation, Lucknow may draw a large number of Bangladesh supporters. Second, Taskin's development as a genuine fast bowler has been outstanding, and he may be a good option to have in the squad in sub-continent conditions. According to sources, Lucknow's mentor, Gautam Gambhir approached BCB about his availability for the whole IPL15 season, and the franchise called Taskin to express their interest in him. However, after consulting Taskin, BCB's Cricket Operations Committee chairman Jalal Yunus confirmed that he will not play for the Lucknow Super Giants in the upcoming IPL 2022. Read PAK vs AUS Test Series 2022: Pakistan, Australia face off in series decider in Lahore Bottom Line Taskin Ahmed was surprised to get a call from an Indian Premier League franchise inviting him to participate in IPL 2022. Though he will not be playing for the Lucknow Super Giants this season owing to national duty. However, Taskin Ahmed will be driven by this unexpected call to do even better in the future. It's also a recognition of his passion and hard work to cricket.