With the beginning of April upon us, many will look to the start of the County Championship in England, but then many will still see flurries of snow on the ground and think instead to India, where the IPL starts on Wednesday. I take a look at the build up to the tournament with a look at each team and which players will stand out this year.
2012 Winners KKR celebrate their win (PC: Dawn)
The biggest news is that of a new team, after the lone season of the Kochi Tuskers and the discontinuation of the Deccan Chargers, The Sunrises Hyderabad, owned by Sun-TV, will be the new kids on the block. Captained by Kumar Sangakkara, coached by Tom Moody and with a bowling attack led by the world’s premier fast bowler, Dale Steyn, they look to be a team to be reckoned with, maybe even the dark-horses of the tournament…
Controversy is in full swing, as you would expect from the IPL. Sri Lankan players are banned from playing in Chennai, surely giving the two-time Champs a bigger home advantage on the competition? Tamin Iqbal and new Leicestershire signing Shakib al-Hasan will have to miss Bangladesh’s series with Zimbabwe in order to join their respective franchises, plus, of course, the English are complaining again because they didn’t get the big bucks in the auction. Although KP continues to hold the English flag aloft.
A very conservative IPL auction saw only Glenn Maxwell go for a million dollars. Under $12 million were spent on 37 players at the auction as teams aimed to retain rather than buy. Veron Philander, whose 89 test wickets have taken the world by storm, went unsold as Fidel Edwards went for good money. But who will be the MVP of this tournament?
Twenty20 specialist Dirk Nannes will play in the yellow of Chennai in this years IPL (PC: India TV News)
Chennai Super Kings – Chennai have brought in 10 bowlers over the off-season. Five overseas at the auction and five uncapped Indians afterwards. Chris Morris, the South African with only two Twenty20 internationals to his name, was the biggest spend, joining the Super Kings for $625,000 dollars. Dirk Nannes was the other big buy. The experienced T20 bowler went for $600,000. They bolster a pace bowling attack which only included big names like Ben Hilfenhaus, Albie Morkel and Dwayne Bravo, after deciding not to re-sign Doug Bollinger and Tim Southee. Coach Stephen Fleming noted they would concentrate on local pace options, despite spending nearly $2 million on overseas pace bowlers. The CSK squad includes so much like-for-like international talent, with Mike Hussey and Faf du Plessis, Albie Morkel and Dwayne Bravo and now Chris Morris and Ben Hilfenhaus (Chris Morris obviously has more batting prowess, but very similar bowling styles). It is nearly impossible to choose which overseas players will take the first four spots. What is clear, however, is that with an Indian batting line-up revolving around MS Dhoni, Murli Vijay and Suresh Raina plus a spin bowling attack which includes Ashwin and Jadeja, it will be the fast-bowling and all-rounder spots the overseas will occupy. Meaning du Plessis and Hussey may be battling for just one spot. CSK boast an unbelievable amount of talent, but they do lack a frontline Indian pace bowler, which could count against them as one weak link is all it takes to lose a T20, especially in the IPL. I expect them to continue to dominate however.
MVP candidates – MS Dhoni: His captaincy and death knocks will be a huge influence.
Dirk Nannes: Proved in T20 his deathly accuracy can win matches on its own.
Prediction – Champions
Delhi Daredevils – Englishman Jeremy Snape has joined the coaching team for the DD’s, making them the team with the highest English contingent also boasting Kevin Pietersen. They spent $450,000 on Johan Botha in order to bolster the spin attack, while other big buy, Jesse Ryder, will not be able to compete due to an attack outside a nightclub. Kevin Pietersen will leave for international duty early in May, which may leave the DD’s struggling for big hitters in the top order after swapping New Zealand big hitter Ross Taylor for Ashish Nehra. This means the fitness of Sehwag, Jayawardene and Warner will be vitally important during the last month of the competition. Morne Morkel will again have a lot of weight on his shoulders to carry the bowling attack. I expect little from the team that made the semi-finals of the Champions League T20 in September, without enough power in the batting department and lack of depth bowling-wise.
MVP candidates – David Warner: Has performed well in T20, I think it’s time he took the world by storm.
Ifran Pathan: He will need to be at his best for Delhi to get past the league stage.
Prediction – 7th
Kings XI Punjab – Only added two players at a cost of $800,000 this auction. Adam Gilchrist’s side has sat in the middle of the park for the majority of IPL’s and not much seems to be changing. The signing of two Indian U19’s who had fantastic World Cups could prove worthwhile as pace bowler Sandeep Sharma already looks like the finished article and could feature heavily. Gilchrist will be joined by fellow Australians Ryan Harris, Shaun Marsh and David Hussey in what looks like a team of Indians, built around these four Australians. Mid-table obscurity seems to be on the cards again, but I feel mid-table would be an achievement for this side.
MVP candidates – Paul Valthaty: Fell out of the limelight after a brilliant 2011 and shocking 2012, he will look to make up for it this year. Has played just 10 games in all other formats.
David Hussey: Always over-shadowed by his brother, with Faf du-Plessis looking favourite to start for CSK, this could be his time to be number 1 son.
Prediction – 9th
Kolkata Knight Riders – The current Champions look as strong an outfit as ever this year after securing most players and the signing of Sri Lankan bowler Sachithra Senanayake for $625,000. Ex-Australia star Brett Lee will continue to play while being introduced into a coaching role as ‘bowling mentor’ after Wasim Akram decided to miss this years IPL. He will look after a bowling attack boasting Lakshmipathy Balaji, Jacques Kallis, James Pattinson and Sunil Narine. This attack is backed up by a strong Indian contingent in the batting department as well as Brendon McCullum. Manvinder Bisla, who was the unlikely hero of the 2012 final, will look to continue his impressive T20 progress with the gloves and the bat. Big contenders.
MVP candidates – Lakshmipathy Balaji: Dominated the death overs last year. Main contender if he can continue his form.
Jacques Kallis: One of the best players in the world, his bowling especially will be vital.
Prediction – Runners-up
Ricky Ponting will look to continue his first-class form in the IPL (PC: Zimbio)
Mumbai Indians – This year to be led by new $400,000 signing Ricky Ponting, the Indians always look like a formidable team. Five players were added to the squad for $2 million at the auction. Four of these being Australian, including the auctions biggest buy, Glenn Maxwell, who they started bidding for at just $200,000. It is still unclear whether he will regularly make the starting line-up after the impressive season Dwayne Smith had last year and Kieron Pollard taking up the all-rounder spots, not to mention Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha being frontline spinners. All eyes will be on Tendulkar once again as he looks to regain form after a poor two series in the national side. While youngster Rohit Sharma will look at his spot in the test side as a possibility. Lasith Malinga will lead a bowling attack including new Australia signing Nathan Coulter-Nile. Form will be the main decider in the fortunes of Mumbai, watch this space.
MVP candidates – Ricky Ponting: The Mumbai captain had an unbelievable season in Australian state cricket, if that form continues there will be no stopping him.
Kieron Pollard: Fantastic in all three disciplines, some outrageous catches predicted from this man.
Prediction – 4th
Pune Warriors – Rocked by the news captain Michael Clarke will not be available for the whole tournament, the big spenders at the auction had to change the make-up of the team recently. Arron Finch will replace Clarke, joining his third IPL franchise while Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews will take the reigns of the side. They also traded fast bowler Nehra for Ross Taylor with Delhi Daredevils to enhance their batting line-up in a deal that seems to benefit both sides. Under new coach Alan Donald, the most expensive franchise in the competition seem a real threat his year. Ajantha Mendis will look to lead the bowling attack and find some fine form and prove himself deserving of the No.2 ranked T20 bowler. He will be missed in Chennai. Robin Uthappa will be vital for a batting line-up that does not look as strong as the Warrior’s competitors. Tamin Iqbal and Marlon Samuels are due a big tournament and Pune will hope this is it. Pune put most of their faith in all-rounders, with Yuvraj Singh, Luke Wright and Steven Smith expected to have big contributions. Watch out for a comeback from Wayne Parnell, who could feature in this years tournament. The Warriors will be a tough team to beat, but not tough enough to make the finals.
MVP candidates – Yuvraj Singh: Could turn any game on its head, and expect him to do so many a time.
Ajantha Mendis: If he is the most potent spinner in the tournament, expect Pune to make the finals.
Prediction – 5th
Rajasthan Royals – Rahul Dravid’s men will be looking to youth for this season. After securing young Australian pacer James Faulkner, who dismissed Chris Gayle earlier this year, as well as many Indian U19’s. One young spinner could have a big impact in Harmeet Singh, who was one of the stand out players in India U19’s victorious World Cup campaign. Ajinkya Rahane will again be composed at the top, setting the base for the lads lower down the order. Expect him to again be a major player in this years tournament. Shaun Tait is said to be in promising form but sadly Rajasthan just don’t have enough fire-power to compete, especially with the form of Shane Watson.
MVP candidates – Ajinkya Rahane: If he continues his form from last season, expect 100 from his end most games.
Kevon Cooper: The young West Indian showed promising signs before his injury last season, could be a big year for him.
Prediction – 8th
Royal Challengers Bangalore – With four of the best T20 batsmen in the world (in my opinion) in captain Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Tillakaratne Dilshan and, of course, The Gayle Force, they are always strong contenders. Made stronger this year by the bulk of bowlers added to the squad. Australian Moises Henriques, RP Singh, Ravi Rampaul and all-rounder Dan Christian have all been added to the squad which again will be one of the teams to beat. Muralitharan will continue to turn his arm over and the 800 wicket-man will surely be potent. Their one weakness is only having 4 top Indian players, Virat Kohli will lead the side with the bat while Vinay Kumar, Zaheer Khan and RP Singh lead the bowlers. I think Moises Henriques will have a big role to play. RCB will be up there in the latter stages, they posses the ability to have at least one batsmen on good form per game and they are some of the most deadly batsmen on the planet.
MVP candidates – Chris Gayle: Obviously…
Virat Kohli: One of the best players in IPL history, big pressure on his broad shoulders. He will perform well.
Prediction – 3rd
Expect No.1 ranked test bowler in the world, Dale Steyn, to rip up again in this years tournament (PC: Indian Express)
Sunrises Hyderabad – The new franchise retained 20 of the Deccan Chargers players and Tom Moody was very happy with how the auction went. A very strong frontline pace attack will cause problems for every strong opening partnership in the IPL, Dale Steyn and Ishant Sharma could win games on their own if both are on form. India’s new star Shikhar Dhawan will miss the start of the tournament but expect him and the extravagantly named Abhishek Jhunjhunwala to put in some good partnerships. West Indian captain Darren Sammy will look to impress in his first IPL along with Cameron White. Kumar Sangakkara will have a lot of pressure on his mature shoulders and will certainly be the most missed player by any franchise when they visit Chennai. It will be a ‘test the water’ type time for the new boys as cleverish buys and not enough world stars line their ranks.
MVP candidates – Dale Steyn: Out and out best fast bowler at the competition, it is possible to take a team apart in four overs.
Kumar Sangakkara: His captaincy decisions and not just his runs will be needed, if both come through he could be a serious contender.
Prediction – 6th
In my predictions I have Chennai as the Champions and RCB missing out in third. Depending on the form of the RCB bowlers, this is very interchangeable, as is Pune and Mumbai for who gets the last play-off spot.
What do you think of my predictions, and do you have any of your own? Have your say on the Forum by clicking here!
With the tournament kicking off on Wednesday, a Cricinfo Custom Bats Fantasy League has been created and is free for anyone to join. Simply go to Cricinfo, scroll over games and click on fantasy to set up your team.
League name: Custom Bats IPL
League Password: cbats
http://games.espncricinfo.com/fantasy/homepage.aspx
It’s very easy to set up and I will keep up to date with the leaderboard on the blog, get involved!
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