IPL Preview and Predictions

The IPL is back! Are you ready to parrrrtttyyy!!! Get ready for another few weeks of watching huge crowds of delirious fans go crazy as club bangers of 2012 blast across the stadium every time Chris Gayle hits a six. So please don’t blush baby, as we preview the teams for this season.

 Kolkata Knight Riders

 Last season: 5th

          

Key Players: Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Andre Russell, Shakib Al Hasan.

                

NZ Players: Colin Munro

On paper the Knight Riders don’t look particularly strong. Their homegrown players are mostly average or over the hill, while none of their overseas players are ‘superstars’ so to speak. However, this side won the competition two years ago and if batsman such as Kiwi Colin Munro and Aussie Chris Lynn manage to fire then they could sneak into the finals. The presence of West Indians Sunil Narine and Andre Russell also provide the Knight Riders with consistent bowling threats, while Bangladesh icon Shakib Al Hasan will be vitally important for the team's success. As for the local players keep an eye on middle order batsman Manish Pandey. While he didn’t set the world alight last season, he did score an unbeaten century against Australia in Sydney in January. Look for him to hold down the middle order if Munro and Lynn fail to deliver.

Prediction: 6^th

Gujarat Lions

                

Last season: N/A

Key Players: Dwayne Bravo, Brendon McCullum, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina.

NZ Players: Brendon McCullum

One of two new teams created to replace the suspended Chennai Super Kings and Rajastan Royals, the Gujarat Lions boast an array of talent. However, much like Sunrisers Hyderabad last season, they could struggle to find room for all of their overseas imports. As it stands, Dwayne Bravo, Brendon McCullum, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Dale Steyn, and Dwayne Smith will have to fight it out for the four spots available in the side. Luckily, they do have plenty of Indian quality. Captain Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja headline a strong core group of local talent that will turn this side into a title contender if they fire. With the quality players in their squad, the Lions should be able to make a strong playoff push. Look for them to be there or thereabouts near the end.

Prediction: 3^rd

Delhi Daredevils

Last season: 7^th

Key Players: JP Duminy, Chris Morris, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Imran Tahir

NZ Players: None

Didn’t have a great season last year and it doesn’t look like their luck is going to change any time soon. If they are going to make a statement they will need to rely on their South African core of Duminy, Morris, Tahir and Quinton de Kock. Delhi suffers from the problem that they are far too reliant on their overseas players, and with only four allowed to play a game, it leaves a big hole in the rest of the side. The fact that the aging Zaheer Khan is captain speaks volumes of where the side is at this point in time. On a more positive note, watch out for future star batsman Shreyas Iyer. The 21-year-old scored plenty of vital runs at a healthy average last season and will want to continue that form this year in the hope of securing a place in the national side. However, don’t expect the Daredevils to be around come playoff time.

Prediction: 8^th

Mumbai Indians

Last season: Champions

Key Players: Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Jos Buttler.

NZ Players: Corey Anderson, Mitchell McClenaghan, Tim Southee.

Now here’s a side oozing with talent. However, as seen by the names above, there will be strong competition for the overseas spots. Add a soon-to-be-fit Lasith Malinga to that list and it gets even tougher. Nevertheless this Mumbai squad has the tools to go all the way again this season. Captain Rohit Sharma has turned into a limited overs megastar and will head a strong batting lineup. For the casual fan, there’s a nice group of New Zealand internationals in this side so this could be the one to cheer for. Tim Southee should be able to get a good run while Malinga is injured, but if he returns it there could be a real battle for that second seamer position. Don’t sleep on young star Unmukt Chand. The former Daredevils player could finally fulfil his potential in this tournament, with the departure of Aaron Finch freeing up a slot to open the batting. Chand will be hoping to fill that hole alongside his captain and play like he did in the U19 World Cup a few years ago.

Prediction: Winner

Kings XI Punjab

Last season: 8^th

Key Players: Mitchell Johnson, Murali Vijay, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller.

NZ Players: None

If you hate the Australian cricket team then you’ll love rooting against this side. Sledging masters Mitchell Johnson and Glenn Maxwell are joined by walking wicket Shaun Marsh, to lead a side that won just three of their fourteen games last season. Jokes aside, this team lacks in firepower at the top and bottom of the lineup. A playoff push looks doubtful although they do have a nice core of young locals that could sneak them in. Don’t hold your breath though. Of those young players, spinner Axar Patel proved to be a nice contributor with both the bat and the ball, and will be hoping to improve further this year. Don’t sleep on bowlers Sandeep Sharma and Anureet Singh either – they combined for 28 wickets last year and surprised with their accuracy and skill. Overall the Kings XI don’t look like they have the ability to make the playoffs this year but should improve from last season.

Prediction: 7^th

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Last season: 3^rd

Key Players: Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson.

NZ Players: Adam Milne, Daniel Vettori (coach).

How this team hasn’t won a title is mind-boggling. Boasting three of the most destructive batsman in the game, it’s hard to fathom how this side hasn’t run away with the championship every year. Unfortunately for Daniel Vettori’s side, they will be without the services of Australian paceman Mitchell Starc who is still recovering from a foot injury he picked up last summer. However, the Challengers have acquired the services of fellow Aussie Shane Watson which they hope will soften the blow. Starc’s injury could bode well for New Zealand seamer Adam Milne, who failed to play a game last season but will now be vying for the frontline bowler spot made available. As for the locals, Harshal Patel and KL Rahul provide the star-studded lineup with security with the bat and ball. Patel took 17 wickets last season and will be looking to impress once more. Rahul meanwhile was acquired in the auction earlier this year and will most likely open the batting with Chris Gayle. An aggressive batsmen, he should help provide depth to the batting lineup and ease the pressure on the likes of Kohli, de Villiers, and Watson. Expect this side to be there or thereabouts once again this year.

Prediction: Runners-up

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Last season: 6^th

Key Players: David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson, Trent Boult.

NZ Players: Kane Williamson, Trent Boult.

Really struggled last year with a very top heavy batting lineup. This season they went and acquired Yuvraj Singh to fill the gap in the middle order and he could prove crucial in whether they make the playoffs or not. Expect King Kane to play more games than he did last year, most likely slotting in at his preferred number three position behind Warner and Dhawan. The Sunrisers bowling attack will be headed by the flamingo Trent Boult and Indian swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar. This year the focus for the Sunrisers will be for the rest of the side to have an impact on the game, instead of relying on one or two players every game. If they can do so they should be able to make the playoffs with the talent they have. Look to veterans Ashish Nehra and Karn Sharma to lead this charge.

Prediction:  5^th

Rising Pune Supergiants

Last season: N/A

Key Players: MS Dhoni, Steve Smith, Kevin Pietersen, Ajinkya Rahane.

NZ Players: Stephen Fleming (coach)

I’m not sure who comes up with the names for these teams but this one sounds like a three year old came up with it. Regardless, this team is full of quality and boasts three international captains in Dhoni, Smith, and Francois du Plessis, as well as an array of overseas and local talent. They importantly went out and secured the signature of Dhoni, bringing with it the support of half of India, as well as the expectation to win. This side certainly has the quality to do so. Aside from the obvious superstars, expect spinner Ravi Ashwin and seamer Irfan Pathan to provide some solidarity in the bowling ranks. While many have this side as the odds on favourites, I think they’re missing that X factor player that would push them over the line. I guess we’ll see.

Prediction: 4^th