In an exciting match-up of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023, Kerala will lock horns with Mumbai on the verdant field of the KSCA Cricket Ground in Alur, India. Scheduled for match number 20 on the 25th of November, a Saturday, the competition is poised to begin at 9:00 AM IST, setting the stage for an enthralling day of List A cricket.
The pitch at KSCA Cricket Ground has been scrutinized by experts, and the consensus is clear — the venue heavily favors the side that chooses to chase. In the past 10 first-innings games held here, the average score has been plotted at 251, yet a staggering 70 percent of the victories have been snatched by the team batting second, tipping strategic scales towards winning the toss and bowling first.
Factoring in the playing conditions, it’s predicted that this wicket will be a boon for spinners, an element both teams should be keen to exploit. Moreover, perfect playing weather is on the cards, with the Alur air expected to be at a comfortable 28 degrees Celsius, coupled with a manageable 64 percent humidity.
Fantasy cricket enthusiasts are closely watching this match, with several players earmarked as top picks for the roles of captain and vice-captain. Abdul Basith is proving to be a strong choice, having already tallied 60 runs against Saurashtra early in the season. Batting at an average of 60 and an impressive strike rate of 78.95, Basith’s performance is eye-catching for any Dream11 team.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi, the top scorer for Mumbai this edition, also poses a promising pick, having notched up 30 runs against Sikkim with a strike rate of 107.14. On the bowling front, Kerala’s Akhin Sathar grabbed four wickets in his outing against Saurashtra, standing out with best season figures of 4/39. Mumbai’s Tushar Deshpande, with praiseworthy figures of 3/19, also puts himself in the league of bowlers to watch out for in the upcoming clash.
Taking a glimpse into the team rosters, Kerala’s squad boasts talents like Sanju Samson, who is also donning the captain’s hat, Mohammed Azharuddeen, and the young gun Rohan Kunnummal. Whereas Mumbai, under the experienced leadership of Ajinkya Rahane, has a mix of seasoned campaigners and budding stars such as Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, and the emerging wicketkeeper, Hardik Tamore.
The proposed Fantasy 11 team includes a blend of formidable batsmen and astute bowlers, led by Angkrish Raghuvanshi as captain and Abdul Basith serving as vice-captain. This curated dream team of proven performers is expected to yield maximum points for Fantasy 11 participants.
Although Kerala and Mumbai have locked horns just once before in a one-day match format, where Mumbai took the win with the highest score of 202 against Kerala’s 199, things could be different this time around. However, forecasters lean towards Mumbai claiming the win again, based on their convincing victory over Sikkim and past triumph over Kerala.
For those following the Vijay Hazare Trophy closely and fans of cricket worldwide, this match is definitely one to watch. Stay connected for more updates and schedule information for the World Cup 2023 and other cricket news, available on popular social platforms and the NDTV Cricket app.