Khulna Tigers has started well in the BPL 2024 and they are sitting at the top of the points table right now after playing two games. They won their first game against Chattogram Challengers by 4 wickets and then against Fortune Barishal by 8 wickets. On the other hand, Rangpur Riders have won one and lost one game. Now, both teams will lock horns against each other in the next game. And today, we will preview this game and see the players to watch out for, predicted playing XI of both teams and much more. So don’t go anywhere.
Khulna Tigers sitting at the top in the BPL 2024 points table
The bowlers set up the first win for Khulna Tigers as they restricted Chattogram Challengers to just 121 in the first game. Nahidul Islam was the pick of the bowlers for the Tigers. He took 4 wickets in the inning. The cameos of Afif Hossain and Mahmudul Hasan Joy get the team home.
Against Barishal, they chased down a target of 188 quite easily with 8 wickets and 12 balls left. Captain Anamul Haque and Evin Lewis’s quickfire opening stand set up the run chase. The cameos from Afif Hossain and Shai Hope were also the contributors to the team’s win.
Rangpur lost the first but found a way in the second
Rangpur didn’t have a very good start to the Bangladesh Premier League BPL 2024. Their batting failed miserably as they only managed to score 134 in the first game.
At one stage, they dragged the game for a while, but Fortune Barishal got over the line in the end with 5 wickets and 5 balls left.
Rangpur Riders have somehow found a way to register their first win in the BPL 2024. They restricted Sylhet Strikers to just 120 only. But at one stage, they lost 6 wickets on 39 runs in a run chase.
Babar Azam holding one end and Azmatullah Omarzai joins him at the crease. They put on an unbeaten 86-run stand and helped the team to get the first win in the tournament. Babar Azam remains not out on 56 off 49 balls with 6 fours. Omarzai also remains not out on 47 off 35 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes. With that win, they become the No. 3 in the points table right now.
Now, both teams will play against each other on January 26 at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Let’s see their predicted playing XIs.
Khulna Tigers vs Rangpur Riders
Khulna Tigers predicted playing XI
Why fix it when it is not broken? Khulna Tigers would want to continue with the same team as in the last two games. They are pretty much balanced in terms of their team combination. In one game, their bowlers did the job for them and in the other, their batters got them over the line.
Anamul Haque (c), Evin Lewis, Afif Hossain, Shai Hope (wk), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Faheem Ashraf, Nahidul Islam, Mukidul Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Oshane Thomas
Rangpur Riders predicted playing XI
As far as Rangpur, they might go with the same team they have played in the 2nd game. Shakib’s absence will make a big difference. But the addition of Babar Azam helps stabilize their batting.
Rony Talukdar, Babar Azam, Brandon King, Nurul Hasan (c) and (wk), Shamim Hossain, Mohammad Nabi, Mahedi Hasan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Hasan Mahmud, Hasan Murad, Ripon Mondol
Khulna Tigers vs Rangpur Riders: Players to watch out for
Khulna Tigers
Evin Lewis
As we know, Evin Lewis is a very dangerous T20 batter. And this time as well, if it be his day, he can easily take the game away from the opposition single-handedly. We also saw in the last game that he gives a massive start at the top of the order.
Shai Hope
Another West Indies who can be the player to watch out for. He is very solid as a batter and can play sensibly according to the situation.
Rangpur Riders
Babar Azam
Of course, if Babar Azam is on the team, you can’t look beyond him. He is very consistent in this format and shows how he is very good in the last game. The stability at the top is needed, especially when Rangpur’s batting is not up to the mark in the first two games. Babar can play that role perfectly.
Mahedi Hasan
The all-rounder has been in a good rhythm in the last two games. He has bowled well and we can expect from him that he can continue his good work in the game against Khulna Tigers. Not just with the ball, he can contribute equally with the bat as well.
Conclusion
So this is the preview Of Khulna Tigers vs Rangpur Riders (9th game of BPL 2024). Khulna Tigers are looking good right now as compared to Rangur Riders. Rangpur needs a strong batting performance after a poor show in the first two games. In the 2nd game as well, it was Babar and Omarzai’s partnership that brought the team out of a critical situation. Let’s see how they do in the next game of BPL 2024.
What do you think? Who will win the clash between Khulna Tigers vs Rangpur Riders? Comment your predictions below.
FAQs:-
1. Has Rangpur won a BPL title yet?
Yes. Rangpur Riders won their only title in 2017. They won the title by beating Dhaka Dynamites in the final. Chris Gayle becomes the player of the tournament in that season.
2. Has the Khulna Tigers won a BPL title?
No. The franchise hasn’t won a BPL title yet. They came close when they played the final in 2019. But they fell short of Rajshahi Royals target by 21 runs in the final.
