T20
Oman thumps debutant PNG by 10 wkts in T20 World Cup
Openers Jatinder Singh and Aqib Ilyas smashed unbeaten half centuries as co-host Oman thumped debutant Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in its opening first-round Group B game on Sunday.
Singh scored 73 off 42 balls and Ilyas made 50 that eased the host to 131-0 with more than six overs to spare.
Earlier, skipper Zeeshan Ashraf (4-20) registered Oman’s best figures in a T20 and pinned down PNG to 129-9.
“These are our home conditions, we knew even 140 could be chased easily,” Ashraf said. “We knew the wicket was playing very well, we needed to make sure we didn’t give away loose balls and easy boundaries.”
PNG captain Assad Vala (56) and Charles Amini (37) did well to share an 81-run stand after openers Tony Ura and Lega Siaka had played Oman fast bowlers back onto their stumps without a run on the board.
Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Five Bangladesh players to watch out for in the tournament
But Amini’s run-out was followed by Singh taking a brilliant running catch at long-on before Ashraf, the left-arm spinner, grabbed three wickets in an over to derail the PNG innings.
Singh, played several impressive reverse sweeps, hitting seven fours and four sixes without any of the seven bowlers used by Vala able to trouble the batsman. He raised the victory with a six over mid-wicket in the 14th over.
The 131-run stand was Oman’s best partnership for any wicket in a T20 and the chase, without losing a wicket, was the third-highest in men’s T20 internationals.
“On that wicket, 129 was never going to be enough,” Vala said. “We were looking at 160-plus to give ourselves a chance. (First) Charles got run out, then myself getting out, (and) we lost our way. I think a lot of credit goes to Maqsood and his boys.”
Bangladesh and Scotland are the other two teams in the group and will play later Sunday. Group A comprises Ireland, Namibia, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands.
Read: Tigers to put onus on skill over power: Mahmudullah on eve of T20 WC
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 12 stage that starts in the United Arab Emirates next Saturday.
Five years ago, Oman sprung a surprise when it beat Ireland in its opening T20 World Cup game in India.
Toppers List at the end of the IPL 2021
Chennai Super Kings were crowned IPL 2021 champions after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in the final on Friday (October 15) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. A total of 60 matches were played in the Indian Premier League. We had seen some remarkable performances in the tournament's 14th season. Among the shining players, Chennai batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad ended top with 635 runs, while Bangalore medium pacer Harshal Patel took the most 32 wickets in only 15 innings and was named player of the series. Let's take a look at the toppers list of the IPL 14.
Here is the complete IPL 2021 Toppers List
Champion: Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings earned their first Indian Premier League trophy in three years after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in the final. They came in second in the round-robin league stage points table.
Read Dravid to be Team India's next head coach?
Most Runs: Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad was the leading run-scorer in the tournament. He scored the most runs (635) in 16 innings with a century.
Top 3 Most Runs
Player
Innings
Runs
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings)
16
635
Faf du Plessis (Chennai Super Kings)
16
633
KL Rahul (Punjab Kings)
13
626
Source: ESPNCricinfo
Read Chennai beats Kolkata in final to clinch 4th IPL title
Most Wickets: Harshal Patel
The pacer for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Harshal Patel was outstanding with the ball. The medium-pacer bagged 32 wickets in 15 innings with an incredible 10.5 strike rate.
Top 3 Most Wickets
Player
Innings
Wickets
Harshal Patel (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
15
32
Avesh Khan (Delhi Capitals)
16
24
Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)
14
21
Source: ESPNCricinfo
Read Youth ODI: Bangladesh lose series opener against Sri Lanka
High Scores: Jos Buttler
Rajasthan Royals batsman Jos Buttler scored 124 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Not to mention, it was the best innings in the tournament.
Top 3 Highest Scores
Player
Runs
Oppositions
Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals)
124
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals
119
Punjab Kings
Devdutt Padikkal (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
101*
Rajasthan Royals
Source: ESPNCricinfo
Read Short format, long wait for pandemic-affected T20 World Cup
Best Bowling Figures (Innings): Andre Russell
Andre Russell of the Kolkata Knight Riders had the best bowling figures in the competition with 5/15 against the Mumbai Indians.
Top 3 Best Bowling Figures
Player
BBI
Oppositions
Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)
5/15
Mumbai Indians
Harshal Patel (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
5/27
Mumbai Indians
Arshdeep Singh (Punjab Kings)
5/32
Rajasthan Royals
Source: ESPNCricinfo
Read Twenty20 Cricket World Cup: 5 players to watch
Most Dismissals: MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni of the Chennai Super Kings had the most dismissals (13) in the tournament.
Top 3 Most Dismissals
Player
Innings
Dismissals
MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
16
13
Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals)
16
13
Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals)
14
11
Source: ESPNCricinfo
Read Big setback: Bangladesh suffer two defeats before WC
Most Catches: Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja of the Chennai Super Kings recorded the most catches (13) in the competition.
Top 3 Most Catches
Player
Innings
Catches
Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings)
16
13
Faf du Plessis (Chennai Super Kings)
16
12
Steven Smith (Delhi Capitals)
8
9
Source: ESPNCricinfo
Read T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh’s Group Stage Fixtures
Highest Partnerships: Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal
Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal had the highest partnership (181*) of the tournament against Rajasthan Royals.
Top 3 Highest Partnerships
Partners
Runs
Oppositions
Virat Kohli & Devdutt Padikkal (RCB)
181*
Rajasthan Royals
Joss Butter & Sanju Samson (RR)
150
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Prithvi Shaw & Shikhar Dhawan (DC)
138
Chennai Super Kings
Source: ESPNCricinfo
Read IPL 2021 Final: Key Stats, Team News Ahead of CSK vs. KKR Championship Match
Most Sixes: KL Rahul
The captain of the Punjab Kings, KL Rahul struck the most sixes in the competition (30).
Top 3 Most Sixes
Players
Innings
Sixes
KL Rahul (Punjab Kings)
13
30
Faf du Plessis (Chennai Super Kings)
16
23
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings)
16
23
Sources: ESPNCricinfo
Read Defeat in warm-up match not a big thing: Minhajul
Highest Match Aggregates
Top 3 Highest Match Aggregates
Matches
Runs
Rajasthan Royals vs. Punjab Kings
438
Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings
437
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Mumbai Indians
428
Source: ESPNCricinfo
Read Tigers lose the plot while fielding to lose first warm-up against SL
Bottom Line
The franchise-based Indian Premier League completed its 14th season this year. As predicted, some fresh new players emerged in this year's IPL. Harshal Patel of Royal Challengers Bangalore was the most prominent one. Finishing the competition with impressive 32 wickets, this outstanding bowler kept both audiences and critics enthralled. Most players of the IPL 2021 champion Chennai Super Kings' had a successful season. Shardul Thakur and Ruturaj Gaikwad were the most consistent performers for Chennai. Winning the fourth Indian Premier League title, CSK captain MS Dhoni has added one more feature in his cap.
Read Mahmudullah out of Bangladesh’s first warm-up match
IPL 2021 Eliminator: Shakib Scores the Winning Run as Kolkata Secure Qualifier 2
Both KKR and RCB won a game against each other in the round-robin league stage. However, Kolkata won a one-sided affair in the most recent meeting between the two teams and they were full of confidence going into the elimination match. The batters failed to cope with the pitch, thus the eliminator was a low-scoring affair. Kolkata won the match in the last over as Shakib Al Hasan scored the winning run for his team. Kolkata Knight Riders will play Delhi Capitals in qualifier 2 on Wednesday (October 13) for a spot in the final.
Match Report: KKR vs. RCB
Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli chose to bat first against Kolkata Knight Riders in the eliminator match on Monday (October 11) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.
Bangalore’s Innings
Batted first, Royal Challengers Bangalore barely managed to score 138/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
They got off to a good start in the innings, scoring 49 runs in the first five overs. Captain Virat Kohli and new sensation Devdutt Padikkal, started cautiously but were eager to rotate the strike to put pressure on the bowlers.
Read Mahmudullah out of Bangladesh’s first warm-up match
They were doing well until Kolkata got their first breakthrough with a wide outside off delivery to Padikkal (21) from Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson. The left-handed batsman failed to connect with the ball and was clean bowled in the first delivery of the sixth over.
Losing opener Padikkal (21) put the Bangalore innings under strain, as they only managed to score 21 runs in the following five overs and lost Srikar Bharat's wicket. Bangalore had 70 runs on board for the cost of two wickets at that stage.
The Bangalore campaign was hoping that skipper Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and AB de Villiers would lead the team to a competitive score. Though neither of the players ignited in the death overs and Bangalore were forced to settle for a low total to defend.
Also read: Junaid Siddique to play in T10 League
Virat Kohli played a 39 off 33 balls knock before getting clean bowled by Sunil Narine in the 13th over. It was a fruitful day for Narine, who rattled Bangalore’s top and middle orders with some tight bowling and later played a crucial part with the bat. Narine finished his spell with 4-0-21-4. Apart from him, Ferguson took 2 wickets and Shakib Al Hasan had an economical spell as well.
Kolkata’s Innings
Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer got Kolkata off to a strong start with a 41-run opening partnership in pursuit of a modest score. The most successful bowler in IPL 2021, Harshal Patel interrupted their momentum by taking the first wicket in the sixth over. He removed Kolkata’s top scorer Shubman Gill (29) in an off-cutter slower delivery. Kolkata lost inform Rahul Tripathi in the following over.
Kolkata's batsmen had battled to get the scoreboard moving due to the slow nature of the pitch. Kolkata's innings were interrupted due to losing wickets at regular intervals, and the fate of the match was swinging both ways.
Read: IPL 2021: Who will play whom in the playoffs?
Nitesh Rana (23) and Sunil Narine (26) batted well in the middle of the innings to keep Kolkata in the run chase. Bangalore's campaign looked positive to clinch the contest when Sunil Narine and Dinesh Karthik went back to the pavilion in the 18th over.
However, Shakib Al Hasan and captain Eoin Morgan’s patient approach eased Kolkata’s victory with two balls to spare. Shakib took the winning run in the fourth ball of the final over. Siraj, Patel, and Chahal bagged two wickets each for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Player of the Match
All-rounder Sunil Narine was named the best player of the IPL 2021 eliminator match for his outstanding performance with the ball.
Read Bangladesh jersey for T20 World Cup revealed
Way Forward
Kolkata Knight Riders had been struggling before the postponement of the Indian Premier League last May. They came back strong when the competition resumed in September in the United Arab Emirates. The Kolkata team management has found their ideal formation with the addition of Shakib Al Hasan to the playing XI. However, sources indicate that the ace all-rounder is unlikely to play in the second qualifying match given his commitment to the Bangladesh national team.
Andre Russell may replace Shakib Al Hasan and the West Indian knows what it takes to win a big match. Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, and the openers did well in the eliminator match. They would play vital roles in the qualifier 2 encounter against Delhi Capitals in Sharjah.
Read Tigers start training in UAE Monday
Bangladesh jersey for T20 World Cup revealed
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday revealed the team kit Bangladesh team will wear during the T20 World Cup 2021 which is set to begin on October 17 in Oman.
The new kit resembles the jersey that the Tigers wore during the early 2000s. The manufacturer acknowledged there was an effort to create something to close a retro kit.
Part of the fabric used in the jersey is made of recycled plastic waste, said the manufacturer. The jersey also has the cutting-edge air circulation system that will provide some relief from the excess humidity expected in the UAE and Oman.
READ: Tigers to wear special jersey marking Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh
The World Cup jersey will be available for the fans through the fashion brand Aarong. According to the authority, the jersey price will be Tk 1000 for children, and for adults, the jersey will cost Tk 1400.
Former Bangladesh captain Akram Khan, and Khaled Mahmud, board directors Mahbubul Anam, and Obed Rashid Nizam were present at the jersey unveiling ceremony.
Bangladesh team is currently touring the UAE for two warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup. On October 12, the Tigers will take on Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi, and on October 14, they will play Ireland.
READ: Ashraful to auction his World Cup jersey
After that, the Bangladesh team will travel back to Oman to play Round 1 of the World Cup where they will face Scotland, Oman and Papua New Guinea.
IPL 2021 Qualifier 1: Magnificent MS Dhoni Powers Chennai into Final
Delhi Capitals team was confident that they could make it three in a row after winning their two round-robin league matches against Chennai Super Kings. However, Chennai captain MS Dhoni displayed his flamboyant charisma at the most crunch moment of the game, leading his team to victory with two balls to spare. Chennai advanced to the 14th edition of the tournament final after defeating Delhi in the IPL 2021 qualifier 1 match. Delhi Capitals will play the winner of the eliminator match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore in qualifier 2 for a final berth.
Match Report: CSK vs. DC
The captain of Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni opted to field first against Delhi Capitals in the first qualifying match in Dubai on Sunday (October 10)
Delhi’s Innings
Delhi Capitals batted first and set up a challenging 172/5 runs in their allocated 20 overs. Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan partnered for a 36-run opening stand, with Prithvi taking the initiative to get the scoreboard moving quickly. Shikhar Dhawan was struggling to time the ball and was finally bowled by Josh Hazlewood in the fourth over.
Read: Shakib, Mustafiz set to leave IPL to join national team
Getting the first wicket helped Chennai to increase the pressure on the Delhi batsmen. They lost three more wickets within 11 overs, including Prithvi Shaw. The excellent left-hand batsman lost his wicket to Ravindra Jadeja after an aggressive 60 off 34 balls.
Delhi skipper Rishab Pant and Windies power hitter Shimron Hetmyer (37) repaired the innings with an 83-run partnership in the fifth wicket and took the total to 163. Rishab Pant remained undefeated with a 51* off 35 balls. Josh Hazlewood was Chennai's most successful bowler, taking two wickets for 29 runs in four overs.
Chennai’s Innings
Chasing 173 runs, Chennai's most inform batsman Faf du Plessis was dismissed in the opening over. He was clean bowled by compatriot Anrich Nortje on the fourth ball of the first over. However, the loss of an early wicket had little effect on Chennai's momentum in the run chase.
Read: IPL 2021: Who will play whom in the playoffs?
A 110-run second-wicket partnership between Ruturaj Gaikwad and the experienced Robin Uthappa helped Chennai stay in the game. They took the total to 113 in the 14th over. Both batsmen were steady and did not take any needless risks while forming the partnership.
Uthappa was dismissed in the14th over after a 63-run knock. On the other hand, Gaikwad remained at the crease till the 19th over, ensuring Chennai's progress in the run chase. However, the match took a dramatic turn when in-form Avesh Khan sent Gaikwad back to the pavilion on the first ball of the 19th over.
Chennai needed 24 runs in 11 balls at that point. With two new batsmen at the crease, they were under a lot of pressure to get those runs. However, skipper MS Dhoni came out as a savior for his team and ensured victory with some blistering strokes.
Read:IPL 2021: Delhi secure Qualifier 1 with 3-wicket win against Chennai
Dhoni sealed the victory by smashing Tom Curran for a boundary in the last over's fourth ball. He stayed unbeaten, with a match-winning 18 off 6 balls knock. Taking three wickets, Curran was Delhi's most successful bowler in this game.
Player of the Match
Chennai Super Kings opener Ruturaj Gaikwad was awarded the best player of the IPL 2021 qualifier 1 match for his responsible 70-run knock.
Way Forward
Delhi Capitals lost to Chennai Super Kings for the first time of the IPL 2021 season. They overcame Chennai twice in the league phase and were considered favorites to win the IPL 2021 qualifier 1 match. However, responsible knocks by Ruturaj Gaikwad and Robin Uthappa, as well as MS Dhoni's fiery innings, saw Chennai defeat Delhi in the first match of the playoffs round. This will be the 9th IPL final for Chennai Super Kings.
Read:IPL 2021: Kolkata, Mumbai, Rajasthan in three-way race for a playoffs spot
On the other hand, Delhi Capitals must win the second qualifier match to advance to the IPL final for the second year in a row. Delhi finished runner-up after losing the IPL 2020 final to Mumbai Indians. The qualifier 2 match will take place in Sharjah on Wednesday (13th October).
T20 World Cup warm-up match: Bangladesh take on Oman A Friday
Bangladesh national cricket team will take on hosts Oman A Friday night as part of their preparation for the T20 World Cup which is set to begin on October 17.
This practice match will be telecast live on T Sports – a private satellite channel based in Dhaka – at 8:30pm Bangladesh time.
Read: T20 World Cup: Bangladesh team reaches Oman
Also, the match will be broadcast live on the T Sports YouTube channel.
Ahead of the World Cup, Bangladesh are scheduled to play two warm-up matches in the UAE on October 12 and 14 against Sri Lanka and Ireland.
Read: Young Tigers eager to flourish in T20 World Cup
To play the matches, the Tigers will fly to the UAE from Oman on October 9, and they will return to Oman on October 15.
In the first round of the World Cup, Bangladesh will face Scotland, Oman and Papua New Guinea.
IPL 2021: Delhi secure Qualifier 1 with 3-wicket win against Chennai
Delhi Capitals have secured the qualifier 1 spot in the playoffs round after defeating Chennai Super Kings by 3 wickets in Dubai. Delhi currently top the points table with 20 points and a game in hand. They will play Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday (October 8) and have a chance to finish top in the IPL 2021 round-robin league points table. On the other hand, Chennai must win their last league match against Punjab Kings on Thursday (October 7) to finish in the top two spots in the standings. The match report of CSK vs. DC is discussed in this article.
Match Report: CSK vs. DC
Delhi Capitals captain Rishab Pant chose to field first against Chennai Super Kings on Monday in Dubai.
Chennai’s Innings
Chennai Super Kings batted first and managed to score 136/5 In their allocated 20 overs. They got off to a good start, as the opening pair put up 28 runs in three overs. However, Chennai's batting collapsed when Faf Du Plessis left the crease, as they lost four wickets for 62 runs in nine overs.
Read: IPL 2021: Kolkata, Mumbai, Rajasthan in three-way race for a playoffs spot
Indian spinner Axar Patel was the real difference-maker between the two teams. He provided the first breakthrough for Delhi by taking Faf Du Plessis' wicket. He also sent Moeen Ali back to the pavilion in the eighth over.
MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu put on a 70-run partnership to help Chennai rebuild their innings. They kept a close eye on the scoreboard in the middle but didn't strive too hard to accelerate the run rates. These two players stayed at the crease till the last over for a competitive total. However, they were unable to produce big shots in the death overs and were forced to settle for a low total. Ambati Rayudu scored the highest runs with 55 off 43 balls, while Dhoni made 18 runs.
Delhi's spinners had shown excellent discipline in the middle. They were on target and didn't let them free their arms. Axar Patel took the highest two wickets for 18 runs in his four overs. Ravi Ashwin and pacer Kagiso Rabada were both outstanding with the ball for Delhi.
Read: KKR vs. PBKS: KL Rahul guides Punjab to 5-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021
Delhi’s Innings
Delhi Capitals bowlers did their job very well by limiting Chennai to a manageable score. Delhi reached the 137-run target with two balls to spare.
Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan gave Delhi a solid start with a 24-run opening partnership between them. Dhawan assumed control of the innings following the departure of Prithvi Shaw (18). Delhi looked strong in the middle but their batting order crumbled, and things looked worse when Dhawan (39) lost his wicket in the 15th over. Delhi were 99/6 at the time.
Delhi fought back with an undefeated 28* off 18 balls knock from West Indian power batter Shimron Hetmyer, and triumphed in 19.4 overs. Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur were outstanding with the ball. For Chennai, they each took two wickets.
Read T20 World Cup: Bangladesh team reaches Oman
Player of the Match
Delhi Capitals spinner Axar Patel was named the best player of the match for his brilliant effort with the ball.
Bottom Line
Chennai Super Kings have now lost two consecutive games, and the momentum has shifted back to the Delhi Capitals, who have won two successive matches. Chennai must defeat Punjab in order to secure qualifier 1 spot in the playoffs. Otherwise, they will have to rely on the results of Bangalore's fixtures.
Chennai's top order struggled against Delhi, putting the middle order under strain. As a result, they had to settle for a low total to defend. Chennai's top order must rediscover their best rhythm before the crucial playoffs round. On the other side, the Rishab Pant-led Delhi Capitals team has done well as a unit. They have the depth and balance in their squad to win the IPL 2021 tournament.
Read: IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
IPL 2021: Kolkata, Mumbai, Rajasthan in three-way race for a playoffs spot
Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have already qualified for the Indian Premier League's 14th season playoffs. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals are vying for the last playoff spot. Punjab Kings are still in the race mathematically, but their chances are primarily dependent on the results of the round-robin league's other fixtures. Who have a better chance of qualifying for the IPL 2021 playoffs are discussed in this article.
Read: KKR vs. PBKS: KL Rahul guides Punjab to 5-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021
IPL 2021: Who will be the Fourth Team in the Playoffs?
Chennai Super Kings lead the IPL 2021 points standings with 18 points as of October 3rd. On the other hand, holding the bottom position with 4 points, Sunrisers Hyderabad are on the verge of getting out of the tournament.
IPL 2021 points table (as of October 3)
Team
Match
Win
Lost
Points
NRR
CSK (Q)
12
9
3
18
0.829
DC (Q)
12
9
3
18
0.551
RCB (Q)
12
8
4
16
-0.157
KKR
13
6
7
12
0.294
PBKS
13
5
8
10
-0.241
RR
12
5
7
10
-0.337
MI
12
5
7
10
-0.453
SRH
12
2
10
4
-0.475
Read IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
Kolkata Knight Riders
Shakib Al Hasan was finally given an opportunity to take part in the playing XI in Kolkata's most recent encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Shakib contributed with the ball, picking up a wicket in his four overs. Kolkata won the match by 6 wickets and climbed to the fourth position in the points standings. In the round-robin league stage, the Knight Riders have only one game left. However, they outperform the Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in terms of run rate. If Kolkata win their next match against Rajasthan Royals on October 7, they will qualify for the playoffs (Thursday). They won't have to rely on the outcomes of other games.
Read: IPL 2021: Will Shakib Al Hasan Play in a crucial MI vs. KKR match?
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians were beaten by Delhi Capitals by four wickets in their most recent match, dropping to second last in the points standings. The next match for Mumbai is on Tuesday against Rajasthan Royals (October 5). The Mumbai Indians must win the game by a large margin to improve their run rates. Furthermore, whoever lose the match will be eliminated from contention for a final playoffs spot.
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals have struggled to put up their best performances in the UAE phase of the IPL 2021. They have won two and lost three in their last five matches. Rajasthan won their latest match against tournament favorites Chennai Super Kings by 7 wickets in Abu Dhabi and showed some promise as a unit. Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman has been one of Rajasthan's most consistent players with the ball. He has the potential to play a pivotal role in their upcoming games against Mumbai Indians (October 5) and Kolkata Knight Riders (October 7). Rajasthan will move to the next round if they win both games.
Read: IPL 2021: Scenarios of Playoffs Qualification for Eight Teams
Verdict
If the top two teams in the league stage lose their qualifier 1 match of the knockout round, they will be given another opportunity in the playoffs. Therefore, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore are all hoping to finish in the top two positions in the points table.
On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders are in a great position to make the final playoffs spot despite having only one match remaining. If Mumbai, Rajasthan, and Kolkata lose any of their remaining matches, they will be eliminated from the competition. The remainder of the round-robin league fixtures of IPL 2021 will surely be thrilling.
Read T20 World Cup: Bangladesh team reaches Oman
IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
Kolkata Knight Riders are ahead of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2021 round-robin league points table. Kolkata Knight Riders resumed their campaign with a thumping win over Royal Challengers Bangalore, moving them into fourth place in the points standings. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals resumed with a narrow victory against Punjab Kings before losing three consecutive matches. Any defeat from this stage onward will be a huge setback for both teams. Let's have a look at who has the best chance of making it to the next round.
Read: IPL 2021: Will Shakib Al Hasan Play in a crucial MI vs. KKR match?
IPL 2021 Playoffs Race: Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Rajasthan Royals
Kolkata Knight Riders have accumulated 10 points in 11 games. While Rajasthan Royals have 8 points in the same number of matches. Among others, Mumbai Indians have 10 points, but Kolkata have better run rates than Mumbai. On the other hand, Punjab Kings have 8 points, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have only 4.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders were behind Rajasthan Royals in the points table before the IPL 2021 resumed in mid-September in UAE. However, they made an encouraging start in the UAE phase, winning three of their past four league games. They are now in fourth place, ahead of the defending champion Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals.
Kolkata defeated Bangalore by a crushing 9-wicket margin on September 20. They defeated Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets on September 23. However, they were defeated by Chennai Super Kings by a mere 2-wicket margin on September 26. Kolkata fought back strong against Delhi Capitals, winning by three wickets on Tuesday (September 28).
Read:IPL 2021: Scenarios of Playoffs Qualification for Eight Teams
Kolkata's current team combination has looked solid, and they are on track to maintain their domination over their opponents. Bangladesh's star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has yet to play a match in the UAE phase, and he is unlikely to do so before the end of the round-robin league.
So far, Rahul Tripathi has scored the most runs (315 in 10 innings) for Kolkata with a strike rate of 144.49. On the other hand, Prasidh Krishna has 12 wickets in 10 innings at a strike rate of 19.2 for the Knight Riders.
Kolkata Knight Rider’s remaining fixtures:
01/10/2021: Punjab Kings (at Dubai)
03/10/2021: Sunrisers Hyderabad (at Dubai)
07/10/2021: Rajasthan Royals (at Sharjah)