India and Pakistan are ahead in their respective T20I series this week although for India, at least, the series is still alive and kicking. Pakistan are 2-0 up against Bangladesh at home and have a dead rubber at the beginning of the week. Moneyball fantasy managers will also be eyeing the Sri Lankan tour of Zimbabwe to grab some easy points.
Shreyas Iyer
Country: India
Match/Series: India vs New Zealand, T20I
Shreyas Iyer has been rock solid for India in the middle-order since walking into the ODI and T20I teams. In ODIs he averages 44.25 and in T20s in the last three years, it is in the upper half of 30. In New Zealand, Iyer has been in terrific form so far with telling knocks in both matches at Eden Park. Since 2019, Iyer has the most sixes by any Indian in all T20 cricket.
Shoaib Malik
Country: Pakistan
Match/Series: Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 3rd T20I
Malik has an average of 31.36 in T20Is with a strike rate of 124.18. A veteran batsman with excellent game awareness, Malik was at the forefront of Pakistan's win early in the series against Bangladesh. His recent form in the only format he plays in now has been superb - scores of 28, 43*, 80, 14, 15 and 58* are his latest returns in the format and he remains a dependable pick from the Pakistan side.
Martin Guptill
Country: New Zealand
Match/Series: India vs New Zealand, T20I
New Zealand's blistering opening batsman has been responsible for some resounding starts for his team in T20 cricket of late. Combining with Colin Munro, Guptill has put on an exhibition of big-hitting in the powerplays and it has almost come off against India too. After success in the first game, Guptill was dismissed for a 20-ball 33 in the second match. He has gotten starts and a big one seems to be around the corner.
Mohammed Shami
Country: India
Match/Series: India vs New Zealand, T20Is
The world's highest wicket-taker in ODIs in 2019 has adapted himself to T20Is so well that he can be banked upon to pick up wickets at any stage of an innings now. From perfecting his back-of-a-length channel to batsmen early on to bowling accurate yorkers in the death, Shami has become dependable in T20Is and his record in recent times speaks for itself.
Lasith Embuldeniya
Country: Sri Lanka
Match/Series: Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test
Since making his Test debut, Lasith Embuldeniya has gone on to make a big impression in the longest format without really grabbing headlines. In 6 Test matches, the left-arm spinner has 24 wickets including two five-wicket hauls. On the slow Harare deck, Embuldeniya was quite effective, taking 5/114 in the Zimbabwe innings. As Sri Lanka's mainstay spinner, he will be tasked with doing more of the same next Test. With the wicket expected to be lower and slower, the spinner could be a great pick in your team.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / STR
