CPL 2026: The Cricket Draft Gameweek 1 Review & Gameweek 2 Preview

16 minutes ago
3 min read

By @KarthikeyaCric (X)

Gameweek 1 Review

The 2026 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) kicked off with 2 fantastic games across its opening three matches at the Arnos Vale Stadium.

In the tournament opener, the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons edged out the Jamaica Kingsmen by 2 wickets in a nail-biting finish, chasing down 168 behind an all-round display from Player of the Match Alzarri Joseph.
Game 2 saw the Trinbago Knight Riders claim a 19-run victory (DLS method) against the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, powered by a classic performance from Sunil Narine.
The St Lucia Kings wrapped up the GW 1 fixtures with a thrilling 4-run win over the Falcons, defending 187 thanks to top-order heroics from Player of the Match Andries Gous.

Top Scorers

Alzarri Joseph (236 pts) - Consistently clocked high speeds and was too hot to handle in the middle overs with his bouncers; picked up 6 wickets in the Double Gameweek.

Sunil Narine (220 pts) - Was at his unplayable best. His new role as a new ball bowler makes him more of a wicket taking threat than usual.

Andries Gous (207 pts) - Coming in as a late replacement, he looked in superb touch scoring 82 and quickly!

Keemo Paul (174 pts) - A change in teams brought Paul success straightaway. He played a sprightly cameo with the bat before picking up three crucial wickets.

Tajinder Singh (168 pts) - Scored a match winning fifty against the Jamaica Kingsmen. Strong fantasy differential pick at just 6.1m.

Gameweek 2 Preview

While GW1 was played in St. Vincent, a venue known for producing relatively low-scoring games, GW2 moves to St. Lucia and Jamaica. Expect conditions to become more batting-friendly across this block of fixtures.

With Jamaica Kingsmen playing twice in GW2 and also featuring in GW3, it makes sense to reserve four squad spots for their players. Looking slightly further ahead, St. Lucia Kings are also worth investing in early, with a 'Double Gameweek' coming in GW3.

If you are already well covered on both teams, GW2 could also be an opportunity to take a chance on Barbados Tridents or Guyana Amazon Warriors assets. Their blank in GW1 has suppressed ownership, potentially creating some useful differentials for the following gameweeks.

Gameweek 2 Selections

Jamaican All-Round Trio

Andre Russell (£8.4m), Keemo Paul (£6.4m) & Hassan Khan (£7.6m)

All batted inside the top seven in GW1 and completed their full quota of four overs, giving them excellent involvement ahead of a double gameweek.

Their positions lower in the batting order also give them the opportunity to benefit from the strike-rate multiplier if they can produce a quick cameo. Paul and Russell add further upside with the ball, operating across the Powerplay and death overs and combining for five wickets in GW1.

Rovman Powell (£8.2m)

The former West Indies captain top-scored for Kingsmen in their opening game and remains one of the side's biggest boundary-hitting threats. His ability to score quickly gives him significant fantasy upside, while his fielding adds another route to points.

Powell regularly patrols high-traffic areas in the field and showed his reliability in GW1 by taking three catches.

Andries Gous (£7.3m)

Gous finished as the leading run-scorer in the recently concluded MLC and carried that form straight into GW1, scoring a blistering 82.

With few attractive budget-friendly wicketkeeping options available, he already looks close to a must-have — particularly with St. Lucia Kings set for a Double Gameweek in GW3.

Other Notable Options

● Charith Asalanka (7.6m) was one of the standout performers in the recently concluded LPL and should slot into the Kings' side in GW2. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball gives him multiple routes to points.

● Zachary Carter (4.5m) is a highly rated young opener who should get an opportunity for Barbados Tridents with Brandon King injured. At his price, he could provide valuable budget relief while still offering top-order upside.

● Glenn Phillips (8.0m) returns to the CPL with an excellent record in Caribbean conditions. His explosive batting, outstanding fielding and occasional overs make him an attractive all-round fantasy option.

● Vitel Lawes (4.0m), the highly talented wristspinner, looked under pressure on CPL debut but with a double gameweek coming up, the 12th Player Googly could be an option if he’s on your bench.

Build your CPL Fantasy Squad now: fantasy.thecricketdraft.com