The Vijay Hazare Trophy brings us an exciting contest as Delhi takes on Railways at the KSCA Cricket (2) Ground in Bengaluru. Both teams have had their ups and downs in the tournament so far, making this a crucial encounter for momentum. Delhi, boasting some star power, will look to dominate at home, while Railways, coming off some massive batting performances, will be eager to upset the hosts.
Weather Report
Bengaluru in January offers perfect cricketing conditions. For this 9:00 AM start, expect a cool morning with temperatures around 18°C, rising to a pleasant 27°C by the afternoon. The humidity will be moderate, and there is negligible chance of rain. The early morning start might offer some swing for the pacers due to moisture in the air, but it should settle down into a good day for batting.
Pitch Report
The surface at KSCA Cricket (2) Ground is generally balanced but has shown a clear tilt towards fast bowlers recently.
Venue Stats (Last 5 Matches):
- Average Score: 239 Runs
- Pacer Wickets: 40
- Spinner Wickets: 22
The data suggests that pacers are nearly twice as effective as spinners here. The new ball will be vital. Batters who can see off the initial phase can score big, as seen in recent games. For your fantasy contests, a combination of top order batters and strike pacers is the best strategy.
Team Analysis: Delhi
Delhi enters this game with mixed results but high confidence in their individual performers. The biggest talking point is Virat Kohli, who has been in sublime touch, smashing 208 runs in the series so far, including a century and a 77. He is the backbone of this batting lineup.
Priyansh Arya has also been impressive, providing solid starts. On the bowling front, Harshit Rana and Prince Yadav have been the standout performers. Rana's pace is lethal on this track, while Prince has been a consistent wicket taker with 11 scalps in the series. Nitish Rana adds balance with his all round abilities.
Team Analysis: Railways
Railways might be the away team, but their batting has been explosive. Ravi Singh is in the form of his life, accumulating a massive 354 runs in the series. His ability to score big hundreds makes him a top fantasy asset.
Upendra Yadav and Sahab Yuvraj Singh have also contributed significantly with the bat. In the bowling department, the veteran Karn Sharma continues to be a threat with his leg breaks, picking up 8 wickets, while Zubair Ali has been effective with the ball. They will need to be disciplined against Delhi's star studded top order.
Key Players to Watch
- Virat Kohli (DEL): With an average of over 100 fantasy points recently, he is the default captaincy choice for many.
- Ravi Singh (RAI): The leading run scorer for Railways. If he gets going, he scores big.
- Harshit Rana (DEL): The pitch suits his style perfectly. He is a genuine wicket taking option.
- Prince Yadav (DEL): The highest wicket taker for Delhi in this series. A must have for your bowling unit.
- Karn Sharma (RAI): An experienced campaigner who can pick wickets in clusters and contribute handy runs.
Captaincy & Vice Captaincy Picks
- Safe Options: Virat Kohli, Ravi Singh
- Differential Picks: Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav, Nitish Rana
Probable Playing XI
Delhi: Rishabh Pant (wk), Priyansh Arya, Sarthak Ranjan, Nitish Rana, Tejasvi Dahiya, Harsh Tyagi, Ishant Sharma, Prince Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Ayush Badoni, Harshit Rana.
Railways: Karn Sharma, Sahab Yuvraj Singh, Pratham Singh, Upendra Yadav (wk), Ashutosh Sharma, Ravi Singh, Ansh Yadav, Kunal Yadav, Raj Choudhary, Rahul Sharma, Zubair Ali.
Note: Lineups are subject to toss and final team announcements. Always check the official team sheets before locking your contests.