Indian Premiere League - "Ek India Happywala".
It's a season of festivities - One Emotion that binds the nation, is coming back with a bang. In just five months, it's hard to believe - "The Saga of Sensational Cricket" is returning home. IPL- One of the biggest league of the world, is ready to rock & this is going to be really big this time.
There was so munch suspense & drama in last season of IPL, due to pandemic but this time it's on time with limitations & finally happening in India only. Despite pandemic, IPL2020 in UAE was one of the most sensational one in the history of IPL. There were some high octane intense cricket matches, some heart-stopping stuff, nail-biting finishes & how to forget "Two Super-Overs" on one single day & double super-over. How can one forget the carnage from "Rahul Tewatia" of Rajasthan Royals & nightmare for "Cortrell" of Kings Eleven Punjab.
Last season was spicy & this season gonna be no different but an extension of it, for sure. "Expect The Unexpected", is the mantra for this season. Even in the absence of spectators, the intensity would be sky high. Every season, IPL goes one level up & delivers all the entertainment to the nation, some super crazy moments & what not. More importantly in every season, heroics of some uncapped player creates history like "Rahul Tewatia & Varun Chakraworty" did in the last season. Who will be the one, this year ? Will the red-army "Royal Challengers Bangalore" lift the trophy in this season or defending champions "Mumbai Indians" will create history by winning the title for the sixth time ?
Let's see the dynamics of each franchise & their ground reality in this season, including the powerful segments & grey shades. Let's start with the defending champions - "Mumbai Indians".
MUMBAI INDIANS: Ready To Rock Again - For Sixth IPL Title
Defending champions - "Mumbai Indians", need no introduction. They are Unstoppable & literally "Invincible" in last five years. They have some mind-wobbling records to their name. This is a star-studded side & you can find the stalwarts of the game in this team. Let's start with skipper Rohit Sharma, followed by Pandya brothers, Kieron Pollard, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult & list goes on. Two dynamos "Surya Kumar Yadav & Ishaan Kishan" been added to this hot-list.
Lifting the title for five times in last eight years is no joke & defending the title for two consecutive years, talks a lot about this team. It's the impact of the leadership of skipper "Rohit Sharma". He is a phenomenon & a class act. His ability of marshaling his troops, managing resources so perfectly, sets him apart. Such is a masterclass of this champion. Mumbai Indians looks one of the most formidable team this year also & all set for the Sixth One. Duniya Hila Denge !!
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE: The Red-Army On Song
RCB - The red army had a real good season in IPL2020. They would like to carry that momentum in this season & commence their journey against the defending champions. RCB made it to playoffs last year but in the crunch game against orange army, failed to deliver & that's the only worry for them this season as well. As skipper Virat kohli already declared, that he will open in the shortest format & his red hot form with the bat along-with the superman of cricket - Mr 360 - A.B.Deviliers, puts them really in strong contention.
Furthermore, presence of "Glen Maxwell" as a finisher will concrete their chances to make it to playoffs at least. But, the major area of concern remains the same - "Bowling in the death overs". RCB bowlers leak runs heavily in the death overs & that is something red army need to address, right from the outset. If red army can commence their journey with few initial wins, then only possibility of them making it to playoffs - stays bright. "Play Bold" !!
DELHI CAPITALS - Strong Contender For IPL Title
Delhi Capitals- one of the most improved teams, matched up with the performers & match winners. A team which scared many franchise & made it to the finals of IPL2020. This is the team, which has exuberance of youth & experience of vetrons. They play a fearless brand of cricket & with the likes of new appointed captain - "Rishabh Pant", red hot form of Prithwi Shaw & explosive Hetmyer, we can expect some explosive shows from this team.
Well, it's very unfortunate to miss "Shreyas Iyer - a batsman" in this team. Delhi capitals have great finisher like Stoinis & world-class bowlers like - "Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ravi Ashwin & vetron Amit Mishra". They look really good on paper & if they carry the same form of last season, be rest assured they'll make it to the playoffs & who knows, they might shock everyone by lifting the trophy this season. Delhi Juggernauts - Ready To Conquer!!
PUNJAB KINGS - Lions - Ready To Roar
Kings Eleven Punjab - (KXIP) of last season had a new brand name & now they are - "Punjab Kings". We hope,this time fortune will favor them. This team, in the last season had impressed everyone. At one point, they look really strong for spot no.4 of the league, to make it to playoffs. Kings - The Lions are ready to roar once again & with the likes of skipper - "K.L.Rahul, universe boss - Chris Gayle, pocket dynamite - Nicholas Puran & super striker Shami with ball", they are bringing very strong composition to the league & they might upset any of the team to make it to playoffs.
The world knows, when universe boss - Chris Gayle connects, then what happens & sublime form of Rahul,where he scored more than 500 runs last season, is scary for the oppositions. The grey area for kings is the bowling department, where they have only - "Shami - The X factor". Ravi Bishnoi & Arshdeep also impressed last year, still it looks pretty average. Now, Jhye Richardson comes in this squad & it will be intresting to see how well he performs. If he does, then Punjab Kings are one heck of a team, to make it to the playoffs in IPL2021. "Chak De Fatte !!"
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS - The Second Innings For Yellove
IPL2020 - This was a nightmare for CSK & they would like to forget all experiences of last season. But, make no mistake about them, because their skipper is - "Mahendra Singh Dhoni". A champion who needs no introduction. Dhoni is known for his comebacks, be it a international game or a match of IPL. We've witnessed in 2018, what kind of a comeback CSK made & they won the title. Well, this team has some match-winners like - Faf Du Plessis,Suresh Raina,Ambati Rayudu,Dhoni & Sir Jadeja.
But,we just can't ignore the fitness struggles of few players. Raina would be a key, as he was not there in the last season & lot of players are coming with a huge gap from International cricket, like - Jadeja,Dhoni,Raina. Shardul Thakur is among the wickets & Sam Curran is a player in form. If this team wants to make an impact, then all the big names need to fire in at least 80% of the matches. It will be intresting to see - "Ruturaj Gaikwad & Jagadeeshan". So,a million dollar question - will they surprise this year & make it to the playoffs ? "Kiska mantra kaam ayega - yeh toh ipl he bataiga" !!
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD - Orange Army Lacks Finishers
Sunrisers - The Orange Army made it to playoffs last season & they were pretty close to make it to the finals. It means, this team has the potential but with two huge problems. First one, they heavily depends on skipper - "David Warner,Jonny Bairstow & Kane Williamson with bat and Bhuvneshwar & Rashid with ball". Secondly, they don't have consistent finishers like Hardik & Pollard for Mumbai Indians. There is one more issue to be addressed - the middle order is very shaky & lacks consistent performance. Well, this year "Jason Roy" is there to add some more firepower & it will strengthen the batting but orange army lacks finishers & that might prove costly to them. It looks 50-50 for orange army this year . Orange army on the hunt, for their second IPL title !!
RAJASTHAN ROYALS - High Time To Play Royal
This team won the maiden season of "Indian Premiere League", under the captaincy of spin legend - "Shane Warne". In every season, they have some big names & still they have, but it's a mystery why they don't even qualify for playoffs. Last year also, they were at the rock bottom & this time they would like to change it completely. Well, the journey is not going to be that easy. This team has star players like Jos Buttler & Ben Stokes - the best of the best. On their day, they can win the match single-handedly. Next one is Jofra Archer. We know how impactful he can be - with the bat & ball but unfortunately, he is out of IPL due to injury. What a big blow to them.
Still, they have uncapped players who make some striking performances & wins the matches for the team. Who can forget - "Rahul Tewatia's heroics" against KXIP last season & Kartik Tyagi, Riyan Parag also impressed in the last season. Now, for this season they have some big names - Chris Morris,Liam Livingstone & Shivam Dube". As a unit, if they all can work as a cohesive unit & can produce some match winning results consistently, then only there is some hope for this team. Chances are there - but not that bright. High time for royals to play royal cricket - Halla Bol !!
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS - Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re
Two times IPL champions - "Kolkata Knight Riders" are struggling with the form & consistency. The firepower of KKR is not the same as it used to be three seasons before. Team heavily relies on one player & all expectations are from "Andre Russell", but it's a dangerous ploy. On his day, nothing is impossible for him & he has the ability to turn the game upside-down in matter of few deliveries. But, when he doesn't deliver than this side look very average, which we witnessed last year. Players like Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, skipper Eoin Morgan & Dinesh Karthik must take responsibility & produce consistent match-winning performances. This will not only ease the pressure of Russell but it will give solidity to the team.
Now, this team must look at the all-rounder "Shakib-Al-Hasan" replacing "Sunil Naraine" as Shakib brings much more value to the team than Naraine. Bringing Harbhajan Singh to the squad is a smart move & Knights must make some smart choices & take some tough decisions, if they look to qualify for playoffs this season. KKR has the big names & power hitters. Bowling department was struggling but now, that too has names likes - Pat Cummins,Lockie Ferguson,Harbhajan Singh,Shakib-Al-Hasan & young pacers Mavi - Nagarkoti. It all depends on how well batsmen performs, as far as KKR is concerned. This IPL will be challenging for KKR - Time to "Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re" !!
It's really unfortunate that few of the ace players like - Axar Patel, Mitchell Marsh,Mistafizur Rehman & Jofra Archer will be missing this IPL & this is a big blow to the fans & teams. But, one thing is for sure. This IPL2021 gonna be a roller coaster ride for all the fans. This IPL will entertain us, amaze us with a spectacular dashing style of play. Get ready to experience the adventurous ride of lifetime. We're just three days away - GET-SET-GO !!!
Don't Forget to share your "Top-Four Playoff Qualifiers" in comment box. See you in three days !! I'm super-excited, are you !!
Written By:- Saksham
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