CBTFJSK Prediction

Former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly speaks during unveiling of Champions Trophy of Bengal Pro T20 League, in Kolkata, on May 3, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on May 3 rated the T20 World Cup-bound Indian team as a strong one. Assessing the 15-member Indian team for the iconic event to be held in the USA and West Indies from June 2 to 29, Ganguly said the Rohit Sharma-led side was packed with match-winners. “They are a very strong team. All the 15 were good enough to be selected,” said Ganguly on the sidelines of the trophy unveiling event of the inaugural Bengal Pro T20 League here. “They are all match winners – (Virat) Kohli, Rohit (Sharma), (Rishabh) Pant, Sanju Samson, I am very happy to see Sanju Samson, (Shivam) Dubey. They are a very strong team.” India will play its group matches against Ireland, Pakistan, USA and Canada in the USA. From Super Eight Stage onwards, the matches will be played in the West Indies. Ganguly said spinners would play an important role in the West Indies. “They are playing in the West Indies, where the pitches will spin and will be slow and (will keep) low and big grounds. Spinners will be important.” Ganguly saw logic in selecting an additional spinner ahead of finisher Rinku Singh. “They wanted to go with another spinner. He has not got a place, but it’s just the beginning for Rinku.” About the tight race among teams for playoff berths in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Ganguly, who is the team director of Delhi Capitals, said, “Everybody is on the same boat.”

Punjab Kings’s Jonny Bairstow plays a shot during a match against Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League 2024 at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 1, 2024. Photo: X/@IPL via ANI Punjab Kings spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar’s miserly spell during the middle overs set the foundation for their side’s seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at the MAC Stadium on Wednesday. Opting to bowl first, PBKS restricted CSK to just 162 for seven as the spinners squeezed the runs dry without conceding a single boundary. Chasing 163, cameos from Jonny Bairstow 46 (30b, 7×4, 1×6) and Rilee Rossouw (43, 23b, 5×4, 2×6) ensured PBKS got its fifth straight win over the five-time champion. It was not an ideal start when CSK set out to defend the modest total, as Deepak Chahar limped off in pain on his run-up after two balls into the innings. Despite losing Prabhsimran Singh early, Bairstow and Rossouw quickly put the pressure back on the Super Kings bowlers as they added 64 for the second wicket. Rossouw straight drove and pulled Richard Gleeson before finding two more boundaries off Mustafizur Rahman in the next over. The Chennai side’s only chance to stage a fightback was with its spinners, especially in the absence of the in-form Matheesha Pathirana (niggle) and Tushar Deshpande (illness). But Bairstow smashed Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali for four boundaries and a six. Though both missed their half-centuries, Sam Curran and Shashank Singh guided their side home without further trouble. Earlier, Super Kings started strongly and got to 55 for no loss at the end of the PowerPlay. But what followed was a phase of play that is unthinkable in modern-day T20 cricket, as the hosts failed to score a single boundary off the bat for 55 deliveries. Brar (two for 17) and Rahul (one for 13) sent in seven overs during this phase on a two-paced pitch that offered some turn for the tweakers. Left-arm spinner Brar struck twice in the eighth over, slowing it down to have Rahane caught in the deep and then trapped Shivam Dube leg-before. If not for Ruturaj’s grinding knock (62, 48b, 5×4, 2×6), CSK would not have reached the total it did. But with dew settling, it was never going to be enough.