Dubai Royals vs Pune Panthers Match Preview – World Legends Pro T20 League 2026

Match Details

• Teams: Dubai Royals vs Pune Panthers
• Date and Time (GMT): Saturday, 31 January 2026, 14:00
• Venue: 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium, Verna, Goa
• Series: World Legends Pro T20 League 2026
• Match Number: Match 11

Match Overview

The 11th match of the World Legends Pro T20 League 2026 promises to be an exciting encounter between Dubai Royals and Pune Panthers at the 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium in Goa. Both teams are in a race to climb the table, with Dubai Royals sitting in 5th place and Pune Panthers at the bottom after three matches. This match could prove pivotal for both sides as they look to secure much-needed momentum in the tournament.

Dubai Royals have shown glimpses of promise with a strong all-round squad, but they have struggled to find consistency. On the other hand, Pune Panthers are in a tricky position after a poor start to the tournament, and a win here would go a long way in boosting their confidence.

Team Form and Key Players

Dubai Royals

• Position: 5th in the table
• Record: 1 win, 2 losses
• Top Run Scorer: Kirk Edwards (116 runs)
• Top Wicket Taker: Piyush Chawla (7 wickets)
• Recent Performance: Lost to Rajasthan Lions by 16 runs in their last match, scoring 154/10 in 20 overs.

Dubai Royals have a balanced squad with experienced campaigners like Ambati Rayudu, Peter Trego, and Samit Patel in the middle order. Their bowling attack, led by Piyush Chawla and Chris Mpofu, is expected to play a crucial role in restricting the opposition.

Pune Panthers

• Position: Last in the table
• Record: 1 win, 2 losses
• Top Run Scorer: Upul Tharanga (117 runs)
• Top Wicket Taker: Amit Mishra (2 wickets)
• Recent Performance: Lost to Rajasthan Lions by 6 wickets in their last match, scoring 144 in 20 overs.

Pune Panthers have struggled with consistency, but they possess explosive talent in the form of Kieron Pollard, Shane Watson, and Dwayne Bravo. The middle-order will rely heavily on Upul Tharanga to provide stability and anchor the innings.

Pitch and Weather Report

The 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium in Goa has been a batting-friendly venue in recent matches, with teams often scoring over 180. The average first-innings score here is close to 200, and the surface is expected to assist batters throughout the match.

Weather conditions are expected to remain favorable, with clear skies and no threat of rain or dew. This makes the pitch ideal for high-scoring encounters, and the chasing team could have a slight edge.

Head-to-Head Record

This will be the first-ever meeting between Dubai Royals and Pune Panthers in the World Legends Pro T20 League, so there is no historical data to base the prediction on. However, both teams are expected to come into this match with a strong game plan and a clear objective.

Predicted Playing 11s

Dubai Royals

• Kirk Edwards
• Peter Trego
• Manvinder Bisla (wk)
• Ambati Rayudu
• Samit Patel
• Parvez Rasool
• Piyush Chawla (c)
• Rishi Dhawan
• Chris Mpofu
• Fidel Edwards
• Amit Verma

Pune Panthers

• Shane Watson (c)
• Martin Guptill
• Robin Uthappa (wk)
• Upul Tharanga
• Samiullah Shinwari
• Kieron Pollard
• Dwayne Bravo
• Asad Pathan
• Amit Mishra
• Ishwar Pandey
• Ankit Rajpoot

Key Matchups to Watch

• Kieron Pollard vs Piyush Chawla: Pollard’s explosive batting could be a real threat, but Chawla’s ability to pick up crucial wickets could be the difference.
• Upul Tharanga vs Chris Mpofu: Tharanga's experience in the middle overs will be tested against Mpofu's pace and accuracy.
• Shane Watson vs Amit Verma: Watson’s aggressive strokeplay could be a big threat, and Verma will need to hold his line and bowl tight.

Match Predictions

• Toss Winner: Pune Panthers
• Match Winner: Dubai Royals
• Top Batters: Peter Trego (Dubai Royals), Upul Tharanga (Pune Panthers)
• Top Bowlers: Piyush Chawla (Dubai Royals), Amit Mishra (Pune Panthers)
• Most Sixes: Kieron Pollard (Pune Panthers), Yusuf Pathan (Dubai Royals)
• Player of the Match: Peter Trego (Dubai Royals)
• Scores Batting First: 180+
• Match Handicap: Dubai Royals

Conclusion

This is a must-win match for both teams, especially for Pune Panthers, who need a strong performance to avoid further slide down the table. Dubai Royals, with their experienced squad and better bowling resources, are slight favorites. However, the explosive batting of Pune Panthers could make this a close contest.

With the pitch favoring batters, the team chasing could have a slight edge, but the toss will play a crucial role in deciding the game’s outcome. Cricket fans can look forward to an exciting clash between two evenly matched sides.

Catch the match live at 14:00 GMT on 31 January 2026 at the 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium.
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