The LPL 2024 starts tonight with the opening match between B-Love Kandy and Dambulla Sicers at 7:30 pm IST. Throughout the tournament, games will be scheduled for either 3:00 pm or 7:30 pm IST.

B-Love Kandy vs Dambulla Sixers Team Analysis

B-Love Kandy

Wanindu Hasaranga, the captain of B-Love Kandy and also the Sri Lankan T20I skipper, is gearing up to lead his team in the LPL 2024. Despite not having made a significant impact as captain at the international level yet, he has already tasted success in the LPL, clinching a title with the Kandy side. Last year, they triumphed over Dambulla in the final to claim the championship. As they begin their title defense, Hasaranga remains a pivotal figure in the team, bringing both leadership and crucial contributions on the field.

Dambulla Sixers

Before the LPL 2024 season could begin, controversy swirled around the franchise originally known as Dambulla Aura. Initially purchased by Imperial Sports Group and rebranded as Dambulla Thunders, the team faced immediate turmoil when the LPL terminated their contract. This action came in light of co-owner Tamim Rahman’s arrest on charges related to match-fixing. Subsequently, Sequoia Consultants, under the ownership of DeSilva Holdings, assumed control of the Dambulla franchise and renamed it Dambulla Sixers. This series of events marked a tumultuous start for the team, which now looks to regain stability under new management as they prepare for the upcoming season.

B-Love Kandy vs Dambulla Sixers Key Factors

Pitch Conditions

Pallekele stands out as one of Sri Lanka’s premier batting venues, known for yielding competitive first innings scores averaging around 170 runs. With the rainy season in full swing, matches could face interruptions due to rain showers. Moreover, dew is anticipated to significantly influence gameplay during these matches.

Given the conditions, teams winning the toss are likely to opt for fielding first across all three venues—Pallekele, Dambulla, and Colombo. Pallekele, hosting the initial five matches of the season, will set the stage for what promises to be an exciting start to the tournament amidst the challenging weather conditions.

Form and Fitness 

Numerous international cricketers are set to feature across all five franchises in the LPL. Notably, Indian players are absent from the league, but the roster includes talents from Pakistan, Bangladesh, the West Indies, and New Zealand. With many of these players coming directly from the IPL, there’s anticipation around their availability for the initial matches. It remains to be seen how this influx of overseas stars will impact team compositions and whether any logistical challenges arise due to scheduling and travel commitments.

Tactical Acumen

The captain of both teams should be wise and experienced enough to understand the pitch and the ground conditions and based on that should decide at the toss. The local Sri Lankan players play a key role in helping out the skipper. 

B-Love Kandy vs Dambulla Strikers Score Prediction

Recent Venue Records (Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele)

STATS – T20

Recent Venue Records (Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele)

STATS – T20

Total matches                                        23

Matches won batting first                     12

Matches won bowling first                     8

Average 1st Inns scores                         168

Average 2nd Inns scores                        149

Highest total recorded                            263/3 (20 Ov) by AUS vs SL

Lowest total recorded                             88/10 (16 Ov) by NZ vs SL

Highest score chased                             178/2 (18.4 Ov) by PAK vs BAN

Lowest score defended                          125/8 (20 Ov) by SL vs NZ

Who Will Score Most Runs For B-Love Kandy: Dimuth Karunaratne / Angelo Mathews

Who Will Take Most Wickets For B-Love Kandy: Wanindu Hasaranga / Lakshan Sandakan

Who Will Score Most Runs For Dambulla Sixers: Ibrahim Zadran / Iftikhar Ahmed

Who Will Take Most Wickets For Dambulla Sixers: Mustafizur Rahman / Akila Dhananjaya

B-Love Kandy vs Dambulla Sixers Match Prediction– Who Will Win Today T20 Match 1? LPL 2024

The upcoming match appears evenly poised, with defending champions Kandy potentially holding a slight edge as favorites. In their previous encounters, Kandy has emerged victorious in five out of nine matches against Dambulla’s four wins.

Conclusion 

The five-team tournament will be played from July 1-21. 24 matches will be played across 21 days in the double round-robin format with the final scheduled on July 21 in Colombo.