Posted by Re-start time for the 14th edition of Vivo IPL, curtain raisers Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians will meet in Dubai for a promising thriller to get the 2nd leg of IPL underway at 7:30 PM IST.
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Delhi Capitals having played 8 games are at the top of the points table with 12 points, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore are seeded 2nd and 3rd respectively with 10 points each and Mumbai Indians are placed 4th with 8 points having played 7 games.
Delhi Capitals : Delhi are placed at the top of points table; having played 8 games Delhi bagged 6 wins. Delhi are in contention for a podium finish and the squads strengthened with return of Shreyas Iyer. Delhi Capitals see a couple of changes in Ben Dwarshuis who’s come in for Chris Woakes and Kulwant Khejroliya who’s in for Siddharth Manimaram as an injury replacement. Shreyas Iyer’s return is a big plus to the team and has strengthened the batting unit. Rishabh Pant will continue to lead Delhi Capitals in this remainder of IPL. (season 14)
Chennai Super Kings : Chennai are seated 2nd in points table; CSK having played 7 games bagged wins in 5. CSK are in contention for a podium finish and is an experienced unit. CSK have concerns over English players availability in the knockouts; they’ll have a lot to look at as Moeen Ali and Sam Curran are a crucial part of CSK performing well, they might miss their best 2. CSK remain unchanged in the 2nd leg, Chennai’s batting is an area of concern, many individuals didn’t get going in the first half and batting revolved just around a few. Pace bowling will see a change with Josh Hazelwood’s availability; adds a good variety to CSK’s pace attack.
Royal Challengers Bangalore : Bangalore are seeded 3rd in points table; having played 7 games Bangalore have bagged 5 wins. The team’s done well in the first half and now will wish to repeat and improve those performances. RCB have as many as 5 changes in their squad, RCB rope in Wanindu Hasaranga for Adam Zampa, Dushmantha Chameera for Dan Sams, George Garton for Kane Richardson, Tim David for Finn Allen and Akash Deep for Washington Sundar. Wanindu Hasaranga will play a key role, he’s lately been in good form and alongside Chahal on UAE tracks RCB couldn’t have asked for a better spinner. George Garton is another excellent pick, he’s good with the bat and can provide invaluable cameos and also adds a variety to the bowling attack being a left arm pacer, there’s another option in Dushmantha Chameera who’s a right arm pacer, tight lines but not much with the bat. With Finn Allen RCB have an option to relook at their opening, Finn is a fine opener and can provide great starts. Tim David another excellent pick, is an explosive middle order batter and can provide finishes, there’s ABD and Maxwell but Tim David’s entry has given more assurance and solidity in the middle. Akash Deep not much with the bat, bowls decent is a right arm pacer. With 10 points RCB do have a cushion, the squads as good as one could ask for and it’s strengthened with like to like replacements, a trophy drought for RCB might just come to an end this year.
Mumbai Indians : Mumbai are placed 4th in rankings, having played 7 games Mumbai bagged wins in 4, a push on accelerator will be the need straightaway. A late change for Mumbai in Roosh Kalaria who’s in for Mohsin Khan, Roosh is an all-rounder; left arm bowler who’s handy with the bat. Mumbai as always are favourites but don’t have a cushion this time as they’ll look for a top 2 finish and that demands a push on the accelerator right from game 1 (today) of the 2nd leg. Mumbai is a team with many match winners and are in contention for a podium finish.
It’s very likely that these four teams finish the tournament as table toppers, Rajasthan and Punjab from the bottom four have a good chance to upset the table toppers. Will be an intresting wait to see if this season 14 of the IPL will see a new champion.
Bureau of sports 