IPL Fantasy cricket, SRH vs MI: 4 suggestions to help you fare better
Which fantasy game are you playing this year? StarPick is the new one on the block, and it has a lot of exciting features along with millions in prize money. You can create your StarPick team here.
The last thing fantasy users need in IPL are shortened games. They absolutely put your strategies in the bin.
I realise many of you would have lost crucial points in the Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils encounter but hopefully, skies are clear in Hyderabad for the big clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians.
And if we do get a full game, remember there are plenty of prizes to be won in StarPick fantasy. Here are some suggestions before you sit down to pick your team:
Believe in Saha
Yes, it's true that not many fans rate Wriddhiman Saha in T20 cricket. And it's not surprising one bit considering he has not played too many worthwhile knocks.
But, the point to note here is Saha has consistently come in the lower order, thus coming in very late where he has barely had time to make a contribution.
If given the right platform though, he can make merry as we have seen in the past. How many of us have already forgotten the century he made in a losing cause in 2014 IPL final when he was representing Kings XI Punjab.
He has had made a lot of contribution whenever he was given a role in the top order and with that in mind, Sunrisers are keen on getting the maximum out of him.
Instead of wasting him at No. 7, Sunrisers have sent Saha as an opener to try and see what sort of an impact he can create at the top.
He might have failed in the first game against Rajasthan Royals but there are enough indications that Saha will be getting a decent run at the top.
If that indeed happens, the chances are that the Bengal wicketkeeper might come good and make a handy contribution.
To top it, the veteran keeper is not going to cost you a fortune and he is going to fetch you points with his work behind the stumps as well.
So overall, it's an investment that's worth making even if you do not rate the player.
Stanlake - A punt not worth taking
Despite having six Indian seamers in their ranks, SRH surprised one and all by bringing in Billy Stanlake for their first game against Rajasthan Royals.
Stanlake looked lively by possessing that extra pace which Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Siddarth Kaul didn't have.
He found some zip and pace on the wicket to trouble the batsmen but the big question is, will they still persist with him?
Or will they give into the temptation of playing one among Brathwaite and Nabi? There is plenty of uncertainty revolving around SRH's fourth overseas slot and picking Stanlake could prove to be a bad move as a result.
Can Markande deliver again?
Despite Dwayne Bravo's heroics in the first game of the tournament, one man who caught everyone's attention was legspinner Mayank Markande, who picked up three crucial wickets against Chennai Super Kings.
Mumbai Indians looked pretty weak in the spin department but Markande's heroics seems to have changed that perception.
Considering SRH have Saha, Williamson, Pandey, Pathan, Hooda in their top six, Markande could prove to be quite handful yet again.
The amount of right-handers here on display should make you confident enough to trust Markande.
Yes, most of the users will pick him but so should you. Why miss out on precious sureshot points?
No time for Hardik
Quite surprisingly, Hardik Pandya had a very good outing with the ball but not the bat against CSK in the first game.
That might make him an automatic choice in fantasy considering we can always expect the allrounder to come good with the bat all of a sudden but the man did get injured in the previous game.
There is no update on that injury but considering they have played just one match in the tournament so far, MI aren't desperate to rush Pandya back and that should apply to you as well.
Do not take chances. Take the safe option, bring in Krunal Pandya. Not a bad choice by any means as he is very underrated.