IPL 2018: Captains and their favorite oppositions

In cricket, it is often believed that every player has a favorite opposition that they gorge on, having played with them for a long period of time and gaining an advantage over them. Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman loved playing against Australia back in their day, Rahul Dravid would pile on a mountain of runs against England and Ricky Ponting would bring his competitive side out all the more against India.

Even as the IPL is an unpredictable competition with the composition of teams changing from time to time, players have shown an incredible tendency to play well against a certain opposition better than others. When it comes to the captains of the various teams of the IPL 2018, chances are high that their records will hold the key in their team’s success against another.

Here are the 7 skippers (barring Kane Williamson who hasn’t been a regular for Sunrisers Hyderabad) and the oppositions that will surely find it hard to get past them –

#1 – MS Dhoni (vs Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Dhoni has been by far the most successful and experienced captain in the history of the IPL. He is the complete package for Chennai Super Kings, not just with his leadership but also his batting and wicketkeeping standards remain high.

In this case, Dhoni’s batting records will be considered to pick his favorite opposition. And this was a might tough one! His performances against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad have been nothing less than impressive. He has played some memorable innings against all of them.

His number of runs, average and strike rate will be the parameters to choose from. The team that somehow fits in all the three of them well enough is Royal Challengers Bangalore. In 23 matches against them, he has 609 runs averaging 32.05 and a strike rate of 136.73. Only Gautam Gambhir is ahead of him with 644 runs against RCB, being the highest run-getter of all time.

Rest assured, Virat Kohli is expected to be on his toes every time his inspiration and predecessor takes guard.

#2 – Virat Kohli (vs Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Virat Kohli has had an outstanding run against Sunrisers Hyderabad since their inception in 2013

Kohli is a prolific run-getter in the IPL, being the second highest after Suresh Raina. Having played at Royal Challengers Bangalore for all 11 seasons, he has seen how oppositions operate and has found new ways to score against many of them.

Picking one favorite opposition of his was difficult as well since his records against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, and Delhi Daredevils are jaw-dropping.

Although he has more runs against CSK and DD, he has played a lesser number of games against SRH. This is because SRH came into existence only since 2013. Considering that and the fact that they have been blessed so far with an incredible bowling attack, Kohli averages 62 against them in 9 games at a blistering strike rate of 146.62. Having 4 fifties against them already also helps in this case. He tops this list.

The RCB skipper has led his team to wins against SRH, so the southern derby is expected to hotten up again if Kohli fires with another big score.

#3 – Rohit Sharma (vs Kolkata Knight Riders)

Rohit Sharma has come out on top often against a well-reputed Kolkata Knight Riders bowling attack

Rohit Sharma has been the star batsman by far for the two franchises he has played for – Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians. He features in the top 5 run-getters against many oppositions. But his was an easy one to pick and his rivalry with this opposition is well known.

If Kolkata Knight Riders have a poor head-to-head record against Mumbai Indians, it is largely due to Rohit’s exploits. Whether at the Wankhede or more so at the Eden Gardens, Rohit is one of the few batsmen who has enjoyed taking their much-famed bowling attack on with disdain.

Rohit has an incredible run aggregate against KKR, scoring 710 of them in 21 matches at an average of 47.33 and a strike rate of 137.33. A deadly combination indeed. Since a long time, he has been the highest run scorer against KKR. Suresh Raina overtook him yesterday, but soon enough you can expect Rohit to have the top honors again.

#4 – Gautam Gambhir (vs Kings XI Punjab)

Gautam Gambhir has given Kings XI Punjab a tough time in any IPL jersey

Gambhir has played for two franchises as well – Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders. His hunger of runs in any jersey is well known. He was the anchor of the KKR batting line-up in the seven seasons he was playing for them. During that time especially, his records against Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore were incredible.

Against RCB, he is the highest run-getter of all batsmen with 644 runs. But taking more parameters into account, it is unquestionable that he likes to feast more on Kings XI Punjab. When Delhi played their first match of the IPL 2018 against them, there were no nerves from the veteran as he scored another fifty. In all, at present, he has 726 runs against KXIP averaging 42.70 and a strike rate of 125.60. It seems like no one can overtake him as Chris Gayle is playing for Punjab this season and ironically was the highest run-getter against them.

#5 – Ajinkya Rahane (vs Delhi Daredevils)

Ajinkya Rahane has taken on the Delhi Daredevils with gusto throughout his IPL career

Rahane has been one of the few consistent openers in the history of the IPL. The Rajasthan Royals captain scores plenty of runs in any conditions against the best bowling attacks. Yet, you would be surprised to know that Rahane’s best returns out of all teams are against Delhi Daredevils.

He is the third highest run-getter against them after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, with 632 runs at an exceptional average of 63.2 and a strike rate of 131.39. With the Royals taking on the Daredevils tonight in Jaipur, expect Rahane to go berserk again and lead them to their first win of the IPL 2018.

#6 – Dinesh Karthik (vs Delhi Daredevils)

Dinesh Karthik will look to get past his former team, Delhi Daredevils once again

Like Rahane, Dinesh Karthik too has had a blast more often than not against Delhi Daredevils than any other team. He has also played for them in the past. The newly anointed Kolkata Knight Riders captain and wicketkeeper-batsman has also tasted a fair bit of success against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings.

However, his overall average is in the late 20s. The reason why Daredevils has been chosen as his favorite opposition is that it is the only team against whom he averages 34.10 and has a strike rate of 147. His consistency and aggression stand out more.

So when Kolkata take on Delhi, Karthik could be the man to lead his team to the victory line once again.

#7 – Ravichandran Ashwin (vs Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders)

Ravichandran Ashwin will look to strike big against KKR and DD again

After a long time, an IPL team will have a bowling captain. Ravichandran Ashwin has risen through the ranks from being Chennai Super Kings’ star bowler to leading the Kings XI Punjab side. The off-spinner is expected to play a massive role to turn his team’s fortunes around as Punjab have failed to make it to the playoffs since 2014.

Ashwin has the ability to pick wickets and contain runs as well, having many variations that help him in doing so. Batsmen are made to think twice while playing him as not many have succeeded individually against him.

In this case, there is an exception. Ashwin has not one, but two equally favorite oppositions. He has picked 18 wickets on aggregate against both Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders. He has slightly better returns against Delhi, playing 14 games against them and having an economy rate of 5.98. As compared to 15 games against KKR in which he has an economy rate of 6.56.

Punjab beat Delhi in their first game of the IPL 2018 and could be more confident than ever to break their drought against Kolkata this time around.