We are approaching the business end of the 2021 IPL season and there are only seven more group stage games left for fantasy managers to rack up those points and climb up the rankings. There are plenty of excellent options to choose from across the eight teams, and here are our best picks for week 6 of IPL 2021.
BATSMEN & WICKET-KEEPERS
When it comes to batters and wicket-keepers, fantasy managers should look to target openers for their squad – considering five of the top six run-scorers in this edition are all opening batsmen. The best wicket-keeping option this week has to be the Punjab Kings Captain and leading run-scorer in the 2021 IPL season, KL Rahul (11.5 Cr). The 2020 Orange Cap holder has an incredible average of 52 this season and hit more sixes than any other batsman in IPL 2021(22).
Amongst the batsmen, the players we have selected are the Chennai Super Kings opening pair of Faf du Plessis (9.5 Cr) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (8 Cr) alongside Shikhar Dhawan (10.5 Cr). Gaikwad and du Plessis have both not been dismissed in the powerplay in each of their last four games in the UAE, and the Indian opener jumped to number two in the Orange Cap race after his scintillating century against the Royals on Saturday.
Alongside them is the DC opener – Shikhar Dhawan – who has amassed 462 runs at an average of 42 this season. While Dhawan has struggled for runs in the UAE leg of the season – the left-hander could be back amongst the points this week with Delhi playing their final two games of the season on a more batter-friendly pitch at Dubai.
ALL-ROUNDERS
All-Rounders have offered some incredible value to fantasy managers in IPL 2021, and the three players to target this week are Glenn Maxwell, Ravindra Jadeja and Venkatesh Iyer.
Batting at No. 3, Glenn Maxwell (9 Cr) has hit three consecutive half-centuries in his last three games and has more 50+ scores than any other batsman in the IPL this season. Alongside him, Ravindra Jadeja (9 Cr) has amassed an impressive 711 fantasy points this season – the highest amongst all-rounders – and has scored 211 runs at a strike rate of 154 and taken eight wickets with an economy of 6.7 in this IPL.
And finally, the third all-rounder is one of the best value picks in the game at the moment – Venkatesh Iyer (6 Cr). The Kolkata opener has already managed 399 fantasy points in only six games for KKR and has scored over 200 runs in the UAE leg while also taking three wickets.
BOWLERS
The bowlers have reigned supreme in the UAE leg of IPL 2021, and the four players in our team for this week are Rashid Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan.
Jasprit Bumrah (11 Cr) has taken 11 wickets in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 – the most of any bowler – while Rashid Khan (10.5 Cr) has taken the most wickets amongst spinners this season (15) at an economy of 6.17. Joining them in our best team for this week are the uncapped pair of Avesh Khan (7 Cr) and Harshal Patel (7 Cr). Harshal Patel has the most fantasy points so far this season (892) thanks to his 26 wickets for RCB, while Avesh Khan is number two in the race for the Purple Cap and has picked up three wickets in each of his last two IPL outings.
[Header Image Credit: ANI]
Shivaan Shah