Fantasy Pick: Bank on Ruturaj Gaikwad and Josh Hazlewood
May 4: RCB vs CSK, 49th Match, MCA Stadium, Pune
Safe XI: Dinesh Karthik, Robin Uthappa, Virat Kohli, Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Glenn Maxwell, Dwaine Pretorius, Josh Hazlewood (vice-capt), Wanindu Hasaranga, Mukesh Choudhary, Maheesh Theekshana
Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
Gaikwad looks like he is back to form after starting the season slowly. Once he gets to the middle overs, he has been sensational, scoring 127 runs at a strike rate of 181.42 with just one dismissal this season. At his home ground MCA Stadium, he has recorded scores of 73 (48) and 99 (57) in this IPL.
Vice-captain: Josh Hazlewood
Hazlewood has been in good form this season, picking up ten wickets at an economy of 7.64. Nine of those have come against right-handers at an average of 8.33 and an economy of 5.42. The last time he played at this venue, he finished with figures of 2 for 19.
Hot Picks
Wanindu Hasaranga: With 15 wickets in ten outings, Hasaranga is the leading wicket-taker among overseas bowlers this season. In the three games he has played at the MCA Stadium, he has taken five wickets at an economy of 6.50.
Dinesh Karthik: Among the best finishers this season, Karthik has scored 218 runs at a strike rate of 194.64, the best strike rate for any batter with a minimum of 60 balls. Out of those, 163 have come against pace bowlers at a strike rate of 236.23 with just one dismissal. He has recorded 20-plus scores in four of his last five outings against Super Kings.
Differential Picks
Mukesh Choudhary: The young quick from Maharashtra has taken the joint-most number of wickets in powerplay in his debut season - eight in eight innings. In the two games he played at his home venue MCA Stadium this season, he returned with figures of 1 for 18 and 4 for 46.
Devon Conway: Conway scored a 55-ball 85*, breaking the record for the highest partnership this season with 182 runs for the first wicket. As an opener in T20s since 2021, he has scored 915 runs in 23 innings at an average of 61 with ten 50-plus scores.
High Risk XI Dinesh Karthik, Ambati Rayudu, Faf du Plessis (capt), Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dwaine Pretorius, Shahbaz Ahmed, Josh Hazlewood, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga (vice-capt), Maheesh Theekshana