The Mumbai Indians are the favourites to win the 2021 Indian Premier League after winning back-to-back IPL tournaments. They are vying for an unprecedented third consecutive title and sixth overall.

The Delhi Capitals, who were second last year after coming third in 2019, are among the next teams on the list, with little separating them from the rest of the regular suspects in the IPL.

Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, all led by Virat Kohli, are similarly priced, with bookies tipping four of the five to make the play-offs.

Given Mumbai’s stability over the last two seasons and the fact that many of their key players have remained, it’s difficult to bet against them.

They showed last season that they didn’t require Lasith Malinga, who has since retired as the IPL’s all-time greatest wicket-taker, and that they’ll still have all of their important players in 2020.

While Mumbai are certainly favourites, Royal Challengers Bangalore have made significant investments following their excellent season last year, and Delhi Capitals cannot be written off after two solid years.

The Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, are undergoing a complete overhaul for 2021, with their international additions surely strengthening them. However, with Chennai Super Kings expected to have more experienced players this season, the Royals could find themselves at the bottom of the table.

Which Team will Win IPL 2022

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Chennai Super Kings, the three-time champions, will be looking to make a strong comeback after missing out on the play-offs for the first time in 2020.

CSK Team Information

The Chennai Super Kings finished eighth in the IPL last season, which was their lowest ever finish. They had never finished outside of the top four before and were considered one of the favourites following their second-place performance in 2019.

The three-time winners – and five-time runners-up – have, on the other hand, persevered with their seasoned stars and improved significantly. MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, and Imran Tahir have all been retained, while Moeen Ali and Krishnappa Gowtham have been added to the mix.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, on the other hand, emerged as a prominent factor in 2020, thanks to a run of half-centuries that showcased his rising prowess.

With guys like Gaikwad at the helm, this season might be a true changing of the guard for the Super Kings. After a disappointing campaign, Chennai might have taken everything apart and started again in 2021, but they resisted the impulse.

Still, there’s no doubting that things didn’t quite work out in 2020, and it’s difficult to bet on them reaching the play-offs with a similar group.

CSK Squad changes

With the pre-auction signing of Robin Uthappa for Rs 3 crore, Chennai Super Kings have added even more expertise to their lineup. The Super Kings had abundant of cash after Shane Watson retired and Harbhajan Singh, Kedar Jadhav, and Piyush Chawla were released.

Moeen Ali, Krishnappa Gowtham, Cheteshwar Pujara, Harishankar Reddy, K. Bhagath Varma, and Chezhian Harinishanth all showed up at the auction with that sum of money.

Only all-rounders Moeen and Gowtham broke the bank, and the Chennai Super Kings’ ambitions in 2021 will be carried by the nucleus of last season’s club.

CSK Team key players

• Captain – MS Dhoni: As he approaches the end of his career, the experienced wicketkeeper-batsman continues to lead the Super Kings. He hit 200 runs last season and led the league in runs scored in 2019, but he can’t be counted out. He has led the Super Kings to some incredible chases when he finishes well.
• Faf du Plessis: Last season, the South African ace blasted four half-centuries en route to 449 runs in 13 innings, finishing as Chennai’s leading run-scorer. In his most recent T20i series, he scored two half-centuries for South Africa against England, demonstrating his continuing quality.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad: Last season, he struck three half-centuries in only six matches, averaging 51 with the bat in what was an impressive start to his IPL career. With a T20 strike rate of 130.69, he’ll be one to keep an eye on this year.
• Sam Curran: He failed to make an impression against India in Ahmedabad as he battled for a spot in England’s T20 World Cup team, but he has another chance to show himself after claiming 13 wickets in 13 innings for Chennai last season.

IPL 2021 CSK Team Squads

Retained players: Ravindra Jadeja (16 cr), MS Dhoni (12 cr), Ruturaj Gaikwad (8 cr), Moeen Ali (6 cr)

Players bought: K Gowtham (9.25 crore), Moeen Ali (7 crore), Cheteshwar Pujara (50 lakh), K Bhagath Varma (20 lakh), C Hari Nishaanth (20 lakh), M Harisankar Reddy (20 lakh)

• Batsmen: Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, N Jagadeesan, Faf Du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Cheteshwar Pujra, Harishankar Reddy, Bhagath Varma, Hari Nishanth
• All Rounders: Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Mitchell Santner, Moeen Ali, Krishnappa Gowtham
• Bowlers: Shardul Thakur, Karn Sharma, KM Asif, Imran Tahir, R. Sai Kishore, Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi, Jason Behrendorff
• Wicket-Keeper: MS Dhoni

Expert Prediction for CSK

Sixth

Chennai had a poor season last year, but they haven’t made many changes to their lineup and will rely on the same players for the most part this year. Their older roster has had success in the past, but success today depends greatly on younger players like Sam Curran, Lungi Ngidi, and Ruturaj Gaikwad.

While Faf du Plessis, MS Dhoni, and Dwayne Bravo remain valuable assets, the play-offs may once again be out of reach for Chennai, who may have to rewrite their playbook for next season if this is the case.

Can CSK Win IPL 2021?

Chennai Super Kings are now 8.00 to win the 2021 Indian Premier League with Bet365 and 7.50 to win with Betway following their terrible performance last season. That puts them in the middle of the pack, but they’ll need to step up their game if they want to make the playoffs.

Delhi Capitals (DC)

The Delhi Capitals won the IPL final in 2021 and may be backed to do so again this year.

DC Team Information

What’s in a name, anyway? When it comes to the Delhi Capitals, it appears like a lot has changed since they changed their identity from the Delhi Daredevils last season.

In 2019, the Capitals made the playoffs for the first time in seven years, and they went one step further last season, reaching their first-ever final.

The Mumbai Indians’ quest for a first IPL trophy continues, but with Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer leading their batting and Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje among the tournament’s top bowlers, things appear to be looking up in 2021.

At around Rs 89.82 lakh, Nortje could be one of the best buys in the competition, and his retention was crucial.

In fact, Delhi has kept the majority of the players that took the team to the final last season, including Rishabh Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin.

DC Squad changes

The majority of the Capitals’ roster remains intact after pre-auction sales of Daniel Sams and Harshal Patel, as well as the releases of Alex Carey, Jason Roy, Mohit Sharma, Keemo Paul, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Tushar Deshpande.

However, they have done well in terms of acquisitions, with Steve Smith being the most notable at just Rs 2.2 crores, while Tom Curran and Sam Billings also help to boost their international numbers.

On the local front, Umesh Yadav, Ripal Patel, Vishnu Vinod, Lukman Meriwala, and M Siddharth were also picked up at the auction.

DC team key players

• Captain – Rishab Pant: The skipper is the fifth-youngest captain in the history of the IPL. In his last three seasons, he has scored 684, 488, and now 343 runs, and he will be eager to lead the last year’s finalists to their maiden IPL triumph.
• Shikhar Dhawan: He batted Delhi Capitals into the final last season with 618 runs after four half-centuries and a couple of hundreds. He now has 60 half-centuries to his name, in addition to his first two T20 centuries.
• Marcus Stoinis: Last season, the Australian all-rounder was a vital addition, taking 13 wickets and scoring 352 runs – including three half-centuries – to repay Delhi’s faith in him. Prior to his presence at the IPL, he also hit his maiden T20i half-century in Australia’s previous series with New Zealand.
• Kagiso Rabada: Following up on the 25 wickets he collected in 2019, he set a new IPL record with 30 wickets in 17 matches. He has been in excellent wicket-taking form in South Africa, and despite still being only 25, he only needs three wickets to reach 150 in T20 cricket.

IPL 2021 DC Team Squads

Retained players: Rishabh Pant (16 cr), Axar Patel (9 cr), Prithvi Shaw (7.5 cr), Anrich Nortje (6.5 cr)

Players bought: Steve Smith (Rs 2.2 crore), Umesh Yadav (Rs 1 crore), Ripal Patel (Rs 20 lakh), Vishnu Vinod (Rs 20 lakh), Lukman Meriwala (Rs 20 lakh), M Siddharth (Rs 20 lakh), Tom Curran (Rs 5.25 crore), Sam Billings (Rs 2 crore)

• Batsmen: Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shimron Hetmyer, Steve Smith, Ripal Patel, Vishnu Vinod, Lukman Meriwala
• All Rounders: Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Marcus Stoinis, Lalit Yadav, Pravin Dubey, Chris Woakes, Tom Curran
• Bowlers: Amit Mishra. Avesh Khan, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Umesh Yadav, M Siddharth
• Wicket-Keeper: Rishabh Pant, Sam Billings

Expert Prediction for DC

Final

The Delhi Capitals have kept all of the players that helped them reach the IPL final last season and are expected to be among the top teams again this season. They have strength in all departments, with Anrich Nortje in the wickets to support compatriot Kagiso Rabada’s stellar IPL form, and the batting of Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant.

Marcus Stoinis and Ravichandran Ashwin improve this team’s quality, and they should be aiming for the final once more.

Can DC Win IPL 2021?

The odds for the Delhi Capitals to win the Indian Premier League in 2021 are 6.50 with Bet365 and 5.50 with Betway. This makes them the second-favorite, reflecting their second-place performance last season with a very identical group.

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Despite winning the league in 2014 and finishing second the following year, Punjab Kings are one of the teams still looking for their maiden IPL crown. In the last six seasons, they have failed to make the playoffs.

PBKS Team Information

Following their name change, Punjab Kings enter a new phase in their quest for their maiden IPL title.

They’ve only ever made it to one final, where they came in second in 2014, and last season’s sixth-place finish marked the fifth year in a row that they didn’t even qualify for the playoffs.

Last season, they had the best batsman in the tournament in KL Rahul, and Chris Gayle’s comeback adds to the strength of their top-order.

On paper, they’ve made some solid additions as well: Dawid Malan, Moises Henriques, and Shahrukh Khan have all come. It’s a major reorganisation of their international quota.

Dawid Malan’s stellar T20I record suffered a setback in the current India versus England series, indicating that he may not be at his best on Indian pitches.

All in, it is a strong squad on paper but the strength in depth remains the biggest concern – beyond their biggest stars, they still seem to lack the star quality to end their long search for a place in the play-offs.

To replace Jhye Richardson, PBKS have signed England spinner Adil Rashid to their squad.

PBKS Squad changes

The Punjab Kings made some significant adjustments for 2020, but it hasn’t stopped them from bidding big in 2021.

Glenn Maxwell’s comeback was short-lived, as the Australian all-rounder was released along with Krishnappa Gowtham, Karun Nair, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Sheldon Cottrell to free up some cash.

James Neesham, Hardus Viljoen, J Suchith, and Tajinder Singh were also released, making room for newcomers.

Moises Henriques adds to the squad’s experience, while Dawid Malan’s T20 record speaks for itself – despite not being at his best against India earlier this month, he finished the five-match T20i series with another half-century for England.

Meanwhile, Shahrukh Khan, the Tamil Nadu batsman, was one of the most expensive Indian players in the auction, as he aims to make a name for himself in the IPL for the first time.

A much-changed Punjab Kings roster is rounded out by Jalaj Saxena, Utkarsh Singh, Fabian, and Saurabh Kumar.

Due to the absence of Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith from the Australian roster, PBKS has added another Australian pacer, Nathan Ellis, to their squad. In the recent T20I series against Bangladesh, Ellis was impressive.

PBKS team key players

• Captain – KL Rahul: With 593 runs in the 2019 IPL, the captain and wicket-keeper-batsman was the best Indian batsman, and he went even better in 2021 to win the orange crown. He scored 670 runs, including five half-centuries and a century, and will be one of the best batsmen in the world in 2021.
• Chris Gayle: Never write the West Indian veteran off. He batted at number three for the Kings last season and thrived, with 288 runs in seven innings. He smashed 39 and 68 in the Pakistan Super League in February too, and the 41-year-old also made his West Indies’ return too. An icon of the T20 game, he is not done yet.
• Mohammed Shami: He was Punjab’s most effective bowler for the second season in a row. Despite the pace-bowling reinforcements at the auction, he took 20 last season, one more than in 2019, and will be crucial again this year.
• Deepak Hooda: He is the all-around player that PBKS requires. Hooda had a strike rate of 143.20 in the first half of the IPL this year, and if he keeps up his batting spirit in the second half of the league, he might be among the top-10 hitters.

Ipl 2021 Punjab Kings Team Squad

Retained players: Mayank Agarwal (14 cr), Arshdeep Singh (4 cr)

Players bought: Jhye Richardson (Rs 14 crore), Shahrukh Khan (Rs 5.25 crore), Dawid Malan (Rs 1.5 crore), Riley Meredith (Rs 8 crore), Moises Henriques (Rs 4.20 crore), Jalaj Saxena (Rs 30 lakhs), Utkarsh Singh (Rs 20 lakhs), Fabian Allen (Rs 75 lakh), Saurabh Kumar (Rs 20 lakh)

• Batsmen: Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Dawid Malan
• All Rounders: Chris Gayle, Mandeep Singh, Deepak Hooda, Moises Henriques, Jalaj Saxena, Utkarsh Singh, Fabian Allen, Saurabh Kumar
• Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Darshan Nalkande, Harpreet Brar, Mohd Shami, Murugan Ashwin, Ishan Porel, Ravi Bishnoi, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Jhye Richardson, Riley Meredith
• Wicket-Keeper: KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, Prabhsimran Singh

Expert Prediction for PBKS

Seventh

While the Punjab Kings have improved on paper, they still rely on the same local players – KL Rahul and Mohammed Shami – as they have in the past. They’ve shown over the last two seasons that they can’t lead this club on their own.

Can PBKS Win IPL 2021?

Punjab Kings are 10.00 to win with Bet365 and a staggering 13.00 to win with Betway for the 2021 IPL. At such odds, they are unlikely to even make the quarterfinals, and it would be a huge surprise if they did anything in this year’s competition.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

The Kolkata Knight Riders just missed out on a playoff position last season due to a low net run rate, and will try to improve in this year’s IPL.

KKR Team Information

Winners on two occasions After failing to make the play-offs in each of the last two seasons — finishing fifth both times – Kolkata Knight Riders’ star has faded in recent years.

They had previously qualified for the play-offs three times in a row, but their narrow miss last season has not deterred them in the long run.

Kolkata released only six players while keeping all of their big-name players, like as England skipper Eoin Morgan and Australia seamer Pat Cummins.

Andre Russell and Sunil Narine have also agreed to stay, but Kolkata will need more from their West Indian all-rounders if they are to make the play-offs again.

They were hampered by a paucity of runs from those two, as well as a lack of match-winning bowling efforts.

With Shakib Al Hasan added to the roster in the IPL auction – the Bangladeshi star having served his ban for not disclosing a match fixing attempt – Narine will be under pressure in 2021.

Shakib might be a significant player, and Kolkata’s all-rounders could be among the greatest in the world if they perform well.

Their entire squad, as well as their homegrown heroes, will be crucial. Realistically, not much has changed in terms of personnel from last season, so greater performances from their big-money superstars will be crucial.

In the most recent development, KKR’s bowler Pat Cummins has been replaced by Tim Southee after Cummins was declared unavailable due to personal reasons.

KKR Squad changes

After finishing sixth the previous year, the Kolkata Knight Riders made significant changes in 2020, but they decided not to do so again in 2021.

Instead, they kept Eoin Morgan and Pat Cummins, two of their most expensive acquisitions last season, and added Shakib Al Hasan to the mix.

Only five players were discharged, the most noteworthy of them was Tom Banton, who had only appeared twice in the previous season.

Meanwhile, former India players Harbhajan Singh and Karun Nair are on their way in, both at bargain prices after their peak years.

They do, however, add experience to a group that includes Sheldon Jackson, Vaibhav Arora, Venkatesh Iyer, and Pawan Negi. Meanwhile, Ben Cutting is an international option.

KKR team key players

Captain – Eoin Morgan: After making an impression last season, England captain Eoin Morgan will lead Kolkata Knight Riders in 2021. Despite only scoring one half-century in 14 innings, the Irish-born batsman managed 418 runs at a strike rate of 138.41. He’s approaching 7,000 T20 runs and should reach that mark early in the tournament.

Andre Russell: Dre Russ, who was named MVP of the 2019 IPL after his all-round achievements made headlines throughout the world, did not have the same success previous season. However, if he does strike, his ability with the bat and the ball has never been questioned. Russell’s fitness and form, in fact, might be a game-changer for the Knight Riders.

Shakib Al Hasan: The Bangladeshi icon, a wise acquisition, has a reputation to repair but the talent to do so. On the field, his ability is undeniable, as seen by his performance with bat and ball upon his return to Bangladesh. This is a significant chance for him to bring his name back in the spotlight for the right reasons after his match-fixing controversy, when he was suspended for failing to disclose an illegal approach.

Nitish Rana: In the first half of the IPL, KKR deployed Nitish Rana as a No. 3 slot hitter, and he has scored 201 runs in just seven matches. Rana is likely to keep up his good form in the second half as well.

IPL 2021 KKR Team Squad

Retained players: Andre Russell (12 cr), Varun Chakaravarthy (8 cr), Venkatesh Iyer (8 cr), Sunil Narine (6 cr)

Players bought: Shakib Al Hasan (Rs 3.20 crore), Sheldon Jackson (Rs 20 lakh), Vaibhav Arora (Rs 20 lakh), Karun Nair (Rs 50 lakh), Harbhajan Singh (Rs 2 crore), Ben Cutting (Rs 75 lakh), Venkatesh Iyer (Rs 20 lakh), Pawan Negi (Rs 50 lakh)

Batsmen: Eoin Morgan, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Karun Nair

All Rounders: Andre Russell, Shivam Mavi, Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan, Ben Cutting, Venkatesh Iyer

Bowlers: Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna, Pat Cummins, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Harbhajan Singh, Pawan Negi

Wicket-Keeper: Dinesh Karthik, Sandeep Warrier, Tim Seifert, Sheldon Jackson

Expert Prediction for KKR

Fifth

If all of Kolkata Knight Riders’ key players are in good form, they have the bat-and-ball talent to win this event. The difficulty is that most of those same players did not maintain the level of consistency that would have propelled them to the playoffs in 2020.

Eoin Morgan is a top captain, and talents like Andre Russell have the potential to make a significant impact, but their strength and depth are lacking, and KKR could miss the play-offs for the third year in a row.

Can KKR Win IPL 2021?

With Bet365, Kolkata Knight Riders are 7.00 to win the IPL, while Betway has them at 8.00. They’re in the centre of the pack, which reflects the fact that if they’re going to make the playoffs, they’ll need greater consistency from their greatest talents, many of whom are the same players who finished fifth last season.

Mumbai Indians (MI)

The Mumbai Indians, who won the IPL last year, are the favourites to defend their title and win the IPL 2021.

MI Team Information

Mumbai Indians, who have won the IPL for the second season in a row and for the fifth time overall, are favourites to continue their incredible IPL record.

With very few changes from a squad that proved too powerful for their opponents in 2020, it’s clear to see why. Although Lasith Malinga is a noticeable absence, he did not play last season.

Instead, it’s been another off-season with few changes, with the same key players at the heart of the group as the previous two years.

From the top of the batting order with Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock, to budding Indian batting stars Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav, all-rounder Kieron Pollard and the Pandyas, and wicket-takers Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, and Rahul Chahar, they have strength in all areas.

It’s difficult to locate a weak link in this team, and they’re the clear favourites to win the IPL once more.

MI Squad changes

For the year 2021, the Mumbai Indians have kept things simple. Although Nathan Coulter-Nile was moved for a lesser price and Lasith Malinga has now officially retired, the champs made little progress in the IPL auction.

Apart from Coulter-Nile, Adam Milne and Piyush Chawla were the most costly signings, while Arjun Tendulkar, Sachin’s son, was unlikely to sign with any other team.

Marco Jansen, James Neesham, and Yudhvir Charak were not exactly budget buys.

Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell McClenaghan, Prince Balwant Rai, Digvijay Deshmukh, and replacement signing James Pattinson were all released, but the Mumbai squad remains unquestionably formidable.

The Mumbai Indians will have to shake things up soon, but for now, the only thing that matters is that its established stars remain eager for victory.

MI team key players

Captain – Rohit Sharma: The big-hitting India batsman has a tendency of amassing IPL runs even when he doesn’t appear to be contributing much – which will suit him and Mumbai just fine. Last season, he scored 332 runs and is coming off a half-century in his most recent T20i, his 64th in the format to go along with his six centuries.

Quinton de Kock: The South African wicketkeeper-batsman and captain has taken a break to rest and re-energize, with the goal of returning to the IPL fresh and ready to play. Last season, he scored 503 runs, including four half-centuries, to continue his strong form from 2019 and lead the Indians to another IPL triumph.

Jasprit Bumrah: The paceman is one of the best white-ball bowlers in the world, as he demonstrated last season by taking another 27 wickets in 15 matches to lead Mumbai’s bowling statistics. He’s also very efficient, which makes him even more lethal – he averaged 6.73 runs per over last season.

Hardik Pandya: Despite not being fit enough to bowl previous season, he scored 281 runs at a strike rate of 178.98 in a middle order that included Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya. He’s an important all-rounder, but he showed last season that he can have an impact even when he’s only doing one of his typical tasks.

IPL 2021 MI Team Squad

Retained players: Rohit Sharma (16 cr), Jasprit Bumrah (12 cr), Suryakumar Yadav (8 cr), Kieron Pollard (6 cr)

Players bought: Nathan Coulter-Nile (Rs 5 crore), Adam Milne (Rs 3.2 crore), Piyush Chawla (Rs 2.4 crore), James Neesham (Rs 50 lakh), Yudhvir Charak (Rs 20 lakh), Marco Jansen (Rs 20 lakh), Arjun Tendulkar (20 lakh)

Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, Anmolpreet Singh, Suryakumar Yadav, Chris Lynn, Saurabh Tiwary

All Rounders: Anukul Roy, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya

Bowlers: Dhawal Kulkarni, Jasprit Bumrah, Jayant Yadav, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Mohsin Khan

Wicket-Keeper: Aditya Ta, Ishan Kishan, Quinton de Kock

Expert Prediction for MI

Champions

The Mumbai Indians have a winning formula and have sensibly not tinkered with it for this season, since the same stars are expected to lead them to even greater success.

In the meantime, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav are competing for places in the Indian T20 World Cup, which adds another dimension to their other more established star names in a roster that has no weak links.

Mumbai are favourites once again thanks to their batting through the order, bowling – both seam and spin – and all-rounders who can routinely give match-winning performances.

Can MI Win IPL 2021?

Yes, Mumbai may win the Indian Premier League in 2021, and they are the favourites to do it. The Mumbai Indians can be backed at 4.33 with Bet365 and 4.20 with Betway to win the 2021 IPL.

They are clear favourites, and it’s easy to understand why after sticking to the same winning formula for the past two seasons. Theirs is a team with a tremendous amount of depth.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Rajasthan Royals, winners of the inaugural Indian Premier League in 2008, will be seeking to rebound after a disastrous 2020 campaign in which they finished last.

RR Team Information

Rajasthan Royals, who finished bottom of the table last season, are once again outsiders in 2021, and Jofra Archer’s fitness concerns further add to that.

Rajasthan finished last in 2020, yet Archer was named tournament MVP, highlighting the vast gap between the team’s elite players and the rest of the group.

This roster has a critical lack of depth, and the fact that Archer is out with an injury should be a major concern.

Although Steve Smith is no longer with the team, they have not invested wisely, spending the majority of their free money on South African all-rounder Chris Morris.

That is not to dismiss a bowler who took 11 wickets and bowled economically for Royal Challengers Bangalore last season, but it does not address the squad’s lack of depth.

Rajasthan Royals, who finished bottom of the table in 2020 and were eighth and off the pace the year before, look destined for another poor season in 2021.

In addition, Jos Buttler has confirmed that he will be absent for the forthcoming IPL 2021 season due to personal issues. Rajasthan Royals recruited New Zealand bat Glenn Phillips to replace Buttler.

RR Squad changes

The Rajasthan Royals made a lot of changes in 2020, signing 11 players, but they still lack depth, something they haven’t really addressed in 2021.

After finishing last in the league last season, captain Steve Smith was released, as were Ankit Rajpoot, Varun Aaron, Tom Curran, Oshane Thomas, Shashank Singh, and Aniruddha Joshi.

However, the majority of the free cash was spent on Chris Morris, who cost an eye-watering Rs 16.25 crore to become the IPL’s most expensive player ever.

While his all-round ability should not be overlooked, he hasn’t played much since collecting 11 wickets in nine matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore last season, raising doubts about whether he is worth the money.

At Rs 4.4 crore, Shivam Dube was their most expensive domestic signing, and he joins Mustafizur Rahman, Liam Livingstone, Chetan Sakariya, Kuldip Yadav, and K.C. Carriapa in joining on.

With Archer out, Rahman could have a bigger role today than he had when he first signed up for Rs 1 crore.

RR team key players

Captain – Sanju Samson: Sanju Samson, who was Rajasthan’s top batsman last season, takes over as captain now that Steve Smith has moved on. He struck three half-centuries en route to 375 runs with a strike rate of 158.89.

Mustafizur Rahman: In the Rajasthan Royals’ roster, he is a consistent fast bowler. He is now ranked in the top ten ICC T20I Bowlers. In the first powerplay, Rahman has the ability to hold the batsmen in check..

Rahul Tewatia: Tewatia became one of the team’s primary all-rounders after his impressive performance in IPL 2020. He has the ability to score huge runs in the middle of the order and can spin the bowl in the correct spots.

Chris Morris: If Jofra Archer is forced to withdraw due to injury, the IPL’s most expensive player will face an even more difficult challenge with the ball. He may have been a surprising price at the auction, but he still has the potential to establish his worth to the Royals as a vital death bowler and tidy all-rounder with a knack for big hitting.

IPL 2021 RR Team Squad

Retained players: Sanju Samson (14 cr), Jos Buttler (10 cr) , Yashasvi Jaiswal (4 cr)

Players bought: Chris Morris (Rs 16.25 crore), Shivam Dube (Rs 4.4 crore), Mustafizur Rahman (Rs 1 crore), Chetan Sakariya (Rs 1.20 crore), KC Kariappa (Rs 20 lakh), Liam Livingstone (Rs 75 lakh), Kuldip Yadav (Rs 20 lakh), Aakash Singh (Rs 20 lakh)

Batsmen: Manan Vohra, Riyan Parag, Robin Uthappa, Yashasvi Jaiswal, David Miller, Chetan Sakariya, Akash Singh

All Rounders: Ben Stokes, Mahipal Lomror, Shreyas Gopal, Shivam Dube

Bowlers: Jofra Archer, Mayank Markande, Rahul Tewatia, Jaydev Unadkat, Kartik Tyagi, Andrew Tye, Chris Morris, Mustafizur Rahman, KC Cariappa, Liam Livingstone, Kuldip Yadav

Wicket-Keeper: Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Phillips

Expert Prediction for RR

Eighth

The Rajasthan Royals are severely lacking in depth. Too often, if their top stars don’t deliver, they don’t deliver as well. Chris Morris was a high-priced IPL acquisition, but he can’t solve all of the Royals’ problems, and Jofra Archer’s injury is a major setback.

Rajasthan could be in for another poor tournament if he isn’t selected. Even if he plays, this team lacks the depth to be backed with confidence.

Can RR Win IPL 2021?

Rajasthan Royals are 10.00 with Bet365 and 8.50 with Betway as outsiders for the 2021 IPL. They were at the bottom of the heap in 2020, and they aren’t projected to improve much in 2021.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

Royal Challengers Bangalore, under by Virat Kohli, resume their quest for their first IPL crown, and will be anxious to advance after reaching the play-offs last year.

RCB Team Information

As India skipper Virat Kohli prepares to start the batting in practise for the T20 World Cup, his Royal Challengers Bangalore are seeking to build on a much-improved 2020.

Kohli is looking to replicate his success with RCB after a solid opening pair with Rohit Sharma led India to a massive win in the fifth T20I against England.

Sharma has led Mumbai Indians to two IPL wins, while Kohli aspires to win one of the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions.

RCB have a batting line-up with of promise, with Devdutt Padikkal emerging as a top player last season as well, and Kohli and AB de Villiers keeping their experience.

Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell and Kyle Jamieson were big-money additions, and Dan Christian was another international pick who brings T20 success with him.

Christian won another BBL title earlier this year, and while he joins a squad that has yet to win in this competition, they are a team to keep an eye on this time around.

RCB Squad changes

Royal Challengers Bangalore wrung the changes in 2020, but that hasn’t prevented them from making some major changes in 2021 as well.

Aaron Finch and Chris Morris were on their released list, with the latter relocating to Rajasthan for a large sum of money.

On the leaving roster were Moeen Ali, Isuru Udana, Dale Steyn, Shivam Dube, Umesh Yadav, Pawan Negi, Gurkeerat Mann, and the now-retired Parthiv Patel.

Glenn Maxwell and Kyle Jamieson have taken their places, while Dan Christian is also a seasoned traveller.

In the IPL auction, Sachin Baby, Mohammed Azharuddeen, KS Bharat, Rajast Patidar, and Suyash Prabhudessai were also selected.

Due to Josh Philippe’s personal reasons for withdrawing from the competition, RCB had to make a late change as well, with Finn Allen signing as a substitute player after only 13 career appearances.

According to the newest news, RCB has recruited Tim David, a Singaporean batsman, to replace Finn Allen, who is unavailable due to national duty.

To bolster their roster, RCB has added Sri Lankan cricketers Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera. Hasaranga is a spinner who has recently been in the spotlight due to his performances, while Chameera is a pacer who has recovered from an injury and is now ready to play.

RCB has recruited Akash Deep to replace Washington Sundar, who is out due to a finger injury. Akash Deep plays domestic cricket for the Bengal team and has participated in RCB net practises.

RCB team key players

• Captain – Virat Kohli: He was crucial with the bat again last season, hitting 466 runs in 15 innings after breaking the 5,000-run barrier in the IPL in 2019. The India skipper, who will open the batting, is coming off a strong performance against England.
• AB de Villiers: With 454 runs in 14 innings and a strike rate of 158.74, the big-hitting South African legend was only behind Kohli in RCB’s batting records for the second consecutive season. He’s still one of the best T20 batsmen in the world, prospering everywhere he goes.
• Yuzvendra Chahal: Last season, he was once again a significant wicket-taker for RCB, following up his chart-topping 18 wickets in 2019 with 21 in 2020 to end as the team’s leading bowler. He strangled teams for runs as well, with an economy rate of.7.08 runs per over.
• Devdutt Padikkal: He made his mark with the bat with five half-centuries on his route to 473 runs, finishing just above of Kohli and De Villiers in the batting order. The task now is for him to maintain that form.

IPL 2021 RCB Team Squad

Retained players: Virat Kohli (15 cr), Glenn Maxwell (11 cr), Mohammed Siraj (7 cr)

Players bought: Glenn Maxwell (Rs 14.25 crore), Sachin Baby (Rs 20 lakh), Rajat Patidar (Rs 20 lakh), Mohammed Azharrudeen (Rs 20 lakh), Kyle Jamieson (Rs 15 crore), Daniel Christian (Rs 4.8 crore), KS Bharat (Rs 20 lakh), Suyash Prabhudesai (Rs 20 lakh), Finn Allen (Rs 20 lakh, replacement)

• Batsmen: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Sachin Baby, Rajat Patidar, Mohammed Azharrudeen, KS Bharat, Suyash Prabhudessai, Tim David
• All Rounders: Washington Sundar, Pavan Deshpande, Shahbaz Ahmed, Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga
• Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson, Kyle Jamieson, Daniel Christian, Dushmantha Chameera
• Wicket-Keeper: AB de Villiers

Expert Prediction for RCB

Play-offs

Last season, Royal Challengers Bangalore were significantly improved, with Devdutt Padikkal’s breakthrough season with the bat playing a key role. He comes off four consecutive List A centuries for Karnataka, and if he continues in this vein, he can lead RCB back to the play-offs.

With Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers’ experience and obvious quality, it’s easy to see why they’re favourites to make another run to the play-offs. Kyle Jamieson is also an important addition to their bowling assault as they attempt to gain more wickets.

Can RCB Win IPL 2021?

Despite the fact that Royal Challengers Bangalore has never won the IPL and finished last in 2017 and 2019, their run to the play-offs last season suggests they could be dark horses in 2021. With Bet365, they are 6.50 to win, while with Betway, they are 6.00 to win.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Sunrisers Hyderabad, the 2016 winners and 2018 runners-up, will be aiming for a sixth straight season in the IPL playoffs.

SRH Team Information

Sunrisers Hyderabad, champions in 2016, have never failed to reach the play-offs since, and with practically the whole squad from the previous season returning, they will be hoping for more of the same in 2021.

After keeping 18 players for 2020, the Sunrisers have kept 22 players this time and will hope that consistency pays off under David Warner’s leadership.

Warner and Jonny Bairstow, as well as New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, top the batting order, while Manish Pandey showed his batting worth last season.

They then have Afghan sensation Rashid Khan leading their bowling attack, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman, another Afghan, has joined their ranks this season.

Meanwhile, in 2020, Jason Holder was a vital all-rounder and another outstanding overseas player, giving this team even more international captaincy experience.

In short, the Sunrisers have outstanding batsmen and bowlers, but their dilemma could be a familiar one: they are overly reliant on those talents to get them from play-offs to champions.

SRH Squad changes

After keeping 22 players from last season’s team, the Sunrisers had a limited number of spots to fill this season.

Sanjay Yadav, Bavanaka Sandeep, Billy Stanlake, Fabian Allen, and Prithvi Raj were the five players who had to leave, and Hyderabad only signed three players to replace them.

The three to arrive were Jagadeesha Suchith, Kedar Jadhav, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, for a total of Rs 370 lakhs – good quality for that money, to be fair.

Mujeeb backs up countryman Rashid Khan and might create a two-pronged Afghan spin attack, with Suchith providing further spin-bowling support.

Meanwhile, Jadhav is a seasoned batsman who also bowls on occasion. He’s a past winner of the Indian Premier League with Chennai Super Kings, and he’s also in terrific hitting form for Maharashtra at home.

SRH team key players

Captain – David Warner: The Australian left-hander returns to lead the Sunrisers after another successful season with the bat in 2020, earning 548 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 134.64. Since his punishment for his role in the Australian ball-tampering controversy was lifted, he has established himself as one of the tournament’s top batters.

Kane Williamson: Last season, he was back to his peak with 317 runs in 11 innings, including three half-centuries, after winning the orange cap in 2018 and leading the Sunrisers to the final. On Indian soil, he’ll be aiming for some pre-World Cup form.

Jonny Bairstow: Sunrisers’ other side of what has turned into a successful relationship with David Warner. He hit 445 batters in ten innings in 2019 and 345 in 11 innings previous season. Last season, he hit three half-centuries, and he’ll be crucial with the bat once again this year.

Rashid Khan: Rashid Khan has played 48 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last three IPL seasons, taking 58 wickets. Last season, he took 20 wickets at an economy rate of just 5.37 runs per over, demonstrating why he is regarded as the top T20 bowler in the world.

IPL 2021 SRH Team Squad

Retained players: Kane Williamson (14 cr), Abdul Samad (4 cr), Umran Malik (4 cr)

Players bought: Jagadeesha Suchith. (Rs 30 lakh), Kedar Jadhav (Rs 2 crore), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Rs 1.5 crore)

Batsmen: David Warner, Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Virat Singh, Priyam Garg, Abdul Samad

All Rounders: Mohammad Nabi, Vijay Shankar, Mitchell Marsh, Jason Holder, Kedar Jadhav

Bowlers: Abhishek Sharma, Basil Thampi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Shahbaz Nadeem, Siddarth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed, T Natarajan, Jagadeesha Suchith, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Wicket-Keeper: Jonny Bairstow, Shreevats Goswami, Wriddhiman Saha

Expert Prediction for SRH

Play-offs

Sunrisers Hyderabad are unremarkable but dependable in the IPL, and they can extend their run of play-off appearances in 2021. They’ve finished in the top four in each of the last five seasons, and they’ve kept practically all of the players that helped them finish third the year before.

David Warner heads a powerful batting line-up, and their top bowler, Rashid Khan, is also the best T20 bowler in the world. They would be title contenders if they had greater depth, but a play-off berth must be considered the absolute minimum.

Can SRH Win IPL 2021?

With Bet365, the Sunrisers Hyderabad are 7.00 to win the 2021 IPL, while Betway has them at 7.50. They are in the centre of the pack, but their consistency in this tournament and streak of play-off success demonstrates why that could be a generous price. However, it’s difficult to imagine them beating the favourites, especially because they’re still extremely reliant on a small group of individuals.

IPL 2022 Group Stage Prediction

Mumbai Indians are vying for their third consecutive IPL crown, and as a result, they are favourites to win both the group and the tournament.

In the last 11 seasons, Mumbai has advanced to the play-offs nine times, winning the championship on the last four occasions they placed in the top four.

Along with them, the Delhi Capitals have made the play-offs in each of the last two seasons and appear to be a strong contender on paper, especially given the batting and bowling talent they have maintained from last season’s finalists.

After a much improved 2020 season, Royal Challengers Bangalore are among the favourites to get out of the group stage and into the play-offs, alongside last season’s finalists.

Along with obvious players like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, Devdutt Padikkal is a significant player for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The bookies are split on Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad for the fourth and final spot with them.

Until last season’s tragedy, Chennai Super Kings had never failed to move beyond the group stage, but their failure to genuinely strengthen in the off-season could cost them.

The Sunrisers have followed the same strategy for the past five seasons, with the exception that they have made the playoffs in each of those seasons.

They kept 22 players because they have a track record of finishing in the top four and should be expected to do so again.

As a result, Chennai, along with Kolkata Knight Riders and the bigger outsiders Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, will miss out.

IPL 2022 Playoff Prediction

The Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, who reached the IPL final last season, are favourites to do so again in 2021. Royal Challengers Bangalore, on the other hand, are not far behind.

Favourite Team

• Defenders of the title The Mumbai Indians are the clear favourites to win the championship for the third year in a row and for the sixth time overall, both of which would be records.
• They are 4.33 to win with Bet365 and 4.20 with Betway, and it is difficult to bet against them given that all of the stars from their previous two victories are still important members of this year’s squad.
• Mumbai will be the team to beat again if rising stars like Ishan Kishan and India’s newest batting ace Suryakumar Yadav deliver as predicted, and established players like Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah deliver as expected.

Underdog

• With Betway, Royal Challengers Bangalore is also 3.00 to reach the final, which reflects how much their squad has developed since their far superior performance in 2020.
• They will be difficult to beat if Devdutt Padikkal, who arrives in great batting form, continues his run-scoring form from 2020, to complement the obvious abilities of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
• They still need to improve their consistency, as they’ve finished last in two of the last four seasons.

Outsider

• Sunrisers Hyderabad are the fourth-best bet to reach the final, ahead of Chennai Super Kings (3.40) and Kolkata Knight Riders (3.50). Neither the Rajasthan Royals nor the Punjab Kings are expected to make an impact in this competition, and both are huge underdogs — especially the Kings.
• The Sunrisers are the next team on the list, owing to their consistency. In recent seasons, the play-offs have been almost a guarantee for them, but the challenge has been stepping up to make the leap to champions — they have one title and one more appearance in the final, but the play-offs frequently appear to be their ceiling.