The Buchi Babu Cricket Tournament 2024 will start on August 15 and run till September 11 in Tamil Nadu.

Named after Indian cricket pioneer M. Buchi Babu Naidu, the Buchi Babu Cricket Tournament 2024 will see 12 teams compete for the title.

Buchi Babu Naidu is considered to be the 'Father of Madras Cricket and also founded the annual Madras Presidency Matches between Indians and Europeans.

Baroda, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat Cricket Association, Haryana, Hyderabad Cricket Association, Indian Railways, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand Cricket Association, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, TNCA President's XI and TNCA XI are the teams that will battle for the Buchi Babu Cricket Tournament 2024.

As per the format, these participating teams have been divided into four groups of three sides each.

Buchi Babu Cricket Tournament 2024 teams and groups

Group A: Madhya Pradesh, Hyderabad Cricket Association, Jharkhand Cricket Association

Group B: Indian Railways, Gujarat Cricket Association and TNCA President’s XI

Group C: Haryana, TNCA XI and Mumbai

Group D: Jammu and Kashmir, Chattisgarh and Baroda

Each team will play the other sides in four-day matches in a round-robin format. The table-topper from each group will advance to the final.

The Buchi Babu Cricket Tournament 2024 final will be played from September 8.

Sankar Cements Cricket Ground, Salem Cricket Foundation Ground, Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science Ground and NPR College Ground are the four venues that will host Buchi Babu Cricket Tournament 2024 matches.

Since its inception in 1909-1910, the Buchi Babu Cricket Tournament was India’s biggest first-class tournament until Ranji Trophy competition came into existence in 1934.

The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) revived the All-India Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament after a gap of six years in 2023. 

Madhya Pradesh are the defending champions of the Buchi Babu Cricket Tournament after they defeated Delhi by a massive 250 runs in the 2023 final in September.

India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Sarfaraz Khan are some of the well known cricketers who will participate in the 2024 edition.

Where to watch Buchi Babu Cricket Tournament 2024 live

Live streaming of the Buchi Babu Cricket Tournament 2024 will be available on the TNCA app and TNCA's YouTube channel.

There will be no live telecast of the Buchi Babu Cricket Tournament 2024 on any TV channel in India.

Buchi Babu Cricket Tournament 2024 schedule and match start times

All match times are in India Standard Time (IST)

Day and Date	Match	Venue	Time (IST)
Thursday, August 15	Madhya Pradesh vs Jharkhand Cricket Association	Sankar Cements Cricket Ground	9:30 AM
Thursday, August 15	Indian Railways vs Gujarat Cricket Association	Salem Cricket Foundation Ground	9:30 AM
Thursday, August 15	Mumbai vs Haryana	Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science Ground	9:30 AM
Thursday, August 15	Jammu and Kashmir vs Chhattisgarh	NPR College Ground	9:30 AM
Wednesday, August 21	Jharkhand Cricket Association vs Hyderabad Cricket Association	Sankar Cements Cricket Ground	9:30 AM
Wednesday, August 21	Indian Railways vs TNCA President's XI	Salem Cricket Foundation Ground	9:30 AM
Wednesday, August 21	TNCA XI vs Haryana	Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science Ground	9:30 AM
Wednesday, August 21	Jammu and Kashmir vs Baroda	NPR College Ground	9:30 AM
Tuesday, August 27	Madhya Pradesh vs Hyderabad Cricket Association	Sankar Cements Cricket Ground	9:30 AM
Tuesday, August 27	Gujarat Cricket Association vs TNCA President's XI	Salem Cricket Foundation Ground	9:30 AM
Tuesday, August 27	TNCA XI vs Mumbai	Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science Ground	9:30 AM
Tuesday, August 27	Baroda vs Chhattisgarh	NPR College Ground	9:30 AM
Monday, September 2	Semi-final 1	Sankar Cements Cricket Ground	9:30 AM
Monday, September 2	Semi-final 2	NPR College Ground	9:30 AM
Sunday, September 8	Buchi Babu Cricket Tournament 2024 final	NPR College Ground	9:30 AM

Photo credit: Imago

The Indian cricket team will take on hosts Ireland in the first T20I of the two-match series at the Malahide Cricket Club Ground in Dublin on Sunday, June 26. The match will start at 9:00 PM IST (Indian Standard Time).

India will miss the services of some of their star players including Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, who are currently playing in the tour match against Leicestershire ahead of the rescheduled England-India fifth Test at Edgbaston starting July 1.

In the absence of India’s regular T20I captain Rohit Sharma, who has tested positive for COVID-19, India will be led by Hardik Pandya for the first time.

On the other hand, Andrew Balbirnie-led Ireland will look to provide a tough fight to India at their home.

IRE vs IND Dream11 prediction

India have a dominant head-to-head record against Ireland in the T20I format, winning all the three matches that they have played so far. The last time Ireland hosted India in 2018, the visitors won both the T20I matches comprehensively.

Going by past head-to-head record and recent form, IND will start as overwhelming favourites against IRE heading into Sunday’s T20I encounter.

IRE vs IND Dream11 team tips for India tour of Ireland 2022

Top Tip: Best batter 

India’s Ishan Kishan will be the player to watch out for in the first T20I. The swashbuckling opening batter was the highest run-getter in the recently-concluded T20I series against South Africa, amassing 206 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 150.36 and an average of 41.20. Kishan will look to continue his impressive form against Ireland on Sunday.

Top Tip: Best bowler

Among the bowlers, India’s vice-captain Bhuvneshwar Kumar could once again be the difference-maker. The 32-year-old fast bowler will be high on confidence after being adjudged the Player of the Series against South Africa. He picked six wickets in five matches at an impressive economy of just 6.07. Considering the conditions in Dublin, Bhuvneshwar could be the wrecker-in-chief for India and will be a worthy fantasy pick for this match.

Top Tip: Best all-rounder and wicket-keeper

As far as all-rounders are concerned, India captain Hardik Pandya will be the overwhelming choice. Hardik scored 117 runs at a strike rate of 153.94 and an average of 58.50 against South Africa. Apart from his batting credentials, Hardik has bowl crucial overs for his team. At 9.5 credits, he could be a valuable addition to any fantasy team.

For the wicket-keeper spot, India’s Dinesh Karthik pips Lorcan Tucker of Ireland. Karthik has been in great form with the bat recently, scoring 92 runs at a strike rate of 158.62 against South Africa. He has also been safe behind the stumps. The India wicket-keeper will be a good fantasy pick at 9 credits.

IRE vs IND full squads

India: Hardik Pandya (captain), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

Ireland: Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny (wicket-keeper), Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Conor Olphert, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wicket-keeper), Craig Young

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Featured photo: Aamir QURESHI / AFP

Team Mumbai will take on Team Rajasthan in Match 9 of Indian T20 League 2022 at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday, April 2. The match will start at 3:30 PM IST.

Rajasthan and Mumbai registered contrasting starts to their latest campaigns, with the former claiming a 61-run win over Hyderabad and five-time champions Mumbai slumping to a four-wicket loss at the hands of Delhi.

One of the most entertaining fixtures in the past in the Indian T20 League, the latest Mumbai vs Rajasthan clash will see the latter return to the venue where they won the inaugural edition with late legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne as captain.   

Mumbai vs Rajasthan key player battles

Kieron Pollard vs Ravichandran Ashwin

Kieron Pollard has been one of Mumbai’s biggest batting mainstays in the Indian T20 League, with 3,271 runs in 179 matches for the franchise. But surprisingly enough, the star all-rounder has had a hard time against Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

The pair have met on 10 occasions, with Ashwin dismissing Pollard four times in 37 deliveries. Kieron Pollard has managed to score 54 runs but the tally seems a bit underwhelming for a player of his calibre.

Kieron Pollard record vs Ravichandran Ashwin
Innings	Runs scored	Balls faced	Dismissed	Strike rate
10	54	37	4	145.94

Ishan Kishan vs Yuzvendra Chahal

Ishan Kishan’s battle against Yuzvendra Chahal will be a decisive one in the Mumbai vs Rajasthan fixture.

In five head-to-head meetings, Kishan has slammed just 47 runs off 25 deliveries while being dismissed on three occasions. Looking at the former’s strong start with the bat in Indian T20 League 2022, Yuzvendra Chahal will have the chief task to stop Ishan Kishan from notching another big score on the trot.

Ishan Kishan’s record vs Yuzvendra Chahal
Innings	Runs scored	Balls faced	Dismissed	Strike rate
5	47	25	3	188.00

Shimron Hetmyer vs Jasprit Bumrah

Shimron Hetmyer is one batter who can play crucial knocks in the middle order for Rajasthan, and he showed a glimpse of his usual best in the 61-run victory against Hyderabad. Given the stakes at hand, Hetmyer will aim to improve his Indian T20 League record against Jasprit Bumrah.

In seven deliveries bowled by Bumrah, Shimron Hetmyer has hit just six runs while being bowled out twice.

Shimron Hetmyer's record vs Jasprit Bumrah
Innings	Runs scored	Balls faced	Dismissed	Strike rate
4	6	7	2	85.71

Featured photo: AFP / PUNIT PARANJPE

An eventful day 1 of the Indian T20 League 2022 mega auction saw all ten teams going big for their targets. Opening batter Shikhar Dhawan opened the proceedings, joining Team Punjab for INR 8.25 crore before Shreyas Iyer became the first player to breach the INR 10-crore mark.

Among the bowlers, a certain Deepak Chahar attracted the highest bid with a price of INR 14 crore while Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga was among the top all-rounder with an INR 10.75 crore bid.

The highlight of the day, however, was the intense bidding war for Ishan Kishan, who ended up as the most expensive buy of day 1. 

On that note, let’s look at five players who attracted the highest bids on Day 1 of the Indian T20 League 2022 mega auction.

Ishan Kishan to Team Mumbai - INR 15.25 crore

Starting off with a base price of INR 2 crore, it took little to no time for suitors to breach the INR 8 crore mark for Ishan Kishan. By that time, it was evident that Mumbai wasn't going to go down that easily. Until 8 crore, Mumbai managed to ward off interest from Punjab before Gujarat entered the fray to take the bid above INR 10 crore.

By the 12 crore mark, Hyderabad decided to trouble the five-time Indian T20 League winners before Mumbai won the bid at INR 15.25 crore. This made Ishan Kishan the most expensive buy of Day 1 and also made him the second most expensive Indian player at the Indian T20 League auction after Yuvraj Singh's 16 crore.

Deepak Chahar to Team Chennai - INR 14 crore

What started off as rather unhurried bidding ended up with Deepak Chahar pocketing a whopping INR 14 crore from Team Chennai. Team Delhi and Team Hyderabad started the war from his base price of INR 2 crore. The two teams were matching every bid until INR 12 crore before Chennai made a late entry.

Rajasthan joined the defending champions at INR 13.75 crore but Chennai were always a step ahead. By the end, Chennai had their man, albeit at a price of INR 14 crore.

Shreyas Iyer to Team Kolkata - INR 12.25 crore

Former Delhi captain Shreyas Iyer was one of the winners from the marquee set of players, attracting a bid of INR 12.25 crore from Team Kolkata. Iyer was always tipped to attract big bids in the auction hence it does not really come as any surprise that a team went over the 12 crore mark for the batter.

The two-time Indian T20 League winners entered the bidding war after Team Delhi and Team Gujarat had stretched the bid to over INR 6 crore. Kolkata’s idea behind Iyer’s acquisition is a part of their ‘long term thinking�?and the fact that they might as well make him the captain isn't really touched.

“That's a decision the coach and the think tank will take," Venky Mysore, Team Kolkata CEO, said on the official broadcast during a break in proceedings. "I think we need to just digest the activity of today and tomorrow and take stock. Between Cummins and Shreyas, we have got solid options. But the think tank will take the decision."

Shardul Thakur to Team Delhi - INR 10.75 crore

Another top pick among bowlers was Shardul Thakur. The pacer bowler won the bid of INR 10.75 crore as Delhi managed to ward off interest from Team Punjab and Team Gujarat.

The three teams were on the neck of each other from the very beginning. After Punjab and Gujarat had started off the proceedings, Chennai joined the foray at INR 6 crore. The Yellow Army, however, dropped off after the 10 crore mark, leaving Delhi and Punjab the only competitors.

Delhi eventually got his signature for INR 10.75 crore.

Harshal Patel to Team Bangalore - INR 10.75 crore

Last season’s highest wicket-taker, Harshal Patel was rightly expected to attract heavy interest and the suitor did not disappoint. Team Hyderabad seemed adamant about acquiring his services but Bangalore were always a step ahead.

The pace bowler, who went for a mere INR 20 lakh last season, got a 5375 per cent hike this year as Bangalore managed to retain his services at INR 10.75 crore. By that time, he was the first bowler to cross the 10 crore mark on day 1 of the Indian T20 League 2022 mega auction.

Quite interestingly, as many as four players went for exactly INR 10.75 crore. Apart from Shardul Thakur and Harshal Patel, the likes of Nicholas Pooran and Wanindu Hasaranga were snapped up at the same price by Hyderabad and Bangalore respectively.

Featured photo: AFP / Prakash Singh

Mayank Agarwal’s unbeaten 99 for Punjab against Delhi in Ahmedabad on Sunday was only the seventh instance of a batsman missing a century by just one run in the Indian T20 League. While some remained not out, others succumbed to the pressure. Here’s a look at the previous six 99s.

Suresh Raina 99*(52), Chennai vs Hyderabad, 2013

Hyderabad chose to bowl first at their home ground and watched Suresh Raina and Michael Hussey put on a massive 133 for the second wicket in just 12 overs. Raina was at the peak of his powers at that time; he cracked 11 fours and three sixes as he soared to an unbeaten 99 from just 52 balls. Ishant Sharma disappeared for 66 runs from four overs and Chennai surged to 223/3. A stunned Hyderabad managed a mere 146/8 in response.

Virat Kohli 99 (58), Bangalore vs Delhi, 2013

Two days after Raina’s onslaught, Bangalore’s Virat Kohli was run out for 99 off 58 against Delhi at the erstwhile Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. The captain hit the last ball of the Bangalore innings to sweeper cover but could not complete an improbable second run that would have taken him to his century.

Delhi came mighty close to overhauling Bangalore’s 183/4, falling short by just four runs, and Irfan Pathan ending on 23 from just 11.

Prithvi Shaw 99 (55), Delhi vs Kolkata, 2019

It took six years for the next 99 to come in the Indian T20 League, and it came in Delhi again. Prithvi Shaw hammered 12 fours and three sixes from just 55 balls but could not take Delhi home as he fell in the 19th over of the chase. 

Delhi ended up squandering a strong position thereafter to end level with Kolkata on 185. Thankfully, Shaw’s effort was not to be in vain as his team came through victorious in the Super Over.

Chris Gayle 99* (64), Punjab vs Bangalore, 2019

This was the first 99 in the IPL that came in a losing cause. Chris Gayle belted ten fours and five sixes in 64 balls against his former franchise Bangalore as Punjab posted 173/4. He had little support from the rest of the line-up though. 

Bangalore were to hunt down the target with four balls to spare for the loss of only Parthiv Patel and Kohli as AB de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis hauled them home with a quick partnership.

Ishan Kishan 99 (58), Mumbai vs Bangalore, IPL 2020

Mumbai were in trouble at 78/4 in pursuit of Bangalore’s 201/3 when Kieron Pollard walked in. Ishan Kishan, who had been struggling until then, suddenly started mowing sixes over deep midwicket. He hit nine of them but fell off the penultimate ball of the chase trying to win the match with another six. Pollard hit a four off the last ball to take it to a Super Over. Kishan was too exhausted to come out to bat again and Mumbai went on to lose.

Chris Gayle 99 (63), KXIP v RR, IPL 2020

The ‘Universe Boss�?holds numerous T20 batting records, and remains the only man to have scored two 99s in the Indian T20 League. Eight sixes and six fours rained off Gayle’s blade to catapult Punjab to 185/4. And for the second time, the great man was to end on the losing side as Rajasthan made a mockery of the chase. Ben Stokes and Sanju Samson led a commanding batting performance to hand a seven-wicket loss to Gayle’s team in only 17.3 overs.

Featured photo: AFP / Sajjad Hussain

The Indian cricket team bounced back in emphatic fashion on Sunday as the hosts defeated England by seven wickets in the second T20I to level the five-match series 1-1 in Ahmedabad.

Chasing 165 for a win, the Men in Blue rode on debutant Ishan Kishan's 32-ball 56 and captain Virat Kohli’s 73 not out off 49 balls to chase down the target in 17.5 overs.

Replacing Shikhar Dhawan in the playing XI, Kishan clobbered four sixes and five fours in his innings to give the hosts a blitzkrieg start in their run-chase. The southpaw was later adjudged the player of the match for his match-winning innings at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Earlier, the Indian bowlers brought in a change of pace towards the end of the England innings to restrict the visitors to 164 for six in 20 overs.

India off-spinner Washington Sundar and fast bowler Shardul Thakur claimed two wickets each while pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal picked one wicket apiece.

Meanwhile, Twitter hailed Ishan Kishan and Virat Kohli for their match-winning innings.

Another not out in a chase for India to win the game for his team - @imVkohli

�?Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 14, 2021

While the kids were having their moment in the lights, the master has looked supreme today

�?Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 14, 2021

Form is temporary. Class is permanent. And today’s innings was another Kohli Masterclass in a run-chase. Only player to score 3000+ T20i runs. 50+ average in all three formats. ‍♂�?#IndvEng

�?Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 14, 2021

Well played @ishankishan51 Loved your fearless approach #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/ELpQLhadyW

�?VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 14, 2021

Told you all the @mipaltan were better than India ... What a debut @ishankishan51 !! #INDvsENG

�?Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 14, 2021

From u-19 to IPL to Team India, Ishan Kishan keeps climbing higher, continues to grow taller.

�?Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 14, 2021

Sher ko zyada der shant nahin rakh sakte..#IndiavsEngland pic.twitter.com/Wnq00AgVFJ

�?Angry Rantman (@angry_rantman) March 14, 2021

This was the missing riddle in India’s T20 jigsaw puzzle: an explosive opener who can do तोड़ फोड़ #IshanKishan @ishankishan51 #INDvsENG

�?Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) March 14, 2021

Virat to Morgan after 1st game #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/0ITRTDHDaX

�?Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 14, 2021

India and England will lock horns once again in the third T20I to be played at the same venue on Tuesday, March 16.

Feature image courtesy: BCCI 2021.

Swashbuckling batters Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Rahul Tewatia have earned their maiden India call-up for the upcoming T20I series against England in Ahmedabad.

The Chetan Sharma-headed selection panel made six changes to the squad that went to Australia, clinching the three-match T20I series 2-1 Down Under in December. While Sanju Samson and Mayank Agarwal have been dropped from the squad, Jasprit Bumrah was rested. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami and Manish Pandey have been ruled out due to their respective injuries.

Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant has been recalled to the T20I squad after having been dropped for the Australia tour, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar makes a return to international cricket after more than a year.

Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Rahul Tewatia are selected for the first time as Varun Chakravarthy, T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rishabh Pant all return for India's T20 side to face England in March #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/shjLDp34pS

�?ICC (@ICC) February 20, 2021

The trio of Ishan, Suryakumar and Tewatia have been rewarded for their performances in the latest edition of the Indian T20 League. Ishan had amassed the most runs for Mumbai, scoring 516 runs in 14 games including four fifties while Yadav accumulated 480 runs in 16 games for the champion side. While all-rounder Tewatia accumulated  255 runs and bagged 10 wickets in 14 games for Rajasthan.

Earlier in the day, Kishan hammered a 173-run knock off just 94 balls to help Jharkhand post the highest team score in the history of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Kishan-led side posted a total of 422/9 in the allotted fifty overs against Madhya Pradesh in an Elite Group B match at the Holkar Stadium Indore. 

India's T20I squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur.

The first match of the five-match T20I series will be played on March 12 after the ongoing Test series concludes at the newly built Motera Stadium. Both the teams are gearing up for the third Test which commences on February 24.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter/mipaltan

Ishan Kishan smashed a swashbuckling ton to help Jharkhand register the highest total in the history of Vijay Hazare Trophy - India’s domestic 50-over tournament - against Madhya Pradesh in an Elite Group B match at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. 

After being put in to bat, the Jharkhand captain Ishan today scored 173 off 94 balls as his side posted 422 for 9 in their quota of 50 overs.

173 (94)
11 sixes and 19 fours

Jharkhand skipper Ishan Kishan has unleashed himself at the #VijayHazareTrophy #OneFamily #MumbaiIndians @ishankishan51 pic.twitter.com/NNC4Osqxw6

�?Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) February 20, 2021

Previously, the highest total in Vijay Hazare Trophy was held by Madhya Pradesh when they registered 412 for 6 against Railways in 2010.

Interestingly, Jharkhand’s 422/9 is also the second-highest total in all List A matches, including ODIs played in India.

Ishan slammed five sixes and 12 fours to bring up 102 runs in just 74 balls before unleashing the beast within himself. The Jharkhand skipper scored 71 runs in his next 20 balls to help his side cross the 200-run mark in the 26th over. 

Kishan was later dismissed for 173 by Gaurav Yadav in the 28th over, who was the pick of the bowlers for Madhya Pradesh, having finished with figures of four for 73. 

Kishan’s breathtaking innings included 11 sixes and 19 fours. This knock of Kishan is now the highest score by a wicket-keeper batsman in the history of the tournament and also the third-highest individual score registered by wicketkeeper-captain in the history of List-A cricket.

Third-highest score by a wicketkeeper-captain in List A cricket

The Vijay Hazare trophy kicks off with a , courtesy Ishan Kishan #OneFamily #MumbaiIndians @ishankishan51 pic.twitter.com/iPTLRbSaZa

�?Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) February 20, 2021

Apart from Kishan, Anukul Roy also contributed with a knock of 72 runs while Virat Singh scored 68.

In reply, Madhya Pradesh were bundled out for 98 as Jharkhand recorded a 324-run win in their first match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Varun Aaron was the wrecker-in-chief for Jharkhand as he bagged six wickets for just 37 runs.

Ishan Kishan-led Jharkhand will next take on Punjab at the same venue on February 22.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter/mipaltan

The 2020 Indian T20 League season has gone by in a flash and the two pre-tournament favourites, Mumbai and Delhi, will battle in the final to be crowned champions in the most unique circumstances in the league��s history.

Right from the start, I believed that these two teams were a cut above the rest and they proved me right by finishing first and second in the league stage and then dealing their way through the playoff muddle to reach the final.

Having keenly observed these two sides, I feel it’s still too difficult to call which team will win it all because both teams have proven match-winners that can turn a game on its head on their own. So, here’s my pick of four players, two from each side, that I believe will have a big say in the final:

Mumbai �?Jasprit Bumrah

Every time I watch Bumrah bowl, I'm in awe of what he produces on the cricket field for his side with the ball in his hand. He started the season in a an unconvincing fashion, conceding well over eight runs an over, but he found his groove midway through the campaign and is now in the hunt for his first Purple Cap win. Bumrah has taken 15 wickets in his last six matches and has conceded over 6.25 runs just once in those half a dozen games. Delhi already know that they have to be wary of Bumrah after he dismantled them in Qualifier 1. It’s simple logic; when Bumrah does well, Mumbai follow suit. So if the speedster performs well in the final, expect Mumbai to win their fifth title.

Delhi �?Shikhar Dhawan

Despite scoring three ducks in his last seven matches, Shikhar Dhawan is Delhi's most in-form batsman, a testament to just how substandard the rest of the batting order has been. But, simply chastising the likes of Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant does not tell the full story. Dhawan has hit two centuries and two fifties in the other four matches of the aforementioned seven-game stretch and is one of only two batsmen, alongside KL Rahul, with over 600 runs this season. In my opinion, Delhi only stand a chance against Mumbai if Dhawan bats the majority of their 20 overs and if he does, they can certainly usurp the reigning champions and win their maiden title.

Mumbai �?Ishan Kishan

With Ishan Kishan, Mumbai have proved that perseverance pays off. Over the years, we have seen Mumbai being extremely patient in nurturing and fine-tuning raw talents like Jasprit Bumrah and the Pandya brothers, Hardik and Krunal, and are now reaping the benefits of it as each plays a crucial role in the team’s success. Similarly, they spent a boatload of money to sign young Ishan Kishan in 2018, knowing very well that they are signing a player for the future rather than the present and two years later, their patience is being rewarded as the southpaw has delivered. Kishan is now Mumbai's leading runscorer with 483 runs alongside Quinton de Kock and has shown that he’s capable of being the aggressor as well as the anchor when the situation demands. He has one more game to cap off the season in grand style and I'm backing him to do well in the final.

Delhi �?Marcus Stoinis

When Delhi made the trade for Marcus Stoinis on the back of his incredible season in the Big Bash League, the team knew they were getting a superstar that could win games on his own for the side. He did exactly that in the first few matches but waned off a bit in the middle portion of the season, but here at the business end of the season, he��s playing his best cricket with both bat and ball, proving to be the difference-maker for Delhi. His 65 against Mumbai kept Delhi in the hunt and his incredible performance against Hyderabad, where he scored 38 with the bat and picked three wickets with the ball helped Delhi reach their first Indian T20 League final. Stoinis missed out in the final of the Big Bash League, scoring just 10 off four as his team succumbed to a defeat and he will be eager not to finish the year with two runner-up medals to his name.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter.com / Mumbai

It wasn't even deemed a possibility until Rohit Sharma got injured and Mumbai decided to throw caution to the wind and go against conventions by putting together Quinton de Kock and Ishan Kishan, two left-handers, at the top of the batting order.

They clicked instantly and a 116-run opening stand ensued between the two in a fairly comfortable run-chase against Chennai. In the following game against Rajasthan, Kishan again got going but de Kock was dismissed early. Then, in the clash against Delhi late in the season, Ishan Kishan showed complete disdain against Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje to smash 72 in 47 balls, perhaps his best knock in the season.

The conundrum facing Mumbai now is with Rohit Sharma returning, there's only room for one of de Kock and Kishan at the top and the South African is favoured to take the spot as he has never batted in the middle-order too much while Kishan is a mainstay middle-order batsman.

But this disturbs the method that has worked wonderfully well for Mumbai in the recent past, most notably in that game against Delhi.

So who will open the batting for Mumbai in the playoffs? They will play a minimum of two games in the playoffs anyway, and deciding the perfect two for the top from game one will be pertinent.

Factors to keep in mind

Scoring and surviving in the Powerplay

The template that has worked for most teams is one opener batting deep - when scoring quickly after the Powerplay too - into the innings. With Mumbai, the top-order batsmen who play in the Powerplay have had contrasting fortunes.

• In seven out of 10 innings in the Powerplay this season, Rohit has fallen inside the first six overs while scoring at a strike-rate of 111.38.
• De Kock has been dismissed on seven occasions too but has played 14 innings and scored significantly quicker at 132.80.
• Kishan, like Rohit, is more sedate in the Powerplay, striking at 119.30 but bats deep. He has been dismissed just once in the Powerplay in nine innings inside the first six overs.

How it affects de Kock

Quinton de Kock is Mumbai's highest run-scorer this season with 443 runs and Kishan comes next, with 428. De Kock's run-scoring with different partners has a different template this season.

• When batting with Kishan, de Kock scores at a more sedate pace of 7.62 runs per over.
• With Rohit, though, de Kock is more aggressive and goes at 9.2 runs per over.

Interestingly, the more aggressive bit works better for de Kock as he has been dismissed just thrice batting with Rohit and five times when batting with Kishan.

How it affects balance

If Kishan and de Kock open, it forces Mumbai to push Suryakumar Yadav to No. 4 with Rohit Sharma batting at No. 3. This again delays the entry point of impact players like the Pandya brothers and Pollard, especially as Rohit is someone who likes to settle in and then go big.

This is the template associated with Rohit, but data does not quite back this up as Rohit has a lower dot ball percentage and slightly better strike-rate when playing in the No. 3 role in the league. But his weakness to leg-spin of late exposes him in the middle-order and forces him to be quiet.

Since 2017, Rohit has an average of 17.2 and a strike-rate just above 120 when batting at No. 3 in the Indian T20 League - a far cry from his much better numbers when opening. Kishan is good against spinners and allows Mumbai to not push Krunal over Hardik and Pollard, in turn not delaying the big hitters' time to go berserk.

Verdict: Rohit alongside de Kock with Kishan as a floater works best for Mumbai at this point of time despite the massive success of the Kishan - de Kock pairing.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter.com / Mumbai