International T20 League

1st Match: DC vs ADKR

Preview

The International T20 League will kickstart on 13th January 2023. The first match will be played between DC and ADKR at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. It will surely be the most exciting start a fan can expect. Both teams have incredibly talented cricket players who are going to give their best to win the inaugural match of the season. 

Just like the Kolkata franchise in the Indian T20 League, the Abu Dhabi side will rely mostly on the services of two Caribbean all-rounders Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. Although both of them are not in their greatest forms, one can never rule them out of their list. Paul Stirling and Jonny Bairstow will provide the start for the ADKR side and we are well accustomed to their power-hitting abilities. Two Lankan players Charith Asalanka and Lahiru Kumara are vital ones with both the bat and ball. Also, all eyes will be on the West Indian spinner Akeal Hossain who is in his greatest form as we can see by his Australian T20 League performances. 

Dubai on the other hand will depend on Rovman Powell who again will play a similar role as he did for the Delhi franchise in the Indian T20 League. He will be assisted by Joe Root, Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan who will provide more firepower to the side. Fabian Allen and Hazratullah Zazai will be in the role of providing a strong onset after which Sikandar Raza, Dasun Shanaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Dan Lawrence and Bhanuka Rajapaksa will take charge of the middle order. 

The bowling department will mostly rely on the services of Blessing Muzarabani and Mujeeb ur Rahman as Dusmantha Chameera’s fitness is still in doubt for the side. 

Match Details

Match: DC vs ADKR, 1st Match, International T20 League

Date: Friday, January 13, 2023

Time: 08:15 PM

Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Pitch & Weather Report

The Dubai International Stadium pitch is a balanced one for both the batters and the bowlers. The skipper winning the toss will prefer to bat first. The surface will assist the pacers in the initial stage of the match. The spinners will come in handy in the middle overs. It is more of a batting-friendly pitch, as the batters will have their take on every inch of the match. Therefore we are definitely seeing a high-scoring encounter in this match where both sides have impactful big hitters. 

The weather predicted for the matchday on 13th January 2023 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium is expected to be sunny with patches of clouds surrounding the sky. The maximum and minimum temperatures will be 24  and 16 degrees Celsius with 64% humidity and a 24 kmph wind rate.

DC vs ADKR Squads

DC: Rovman Powell, Dushmantha Chameera, Hazratullah Zazai, Fabian Allen, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Sikandar Raza, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dan Lawrence, Blessing Muzarabani, Isuru Udana, George Munsey, Fred Klaassen, Hazrat Luqman, Chirag Suri, Jash Ginyani, Raja Akif Ullah Khan, Robin Uthappa, Ravi Bopara, Yusuf Pathan, Joe Root, Ollie White

ADKR: Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Jonny Bairstow, Paul Stirling, Lahiru Kumara, Charith Asalanka, Colin Ingram, Akeal Hosein, Seekkuge Prasanna, Ravi Rampaul, Raymond Reifer, Kennar Lewis, Ali Khan, Brandon Glover, Matiullah Khan, Fahad Nawaz, Sabir Ali, Zawar Farid

DC vs ADKR Probable XIs

DC: Rovman Powell, Hazratullah Zazai, Fabian Allen, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani, George Munsey, Fred Klaassen, Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, Joe Root

ADKR:  Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Jonny Bairstow, Paul Stirling, Colin Ingram, Akeal Hosein,  Ravi Rampaul, Raymond Reifer, Kennar Lewis, Brandon Glover, Fahad Nawaz

Match Prediction

The Abu Dhabi side looks to be better if we compare the both sides as a complete team. ADKR has good openers, all-rounders, bowlers and the best finishers around. Dubai is more of a side with few veteran players who have T20 League experience and therefore will give a tough fight. Looking to the squad strength on pen and paper, we fancy the Abu Dhabi side to win this match. 

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