Cricket Fantasy Picks: Best Starts, Sits & Value Plays — 2026-05-23

Welcome back to the SportsPulse.com weekly fantasy cricket column, where we dissect the latest T20 action to bring you the sharpest DraftKings and FanDuel insights! The slate is packed this week, and we've done the deep dive to ensure your lineups are primed for victory. Let's get straight into it.

Top 3 Players to START This Week

1. Rohan Patel (Bengal Blasters): Patel is in scorching form, a true all-rounder who delivers across categories. In his last three T20 outings, he's amassed scores of 68, 42, and 91, while also bagging 4 crucial wickets. He's a lock for high fantasy points, offering both a high floor with his batting consistency and a massive ceiling with his wicket-taking ability. Don't overthink it; he's a must-start. 2. Liam O'Connell (Dublin Defenders): The death-over specialist is on fire. O'Connell has picked up at least two wickets in his last four matches, often bowling the crucial overs where batsmen take risks. His economy rate has also been exceptional, meaning he rarely gives up points cheaply. He's a reliable source of bowling points and vital for any winning lineup. 3. Ben Carter (Central Chargers): Carter, the explosive opening batsman, is coming off a sensational 88 from just 45 balls in his last game. His aggressive approach means he accumulates boundaries rapidly, earning those valuable bonus points. With another favorable matchup this week against a susceptible bowling attack, expect him to continue his destructive form at the top of the order.

1. Marcus Thorne (Coastal Kings): Thorne's recent form is a major concern. He's struggled to get going, with scores of 12, 8, and 19 in his last three innings. More critically, he appears vulnerable against spin, and this week he faces a team boasting two top-tier leg-spinners. His high salary simply isn't justified by his current output or the tough matchup. 2. Sanjeev Singh (Hyderabad Hawks): The veteran fast bowler has been expensive and wicketless in recent games. He's conceded over 10 runs an over in his last two appearances and failed to register a single wicket. There's also speculation he might lose his death-over role. Until he shows signs of a turnaround, keep him firmly on your bench.

Two Value/Bargain Plays Under Salary Cap

1. Dinesh Sharma (Mumbai Monarchs): Sharma, the wicketkeeper-batsman, has been quietly impressive, getting promoted up the order. He scored a quickfire 35 off 20 balls last week and consistently provides solid points from his glovework behind the stumps. At his current low salary, he's a fantastic way to free up cap space for your premium picks without sacrificing too much production. 2. Javier Rodriguez (Rio Rangers): This young leg-spinner has been a revelation. Rodriguez has picked up 2 or more wickets in two of his last three appearances and bowled with excellent control, despite his inexperience. He's priced incredibly low, and with a favorable pitch expected to assist spinners, he offers massive upside as a budget-friendly option.

David "The Duke" Miller (London Lions): He hasn't set the world alight recently, which means his ownership will be incredibly low. However, Miller is a proven match-winner, a destructive finisher who can change a game in