Legends Special T20 2023

Match 1: IM vs AL

Preview

The inaugural game of the Legends Special T20 2023 will feature IM vs. AL. The Indian side struggled in the past event and would be hoping for a greater presence this year. The Asian side features some of the top subcontinent players and will seek to put on a solid display in this game.

IM have a great bowling arsenal but a shallow batting lineup. It's going to be a significant task for the squad to face a team with batting depth. Both clubs will be nervous as they begin their campaigns, and we expect a solid battle between the former legends.

The Gautam Gambhir-led Indian side will want to forget about last year's competition when the Maharajas won only one game. They have a great collection of talents and will look forward to putting on a good performance. Their rivals have a quality lineup, and Gambhir will be looking for a strong start to put on a strong statement at the beginning of the tournament. 

Although they face a formidable fast-bowling attack, the former Indian batting duo Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa will seek to get off to a strong start in this affair. Suresh Raina will seek to form partnerships with Mohammad Kaif and Manvinder Bisla at No. 3. As they add depth to their batting, Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh must add runs while batting down the order.

Dinda and Sreesanth will want to weave their magic with the new ball and show off their skills. Harbhajan Singh is a veteran bowler who must keep the run flow under control in the middle innings alongside Irfan Pathan. Pragyan Ojha and Parvinder Awana diversify this attack, making it more powerful.

Shahid Afridi-led side, on the other hand, will be at ease leading a team packed with matchwinners. Last year's debut season saw the team perform excellently only to lose in the final to WG.  The Indians will try to find ways to win cricket, and the captain wants to get the best out of his men.

Tilakaratne Dilshan and Rajin Saleh will seek to get the team off to a good start. The team's middle order is powerful, with Asghar Afghan, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Upul Tharanga all noted for their stroke play. Thisara Perera, Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi bolster the batting order.

Shoaib Akhtar and Dilhara Fernando will pitch first for the side, and they hope to get off to a solid start in this match. The middle overs of this contest are crucial for Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi. Razzak and Perera add bowling options to the team, enabling a well-rounded attack.

Match Details

Match: IM vs AL, 1st Match, Legends T20 League, 2023

Date: Friday, March 10, 2023

Time: 08:00 PM

Venue: West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha

Pitch and Weather Report 

West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha is a batters’ paradise. The pitch here is flat, and the ball gets faster in the outfield. Although there is nothing on this ground for the pace bowlers, it has been a hunting ground for the spinners. 

The Doha sky is forecasted to be clear would be clear on March 10, with hot and humid conditions during the match. The temperature is expected to be around 26 degrees Celsius. The team batting first would need more than 180 runs to get a fighting total on the scoreboard. 

IM vs AL Squads

IM: Gautam Gambhir (c), Mohammad Kaif, Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Manvinder Bisla, Robin Uthappa, Ashok Dinda, Harbhajan Singh, Joginder Sharma, Parvinder Awana, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar, Pravin Tambe, S Sreesanth, Stuart Binny

AL: Shahid Afridi (c), Muthiah Muralidaran, Asghar Afghan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Rajin Saleh, Abdul Razzaq, Paras Khadka, Thisara Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Abdur Razzak, Dilhara Fernando, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Amir

IM vs AL Probable Playing XIs

IM: Gautam Gambhir (c), Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Mohammad Kaif, S Sreesanth, Robin Uthappa (wk), Ashok Dinda, Pragyan Ojha, Parvinder Awana, Manvinder Bisla

AL: Shahid Afridi (c), Misbah-ul-Haq, Asghar Afghan, Dilhara Fernando, Upul Tharanga, Tilakaratne Dilshan (wk), Rajin Saleh, Shoaib Akhtar, Thisara Perera, Abdur Razzak, Abdul Razzaq

Match Prediction

The Indian side have a strong top order with Gautam Gambhir being the leader of the pack who has already won many Domestic franchise trophies and International cups. The lower middle order will probably struggle due to their less depth in batting. The Asian side, on the other hand, have a number of all-rounders and good depth in their batting and bowling side. But depending on a better top order and GG’s captaincy, the Indian side starts as the strong favourites to win this match. 

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