What does a good daily fantasy cricket team at 11wickets.com, India’s trusted fantasy sports platform, made of? 1 wicket-keeper, 3 to 5 batsmen, 3 to 5 bowlers and 1 to 3 all-rounders, which makes a total of 11 cricketers playing on the field for a team.
The online fantasy cricket fans know that India, unlike England or South Africa, hardly ever had the joy of top quality all-rounders. This made the captain’s task difficult as he needed to search for alternatives to complete the fifth bowler’s quota of 10 overs.
To provide balance to the side and cricket fantasy team, the majority of the top order batsmen would bowl a number of overs of medium pace, off-spin or leg-spin regularly to back up the regular bowlers. Along the way, they shattered a few critical partnerships and changed a number of matches on its head.
Here is a list of 5 such performances. The fantasy cricket league fans should notice these bowling attempts, which made it possible for India win the match.
Rahul Dravid
We have always known Rahul Dravid as “THE WALL”. Why? It is because of his almost impregnable defence. Dravid had this amazing attitude of putting his team first ahead of everything.
In 2000, India was playing against South Africa at Kochi in the 1st ODI. South African skipper Hansie Cronje, decided to bat and his decision proved right by the openers Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs. In 42 overs South Africa was cruising at 249 for 1. Sourav Ganguly was captaining India for the first time as the full-time captain.
Without the fall of a wicket, Indian bowlers were looking hapless and out of ideas. It was then Ganguly asked Dravid to bowl, who had picked up batsmen with his part-time off-spin and has started bowling a few economical overs. Dravid produced magic and picked up Gary Kirsten for 115 and Lance Klusener for 0 in the same over. His magic figure was 9-1-43-2 and he was the best bowler for the match.
India restricted South Africa from making runs to 301/3, chased the target and won the match.
Yuvraj Singh
Yuvi was one of the important teammates of 2011 WC as he has picked up 15 wickets in the entire tournament. India was playing against Ireland in the World Cup 2011. Ireland was fresh of their well-known win against England and thus Indian team was wary of the team. India decided to bowl first.
Ireland was shaken with 2 quick blows, but skipper Will Porterfield and Niall O’Brien resurrected the innings with a 113 run-stand.
At this time, Yuvraj was launched into the attack and began bowling a couple of economical overs. He first picked White then the Ireland dangerman Kevin O’Brien for 9. Yuvraj was bowling it slow and the pitch was turning and gripping. He even picked the innings top scorer Alex Cusack, Porterfield and John Mooney. Yuvraj was the star with 10-0-31-5.
Virender Sehwag
India was playing against South Africa in the 2002 ICC Knockout Trophy Semi-Finals in Colombo. Sourav Ganguly decided to bat first against a powerful South African team and reached a competitive 261.
South Africa made a poor start losing Graeme Smith, but quickly Gibbs and Kallis took over the situation with 176 run. India looked hopeless and Ganguly took a chance by introducing Sehwag. Sehwag started to bowl an amazing spell. At this point, South Africa needed 34 from 4 overs.
Following some more good overs, the score came down to 21 from 6 balls. Sehwag was asked to bowl the crucial last over. Sehwag ended the match with figures of 5-0-25-3. India won.
Sachin Tendulkar
What can we say about this God of Cricket? He has been arguably the greatest batsman. As a bowler he has the record of over 200 international wickets. He wanted to be a fast bowler. Tendulkar had smashed the touring Australian team in 1998 test series.
Tendulkar ended up with his best ODI figure 10-1-32-5, though he failed with his bat in the first ODI in Kochi.
Sourav Ganguly
India and Pakistan rivalry is nothing new. Indian team was off to a great start in the 1997 Sahara Cup, winning the first 2 matches.
Pakistan recovered stronger in the third game and India scored only 182/6 in 50 overs after winning the toss and selecting to field first.
Pakistan got off with Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi smashing the Indian bowlers. They scored 50 in the 8th over. After skipper Ramiz Raja was dismissed, the score was 87/3 in 12 overs. Sachin Tendulkar, the then skipper introduced the wily Sourav Ganguly into the attack. Once Ganguly had his groove, he bowled several tight overs and the tension began to mount on the Pakistani batsmen. Ganguly bowled a marvellous spell and ended up with 10-3-16-5.
Thanks for reading! Play fantasy sports and enjoy!
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