Predicted XIs: Your Quick Guide to This Week's Lineups

Everyone wants to know who’s playing before the toss or kickoff. That’s why we put together the most reliable predicted XIs for cricket, football and a few other sports. No jargon, just straight‑forward guesses based on recent form, injuries and toss‑ups.

Whether you’re filling out a fantasy squad, placing a friendly bet, or just bragging with friends, these picks give you a solid starting point. We update the list before every major match, so you’re never left guessing.

How We Predict the XI

Our method is simple. First, we check the official team sheets from the last two games. Players who have started both matches are given a high confidence score. Next, we look at injury reports and any official squad announcements. If a star is ruled out, we replace them with the next in line who has been in the training camp.

We also factor in venue and weather. For example, a fast bowler gets a boost for a green‑top pitch, while a spin‑friendly surface can push a specialist into the line‑up. The same goes for football – a team playing on a hard, dry ground may favor a high‑pressing eleven.

Finally, we add a touch of intuition: how a player has performed in the last few weeks, and whether the coach tends to rotate the squad. This blend of data and experience gives us a line‑up that’s usually within one or two changes of the official XI.

Top Predicted XIs This Week

Cricket – India vs Australia (ODI)
Our guess: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Hardik Pandya, Rahul Tripathi, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja.

We kept the top five batsmen from the last series and added Hardik for his all‑round impact. Bumrah and Shami are the obvious fast‑bowling pair, while Jadeja offers spin and field‑saving abilities.

Football – Manchester United vs Liverpool (Premier League)
Our guess: De Gea; Shaw, Varane, Lindelöf, Dalot; McTominay, Fernandes, Antony; Rashford, Garnacho, Martinez.

United’s defence stays the same after a solid clean‑sheet win. Fernandes and Antony keep the creative spark, while Rashford leads the attack with Garnacho’s speed on the wing.

Football – Barcelona vs Real Madrid (El Clásico)
Our guess: Ter Stegen; Alba, Araujo, Pedri, Dembele; Gavi, Busquets, De Jong; Lewandowski, Ansu Fati, Bellingham.

Barcelona sticks with its youthful core, with Bellingham adding midfield steel. Real’s line‑up pushes Lewandowski up front and backs him with Fati’s pace.

These predictions are a starting point. Check the official announcements before finalising your fantasy team, but use this list to spot the likely starters and plan your strategy.

Got a different take? Drop a comment below. We love hearing what you think and will tweak our method if new info pops up. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s updates – the next set of predicted XIs will be ready before kickoff.