The inaugural season of the Maharashtra Premier League 2023 has reached its business end. In the first playoff game, the Ratnagiri Jets will face the Kolhapur Tuskers at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Both teams are coming here after winning their last game. In the rain-interrupted match, RJ beat Puneri Bappa by 8 runs, while KT beat Eagle Nashik Titans by 9 wickets.
It’s worth noting that both KT and RJ won four out of five matches in the league stage. However, RJ finished on top because of a better net run rate. Both teams will be looking to continue their dominating run to secure direct entry to the finals of the inaugural season. RJ’s single defeat can be attributed to Tuskers only, as in their last encounter during the league stage, KT beat RJ by four wickets. RJ would be keen to get revenge for that defeat.
RJ vs KT Qualifier 1: Pitch Report
The pitch at the Maharastra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune is slow and lacks pace and bounce. The ball tends to grip the surface, requiring batters to adapt their game to the pitch’s pace. It is crucial for them to adjust before attempting high-risk shots. However, due to overcast conditions, the Pacers might find early swings, which might trouble the top-order batter. Opting to bowl first will be a great choice during the toss.
RJ vs KT: Probable Playing XI
Ratnagiri Jets: Nikhil Naik (WK), Kiran Chormale, Azim Kazi (c), Tushar Srivastav, Preetam Patil, Rohit Patil, Divyang Hinganekar, Vijay Pawal, Dhiraj Phatangare, Pradeep Dadhe, Nikit Dhumal
Kolhapur Tuskers: Kedar Jadhav (c), Naushad Shaikh, Ankit Bawne, Sahil Autade (wk), Taranjit Singh, Sachin Dhas, Atman Pore, Akshay Darekar, Nihal Tusamad, Manoj Yadav, Shreyash Chavan
RJ vs KT: Dream 11 Prediction
Nikhil Naik, A Banwe, Siddharth Mhatre, Tushar Srivastav, Preetam Patil, Azim Kazi, Divyang Hingarekar, Manoj Yadav, Kunal Thorat, Pradeep Dadhe, and Shreyash Chavan
Best Choice For Captain:
Ankit Bawne:- Ankit Bawne might be a great choice for captain. He has been phenomenal throughout the league and has single-handedly led the Kolhapur Tuskers in their recent victories. He is the tournament’s highest run-scorer, with 339 runs scored in five games. Bawne has a mind-boggling average of 113.00 and has already smashed one hundred and three fifties. Other options are Azim Kazi, Manoj Yadav, etc.
Best Choice For Vice-Captain:
Manoj Yadav:- Manoj Yadav, another Kolhapur Tuskers player, has established his authority in this event. He has taken nine wickets in five games and is the tournament’s third-top wicket-taker. In the previous game against the Eagle Nashik Titans, he effortlessly conquered magic by taking a 5-fer. In the last game, Yadav took 5 wickets in 2 overs and allowed only 6 runs, including a hat-trick. Other options are Azim Kazi, Ankit Bawne, Kedar Jadhav etc.
