The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016 is already into its second month and is slowly approaching its business end.
While the points table, as of this moment, may reveal a clear picture about the chances of some teams as far as qualification for the playoffs is concerned, there are several issues that each team would like to address in order to make themselves best prepared for the second leg of the tournament and boost their chances of qualification.
Although there have been star performers associated with almost every team in the league, there have also been certain roles that have remained unfulfilled as far as the team combination is concerned.
Teams have been hampered by injuries to players and they have also been marred by the lack of certain players to fulfill key positions in the line-up. Here, we take a look at all 8 IPL teams and try to identify the type of player they lack in their line-up.
1. Gujarat Lions
One of the two new members of the IPL fraternity, the Rajkot-based franchise has been on a phenomenal success streak in its maiden tournament, winning 5 out of the 8 matches so far this season.
The second-placed Lions have almost all of their bases covered except for an express quick bowler who could trouble the batsmen with pace early in the innings. It’s not that the Lions have missed such an asset to a large extent, but going towards the business end of the tournament, they might benefit from having such a bowler.
While Praveen Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni et al have been good with the new ball, due to their lack of pace, they have been taken for runs as well, especially in the last few games.
Having lost the last three games, Gujarat would look to bounce back quickly and secure a place in the playoffs.
2. Kolkata Knight Riders
It is really hard to find a weakness within a side that has perhaps the best T20 players in their midst. KKR have probably the most balanced squad amongst all teams in the IPL and consequently, they sit at the top of the points table.
The team has it all, be it proper opening batsmen, a solid middle-order, powerful finishers, experienced spinners, or express fast bowlers. However, the side doesn’t have a specialist wicket-keeper.
Robin Uthappa has been donning the gloves for them for the past two seasons, but he is not a regular wicket-keeper as has been evident by the missed chances behind the stumps.
The only area left with a scope for improvement has been the one behind the stumps and the KKR think-tank can look for the possible changes.
3. Delhi Daredevils
Refurbished and replenished with the energy of young Indian cricketers, the Delhi Daredevils have definitely turned the tables this IPL, especially after shambolic displays in the past three seasons.
Inspired by the innovative leadership of Zaheer Khan, the Daredevils have become the team to beat this season, and have been propelled forward in the league by their young brigade, the latest addition to which was Rishabh Pant in their last outing against the Lions.
However, the excitement that comes with a set of young players also brings along with itself relative inexperience.
The Delhi side lacks experienced cricketers, at least in the middle-order, who can rebuild the innings if the top order fails, which is likely to happen with young men such as Quinton de Kock, Pant, Sanju Samson and Karun Nair playing in the top 4.
JP Duminy is the only experienced player in the batting line-up, and someone to accompany him, with a decent amount of experience in international/club cricket, would help Delhi’s case.
4. Mumbai Indians
The defending champions have had a topsy-turvy run so far in the tournament, as has always been the case with them, historically in the IPL. After a series of losses in the first few games, Mumbai have bounced back, and are currently riding a 3-match winning streak.
Even the Mumbai side looks absolutely balanced at the outset, as it has specialist openers in Rohit Sharma and Parthiv Patel, with Martin Guptill waiting for an opportunity in the dugout, Ambati Rayudu at No. 3 who has been very consistent for the Indians over the past six seasons, Jos Buttler and Kieron Pollard in the middle-order who have enough firepower to extinguish any bowling line-up, and the Pandya brothers, Krunal and Hardik, who have been absolute revelations for the club in the recent past.
In the bowling department, Tim Southee, Mitchell McClenaghan, and Jasprit Bumrah have shared the mantle perfectly, while Harbhajan Singh has been able to restrict the batsmen with his off-spin as well.
However, a spin bowling partner for Harbhajan, preferably a leg-spinner would boost the side even further, as a variety in the spin bowling department would help them restrict their opponents during the middle-overs.
5. Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad, since their inception in 2013, have defied the odds and have put up impressive fighting performances season after season despite not having too many impact players in their squads.
This season as well, it has been their captain David Warner who has carried the team on its back with a series of match-winning performances. The fast-bowling core of Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Barinder Sran, and Mustafizur Rahman has been impressive too.
However, the Sunrisers lack a quality spinner in their midst who can restrictive as well as penetrating. Karn Sharma and Bipul Sharma have been in and out of the playing XI this season, and hence, the Hyderabad-based franchise has heavily relied on their fast bowlers.
But they can land themselves in trouble should the fast bowlers fail to pick up wickets in a particular game and the onus to get breakthroughs is shifted onto the slower bowlers.
6. Rising Pune Supergiants
It is quite hard to comprehend that a side led by MS Dhoni finds itself in the lower half of the points table, and is struggling with both, their form and the injuries to their players.
Having already lost Kevin Pietersen, Steven Smith, Faf du Plessis, and Mitchell Marsh, the beleaguered side now looks for inspiration from any and every corner. The additions of George Bailey and Usman Khawaja would boost the morale of the side and they would look to use that to their advantage.
Even after these additions, the Pune middle-order looks fragile and lacks a batsman who can bind the innings together and play till the end of the innings. In Thisara Perera, Irfan Pathan, and Albie Morkel, they have bowling all-rounders but none of them qualify as a solid middle-order batsman.
With Dhoni now likely to bat at No. 4, the positions 5, 6, and 7 become extremely crucial, and they only have George Bailey who can bat at these numbers as a middle-order batsman.
7. Royal Challengers Bangalore
The Royal Challengers Bangalore have been the most eye-catching franchise of the IPL and have had plenty of marquee players featuring for them over the years.
For the past couple of years, they have established a batting core comprising of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers. The addition of Shane Watson to their squad this season has further bolstered their batting prowess.
However, at the cost of having too many batsmen in their midst, RCB have compromised big time, it seems, on their bowlers, as Bangalore’s bowling unit has let the team down big time this season.
In the absence of their premier fast bowler, Mitchell Starc, who is still recovering from a broken foot, RCB have been unable to contain the opposition’s batsmen, which has resulted in relatively high scores posted by Kohli and Co. being chased down with relative ease.
RCB desperately need a premier fast bowler or a strike spinner, who can be both penetrating as well as be restricting, and can provide breakthroughs for the team at crucial junctures. An impact bowler is desperately needed.
8. Kings XI Punjab
Punjab’s run this season has been similar to the one they had last season, wherein they had finished in the bottom half of the points table.
It really makes one question as to what is the reason behind the fact that a team studded with stars like Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, Mitchell Johnson etc. is struggling to find its way in the league.
Halfway through the league, after a lackadaisical performance by their captain, both with the bat as well as in the field, Murali Vijay was named as the captain of the side, citing the reason that captaincy had added additional pressure on Miller.
However, that experiment too doesn’t seem to be working for them, as after an inspired victory under Vijay, Punjab lost the next game, thereby further dwindling their chances of qualifying for the playoffs.
While they have quality batsmen as well as accurate bowlers, what they lack is a genuine all-rounder. While Axar Patel and Marcus Stoinis have played several games for the side, neither of them have been potentially impactful players with both the bat as well as the ball.
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