IPL 2014: Fantasy Guru - Game enters make or break stage; 150-point returns the priority
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Guru’s team after KXIP vs. CSK match
I am glad that I failed to meet the deadline to make the transfers for the Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Delhi Daredevils match. Although I was absolutely livid with myself for sleeping so long, looking at how the events transpired – Kevin Pietersen’s miserable short little stay at the crease and Sunil Narine’s off-day – I had to make peace with myself. I ended up saving a transfer; something has to go my way after all.
In my previous articles, I have stressed on the importance of not looking at your position till the game reaches the 30th game mark. With 29 matches completed, my team has progressed 13,000 ranks forward in the last 4 days, which should explain why I believe in it. Fantasy team managers who have had no real idea of how to employ their transfers are on their way down. Not just that, fantasy games over a period of time rewards consistency and logic over plain fortune and thoughtless decision making.
You will continue to see a steady rise in ranks in the coming days. A lot of them will be going down for a number of reasons ranging from frustration to panic. The key to keep going up is to think with a clear mind.
My strategy for the second half of the game is simple: Make a transfer only when you are sure of it giving 150 points in return. It is important to understand the difference between seeing a 150-point potential and the possibility of it actually happening. If you see, you go for it, and care less about whether or not it actually yields the returns: process over result.
Rajasthan Royals vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad:
Guru’s team for SRH vs. RR fixture
Transfers made – 3; Transfers remaining – 36
Rohit Sharma out – Shikhar Dhawan in
JP Duminy out – Aaron Finch in
Dwayne Smith out – David Warner in
Ishwar Pandey out – Pravin Tambe in
Captain – Aaron Finch/David Warner
Sunrisers Hyderabad play twice in a 3-match round, and both are expected to be high scoring affairs; hence, it makes sense to stack up the team with players from the Sunrisers team. It is not just the Ahmedabad and Delhi tracks that make me say this, but the bowling attacks of both the Royals and the Daredevils will find it difficult to contain runs on placid decks.
While Bhuvneshwar Kumar would have been an interesting addition to the team given the form he is in, I choose to have him out based on two factors: the solidity of the Royals’ top order that can negate his new ball threat and the explosive Daredevils finishing duo of Jean-Paul Duminy and Kedar Jadhav that can sort him out down the order.
Aaron Finch and David Warner should be the first two picks. Finch has been disappointing so far, getting out to deliveries that don’t deserve wickets. That can’t be a reason to avoid him. Unless I see him struggling to score runs, I will have him in the team, more so when he gives two matches.
Yes, Warner bats low, but he should face 75 balls over the course of two matches: a bare minimum of 125 runs and 200 points.
I would love to have Watson. He has to get good points, but my 4 overseas spots are locked: Warner, Finch, Glenn Maxwell and David Miller. Add to it, he comes at a heavy cost and has to be transferred out immediately. Now that I can’t have him, I hope Dravid and Co. do what they do the best: make fantasy players’ life miserable by shuffling the batting order. I understand I will lose points, but I will be happy if the picks I preferred ahead of him – Miller and Warner – give more in their couple of matches, as Schedule Mantra rule was applied here in preferring them over the Royals’ captain.