IPL LINING UP FOR A WIN PG
LOW ON POMP THIS YEAR, THE IPL STILL PROMISES SOME GREAT CRICKET ENTERTAINMENT
The last time the Indian Premier League (IPL) was played in Dubai in 2014, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were crowned champions. Robin Uthappa top-scored the tournament with 660 runs, while Mohit Sharma bagged the most wickets at 23. Since then, KKR has failed to make the final again. Last season, Uthappa managed just 282 runs with KKR and has since found new employers in Rajasthan Royals (RR). And after just one appearance with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2019, Sharma is now with the Delhi Capitals (DC). Clearly, a lot can happen over six years. After what seems like endless delays due to the pandemic, most players will be looking to shake the dust off. Besides, they’ll have to get used to playing for empty stadiums, without the razzmatazz that the IPL is all about. As defending champions and the most successful franchise, Mumbai Indians (MI) will be the team to beat. It was Rohit Sharma yet again who led them to their fourth triumph. However, this time around, he will be without the services of his super trump, Lasith Malinga, and will, instead, be relying on Jasprit Bumrah and new boy Trent Boult to deliver.
The opening fixture on September 19 promises to be a cracker, a repeat of last year’s final where the MI edged CSK out by just one run. While the preparations of the runners-up have undoubtedly been hampered after 13 team members tested positive for Covid, and seasoned campaigners Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh opted out of the tournament, all eyes are on skipper M.S. Dhoni, especially after his retirement from international cricket last month. He has on hand Imran Tahir, who took 15 wickets in the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League. The bowling department looks plush, but with an average age of 36.8, the experience of their top-five batters may flatter to deceive. The only side that have failed to make a final, DC look a formidable side, packed with core Indian players—from the young blood of Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw and Rishabh Pant, to the wisdom of Shikhar Dhawan, new recruit Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra. Hiring two-time IPL-winning coach Trevor Bayliss will likely be the key for Sunrisers Hyderabad, with a batting line-up made up of last season’s top scorer David Warner, Kane Williamson and Jonny Bairstow. While RR too have some robust options in Steve Smith, Jos Buttler and new player David Miller, they’ll need the Indian contingent to step up to make a mark. Perhaps the biggest gamblers this season are the KKR, who have offloaded star performers such as Uthappa, Piyush Chawla and Chris Lynn, reinforcing their stables with pacer Pat Cummins—the most expensive foreigner in IPL’s history—and Eoin Morgan, and now look a well-rounded unit. No discussion on the IPL would be complete without the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Virat Kohli, the highest rungetter of the tournament, who leads a side that has made the most finals without winning it. Besides the addition of Adam Zampa and Chris Morris, they’ll be relying on their core from last year. Finally, the last time Kings XI Punjab made the playoffs was also way back in 2014. Given the strange times we are living in, is this the year when it all falls in place for K.L. Rahul and his boys yet again?