Indian Cricket Team Schedule, Venues and Dates for 2023 Home Season Announced

BCCI announced a packed schedule for the Men in Blue from January 2023 till March 2023 with Sri Lanka, New Zealand & Australia slated to tour India. The Indian season will begin with a T20 series against the Lankans at Mumbai. The much awaited Border Gavaskar Trophy will begin on the 9th of March in Nagpur.

It will be interesting to see if India sticks with Rohit as captain and Dravid as the coach, both of whom have been under fire recently with India having fared poorly in Asia Cup 2022, WT20 2022 and now having lost the ODI series in both NZ & Bangladesh.

Team India Schedule from January 2023 to March 2023

Sri Lanka Tour of India

3 January – 1st T20I, Mumbai

5 January – 2nd T20I, Pune

7 January – 3rd T20I, Rajkot

10 January – 1st ODI, Guwahati

12 January – 2nd ODI, Kolkata

15 January – 3rd ODI, Trivandrum

New Zealand Tour of India

18 January – 1st ODI, Hyderabad

21 January – 2nd ODI, Raipur

24 January – 3rd ODI, Indore

27 January – 1st T20I, Ranchi

29 January – 2nd T20I, Lucknow

1 February – 3rd T20I, Ahmedabad

Australia Tour of India

9 to 13 February – 1st Test, Nagpur

17 to 21 February – 2nd Test, Delhi

1 to 5 March – 3rd Test, Dharamsala

9 to 13 March – 4th Test, Ahmedabad

17 March – 1st ODI, Mumbai

19 March, 2nd ODI, Vizag

22 March – 3rd ODI, Chennai

What tour are you most excited for?

Key Battles in Final of T20 World Cup 2022 - England vs Pakistan at MCG in Melbourne

Key Battles in T20 World Cup Final: England vs Pakistan at MCG in Melbourne: Nov 13, 2022

The final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 promises to be a fascinating battle. England probably has the strongest and the lengthiest batting line up in the tournament while Pakistan possesses the quickest and probably the most complete bowling line up. On a collision course, we will see sparks fly when the crème de la crème battle against each other.

Let us look at a few key battles that might decide the outcome of the T20 World Cup final between England and Pakistan to be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. You can also check out the Match Preview and the road to the final for these teams.

Mark Wood vs Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan

Mark Wood missed the semi final, but he was back bowling in the nets on Saturday. If he's passed fit, then his opening burst against the Pakistani openers might set the tone for England. The openers would look to start cautiously but if the ball jags around, combined with his high pace; Wood and England can do early and irreversible damage.

Shaheen Shah Afridi vs Jos Buttler and Alex Hales

Shaheen Shah Afridi looks to have gotten into nice rhythm lately after starting the tournament slow. He's getting the ball to tail in and that has been a nemesis of Hales in particular in the past. Buttler will have to be careful against the ball that goes away as he often chases wide deliveries early in the innings.

Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz vs English batters

Nawaz was brilliant in the latest 7 match T20I series these two teams played in the lead up to the world cup. Shadab Khan also is a dangerous customer with a good googly and can also turn the ball away from the right handed batters. Babar might want to introduce one spin option against Hales and Buttler early or against Liam Livingstone in the middle overs.

Adil Rashid vs Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris

If Babar survives the opening burst, then England can turn to Rashid to contain Babar. Babar has had issues against him and is unable to read his googly on occasions. Rashid will also be on a high after containing aggressive Indian batters in the semi final and also scalping the prized wicket of Suryakumar Yadav. Haris, has quickly become an important figure in that Pakistan line up and he's looked good against pace in general. Rashid might also be tasked to nip in the young star in his bud before he can start his innings.

Sam Curran vs Ifthikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan

Sam Curran is tasked with closing out the innings with his wide yorkers and change of pace. Ifthikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan have played good innings throughout the world cup and bailed Pakistan out with their late hitting and timely runs. How these two manage against Curran will be very important especially if Pakistan are batting first and looking to set up a big total.

Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim vs Phil Salt and Ben Stokes

If England lose their openers quickly then the task of facing a super quick Rauf and accurate and clever Wasim will most probably fall to Salt and Stokes. Stokes hasn't looked at his best in the tournament and the high pace of Rauf might unsettle him. Salt hasn't batted so far in the tournament, so facing high accurate pace bowling under cloudy Melbourne skies might not be what he's looking forward to.

Which battle fascinates you the most? What are you most looking forward to?

Unstoppable English Batting set to collide with Fiery Pakistan Bowling as rain threat looms at Melbourne

T20 World Cup 2022 Final: England vs Pakistan at MCG in Melbourne: Nov 13, 2022 - Match Preview

England are on a roll now having handed India an absolute shellacking in the semi final at Adelaide but they'll now come up against a dangerous Pakistan side who seem to be peaking at the right moment. Both teams had to win their last group game to go through to the semi finals but both put on clinical performances once they got there. They have had a pretty similar Road to the Finals as well!

Jos Buttler and Alex Hales put up the highest partnership at an ICC Men's T20 World Cup with their 170 run unbeaten stand routing India. These two will be the biggest danger for Pakistan but even if they get early wickets, there's the dangerous Phil Salt at 3, the experienced Ben Stokes at 4 and then the versatile Liam Livingstone at 5 awaiting them. England has a very long batting order with Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan all of whom can whack the ball.

If any bowling line up can stop the English batting blitzkrieg then you'll want to certainly bet on the Pakistan one. With Shaheen Shah Afridi having found his rhythm again, he'll be a dangerous customer at the beginning with the swinging ball. Naseem Shah has the pace while Haris Rauf has been bowling with fire right through the tournament. Then there's Mohammad Wasim who seems to be a very good bowler at the death with his yorkers and in the middle overs. Pakistan also has Shadab Khan for the middle overs as a genuine wicket taking option. Nawaz is another option in the middle overs, he was good against England when these two teams faced each other recently.

Chris Jordan did relatively well against India despite going for runs at the back end but England will be hoping that their pace sensation Mark Wood is fit for the big final. Sam Curran also leaked runs for the first time in the tournament against India and would be looking to get back to his miserly ways in the final. Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone jointly bowled 7 hugely impactful overs for just 41 runs against India and Pakistan would be well advised to not let that repeat, is just a recipe for disaster. Woakes and Stokes will also play an important role with the ball under cloudy Melbourne skies.

Pakistan batting has floundered and stuttered right through the tournament but with the introduction of the dynamic Haris at number 3 and with their prolific openers Babar and Rizwan finding form in the semi final against New Zealand, means they've finally got a functioning top 3. Shan Masood, Mohammad Nawaz, Ifthikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan have all contributed to the batting at various points during the tournament.

Key Battles: England vs Pakistan

Chris Woakes vs Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan

Shaheen Shah Afridi vs Jos Buttler and Alex Hales

Shadab Khan vs Liam Livingstone

Adil Rashid vs Mohammad Haris

These two teams met just before the World Cup began in a long 7 match series in Pakistan as a preparation for the big event. The series ebbed and flowed and was a closely contested one with England eking out a 4-3 win in the deciding last match held at Lahore. The two teams know each other well and it should be a great contest at the MCG, weather permitting.

Melbourne Weather Forecast for England v Pakistan T20 World Cup Final 2022

Weather for Sunday in Melbourne doesn't look too promising with an almost 90% chance for rain throughout the day. Thunderstorms are also predicted. The weather for the reserve day, Monday, is slightly better but still there's rain predicted through the morning and afternoon.

Probable England XI

Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood/ Chris Jordan 

Probable Pakistan XI

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for England v Pakistan at MCG, Melbourne

Ben Stokes

Sam Curran

Shaheen Shah Afridi

Jos Buttler

Babar Azam

The match will start at 01.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Will Pakistan repeat the feat from 1992? Will England reverse the result from 30 years ago? Or will the famous Melbourne weather have the last laugh?

Dream 11 ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Fantasy Game - Best teams variations for Final between Pakistan v England

In this post, I will list out my Top 3 Team Variations for Dream11 Fantasy Game for the Final between Pakistan and England to be played at MCG in Melbourne on the 13th of November 2022:

You can take a quick glance at the Road to the Final for these two teams.

Dream 11 Team for Pakistan v England (Variation 1)

Balanced team with 2 Pakistani batters, 3 English batters, 3 players from each team who are expected to bowl 4 overs. All-rounders included for maximum potential of fantasy points. Mark Wood is included but can be replaced by Jordan or Woakes if he is still injured.

Dream 11 Team for Pakistan v England (Variation 2)

More focused on all-rounders and bowling. Light on Pakistan batting as English bowling can be dangerous at MCG. No Mark Wood, Rizwan and Ifthikar included who has been good lower down.

Dream 11 Team for Pakistan v England (Variation 3)

Focus on batting and bowling with only 2 all-rounders. Rizwan and Babar there. Three bowlers from each side.

What team are you looking at for the final?

Road to the Finals for Pakistan & England - Final ICC T20 World Cup 2022, MCG, Melbourne

Pakistan - Road to the Final of T20 World Cup 2022

Pakistan started with 2 last ball losses to India and Zimbabwe to start their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign. With their hopes all but over, they first defeated Netherlands in their third outing before winning against South Africa in a rain marred game.

When South Africa lost their final match to Netherlands, Pakistan had a ray of hope to qualify for the semi final stage and they beat Bangladesh in their last group match to progress in the most dramatic fashion. They met New Zealand in the first semi final and first bowled well to keep the Kiwis to a manageable total and then both Rizwan and Babar found form as they ran out comfortable winners to be the first team to qualify for the finals!

Latest Match First - Last 6 Results

• November 09, 2022, Semi Final 1, Pakistan vs New Zealand, SCG, Sydney

            Pakistan won by 7 wickets

• November 06, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

            Pakistan won by 5 wickets

• November 03, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs South Africa, SCG, Sydney

            Pakistan won by 33 runs (D/L method)

• October 30, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs Netherlands, Optus Stadium, Perth

            Pakistan won by 6 wickets

• October 27, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Optus Stadium, Perth

            Zimbabwe won by 1 run

• October 23, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs India, MCG, Melbourne

            India won by 4 wickets

England - Road to the Final of T20 World Cup 2022

England, themselves had a stuttering start to their campaign as they first beat Afghanistan by scraping through a small chase before losing to neighbors Ireland. When their next match against hosts Australia was washed out, the chances to qualify for the semi final looked bleak.

But England won against New Zealand at Gabba with ease and then chased down a small target against the Lankans, albeit with a small stutter again, to seal their place in the semi final. They faced a strong Indian outfit in the semi final and having lost Mark Wood and Dawid Malan just before the semi final, they must have thought that chance had slipped away. But England put on a stunning show as their openers ran amok in a chase of 169, ultimately trashing India by 10 wickets and booking themselves a place in the final against Pakistan at the G.

Latest Match First - Last 6 Results

• November 10, 2022, Semi Final 2, India vs England, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

            England won by 10 wickets

• November 05, 2022, Group 1, England vs Sri Lanka, SCG, Sydney

            England won by 4 wickets

• November 01, 2022, Group 1, England vs New Zealand, Gabba, Brisbane

            England won by 20 runs

• October 28, 2022, Group 1, Australia vs England, MCG, Melbourne

            Match abandoned without a ball being bowled

• October 26, 2022, Group 1, England vs Ireland, MCG, Melbourne

            Ireland won by 5 runs (D/L method)

• October 22, 2022, Group 1, England vs Afghanistan, Optus Stadium, Perth

            England won by 5 wickets

Key Battles in Semi Final 2: India vs England at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide: Nov 10, 2022

Key Battles in Semi Final 2: India vs England at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide: Nov 10, 2022

Let us look at a few key battles that will decide the outcome of the semi final between India and England in the semi final to be held at the Adelaide Oval. You can read the Match Preview here and the road to the semi finals for these teams here.

Mark Wood vs Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul

If Mark Wood starts the game, then his opening burst against the Indian openers would be the key to set the tone for England. For India, Rahul and Rohit would do well to survive this raw pace and take advantage later.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh vs Jos Buttler and Alex Hales

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the wood over Jos Buttler and troubled him greatly in the last series these two sides played in. Add Arshdeep Singh to the mix and the Indian opening bowlers form a lethal and potent opposition for the English openers, both of whom struggle against the moving ball.

R Ashwin vs Liam Livingstone

Liam Livingstone is one player in that English middle order that can single handedly kill the game in the favour of the English. He is a good player of spin and with short Adelaide boundaries, it will be imperative for India to get him out early. How R Ashwin fares against him, if these two are up against each other, will be a key and a fascinating part of the match.

Adil Rashid vs Suryakumar Yadav

Like Liam Livingstone, Suryakumar Yadav is the man who can turn the tide in India's favour very quickly with his explosive batting. He smashed a stunning 100 just a few months back against England and has looked in sublime form in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Adil Rashid will be tasked with keeping SKY quiet and if possible sneak a googly through his defence!

Sam Curran vs Hardik Pandya

Sam Curran is a man who seems to have reinvented his death bowling. He has been phenomenal for England in the closing overs and Hardik Pandya will be tasked to take him on during the slog overs for India. How Pandya fares against the wily Curran is something that might decide the fate of the match, especially if India bat first.

Adil Rashid and Ben Stokes vs Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is back to his best and the middle overs will be all about how he goes about his business against Adil Rashid and Ben Stokes. Kohli has struggled a bit against leg break bowling on occasions with the google often deceiving him. Like Suryakumar Yadav, how Kohli handles Rashid will go a long way in how India eventually fare in the match. Ben Stokes is a man for the big occasions and he will definitely take on the responsibility of getting Kohli when he comes to the crease. Stokes is known to get regular wickets and his battle with Virat will be intriguing to watch too.

Which battle fascinates you the most? What are you most looking forward to?

India take on England at Adelaide Oval in the second semi final of T20 World Cup 2022

Semi Final 2: India vs England at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide: Nov 10, 2022 - Match Preview

India will face a strong English side in a bid to make their 3rd T20 World Cup final since the tournament's inception in 2007 when India emerged eventual winners. Both the teams have had a relatively stress free run to the semis, losing one game apiece during the group stages. The two squared off for a 3 match series earlier this year in England, and although the troops were not all the same, India managed to get a 2-1 victory over hosts England.

Indian batting relies heavily on its top 4 but with Rohit and Rahul both blowing hot and cold the majority of the run making this World Cup has fallen to Virat Kohli and Surya Kumar Yadav. The two have literally carried Indian batting with small contributions from their openers at times and India will hope that they continue to find the runs in the big games now. Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik haven't had any meaningful time out in the middle with the bat yet but they'll have to do the talking in the semi final if the top order somehow fails to deliver.

Indian bowling has been looking sharp with young Arshdeep Singh leading the charge and the experienced pros, Mohammad Shami and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, supporting him. Hardik Pandya has done a decent job in the middle overs and Ashwin found some wickets finally in the dead rubber against Zimbabwe. Bhuvi had the number over Buttler in that last series, so that battle will be fascinating to watch.

Jos Buttler and Alex Hales seem to have found decent form with runs against New Zealand and Sri Lanka and will remain the key batters for England as they will hope to provide a bright start. Stokes also finally spent important time in the middle guiding England to victory against Sri Lanka. The injury to Dawid Malan means England can bring in the attacking Phil Salt into the line up while Liam Livingstone will be a key figure in how English handle Ashwin in the middle overs.

England suffered a mini blip with Mark Wood having an injury scare yesterday but he seems to be alright. He's been their pick of the bowlers along with the much improved Sam Curran who seems to have taken his death bowling to a different level. Woakes remains a key figure while Rashid and Livingstone have handled the spin responsibility. Moeen Ali has had previous success against some of the Indian batters so he might be given a few overs too.

Key Battles: India vs England

Mark Wood vs Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh vs Jos Buttler and Alex Hales

R Ashwin vs Liam Livingstone

Adil Rashid vs Suryakumar Yadav

The weather for this game should be fine with a very little chance of rain predicted in Adelaide tomorrow. The used pitch should mean that batters will have their work cut out but the smaller square boundaries might provide them with some respite. It promises to be a fascinating contest between two of the strongest white ball format teams going around currently. India and England, both, will not give an inch and at a packed Adelaide we will get to see a spectacle!

Probable India XI

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami

Probable England XI

Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for India v England at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Ben Stokes

Sam Curran

Suryakumar Yadav

Jos Buttler

Arshdeep Singh

The match will start at 01.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Who will join the winner from semi final 1 into the finals? Will India end their long wait to play in the finals or will England prevail after falling at the same stage last year?

Looking to set up your Dream 11 team for this match? Head here to make the ideal Dream11 Team for India v England semi final match.

Pakistan and New Zealand go head to head in the first semi final of T20 World Cup 2022 at SCG

Semi Final 1: Pakistan Vs New Zealand, SCG, Sydney - ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022; Match Preview

New Zealand were the first team to qualify for the semi finals in this World Cup while Pakistan had the most dramatic back door entry after South Africa suffered a shock loss to the Dutch on the final day of the group games. These two teams met thrice in the recent tri series just before the World Cup began, including the finals, where Pakistan won twice while the Kiwis won one game. Do check out the Road to the Semi Finals for the two teams.

The top order of Pakistan has stuttered and stumbled as both Babar and Rizwan have found the going difficult. The addition of Mohammad Haris has given the batting a new lease of life with the number three providing impetus in both the games he's played. Ifthikhar and Shadab have also contributed well in the batting department but Shan Masood has left a lot to be desired especially on the strike rate front.

Kiwi batting meanwhile is all about their top order - Finn Allen is entrusted to go bang bang at the top of the order while Devon Conway mixes aggression with caution. Kane Williamson found form against the Irish while Glenn Philips has been their best batter so far even scoring a hundred against the Sri Lankans at this very venue. Daryl Mitchell is a good player of spin and is an important figure in this clash at SCG.

Sydney is known for assisting spin more as compared to pace but even the fast bowlers have found enough assistance under lights here. Pakistan has a string of fast bowlers in Rauf, Shaheen, Naseem and Wasim who will all be geared up for this clash. Nawaz and Shadab will have an important role to play in the middle overs and keep New Zealand middle order in check.

New Zealand perhaps has the most rounded up bowling attack left amongst the four semi finalists. Boult and Southee can swing the ball while also being masters of variations. Lockie Ferguson provides raw pace while Santner and Sodhi give finger and wrist spin options for the middle over squeeze. Then there's Neesham and Mitchell who can roll the arm over if required.

Key Battles: Pakistan vs New Zealand

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan Vs Tim Southee and Trent Boult 

Finn Allen and Devon Conway Vs Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf

Glenn Phillips Vs Shadab Khan

The semi final is shaping up to be a very intriguing battle between two teams that generally do well in big tournaments. Pakistan has been given a fresh life after losing all hope so they are now a very dangerous opponent. New Zealand always have that calmness about them in pressure situations. The weather for the match also looks to be clear at the moment so we should get a gripping contest!

Probable Pakistan XI

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim

Probable New Zealand XI

Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Kane Williamson, Glenn Philips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for Pakistan v New Zealand at SCG, Sydney

Devon Conway

Ish Sodhi

Haris Rauf

Shadab Khan

Glenn Phillips

The match will start at 01.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Who will qualify for the big final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022?

Playing Dream11 Fantasy? Do read about the best team for New Zealand v Pakistan semi final.

Dream 11 ICC Official Season Long T20 World Cup 2022 Fantasy Game - Team for Semi Finals!

What a T20 World Cup 2022 it has been so far!! For me personally, I currently stand at a a Global Rank of 76 out of a total 4,18,300 players. It has been a pleasure writing differential player posts and having received positive feedback from so many!

If you still have boosters, learn about them by clicking here.

In this post, I will list out Top 11 Players for matches covering the two Semi Finals:

New Zealand v Pakistan, November 09, SCG, Sydney

India v England, November 10, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Dream 11 Team for New Zealand v Pakistan - Semi Final 1

The pitch at SCG has slowed down considerably and I feel it will suit changes of pace and spin bowlers. It is always better to have a balanced squad for the big matches, so I have gone for 5-6 Pakistan-New Zealand combination.

3 Alternatives to the team shared above:

1. Allen to Haris
2. Allen to Rauf
3. Allen to Southee

Dream 11 Team for India v England - Semi Final 1

Adelaide has provided some great matches over the past 2 weeks and the team batting first has generally won. Spin has done well at the venue with the smaller boundaries on one side also aiding batters. Just like my Dream 11 Team for New Zealand v Pakistan - Semi Final 1, I have again gone for a balanced 5-6 India England combination.

There is not much I would change with the above team as I feel it covers the 2 semi finalists well. May a punt on KL Rahul can be taken instead of Virat Kohli but I would not take that risk personally.

What are your thoughts on the above suggestions? Anything you would change? What is your Global Rank?

Road to the Semi Finals for India & England - 2nd Semi Final T20 World Cup 2022

India - Road to the Semi Final T20 World Cup 2022

India began by stealing a last ball win against arch rivals Pakistan at a jam packed MCG before cruising to victory over the Dutch in the second game.

South Africa prevailed over India at pacy Perth but India sealed their semi final fate with a victory over Bangladesh which was marred by rain and somewhat controversial due to fake fielding issues and starting the match on a wet outfield. South Africa losing to Netherlands on the last day meant the match against Zimbabwe was a dead rubber, one which India win easily in the end.

Latest Match First - Last 5 Results

• November 06, 2022, Group 2, India vs Zimbabwe, MCG, Melbourne

            India won by 71 runs

• November 02, 2022, Group 2, India vs Bangladesh, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

            India won by 5 runs (D/L method)

• October 30, 2022, Group 2, India vs South Africa, Optus Stadium, Perth

            South Africa won by 5 wickets

• October 27, 2022, Group 2, India vs Netherlands, SCG, Sydney

            India won by 56 runs

• October 23, 2022, Group 2, India vs Pakistan, MCG, Melbourne

            India won by 4 wickets

England - Road to the Semi Final T20 World Cup 2022

England started the tournament as one of the favorites but started with a scratchy win over the Afghanistan team at Perth before suffering a narrow loss to neighbours Ireland in a match decided by D/L method. When their third match against current champions Australia was washed out by heavy rains, semi final berth seemed far away.

But England won against New Zealand at Gabba with ease before making heavy weather of a small chase in their must win game against the Lankans at SCG but ultimately prevailed thus sealing their semi final spot and also knocking the hosts out with that win.

Latest Match First - Last 5 Results

• November 05, 2022, Group 1, England vs Sri Lanka, SCG, Sydney

            England won by 4 wickets

• November 01, 2022, Group 1, England vs New Zealand, Gabba, Brisbane

            England won by 20 runs

• October 28, 2022, Group 1, Australia vs England, MCG, Melbourne

            Match abandoned without a ball being bowled

• October 26, 2022, Group 1, England vs Ireland, MCG, Melbourne

            Ireland won by 5 runs (D/L method)

• October 22, 2022, Group 1, England vs Afghanistan, Optus Stadium, Perth

            England won by 5 wickets

Road to the Semi Finals for New Zealand & Pakistan - 1st Semi Final T20 World Cup 2022

New Zealand - Road to the Semi Final T20 World Cup 2022

They were the first team to qualify for the semi finals. They started by crushing Australia in a high octane opening day clash. After their match was abandoned against Afghanistan in Melbourne due to persistent rain, they defeated Sri Lankans after a precarious start.

A narrow defeat to England at Gabba was again followed by a closely fought win over the Irish as New Zealand topped the table due to their superior NRR.

Latest Match First - Last 5 Results

• November 04, 2022, Group 1, New Zealand vs Ireland, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

            New Zealand won by 35 runs

• November 01, 2022, Group 1, New Zealand vs England, Gabba, Brisbane

            England won by 20 runs

• October 29, 2022, Group 1, New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, SCG, Sydney

            New Zealand won by 65 runs

• October 26, 2022, Group 1, Afghanistan vs New Zealand, MCG, Melbourne

            Match abandoned without a ball being bowled

• October 22, 2022, Group 1, New Zealand vs Australia, SCG, Sydney

            New Zealand won by 89 runs

Pakistan - Road to the Semi Final T20 World Cup 2022

Pakistan started with a soul shattering last ball loss to arch rivals India before again losing out to Zimbabwe in the last ball in their next game. With almost all hope of qualifying for the semi final gone, they defeated Netherlands next before a rain marred match saw them overcome the South African team.

With South Africa losing to Netherlands on the last day of the group stage matches, a lifeline was thrown to the Pakistan team and they grabbed it with gleeful hands defeating Bangladesh to seal their semi final place after a rollercoaster run.

Latest Match First - Last 5 Results

• November 06, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

            Pakistan won by 5 wickets

• November 03, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs South Africa, SCG, Sydney

            Pakistan won by 33 runs (D/L method)

• October 30, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs Netherlands, Optus Stadium, Perth

            Pakistan won by 6 wickets

• October 27, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Optus Stadium, Perth

            Zimbabwe won by 1 run

• October 23, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs India, MCG, Melbourne

            India won by 4 wickets

India face confident Zimbabwe in a must win game for a place in the T20 World Cup 2022 Semi Final

India Vs Zimbabwe, MCG - ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022; Match Preview

India currently sit pretty at the top of the table with 6 points but must their last game against Zimbabwe to progress to the semi final since Pakistan and South Africa both can leapfrog them in the table with wins in their last games. India has the advantage of playing the last game tomorrow, so will know exactly where they stand before the match.

KL Rahul finally found some form against Bangladesh but it has been a tough run for Indian openers as skipper Rohit failed again. Kohli stuck another sublime 50 while Suryakumar Yadav also hit important runs. The lack of runs from the lower middle order will be a cause of concern for India though ahead of the big matches.

Zimbabwe batting has relied mainly on their stalwarts Sean Williams, Craig Ervine and the man in form Sikandar Raza and they will hope that the trio can all fire against a strong Indian bowling line up.

Zimbabwe have a couple of decent tall fast bowlers in Ngarava and Muzarbani who were brilliant against Pakistan and Netherlands. Raza and Williams have chipped in with important overs of spin in the middle overs as well.

Arshadeep Singh has been the pick of the Indian bowlers so far and has impressed every game. Shami bowled well against Bangladesh but Bhuvi has not been able to pick up wickets in the last two games now. Ashwin also looks to only concentrating on drying up the runs while India look for wickets in the middle overs.

Key Battles: India vs Zimbabwe

KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma Vs Blessing Muzarbani and Richard Ngarava

Arshadeep Singh Vs Sean Williams

Hardik Pandya Vs Sikandar Raza

Zimbabwe would want to cap off a highly successful World Cup with the scalp of another big fish. They have already beaten Pakistan and cannot be taken lightly. India should win the game but there remains a few chinks in Indian armour which the Zimbabwe players will be keen to take advantage off.

Probable India XI

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami

Probable Zimbabwe XI

Craig Ervine, Regis Chakabva , Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Wessly Madhevere, Milton Shumba, Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Richard Ngarva, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for India v Zimbabwe at MCG

Sikandar Raza

Virat Kohli

Sean Williams

Arshadeep Singh

Hardik Pandya

The match will start at 01.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Can India progress to the semi final easily or will Zimbabwe give them a tough fight?

England search for win against Sri Lanka as semi final beckons, Australian hopes lie with the Asian Champions!

England vs Sri Lanka at Gabba in Brisbane: Nov 05, 2022 - Match Preview

This has what the group of death has finally come to, with New Zealand having already qualified for the semi finals (most likely taking the top spot) while England need to win their last game against Sri Lanka to qualify & Australia will proceed if Sri Lanka beat England.

Sri Lankan batting has left a lot to be desired in the super 12 stage with Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka both failing repeatedly to give good starts. Dhananjaya de Silva played himself back into form with a brilliant half century against Afghanistan while Bhanuka has looked their most competent batter out there everytime he's walked out to the center. Sri Lanka will need a complete performance from the batting unit if they're to challenge the strong English line up.

The bowling too has had its ups and downs with the injuries not helping either. Hasaranga and Theekshana will remain the key at SCG while Sri Lanka might look to bring in Vandersay too for this last game of the World Cup for them.

Jos Buttler and Alex Hales finally found their hitting range against New Zealand in the last game with both smashing 50's. The middle order muddle is yet to be solved for England though with Malan, Brook, Stokes all looking short of runs and form.

The bowling unit of English, unlike their batting, has been functioning like a well oiled machine. Wood and Woakes have provided the pace while Curran looks like a upgraded version of himself nailing yorkers at death. Rashid and Livingstone have been performing the spin duties relatively well.

Key Battles: England vs Sri Lanka

Mark Wood vs Kusal Mendis

Maheesh Theekshana vs Jos Buttler and Alex Hales

Wanindu Hasaranga vs Dawid Malan and Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone

The weather in Australia looks to have finally cleared with another gorgeous day in store for cricket at the Sydney Cricket ground. The hopes and dreams of both England and Australia lie on the result of this game. Sri Lanka, although out of the tournament, would want to finish on a high and with no added pressure might finally pull that victory off which eluded them against both Australia and New Zealand earlier.

Probable England XI

Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Probable Sri Lanka XI

Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Dananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapasksa, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Madhushan, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for England v Sri Lanka at SCG, Sydney

Ben Stokes

Sam Curran

Wanindu Hasaranga

Jos Buttler

Bhanuka Rajapaksa

The match will start at 01.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Who will join New Zealand out of the group into the semi finals? Will Sri Lanka come to the help of the hosts or will England prevail?

Dream 11 ICC Official Season Long T20 World Cup 2022 Fantasy Game - Differential Players for NZvIRE, AUSvAFG & ENGvSL

As you know I am doing recommendation posts for Dream 11 Fantasy games. There has been a great response to the posts and there have been many people who have benefitted and won in Dream 11 from reading the posts. To learn all about the boosters being provided and how & when to use them, click here.

In this post, I will list out Top 11 Differential (less then 10% owned) players for matches covering:

New Zealand v Ireland, November 04, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

 Australia v Afghanistan, November 04, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Sri Lanka v England, November 05, SCG, Sydney

Finn Allen 6.03%

• Explosive Opening Batsmen
• In decent form
• Faces Ireland on a good Adelaide pitch

Kusal Mendis 8.42%

• Nailed keeper batter
• Has not kicked on from a couple of good innings, would want to finish on a high

Pathum Nissanka 3.67%

• One of the most consistent performers
• Should be itching to get back into the runs after the failure last game

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 2.36%

• He has been their best middle order batter
• Nailed
• SCG pitch might be to his liking

Usman Ghani 1.35%

• Nailed to open the innings
• Looked decent in his short stay against Sri Lanka

Harry Tector 3.64%

• Young upcoming talent
• Nailed to start
• Must be looking to make a mark on the world cup

Wanindu Hasaranga 8.41%

• Champion All-Rounder
• Perfect performance against Afghanistan

Ben Stokes 9.84 %

• Nailed
• Wicket taker in the middle overs for England & also bats at 3 generally

Pat Cummins 8.58%

• Got back into wickets in the last game
• Afghan batsmen could struggle against high pace

Maheesh Theekshana 6.94%

• Mystery spinner
• Has been the best Sri Lankan bowler by a mile

Lockie Ferguson 3.45%

• High pace should trouble Irish batters
• Wicket taker in the middle and bowls at the death

Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3.97%

• Mystery spinner
• Bowled very well against Sri Lanka

These were some of the hidden gems I think could do well in the next 3 matches that I have listed above.

Do let me know what players you're looking at?

Clash of Pace as Pakistan chase pride, South Africa top spot in Group 2 at SCG

Pakistan Vs South Africa, SCG, Sydney - ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022; Match Preview

Pakistan, are as good as eliminated from the World Cup after back to back defeats to India and Zimbabwe while South Africa come into the match as the only remaining unbeaten team in the tournament.

The top order of Pakistan has stuttered and stumbled as both Babar and Rizwan have found the going difficult. Fakhar who played against the Dutch has been ruled out for aggravating the knee injury so Shan Masood must again come up to number 3. Ifthikhar, Nawaz and Shadab have played interchangeable roles in the middle order and that is likely to continue.

The Proteas batting has looked very good with QDK and Rossouw making big runs against Bangladesh while Markram and Miller did the scoring in a tense chase against India. Temba Bavuma is the player who's out of form though but South Africa seem to be sticking to him for the time being.

Although Sydney traditionally offers more help to the spinners but the quality of pace in both sides is enough to trouble the opposition batters. In the previous games at the venue, the ball has moved under lights making batting difficult with Australia and Sri Lanka both stumbling badly against the Kiwis.

Key Battles: Pakistan vs South Africa

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan Vs Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi

Quinton deKock and Rillee Rossouw Vs Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah

David Miller and Aiden Markram Vs Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan

While Pakistan are only playing for pride, South Africa have the top spot in their sights. A win here practically guarantees them the top spot with their final game against the Dutch. I'm looking forward to the battle between the two best pace attacks in this World Cup. It promises to be a fascinating contest.

Probable Pakistan XI

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim

Probable South Africa XI

Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for Pakistan v South Africa at SCG, Sydney

Kagiso Rabada

Quinton deKock

Anrich Nortje

Rillee Rossouw

Shadab Khan

The match will start at 01.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Will Pakistan manage a second win in the World Cup? Will South Africa continue their unbeaten streak?

India and Bangladesh to jostle for a place in the T20 World Cup 2022 Semi Final

India Vs Bangladesh, Adelaide Oval - ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022; Match Preview

India, after beating arch rivals Pakistan and then brushing aside Netherlands faced their first defeat at the hands of South Africa at Perth. Bangladesh meanwhile have also managed to win against Netherlands and then that final ball thriller again Zimbabwe sandwiched between the crushing loss to South Africa.

There were hail storms in Adelaide today but the weather looks clear for tomorrow as of now.

Rohit hit a scratchy 50 against the Netherlands but KL Rahul now has 3 single digit scores and is under pressure to perform. Kohli has been at his best while Surya Kumar Yadav is currently one of the best batters going around. Hardik Pandya hasn't had much to do so far while Karthik might be out due to lower back issues and Pant might slot in as a replacement.

Bangladesh batting hasn't really strong together meaningful partnerships which has led to their recent lean run. Shakib hasn't been at his consistent best while Sarkar, Litton all blow more cold than hot. Opener Najmul Hossain Shanto and late middle order Afif Hossain have looked good and Bangladesh will be going for more good things from the duo.

Taskin Ahmed has been in scintillating form picking up 2 MoTM awards in both the wins while Mustafizur looks to be slowly coming back into form as well. Hasan Mahmud and Mosaddek Hossain will have to provide support to the main bowlers. Bangladesh might also consider playing Mehidy Hasan to strengthen their bowling attack in place of Yasir Ali.

Arshadeep Singh has been the pick of the Indian bowlers so far and has impressed every game. Shami and Bhuvi have looked good in patches and will hope to have a solid game overall. Ashwin has been totally ineffective unable to either pick wickets or stem the flow of runs when required. India could consider playing Chahal over him.

Key Battles: India vs Bangladesh

KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma Vs Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed

Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav Vs Shakib Al Hasan

Najmul Shanto Vs Bhuvaneshwar Kumar 

Bangladesh are still in the running for reaching the semi final and this added pressure might work against them. They've not been at their best for quite some time now but India always seems to bring that extra little from the men in green. That 2016 T20 World Cup match between the two sides remains fresh in the memory. India have a straightforward equation to top the group standings, beat Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in their next two games.

Probable India XI

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Y Chahal, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami

Probable Bangladesh XI

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Yasir Ali, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for India v Bangladesh at Adelaide Oval

Shakib Al Hasan

Virat Kohli

Suryakumar Yadav

Arshadeep Singh

Hardik Pandya

The match will start at 01.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Can Bangladesh get one over their neighbors? Will India complete an easy win?

Playing Official Season Long Dream11 Fantasy Cricket - Head here to read all about the Boosters

England face old foes New Zealand at Gabba to keep Semi Final hopes alive

England vs New Zealand at Gabba in Brisbane: Nov 01, 2022 - Match Preview

Group 1 is still wide open with all 6 teams mathematically in the race to qualify for the semi finals but while New Zealand might afford a slip up, England have no such luxury. England would not be totally out even if they loose but would then require miracles elsewhere to proceed.

Finn Allen and Devon Conway started like a run away train against Australia but both failed against Sri Lanka to spin very early. Kane Williamson remains short of form but the sensational century by Glenn Phillips and the return of Daryl Mitchell has definitely given New Zealand plenty of strength in that line up.

New Zealand have no reason to change their winning combination, Boult and Southee are running riot while Santner, Sodhi and Lockie are proving tough customers to handle for opposition batters in the middle overs.

Jos Buttler and Alex Hales are yet to fire and England would be hoping that the two find form quickly. The middle order is a bit of muddle as well with Malan, Stokes, Brook haven't looked convincing as well. England might do well to break that middle order up a bit by promoting Livingstone or Moeen up the order, both of whom looked good in their short stay against Ireland.

English bowling has been firing alright although they did give away cheap runs against Ireland. Wood, Curran and Stokes are picking wickets at regular intervals. Woakes, doesn't look like his usual self but he's just coming back from an injury and should be fine. Adil Rashid, though, isn't picking wickets in the middle and that is hurting England.

Key Battles: England vs New Zealand

Mark Wood vs Finn Allen and Devon Conway

Trent Boult and Tim Southee vs Jos Buttler and Alex Hales

Adil Rashid vs Glenn Phillips 

The weather prediction for Brisbane isn't the greatest for the match day but is expected to clear up by the time the match starts. As we move to the business end of the tournament, every match assumes greater importance as teams jostle to book their place for the semi final. These two teams have given us some magic games over the past few years, fans would be keeping their fingers crossed for one more.

Probable England XI

Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Probable New Zealand XI

Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Kane Williamson, Glenn Philips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for England v New Zealand at Gabba, Brisbane

Ben Stokes

Sam Curran

Devon Conway

Trent Boult

Finn Allen

The match will start at 01.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Who will come out trumps in Gabba? Will rain play spoilsport again?

Dream 11 ICC Official Season Long T20 World Cup 2022 Fantasy Game - Differential Players for AUSvIRE, SLvAFG & ENGvNZ

As you know I am doing recommendation posts for Dream 11 Fantasy games. There has been a great response to the posts and there have been many people who have benefitted and won in Dream 11 from reading the posts. To learn all about the boosters being provided and how & when to use them, click here.

In this post, I will list out Top 11 Differential (less then 10% owned) players for matches covering:

Australia v Ireland, October 31, Gabba, Brisbane

Afghanistan v Sri Lanka, November 01, Gabba, Brisbane

England v New Zealand, November 01, Gabba, Brisbane

Finn Allen 5.94%

• Explosive Opening Batsmen
• In Good form
• He showed what he is capable of against rivals Australia the opening match

Kusal Mendis 8.36%

• In form nailed keeper batter
• Faces Afghanistan and is a good player of spin

Pathum Nissanka 3.67%

• One of the most consistent performers
• Should be itching to get back into the runs after the failure last game

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 2.26%

• Looked imperious against New Zealand
• Nailed
• Faces Afghanistan and is a good player of spin

Alex Hales 8.28%

• Nailed to open the innings
• Is too good a player to fail again

Mitchell Santner 6.31%

• Wily left arm spinner
• Nailed to start
• Bowled very well against Australia & Sri Lanka

Wanindu Hasaranga 8.19%

• Champion All-Rounder
• Looked good against New Zealand but dropped catch hurt him

Adam Zampa 7.37 %

• Should start after missing due to COVID
• Wicket taker in the middle overs for Australia

Pat Cummins 9.51 %

• Gabba pitch should suit him
• Ireland batsmen could struggle against high pace

Maheesh Theekshana 7.35%

• Mystery spinner
• Has been the best Sri Lankan bowler by a mile

Lockie Ferguson 3.55%

• High pace should suit him at Gabba
• Wicket taker in the middle and bowls at the death

These were some of the hidden gems I think could do well in the next 3 matches that I have listed above.

PS - Rain is predicted for 01.11.2022. So wait for the toss before making the transfers. England v New Zealand is the best match to play your power keeper booster with Conway, Allen & Buttler all opening and nailed to start. If there is no rain, play that.

Do let me know what players you're looking at?

The Highest Run Getters and the Highest Wicket takers in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022

The Highest Run Getters and the Highest Wicket takers of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 till now

Highest RUN Getters T20 World Cup 2022

1. Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)- 180 in 6 innings

2. Max O'Dowd (Netherlands) - 153 in 5 innings

3. Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) - 145 in 5 innings

4. Virat Kohli (India) - 144 in 2 innings

5. Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka) - 137 in 5 innings

Highest WICKET Takers T20 World Cup 2022

1. Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) - 10 wickets in 6 matches

2. Bas De Leede (Netherlands) - 9 wickets in 5 matches

3. Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka) - 9 wickets in 6 matches

4. Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) - 8 wickets in 5 matches

5. Blessing Muzarbani (Zimbabwe) - 7 wickets in 5 matches

5. Sam Curran (England) - 7 wickets in 2 matches

Who do you think will lead the charts in the upcoming days?

Points Table from Group 1 and Group 2 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022

Let us look at the current Points Table from Group 1 and Group 2 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022.

New Zealand lead Group 1 after being unbeaten till now. England, Ireland and Australia are just behind with 3 points apiece. Sri Lanka and Afghanistan lie at the bottom with just 2 points from 3 games.

All the teams are mathematically still in the race to reach the semi finals!!

India lead the charge in Group 2 having won both their matches. Pakistan & Netherlands make the bottom, both having both their opening two games. South Africa and Zimbabwe are tied on 3 points apiece. Bangladesh are on 2 points following their win over the Netherlands. Today is a big day for Group 2 with 3 matches scheduled.

Which 4 teams do you think will qualify for the semi finals?

PS - Images courtesy ICC social media handle