Patidar, Head, or Salt? Picking the Best Captain and Vice-Captain for Your Fantasy Team
Patidar, Head, or Salt? Picking the Best Captain and Vice-Captain for Your Fantasy Team
Blog Article
The IPL 2025 season continues to deliver thrilling contests, and as we approach Match 65 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), fantasy cricket managers face the perennial dilemma: who to pick as captain and vice-captain for maximum points? This crucial decision can make or break your fantasy fortunes, as the captain earns double points and the vice-captain 1.5x.
This particular match, originally scheduled for Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy, has been relocated to the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. This venue change is a significant factor, as Ekana's pitch tends to be slower and offers more assistance to spinners compared to the flat, high-scoring Chinnaswamy. Understanding this shift is paramount when selecting your key players.
Let's dissect the prospects of three exciting batting talents – Rajat Patidar, Travis Head, and Phil Salt – and assess their suitability for the captain/vice-captain roles in your fantasy team for this critical encounter.
The Contenders:
- Rajat Patidar (RCB): The Mid-Order Midas
Rajat Patidar has been a revelation for RCB this season, consistently providing crucial runs in the middle order. He has shown remarkable adaptability, playing fearless cricket and scoring quickly even under pressure.
- Current Form: Patidar has been in good touch, with scores of 64 and 51 in his last 10 IPL matches (as of May 15, 2025 data), demonstrating his ability to convert starts into substantial innings. His overall strike rate of 154.23 in IPL is impressive for a middle-order batsman.
- Role in Team: He comes in after the openers, often capitalizing on the platform laid or rebuilding quickly if early wickets fall. His ability to hit boundaries makes him a potent fantasy option.
- Ekana Factor: While he thrives on good batting pitches, Patidar has shown maturity this season. If the Ekana pitch allows for some strokeplay, he could still be effective, especially against spin, given his strong hitting through the off-side. However, a very slow, turning track might challenge him.
- Travis Head (SRH): The Explosive Opener
Travis Head is the epitome of an aggressive opener, capable of taking the game away from the opposition within the powerplay. His fearless approach and ability to score quickly against both pace and spin make him a fantasy favourite.
- Current Form: Head has had a slightly mixed IPL 2025 so far, with 281 runs from 11 games and two fifties (as of May 19, 2025 data). However, his recent performance (47 off 28 balls against LSG) at Ekana underscores his ability to perform at this specific venue, and he was instrumental in SRH's record-breaking total of 287 against RCB last season. He was unfortunately sidelined in SRH's most recent match due to COVID-19 but is expected to be available for this game.
- Role in Team: He sets the tone for SRH's explosive batting, aiming to maximize the powerplay. His success often dictates SRH's overall batting performance.
- Ekana Factor: While Ekana is generally slower, Head has shown he can adapt. His strong performance at this venue recently is a big plus. If he gets going, he can overcome the challenging conditions due to his sheer power and intent. He is a high-risk, high-reward option.
- Phil Salt (RCB): The Dynamic Wicketkeeper-Batter
Phil Salt has been a revelation at the top of the order for RCB (having been acquired for INR 11.5 Cr in IPL 2025), providing explosive starts and complementing Virat Kohli beautifully. His aggressive style and wicketkeeping points add to his fantasy value.
- Current Form: Salt has accumulated 239 runs in 9 matches in IPL 2025 with two fifties (as of May 1, 2025 data), showcasing his ability to deliver quickfire innings. He consistently gets good starts, and his strike rate of 168.31 (IPL 2025) is outstanding.
- Role in Team: As an opener, he faces the most deliveries and has the maximum opportunity to score big fantasy points, especially in the powerplay. His wicketkeeping adds additional points through catches and stumpings.
- Ekana Factor: As an aggressive opener, a slower Ekana pitch could pose a challenge if the ball doesn't come onto the bat. However, his ability to manipulate the field and find gaps, along with his strong recent form, makes him a contender. His 65 runs in a recent match against RR also showcases his power-hitting capabilities.
How to select an IPL fantasy team: Captain and Vice-Captain Strategy
Choosing your captain and vice-captain is arguably the most crucial decision in fantasy cricket. Here's how to approach it, considering the current match and venue:
- Understand the Pitch and Conditions: The move to Ekana Stadium is key. While it generally favors bowlers (especially spinners), the recent LSG vs SRH game there saw a high-scoring chase. This suggests it might not be a completely dead pitch. However, anticipate less free-flowing scoring than at Chinnaswamy.
- Prioritize Current Form and Match-Up:
- Rajat Patidar: If you believe the pitch will offer some batting aid, Patidar's current form and ability to anchor the middle order make him a strong contender. He is less dependent on blazing starts and can rebuild.
- Travis Head: High risk, high reward. If SRH bats first and the pitch is decent, or if they chase and the dew settles, Head could go berserk. His recent performance at Ekana is a significant positive.
- Phil Salt: As an opener, he gets maximum opportunity. If he gets through the initial overs, he can explode. Wicketkeeping points are a bonus.
- Consider Player Roles and Consistency:
- Consistent Scorer (Captain/VC): Virat Kohli, while not listed as a primary choice here, is always a reliable captaincy option due to his sheer consistency and high fantasy ceiling. Rajat Patidar falls into a similar category of being a consistent scorer.
- Explosive Hitter (VC): Travis Head and Phil Salt are ideal for vice-captain due to their high scoring potential in quick time, even if they don't play a long innings. They can provide rapid points.
- Balance Your Risk:
- Safe Combination: A combination of a reliable run-scorer (e.g., Virat Kohli or Rajat Patidar) as captain and an explosive hitter (e.g., Travis Head or Phil Salt) as vice-captain offers a good balance of consistency and high-scoring potential.
- High-Risk, High-Reward: If you're chasing high ranks, picking an explosive opener like Head or Salt as captain could pay off handsomely if they fire.
Recommendations for RCB vs SRH at Ekana:
- Captain:
- Virat Kohli: Always the safest bet. His consistency and ability to adapt to different conditions make him a top pick regardless of the venue.
- Rajat Patidar: Given his recent form and ability to handle various match situations, he’s a strong alternative, especially if you expect a decent batting surface.
- Vice-Captain:
- Travis Head: His recent performance at Ekana is a huge factor. If he plays, he has the potential to blast a quickfire fifty and accumulate big points.
- Phil Salt: As an opener and wicketkeeper, he offers multiple avenues for points. If the pitch allows for some early hitting, he can be highly impactful.
Final Decision:
For this particular match at Ekana, a balanced approach seems most prudent. I would lean towards Virat Kohli as Captain for his consistent high scores and reliability. For Vice-Captain, the choice is tougher. Travis Head's recent form at Ekana gives him a slight edge over Phil Salt due to his ability to dominate on that surface. However, if Salt's recent performance at Ekana was equally impressive, he would be a very close second.
Ultimately, your choices should be based on the confirmed playing XIs, the toss result (as chasing often becomes easier under lights), and any last-minute pitch observations. Good luck with your fantasy team! Report this page