Picking a combined San Francisco Unicorns-Texas Super Kings playing 11 for MLC 2024 ft. Faf du Plessis, Haris Rauf

It has been a brilliant start to the MLC campaign by The San Francisco Unicorns as they flexed their batting muscles against the Los Angeles Knight Riders. They will now look to keep up this momentum in their second match against the Texas Super Kings.

Texas Super Kings, on the other hand, have faced a number of stumbles in the tournament so far. They dropped their first match against the LA Knight Riders by 12 runs, and their second game was abandoned due to rain. Faf du Plessis and his side will be keen to bounce back and stay in the race for the play-offs.

Before this thrilling match, we pick a combined playing XI from both sides.

Top order: Finn Allen, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Faf du Plessis

JFK is expected to do big things

Finn Allen, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Faf du Plessis form a power-packed top order for this combined eleven.

While Jake Fraser-McGurk made the biggest splash in the IPL and ended the tournament with the best strike rate. He has been touted as David Warner’s successor for Australia and this tournament could well cement his position in the Australia side in the near future.

Finn Allen has been quite a successful opener for New Zealand in the shortest format but consistency has not been his strength. He should add a lot of heft to the Unicorns and should combine brilliantly with Fraser-McGurk.

Faf du Plessis had a middling IPL and the captain now needs to step up for his side in this match. He comes into his match after a brilliant ton in the last match and will hope to continue this form.

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Middle order: Marcus Stoinis, Aiden Markram, Corey Anderson

Marcus Stoinis has been in decent form

Marcus Stoinis was in good form in the IPL and in the T20 World Cup for Australia. He has managed 31 runs in the two matches so far and would now need to be the power-packed performer in the middle order.

Aiden Markram, on the other hand, is expected to add a lot of solidity to Texas in this tournament. He had a decent World Cup and his experience will be a useful player for the side. So far, he has not featured in any match in the tournament.

Corey Anderson, the captain of San Francisco Unicorns did not have an entirely fruitful World Cup for USA. However, he is an experienced player and will have to step up this season for this side.

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Wicketkeeper: Josh Inglis

Josh Inglis is a handy batter and wicket-keeper

Australian wicket-keeper batter Josh Inglis will be a key player for his side in this match. He will take over the gloves from Matthew Wade for Australia and this tournament could well give him the confidence in the middle order.

In the last match, he showed some form with a score of 15 runs off 11 balls and pouching two catches while keeping.

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Bowlers: Haris Rauf, Zia-ul-Haq, Brody Couch, Pat Cummins

Haris Rauf will add pace to the equation

Haris Rauf has not had the best times in the recent past. He was not at his best in the World Cup and in the last match gave away 38 runs for two wickets. However, he will add pace to the bowling attack and will be an important member of the San Francisco team.

Zia-ul-Haq is another key bowler who has been quite frugal in the two matches so far. He has conceded 16 and 19 in the two matches so far and his left-arm angle has caused a lot of headaches for the batters.

Brody Couch, the Australia medium-pace bowler, has started decently this season. He picked up two wickets in the last match against the LA Knight Riders.

Pat Cummins, the man who led SunRIsers Hyderabad to the IPL finale, could play his first match at the MLC. He was quite good in the T20 World Cup and will add a lot of experience to the bowling group.