IPL 2019: 3 teams that are unlikely to win the title this year

Only a few days are left for the much-anticipated IPL 2019 to start. The preparations of all the teams are in full swing; the practice sessions have started, and everyone seems ready to get into the thick of the action.

With the squads already finalized for all the teams, there are a few teams which have certain weaknesses that could prove to be a big hurdle in their journey towards the coveted IPL trophy. In this article, we look at 3 teams that would struggle to win the title this year due to the problems with their squads.

#1 Kings XI Punjab

Kings XI Punjab are one of those teams who tend to start well but somehow lose their way as the tournament progresses, and ultimately get out of contention for the trophy.

One of the major weakness for the team this year is the lack of firepower in the middle and lower order. Apart from Chris Gayle and KL Rahul at the top, the Kings lack an impactful batsman who can take away the game from the opposition single-handedly.

David Miller’s form would play a huge role in deciding the fate of the team. A lot rests on his shoulders in providing stability to the middle order and also providing the finishing touches which the Kings lacked last season.

Another major concern for them would be the form of Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin has been away from limited overs cricket for a while, and that would definitely have an impact on his play.

Punjab also seem to be short of Indian pacers. Mohammed Shami has not been that good in the shortest format, which could be a concern for them. With Ankit Rajpoot still being young, a lot would rest on Shami to provide the early breakthroughs and also contain the batsmen in the death overs.

#2 Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals have blown hot and cold in the past few seasons. At some point, they seem like they are the top contenders for the title. But almost the very next moment, it feels like they do not have what it requires to win the title.

If we take into consideration this year’s team, there are some weaknesses which can be seen even before the start of the tournament. The likes of Jos Buttler, Steve Smith and Ben Stokes might miss the second half of the tournament owing to the World Cup. This could be a worry for the management because they form the core of the team.

Another area of concern is the lack of experienced Indian pacers to support Jayadev Unadkat. If Unadkat goes for runs, Ajinkya Rahane would not have any other Indian pacer to fall back on.

The spin bowling department is quite young and inexperienced too. They have Shreyas Gopal and Krishnappa Gowtham in their squad who performed decently last season, but they are still green and lack experience.

#3 Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore

As always, Royal Challengers Bangalore have an awe-inspiring batting lineup that can send shivers down bowlers' spines before even taking the field. With likes of world-class players like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in their squad, it is difficult to count RCB out.

But somehow, they time and again fail to live up to the expectations. They have the habit of faltering at crucial points, and they crumble under pressure. They are now widely considered to be the chokers of the IPL.

RCB lack consistency, which is the most important factor if a team has to win the IPL trophy. They perform exceptionally in some matches whereas in others they perform poorly. They have lost several close matches in the past seasons by choking at crucial junctures.

Another problem that they have is the over-dependence on Kohli and De Villiers. These two players have the capability of taking the team over the line single-handedly. But when they do not perform, their batting has a tendency of falling apart like a pack of cards.

Bangalore also lack backup options for their premium bowlers like Yuzvendra Chahal and Umesh Yadav. If by any chance one of them gets injured, they would not have a fall-back option.