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.
Prediction: 6th
Gujrat 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. 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: 3rd
Delhi Daredevils
Last season: 7th
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. The fact that the aging Zaheer Khan is captain speaks volumes of where the side is at this point in time. Don’t expect this side to be around come playoff time.
Prediction: 8th
Mumbai Indians
Last season: 1st
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. 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.
Prediction: 1st
Kings XI Punjab
Last season: 8th
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. 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: 7th
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Last season: 3rd
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. Expect this side to be there or thereabouts once again this year.
Prediction: Runners-up
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Last season: 6th
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. 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.
Prediction: 5th
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 the newest Roald Dahl children’s novel. 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 Ishant Sharma 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: 4th