bowlers have taken 153 wickets. Whereas, spinners have taken only 37 wickets here since 2019 IPL.

  bowlers have taken 153 wickets. Whereas, spinners have taken only 37 wickets here since 2019 IPL.

So, if this is anything to go by. But as the tournament goes by, wickets will definitely start assisting spinners.

In fact, if you remember CSK vs RCB game last year at the Wankhede… As I said, as the tournament goes by, you can pick your team accordingly.

We will sort this out first in our conundrum.

Obviously, so many Dhoni fans will want to pick Dhoni on our side. But Dhoni has batted very minimally since the start of the last season.

So, we will not get many batting points from him. So, you people might ask which wicket-keeper am I going to pick?

In fact, Rayudu gave his name in the wicket-keeper slot in the auctions. That was a talking point during auctions.

And that’s why his name came late during the auctions. But under Dream11, Rayudu doesn’t come under that list.

He has come under the batsmen list with 9.0 credentials. So, since we don’t know where he will play, and in fact, I picked Rayudu many games last season but he hardly got a chance to bat.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis batted exceptionally well throughout the tournament.

So, the wicket-keeper options for you are Sheldon Jackson from Kolkata Knight Riders, Sam Billings, and MS Dhoni.

So, my option is going to be Sam Billings. If Sam Billings doesn’t feature in the playing XI, I will go with Sheldon Jackson.

You might ask whether he is a better player than Dhoni. It’s not like that. There are more chances for Sheldon Jackson getting an opportunity to bat than MS Dhoni. He will bat higher than where MS Dhoni bats for CSK.

Sheldon Jackson, during this year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while playing for Pondicherry, has scored a century in this same ground.

So, if that counts for something, he will be a great option.

When it comes to batters’ options, Ruturaj Gaikwad is a lock, guys. Shreyas Iyer is also a lock.

Both Shreyas Iyer and Ruturaj Gaikwad are lock. Both Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer are available for 9.5 credentials.

Ruturaj Gaikwad is definitely going to open for CSK. No doubt on that. Shreyas Iyer will bat at number 3 for KKR.

Wankhede is his home ground. He is in scintillating form. He has scored runs in the test match, he was the man of the series in the recently concluded T20 series as well.

And KKR has appointed him as their new captain. We can expect him to walk in at number 3.

KKR’S batting order is not easy to be predicted. They have used Nitish Rana at number 3 sometimes.

They have even tried Sunil Narine sometimes. But I feel, given his form, plus being the captain, Shreyas Iyer will definitely walk in at numb

So, Gaikwad and Shreays Iyer are lock-in. Before I get into my team, there are few other options.

Devon Conway. Can Devon Conway give the same impact that a Faf du Plessis gave?

We have to wait and watch. It’s not going to be easy. You can’t come and deliver performances easily in a tournament like IPL. So, we will have to wait and watch.

My guess is that Ajinkya Rahane will open the batting with Venkatesh Iyer. Mumbai, the home ground boy, has always scored runs at the Wankhede Stadium.

So, Ajinkya Rahane will be a great value-buy. If you have doubts on whom to pick from Nitish Rana and Ajinkya Rahane, then Ajinkya Rahane will be a great option.

Nitish Rana is available for 9 credentials, whereas Ajinkya Rahane is available for 8.5 credentials. So, maybe that will be a value-buy.

In fact, I told Rayudu was available for 9 credentials. I don’t know what role he will play. Since Moeen Ali isn’t available, will they play him at number 3?

I don’t think so. Robin Uthappa will bat at number 3. All-rounders are fixed.

Andre Russell. He is available for 10 credentials. Almost 60-70% of them have already picked him. Jadeja. Congratulations and all the very best to Jadeja. He has taken over the captaincy from MS Dhoni.

I don’t know what will be his inclusive role in bowling. But he will surely take at least two catches standing in deep mid-wicket.

He will bat at number 5 or 6 and do the finisher role to perfection. He has been in extraordinary form. So, CSK will try to use his form.

I  he will follow Robin and Rayudu in their batting order. So, he is fixed. And Venkatesh Iyer.

All three of them are fixed. I am not going to change my all-rounders. It’s your choice whether you want to change your all-rounders.

Bowlers. Generally, all seam-bowlers have done well. Shivam Mavi will bowl a decent in-swinger. Adam Milne is tall and CSK doesn’t have many bowling options.

But I expect Fleming, the New Zealander, and the new combo. And since they don’t have the fast-bowling options, Adam Milne will definitely play.

Shivam Mavi will also definitely play. He has been a trusted star for KKR. So, he will definitely play.

And finally, CSK’S death-overs specialist in Dwayne Bravo. There are many options available.

Tim Southee might not play the first match is what I am hearing. Rasikh Dar is another option.

But I am planning to go with the tried and tested combo of these three bowlers.

I will take you through my team and we’ll see how it looks.

The keeper is going to be Sam Billings / Sheldon Jackson. If Sam Billings doesn’t feature in the playing XI, my keeper will be Sheldon Jackson.

Otherwise, I’ll definitely go with Sam Billings. I have picked both the opening batters from KKR in Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer.

Venkatesh Iyer comes in the all-rounder section. So, I will finish the all-rounders’ section first. Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell and Ravindra Jadeja.

Ravindra Jadeja is going to be my team’s vice-captain. If the wickets seam early on, he might get an opportunity for more overs, I guess.

He might take 1 wicket, 2 catches, and maybe score 30 runs, I feel. So, I have picked him as my vice-captain.

I have already mentioned that I have picked Ajinkya Rahane as one of the batsmen. Ajinkya Rahane, and I have picked Shreyas Iyer who is going to be my captain. 

He is going to be the captain for the day. I have picked Nitish Rana. Barring Adam Milne, there is a lack of pace in CSK’S bowling department.

Pace has only troubled Nitish Rana in the past. So, I have picked Nitish Rana. He is a high-performing player.

Ruturaj Gaikwad is also confirmed. So, 1 keeper, 3 all-rounders, and 4 batters.

And 3 bowlers will be Adam Milne, Dwayne Bravo, and Shivam Mavi.

These are my three bowlers. This is my team. And the captain is Shreyas Iyer. The vice-captain is Ravindra Jadeja.

So, that’s my team for the day.

Obviously, go by your instinct. I have picked the most high-percentage players. If you want to pick my brains or my instinct might be definitely useful for you, I guess.

In fact, if you have fantasy-based questions or any other doubts about the next game or any game, please drop your comments as a question in the comments section.

I  pick one question and definitely address and answer that in our next episode of ‘Khelo Dimag Se’ (Play with mind) presented to you by Dream11.

Thank you, guys.