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IPL 2021: Predicting the 4 Teams that Would Qualify for the Playoffs

Shubham Khare
By Shubham Khare
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IPL 2021: Predicting the 4 Teams that Would Qualify for the Playoffs
IPL 2021: Predicting the 4 Teams that Would Qualify for the Playoffs

#2 Chennai Super Kings

Before the last year’s edition, if there was a definition of consistency, Chennai Super Kings were the apt match for it. The Men in Yellow had made it to the playoffs every single season they featured in until 2019. MS Dhoni and his men have managed to win the league 3 times. However, they reached the lowest point in their history last year. They had a terrible season by their standards in which CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time.

But Dhoni knows a thing or two about picking a team up and taking it to new peaks. Last year, CSK didn’t have the services of Mr. Reliable Suresh Raina who had pulled out of the league. Just by his addition, the batting line-up gets far more stable than what it was last season. Now that Shane Watson has retired, the onus of a fiery start would be on Faf du Plessis. Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa certainly add to the solidity. However, the most followed batsman in the line-up would be MS Dhoni, by a country mile.

Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni and his men have managed to win the league 3 times.
Chennai Super Kings

The best part about CSK’s squad is the number of world-class all-rounders. Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja have been delivering big time for the team for so many years. The franchise roped in Moeen Ali and Krishnappa Gowtham from the auction. Mitchell Santner is also another great option along with Sam Curran whose recent antics are not hidden from anyone.

CSK couldn’t quite put together good performances last year but that was mainly due to the failure of the batsmen. The bowlers played their part fairly well though. Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur are the two Indian seamers who are certain in the line-up. Lungi Ngidi and Josh Hazlewood are two brilliant overseas seamers. Imran Tahir would hope for an extended run this year while Karn Sharma is another decent spinner. On paper, the squad looks great but it’s the on-field performance that would determine the fate of the 3-time Champions.

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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.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad, irrespective of the stage of the tournament, is assured of a tough fight from the Orange Army.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
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.

#3 Delhi Capitals

The most improved franchise last year, without a doubt, was Delhi Capitals. Under a new captain Shreyas Iyer and the coach Ricky Ponting, the team reached new heights in 2020. In the first half of the league, the franchise was consistently in the top two. They somehow lost rhythm in the second half but still managed to reach the final. Mumbai Indians then overpowered them to crush the dreams. However, the dream is still alive. The regular skipper Shreyas Iyer suffered an injury to his shoulder during the India-England ODI series. Until he returns, Rishabh Pant will lead the side. That's a significant move considering the kind of form the wicketkeeper-batsman is in. He has played a pivotal role in India's recent victories in Australia and against England at home. Pant looks different, much better than he's ever been, albeit he had already left everyone in awe of his talent a couple of years ago.
Delhi Capitals: Under a new captain Shreyas Iyer and the coach Ricky Ponting, the team reached new heights in 2020.
Delhi Capitals
There is a flurry of batting talent in the line-up, so much that you won't find room to fit in everyone together. Count the potential openers - Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Marcus Stoinis. Add the new recruit, Steve Smith to the mix and the Caribbean flare of Shimron Hetmyer and there is the abundance of batting might. The mixture of youth and experience is going to be a treat to watch. It's not just the batting unit that seems powerful but the bowling unit also has enough variety to bamboozle the opposition. The spin pair of Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel have certainly flourished, although in Test cricket. But they have enough experience for the shortest format of the game too. The pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Umesh Yadav adds to the firepower. Already, the squad looks great without even looking at the backups. This could well be the year when the Delhi-based franchise finds its hands on the trophy.

#2 Chennai Super Kings

Before the last year's edition, if there was a definition of consistency, Chennai Super Kings were the apt match for it. The Men in Yellow had made it to the playoffs every single season they featured in until 2019. MS Dhoni and his men have managed to win the league 3 times. However, they reached the lowest point in their history last year. They had a terrible season by their standards in which CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time. But Dhoni knows a thing or two about picking a team up and taking it to new peaks. Last year, CSK didn't have the services of Mr. Reliable Suresh Raina who had pulled out of the league. Just by his addition, the batting line-up gets far more stable than what it was last season. Now that Shane Watson has retired, the onus of a fiery start would be on Faf du Plessis. Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa certainly add to the solidity. However, the most followed batsman in the line-up would be MS Dhoni, by a country mile.
Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni and his men have managed to win the league 3 times.
Chennai Super Kings
The best part about CSK's squad is the number of world-class all-rounders. Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja have been delivering big time for the team for so many years. The franchise roped in Moeen Ali and Krishnappa Gowtham from the auction. Mitchell Santner is also another great option along with Sam Curran whose recent antics are not hidden from anyone. CSK couldn't quite put together good performances last year but that was mainly due to the failure of the batsmen. The bowlers played their part fairly well though. Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur are the two Indian seamers who are certain in the line-up. Lungi Ngidi and Josh Hazlewood are two brilliant overseas seamers. Imran Tahir would hope for an extended run this year while Karn Sharma is another decent spinner. On paper, the squad looks great but it's the on-field performance that would determine the fate of the 3-time Champions.

#1 Mumbai Indians

It shouldn't come in as a surprise to anyone that Mumbai Indians are the biggest contenders for a place in the playoffs. There is no cricket franchise on the planet that has managed to put together a squad as good as that of Mumbai Indians. They have won the title 5 times, the most by any team in the league. In fact, they have won the last 2 editions and have a great chance of making it a hat-trick this year. The squad is as good as the one that was fielded last season, if not better this year. Led by Rohit Sharma, the team is the strongest in the competition. At the top, there is an explosive pair of the captain and Quinton de Kock. Followed by Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, and Krunal Pandya, the batting line-up is as strong as any international team. There is no shortage of firepower at any stage and that's why no target is out of reach for this team.
Mumbai Indians : It shouldn't come in as a surprise to anyone that Mumbai Indians are the biggest contenders for a place in the playoffs.
Mumbai Indians
Chris Lynn is a giant in the Australian Big Bash League. But the fact, that he didn't get even a game last year for MI, speaks volumes about the might of the batting unit. However, what adds cherry on top is the contribution of Pollard and the Pandya brothers with the bowl. These three are capable of bowling their full quota of overs which provides a massive cushion for the captain. If you are already not amazed by the batsmen, then, take a look at the bowlers. Trent Boult swings it miles with the new ball and bags key wickets. Jasprit Bumrah has an aura of his own that can unsettle any batsman at any point in time. Rahul Chahar has done well as the lead spinner and went on to play for the national side. Piyush Chawla brings in his experience this season. The likes of Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Milne and Dhawal Kulkarni only add to the threat. Come 23rd May, a place in the playoffs seems guaranteed for the defending champions. https://www.cricadium.com/social-media-discloses-pujara-is-the-reason-behind-hazlewoods-decision/ Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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