It’s that time of the year again when the cricketing fraternity braces itself for the biggest spectacle of the game – The Indian Premier League. This year, things are pretty different from the usual but very similar to the manner in which the league was conducted last year. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic struck and brought the world to a standstill. All the activities, including cricket, came to an unexpected halt. Therefore, the IPL, that was due to be held during the regular April-May window, was postponed. Keep reading to find out the IPL playoff prediction, 4 IPL teams that have the best chance of qualifying for the playoffs
As time progressed, the new normal arrived and sports also adopted a bio-secure bubble method to survive. The IPL moved to the UAE and took place during September-November. No crowds in the stands was unusual for a league that has attracted so much attention and has experienced hardly any seats not taken over the years. However, the enormity of the league even in those conditions just showed the world how big a brand IPL is. It brought so much joy to the cricket lovers amidst the torrid times.
Within just five months, the league returns. This time, it’s back to the place where it belongs. There would still be no fans to cheer inside the stadiums. The travel restrictions have forced various tweaks to be implemented. No team would play at home this season which makes things more even. The auction held a few days back has added a new dimension to the competition. With just a few days left for the 14th edition to begin, it’s the perfect time to analyse which teams are the strongest and have the best chance of ending up in the top four. Here we are predicting the 4 Teams that Would Qualify for the IPL 2021 Playoffs.
Here Are the 4 Teams That Could Make It to the IPL 2021 Playoffs
#4 Sunrisers Hyderabad
Any team that comes up against Sunrisers Hyderabad, irrespective of the stage of the tournament, is assured of a tough fight from the Orange Army. In the last few seasons, this team has developed itself into a very powerful unit. They have, in fact, reached the playoffs for 5 seasons in a row. Under the leadership of David Warner, SRH are very strong contenders for a place in the playoffs yet again.
With Warner and Jonny Bairstow at the top, they combine to form one of the fiercest opening pair. Jason Roy is also a backup option for the opening slot. At times, even a masterful batsman like Kane Williamson has to sit out which shows the strength of the squad. In the middle order, they have Manish Pandey who provides solidity. Kedar Jadhav and Vijay Shankar are experienced campaigners who can provide the useful overs too with the ball.
When it comes to the bowling department, SRH are perhaps the most accomplished. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is going great guns after a comeback from an injury. He is accompanied by T Natarajan who made a name for himself last year with the highest percentage of yorkers. Since then, he has gone on to represent India across all 3 formats. Sandeep Sharma is among the most experienced pacers in the league now. Then, there is the wrecker in chief – Rashid Khan who is like a bank for the franchise. He now has the company of his countrymen Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
That’s not all. There is plenty of firepower in the reserves too. The likes of Mohammad Nabi, Jason Holder, Wriddhiman Saha, Khaleel Ahmed, Shahbaz Nadeem and Siddharth Kaul are proven performers in this format. At the end of the league stage, it should not come in as a surprise to anyone if we see Sunrisers Hyderabad in the playoffs.