CHENNAI SUPER KINGS

English gamers: Moeen Ali, Sam Curran

Different abroad gamers: Dwayne Bravo (West Indies), Faf du Plessis (South Africa), Imran Tahir (South Africa), Lungi Ngidi (South Africa), Mitchell Santner (New Zealand), Jason Behrendorff (Australia)

Indian gamers: MS Dhoni (captain), Ambati Rayudu, C Hari Nishanth, Cheteshwar Pujara, Deepak Chahar, Harisankar Reddy, Ok Bhagath Varma, Ok Gowtham, Karn Sharma, KM Asif, Narayan Jagadeesan, R Sai Kishore, Ravindra Jadeja, Robin Uthappa, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Suresh Raina

Head coach: Stephen Fleming

Finest end: Winners (2010, 2011, 2018)

Story of final season: CSK beat defending champions Mumbai Indians within the match opener however that was pretty much as good because it acquired in a forgettable marketing campaign for the three-time winners. The ultimate desk suggests they solely narrowly missed out on the play-offs however two of Chennai’s six wins got here after they’d already been eradicated and solely served to make sure they prevented the ignominy of a last-placed end. It was not all doom and gloom although, Sam Curran excelled with bat and ball and younger opener Ruturaj Gaikwad hit three fifties in simply six innings to offer CSK with some optimism for the long run.

2021 possibilities: With one of many nice white-ball captains, MS Dhoni, main the aspect, you can not rule Chennai out. Nonetheless, it might take one thing particular for them to finish the marketing campaign with a fourth IPL crown. Moeen Ali, Cheteshwar Pujara and Robin Uthappa have are available so as to add to a squad already filled with expertise whereas if anybody is able to producing one thing a bit particular, it’s Ravindra Jadeja, who needs to be again from damage to bolster the XI in all three departments. There are questions over whether or not a few of that established core may need handed from skilled to, properly, simply plain outdated, so the performances of children akin to Gaikwad and Curran might be all of the extra necessary to their possibilities.

Six-hitter? At 35, Ambati Rayudu is actually a part of a somewhat massive group of elder statesmen within the CSK however in terms of big-hitting, he can combine it with the most effective of the younger expertise coming by. Solely Faf du Plessis scored extra runs than him for Chennai final 12 months however after passing 50 simply as soon as, Rayudu might be eager for extra telling contributions this day out.

Wicket-taker? Curran was a uncommon vivid spark in 2020. He moved up and down the order with the bat, scoring shortly if not all the time for a protracted time frame, however with the ball, he was Chennai’s high performer with 13 wickets. He has proven his knack for taking wickets at key instances with England and it was no totally different for CSK, Dhoni will need extra of the identical from the left-armer this time round.

DELHI CAPITALS

English gamers: Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Chris Woakes

Different abroad gamers: Kagiso Rabada (South Africa), Anrich Nortje (South Africa), Steve Smith (Australia), Marcus Stoinis (Australia), Shimron Hetmyer (West Indies)

Indian gamers: Rishabh Pant (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Axar Patel, Ishant Sharma, Lalit Yadav, Lukman Meriwala, Manimaran Siddharth, Praveen Dubey, Prithvi Shaw, R Ashwin, Ripal Patel, Shikhar Dhawan, Umesh Yadav, Vishnu Vinod

Head coach: Ricky Ponting

Finest end: Runners up (2020)

Story of final season: Impressed by South African tempo duo Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje and the runs of Shikhar Dhawan, Delhi got here flying out of the traps within the UAE, cementing their place within the high two earlier than overcoming a wobble, returning to type and make the ultimate for the primary time. Nonetheless, they got here up brief in opposition to the all-conquering Mumbai Indians within the last as their look ahead to a primary title continued.

2021 possibilities: The Capitals suffered an enormous blow when captain Shreyas Iyer was dominated out of the match with a shoulder challenge, whereas star spinner Axar Patel might additionally miss the primary sport or two after contracting Covid-19. Nonetheless, they’ve added one of many world’s main batsmen in Steve Smith and even with out Iyer, all of the elements that made them such a pressure in 2020 stay: wicket-taking quick bowlers, wily homegrown spinners and an abundance of energy hitters. Delhi are primed for one more run on the title.

Six-hitter? Rishabh Pant, who else? After a exceptional begin to 2021, Pant has been appointed Delhi captain for this 12 months’s competitors. The left-hander is probably essentially the most explosive batsman in world cricket and he is within the type of his life. Can he smash Delhi to the title? You wouldn’t rule it out. Even when he misses out although, Dhawan, Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane are only a few of the DC batsmen able to demolishing opposition assaults.

Wicket-taker? If Pant is likely one of the most fun batsmen on the planet, then Rabada holds an equal standing among the many bowlers. The Proteas pacer claimed the IPL purple cap and main wicket-taker with 30 final 12 months and is just getting higher. A supporting forged of Nortje, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Amit Mishra and the newly arrived Chris Woakes is not too unhealthy both!

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS

English gamers: Eoin Morgan (captain)

Different abroad gamers: Andre Russell (West Indies), Sunil Narine (West Indies), Pat Cummins (Australia), Ben Chopping (Australia), Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand), Tim Seifert (New Zealand), Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)

Indian gamers: Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Karun Nair, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Rana, Pawan Negi, Prasidh Krishna, Rahul Tripathi, Gurkeerat Singh, Sandeep Warrier, Sheldon Jackson, Shivam Mavi, Shubman Gill, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravathi, Venkatesh Iyer

Head coach: Brendon McCullum

Finest end: Winners (2012, 2014)

Story of final season: It was an odd outdated marketing campaign for KKR, one which finally noticed them miss out on the play-offs on web run-rate after Sunrisers Hyderabad thrashed already-qualified Mumbai within the last match of the group part. A combined begin noticed everybody’s favourite Indian pundit Dinesh Karthik changed as skipper by Eoin Morgan however outcomes remained up and down. Andre Russell performed 10 video games however by no means appeared something near 100 per cent match, whereas the often ultra-reliable Pat Cummins blew cold and hot. Lockie Ferguson’s injection of tempo late within the match was very encouraging for Kolkata although.

2021 possibilities: Brendon McCullum has had time to get comfy in his function as head coach, Morgan is firmly established as captain and the KKR squad seems to be sturdy. Russell’s health stays a difficulty but when he’s at his finest, it might make all of the distinction – each with bat and ball. A full season of Ferguson, alongside Cummins, Prasidh Krishna and Shivam Mavi, boosts their tempo choices whereas in Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravathi, they possess two extremely efficient spinners. Sunil Narine has performed an enormous function in recent times however faces actual competitors now with Shakib Al Hasan again within the combine – selecting the correct mix of abroad stars might be KKR’s largest dilemma.

Six-hitter? At his finest, there isn’t any competitors: it is Russell. Dre Russ is a six-hitting machine. As he struggled final time period although, Morgan stepped up in his function as finisher and blasted 24 sixes, rating him fifth within the IPL. The immensely proficient Shubman Gill may clear the ropes, as can Nitish Rana.

Wicket-taker? Chakravathi led the way in which with 17 for KKR within the UAE, adopted by Cummins with 12. Ferguson might properly be the primary man this 12 months, although, he took six in simply 5 matches final 12 months and along with his blistering tempo, he’s all the time going to make life powerful for the batsmen.

MUMBAI INDIANS

English gamers: None

Different abroad gamers: Kieron Pollard (West Indies), Quinton de Kock (South Africa), Marco Jansen (South Africa), Trent Boult (New Zealand), James Neesham (New Zealand), Adam Milne (New Zealand), Chris Lynn (Australia), Nathan Coulter-Nile (Australia)

Indian gamers: Rohit Sharma (captain), Aditya Tare, Anmolpreet Singh, Anukul Roy, Arjun Tendulkar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah, Jayant Yadav, Krunal Pandya, Mohsin Khan, Piyush Chawla, Rahul Chahar, Saurabh Tiwary, Suryakumar Yadav, Yudhvir Singh Charak

Head coach: Mahela Jayawardene

Finest end: Winners (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020)

Story of final season: Having had one 12 months on, one 12 months off since their first triumph in 2013, Mumbai determined to combine issues up and win it back-to-back. It was a usually gradual begin earlier than hitting their stride at simply the best time, qualifying with time to spare and never solely that however topping the group regardless of lacking captain Rohit Sharma for a good chunk of it. They then beat a powerful aspect Delhi twice within the knockout phases to elevate the IPL trophy for a fifth time.

2021 possibilities: Mahela Jayawardene’s aspect stay the staff to beat. There’s a cause they’ve been labelled the most effective T20 aspect ever. Not solely is their squad chock stuffed with expertise, the stability of their XI has been near-perfect and, frankly, they appear to have no weaknesses. Simply have a look at the squad above and see if you could find an space by which they’re mild. Spin bowling maybe? Even when they lack star performers in that division, in Krunal Pandya, Piyush Chawla and Rahul Chahar, they’ve confirmed and dependable IPL gamers to name upon. In fact, the gamers nonetheless must do it when it counts however there’s each likelihood of a Mumbai three-peat in 2021.

Six-hitter? England followers got a glimpse of what Ishan Kishan is able to throughout the T20I collection final month, it was an eye-opening show of hitting. Anybody who has paid consideration to the IPL in recent times, although, had seen all of it earlier than – not that that made it any much less spectacular! Kishan hit a staggering – and IPL main – 30 sixes in final 12 months’s competitors and the 22-year-old’s effort in opposition to England confirmed he’s prepared for extra!

Wicket-taker? Look no additional than Jasprit Bumrah. Not solely is he the preeminent white-ball bowler of his technology, able to taking wickets and drying up runs at any stage of an innings, he’s additionally very properly rested after sitting out the ultimate Check and the entire white-ball matches of India’s collection with England.

PUNJAB KINGS

English gamers: Dawid Malan, Chris Jordan

Different abroad gamers: Chris Gayle (West Indies), Nicholas Pooran (West Indies), Fabian Allen (West Indies), Jhye Richardson (Australia), Moises Henriques (Australia), Riley Meredith (Australia)

Indian gamers: KL Rahul (captain), Arshdeep Singh, Darshan Nalkande, Deepak Hooda, Harpreet Brar, Ishan Porel, Jalaj Saxena, Mandeep Singh, Mayank Agarwal, Mohammed Shami, Murugan Ashwin, Prabhsimran Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Sarfaraz Khan, Saurabh Kumar, Shahrukh Khan, Utkarsh Singh

Head coach: Anil Kumble

Finest end: Runners-up (2014)

Story of final season: One other misplaced season. Whereas their pleasure was salvaged considerably with a run of 5 straight wins to have the staff instantly in playoff rivalry with two video games to go, it was their begin that noticed them lose six of their first seven to have them firmly rooted to the underside of the desk that proved to be insurmountable.

2021 possibilities: The Kings might be hoping a slight tweak to their title prompts a turnaround of their fortunes from conventional match strugglers to playoff contenders – Kings have completed within the high 4 solely twice in 13 years, whereas they’ve occupied the underside spot on three events. In addition to the title change, the No 1 ranked T20 batsman on this planet, England’s Dawid Malan, arrives to strengthen the batting, whereas Australian tempo pair Riley Meredith and Jhye Richardson might show shrewd pickups.

Six-hitter? KL Rahul completed the 2020 season because the main run-scorer within the IPL – 670 runs, averaging 55.83 – and so might rightfully stake a declare for the six-hitting crown for Kings, however for the truth that Nicholas Pooran resides of their center order. There are few sweeter strikers of the cricket ball on this planet than the languid, left-hander West Indian who cleared the ropes 25 instances in 2020 – tied for the fourth-most sixes within the match.

Wicket-taker? Meredith. The younger Australian fast is collaborating in his first IPL, so may appear an odd selection right here, particularly when contemplating that his fellow fast and countryman, Richardson, outperformed him within the 2020/21 Large Bash, ending because the match main wicket-taker – 29 in 17 video games at a mean of 16.31. However simply ask Shane Warne for his ideas on the 24-year-old Tasmanian, Meredith – who made his T20I debut for Australia in March – and you will quickly understand why he was snapped up by Kings.

RAJASTHAN ROYALS

English gamers: Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Liam Livingstone

Different abroad gamers: Chris Morris (South Africa), David Miller (South Africa), Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh), Andrew Tye (Australia)

Indian gamers: Sanju Samson (captain), Akash Singh, Anuj Rawat, Chetan Sakariya, Jaydev Unadkat, Kartik Tyagi, KC Cariappa, Kuldeep Yadav, Mahipal Lomror, Manan Vohra, Mayank Markande, Rahul Tewatia, Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Yashasvi Jaiswal

Head coach: Andrew McDonald

Finest end: Winners (2008)

Story of final season: A massively disappointing last-placed end, particularly when you think about the breadth of expertise, particularly English expertise, accessible to them. The Royals had some spectacular performances alongside the way in which; Jofra Archer was sensational, claiming 20 wickets at a mean of 18.25 for the match, with a paltry economic system of 6.55 an over; Ben Stokes impressed when moved to open the innings, as he struck a match-winning, unbeaten 107 in a victory over Kings, however Rajasthan might by no means discover any consistency to string a run of wins collectively to maintain them in rivalry.

2021 possibilities: The expertise stays, with English contingent Archer, Stokes and Jos Buttler all retained (and Liam Livingstone resigned), however Archer’s availability is unsure after he lately had surgical procedure on his hand and has a persistent elbow damage that continues to hassle him. A quick begin out of the gates is crucial, with the hope being that the Royals are in rivalry for when the England fast comes into the lineup.

Six-hitter? Buttler will certainly really feel put out at being missed for his England team-mate, however it was Stokes who excelled final 12 months when promoted up the order to open at Buttler’s expense. Plus, should you want any additional proof of his six-hitting prowess, simply watch his completely damaging 99 from 52 balls in England’s second ODI win over India on their lately concluded tour, by which he cleared the ropes 10 instances.

Wicket-taker? Chris Morris might be anticipated to contribute with each bat and ball, having set Rajasthan again an IPL document £1.61m within the public sale, and Archer will little doubt lead the assault as soon as match, however with questions at present hanging over each, might it lastly be Jaydev Unadkat‘s time for the Royals? The left-arm seamer has largely been a disappointment since signing for the staff in 2018, however the staff have stood by him and retained him as soon as once more – he now must repay that religion.

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE

English gamers: None

Different abroad gamers: AB de Villiers (South Africa), Glenn Maxwell (Australia), Adam Zampa (Australia), Dan Christian (Australia), Daniel Sams (Australia), Kane Richardson (Australia), Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand), Finn Allen (New Zealand)

Indian gamers: Virat Kohli (captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Harshal Patel, KS Bharat, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Pavan Deshpande, Rajat Patidar, Sachin Child, Shahbaz Ahmed, Suyash Prabhudessai, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal

Head coach: Simon Katich

Finest end: Runners-up (2009, 2011, 2016)

Story of final season: Regardless of the fourth-placed end, RCB proceed to flatter to deceive within the IPL, regardless of their loaded roster. Followers can level to a primary journey to the playoffs in 4 seasons (since their runners-up end in 2016) as an indication of progress however, dig just a little deeper, and RCB very a lot stumbled their manner into the ultimate 4 with four-straight defeats to complete the season – which swiftly turned 5 as Sunrisers knocked them out within the Eliminator.

2021 possibilities: The expectation of Virat Kohli’s males will as soon as once more be for them to lastly be topped IPL champions. The fact is although that, whereas they may as soon as once more be challengers for the title and will properly make the playoffs, they nonetheless do not look a very balanced aspect, relying too closely once more on the batting expertise they’ve at their disposal.

Six-hitter? Glenn Maxwell. The long-time Kings stalwart is now headed for Bangalore, the place he’ll solely add to an already explosive batting lineup. It might show to be the proper transfer for Maxwell, who was usually burdened by expectations in Punjab and, as an alternative, could be freed up and given better license to wield the willow because of the platforms that can absolutely be supplied for him by Kohli, AB de Villiers and the like.

Wicket-taker? Yuzvendra Chahal. And RCB might be hoping it is the 2020 model of the legspinner, who claimed 21 wickets at a mean of 19.28 a pop in final 12 months’s match, versus the one who struggled mightily within the current T20 collection in opposition to England earlier than being dropped. One other to be careful for is Kiwi fast Kyle Jamieson, who has made fairly the title for himself since returning unbelievable figures of 6-7 within the 2019 Tremendous Smash in New Zealand. Worldwide recognition has since adopted, in addition to an IPL bidding battle for his companies which RCB finally gained.

SUNRISERS HYDERABAD

English gamers: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow

Different abroad gamers: David Warner (Australia, captain), Mitchell Marsh (Australia), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), Jason Holder (West Indies)

Indian gamers: Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Basil Thampi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jagadeesha Suchith, Kedar Jadhav, Khaleel Ahmed, Manish Pandey, Priyam Garg, Sandeep Sharma, Shahbaz Nadeem, Shreevats Goswami, Siddarth Kaul, T Natarajan, Vijay Shankar, Virat Singh, Wriddhiman Saha

Head coach: Trevor Bayliss

Finest end: Winners (2016)

Story of final season: Beginning with back-to-back defeats, Sunrisers limped their method to seven losses from their opening 11 video games and had been looking at an early exit. A slight tweak to their lineup, strengthening their bowling by bringing in Jason Holder for Jonny Bairstow – who was having a formidable match until then (31.36 common, 126.83 strike fee) – appeared to have the specified impact as they gained their final three to sneak into the playoffs, earlier than finally being knocked out by Delhi within the last qualifier.

2021 possibilities: Sunrisers are all the time aggressive. They’ve not as soon as didn’t make the ultimate 4 since successful the match in 2016, nonetheless they’ve returned to the ultimate itself on just one event when crushed by Chennai in 2018. They continue to be a really settled aspect, and are additional bolstered for 2021 by the return to health and type of seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose death-bowling brilliance brought on England all kinds of issues on their current white-ball tour of India.

Six-hitter? David Warner persistently finds himself atop the run-scoring charts within the IPL, so why ought to 2021 be any totally different? His 2020 match haul of 548 runs, at a mean of 39.14 and strike fee of 134.64 was adequate for third-best within the league.

Wicket-taker? Rashid Khan is one other one, a supremely constant IPL performer for Sunrisers and broadly thought of the most effective T20 bowler on this planet. The Afghanistan leg-spinner has one other stellar season in 2020, ending with 20 wickets at a mean of 17.20 – and that is regardless of groups hardly ever selecting to take him on and assault him, confirmed by his paltry economic system fee of simply 5.37 runs an over.