**Official* IPL 2016

[AndyZaltzHair]

Painful to watch Shakib's batting these days

 

[Daemon]

This KKR side looks formidable with every base covered

Batting's not that great tbh. I know Gambhir's had a great start to the season but he's been chasing low totals and looked pretty meh early on. If there was more pressure on him to up the run rate early on he probably couldn't do it.

 

[weldone]

This KKR side looks formidable with every base covered

don't think they can chase 180+

Edit: ya basically what Daemon said

 

[SkyBlue]

I'd say Gujarat look the side with all bases covered at this point.If there's anything,they probably miss another solid batsmen in the middle order but still the lineup overall looks great for now.Got all the T20 specialists they need.

 

[SkyBlue]

Anyone else think Watson should open the batting with Gayle ?

 

[SteveNZ]

Yeah Maxwell really hasn't developed a brain at all has he.

He hasn't. You can tell by the blank 'how unlucky am I' look plastered across his face every time he gets out to a dead **** shot, which confirms to you he hasn't learned a

 

[Stefan9]

Anyone else think Watson should open the batting with Gayle ?

Why? Kohli has done the business in both games so far and ab has been great at number 3. Why push either of them lower to make way for watto?

 

[weldone]

I think Mumbai's team balance looks perfect on paper, although they're not winning regularly yet. The bowling is superb, except they don't have a real high-class spinner (e.g. Harbhajan of the past). The only weaklink in batting is Parthiv.

Guptill
Parthiv
Rayudu
Rohit
Buttler
Pandya
Pandya
Harbhajan
McClenaghan
Southee
Bumrah

 

[TheJediBrah]

Why? Kohli has done the business in both games so far and ab has been great at number 3. Why push either of them lower to make way for watto?

Yeah any of the 4 of them could pretty much bat anywhere, and I don't see why Watson would necessarily do a better job than the 2 already opening. Also Watto would be more suited to coming in late and hitting then Kohli, not to mention how important his bowling is to the side. Just from what little I've seen Watson seems to be their most reliable bowling option.

 

[91Jmay]

Not convinced Gayle and Kohli compliment each other that well as opening partners. Not going to be many gut busting 2s with Gayle there is there.

Would go AB, Gayle, Kohli to have more of a chance of avoiding that with Watto in later for power hitting at the death which he has done well recently.

 

[cnerd123]

I'd go Gayle and Watto opening and save ABDV and Kohli for the middle-end of the innings. Those gut busting twos will be so useful then.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I'd go Gayle and Watto opening and save ABDV and Kohli for the middle-end of the innings. Those gut busting twos will be so useful then.

Not convinced Gayle and Kohli compliment each other that well as opening partners. Not going to be many gut busting 2s with Gayle there is there.

Would go AB, Gayle, Kohli to have more of a chance of avoiding that with Watto in later for power hitting at the death which he has done well recently.

These are actually both very sensible suggestions now that I think about it. I think the take-home lesson here is that when you have such great, versatile players you could almost bat them in any order.

 

[weldone]

I'd go Gayle and Watto opening and save ABDV and Kohli for the middle-end of the innings. Those gut busting twos will be so useful then.

Ya all of them can open, but ABDV is the best finisher among them. So he should bat at 4.

 

[Prince EWS]

Ya all of them can open, but ABDV is the best finisher among them. So he should bat at 4.

Yeah I'd go Gayle-Watson-Kohli-deVilliers

I get why Watson isn't opening - he's also bowling a lot. But I think he takes the least time to get set of the four and he's also the weakest against quality spin, so I think it makes sense for him to open anyway. I don't think it makes a big difference, ultimately, but if I was up to me I'd go with that order.

 

[weldone]

Yeah I'd go Gayle-Watson-Kohli-deVilliers

I get why Watson isn't opening - he's also bowling a lot. But I think he takes the least time to get set of the four and he's also the weakest against quality spin, so I think it makes sense for him to open anyway. I don't think it makes a big difference, ultimately, but if I was up to me I'd go with that order.

Did you mean 'most'?

 

[TheJediBrah]

Yeah I'd go Gayle-Watson-Kohli-deVilliers

I get why Watson isn't opening - he's also bowling a lot. But I think he takes the least time to get set of the four and he's also the weakest against quality spin, so I think it makes sense for him to open anyway. I don't think it makes a big difference, ultimately, but if I was up to me I'd go with that order.

The more I think about it, the whole Watson bowling thing doesn't hold up as an argument for me in T20. You bowl 4 overs maximum and it's not like you're going to bat for 3-4 hours either.

Also Gayle & Watson are the least likely to be able to run quickly between the wickets late in the innings so better suited to the power play.

I'd go with this order too

edit: I think Watson would take more time to "get set" than de Villiers at least

 

[91Jmay]

Is Watson top 5 T20 player of all time?

Kohli/Gayle automatic picks for me, Then I'd go Badree because of his constantly brilliant PP bowling, silly economy rate and fact he takes wickets.

After that think Watto would be in and probably round out the group with McCullum.

Super difficult pick though.

 

[CricAddict]

Is Watson top 5 T20 player of all time?

Kohli/Gayle automatic picks for me, Then I'd go Badree because of his constantly brilliant PP bowling, silly economy rate and fact he takes wickets.

After that think Watto would be in and probably round out the group with McCullum.

Super difficult pick though.

Jayasuriya didn`t play T20 but if he had, I believe he would have been awesome in this. Malinga too will give tough competition to that top 5.

 

[weldone]

Jayasuriya didn`t play T20 but if he had, I believe he would have been awesome in this. Malinga too will give tough competition to that top 5.

Jayasuriya played T20, and demolished a few oppositions in IPL1.

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah I went back and forth over Malinga. Might be ahead of Badree because of how valuable and rare a skill death bowling of that quality is.