IPL 2019: Probable First Match Playing XIs of all eight teams

Indian Premier League is back to enthral the cricketing fraternity with yet another entertaining edition. The first match of the brand new season is set to be held on March 23, 2019, between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Chennai Super Kings will start the tournament as the defending champions.

Unlike the previous eleven editions, not all of the international stars would be available on a full-time basis with the World Cup 2019 on the horizon. This has forced the franchises to invest on players who are available for the full duration of the tournament, paving for more young talent to break through the barriers and establish themselves as household names.

With a lot at stake for all eight franchises, the manner in which they start is going to determine the rest of their campaign, making it even more crucial to get their combination right for the very start.

Here are the probable XIs of all eight franchises in the IPL for their first match in this year's Indian Premier League.

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#1. Chennai Super Kings

23/3/19 - Royal Challengers Bangalore (Home)

MS Dhoni

Chennai Super Kings, the defending champions are back in Chennai after being forced to move away for the Chepauk last year and would be looking to continue from where they left off last year.

With the Chepauk proving to be a high-scoring venue in recent times with spin playing a major part as well, CSK will head into this match as the favourites with all of their eleven players capped at the international level.

Although Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir and Lungi Ngidi's participation in the first match is still a doubt due to their ongoing Sri Lankan assignment, CSK still boast of the most well-rounded team in the competition. Ambati Rayudu and Shane Watson are set to open the batting, provided Faf du Plessis isn't available for the match.

Watson was recently adjudged man-of-the-tournament in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League 2019 and will be looking to build on his stellar debut year with CSK, for whom he scored two centuries in the competition. Following them is the Indian trio of Suresh Raina, Kedhar Jadhav and captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who are capable of taking the game away from the opposition with their clever batting.

Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo are the designated all-rounder while CSK have a relatively long tail with Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur also capable of hitting a few boundaries when required. Imran Tahir and Lungi Ngidi could start in the XI if available with the likes of Mitchell Santner and David Willey available as backup options for the Super Kings.

Possible XI: Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(WK&C), Kedhar Jadhav, Sam Billings/David Willey, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Mitchell Santner and Shardul Thakur/Mohit Sharma.

#2. Royal Challengers Bangalore

23/3/19 - Chennai Super Kings (Away)

Virat Kohli

Royal Challengers Bangalore come into yet another season of the IPL with renewed hopes of lifting the coveted trophy with a star-studded team boasting of the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. This year, though, RCB seemingly drifted away from opting for established names in the auction and invested in young and upcoming talents like Shimron Hetmyer, Shivam Dube and seventeen years old, Prayas Ray Barman.

The Royal Challengers look well-balanced on paper although their nemesis has always been bowling and death bowling in particular. For the first match against defending champions CSK, RCB will have to back the trio of Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee and Mohammed Siraj in the pace department with Nathan Coulter-Nile and Marcus Stoinis unavailable due to national duty. Navdeep Saini and Pawan Negi are also an alternative to Mohammed Siraj, after impressing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2019 for Delhi.

Parthiv Patel should ideally open the batting alongside Virat Kohli with the fearsome duo of AB de Villiers and Shimron Hetmyer following him. Big money signing, Shivam Dube is set to make his RCB debut next Saturday while Colin de Grandhomme's recent surge in form puts him in pole position to assume the finisher's role.

Akshdeep Nath and Gurkeerat Singh are also potential options worth looking into depending on Dube's match fitness. Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal are expected to form a potent spin duo and they would look to extract as much turn as possible from the Chepauk wicket.

Possible XI: Virat Kohli(C), Parthiv Patel(WK), AB de Villiers, Shimron Hetmyer, Shivam Dube, Colin de Grandhomme, Washington Sundar, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj/Pawan Negi and Yuzvendra Chahal.

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#3. Kolkata Knight Riders:

24/3/19 - Sunrisers Hyderabad (Home)

Andre Russell

Kolkata Knight Riders finished third last season and come into this edition with perhaps the best set of overseas players any team could possibly ask for. In their possession are Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite and Sunil Narine, who are capable of influencing a T20 game from start to finish, throughout the course of the forty overs.

Adding to the West Indian trio is the mighty Chris Lynn, whose explosiveness and brute power adds much-needed firepower at the top of the order. Complementing their overseas players, KKR have cleverly chosen a good core of Indian players in Robin Uthappa, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana and skipper Dinesh Karthik. Karthik is slowly proving to be one of the best finishers in the game right now.

Kuldeep Yadav and Piyush Chawla are synonymous with KKR and should hold the key at the Eden Gardens, where spinners are touted to play a crucial role. Prasidh Krishna is one to watch out for with the Karnataka pacer impressing last year with his accuracy and control over his variations. The options of Sandeep Warrier and Rinku Singh are also available to accommodate an extra seamer or batsmen in Lockie Ferguson and Joe Denly.

Possible XI: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (C&WK), Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite/Lockie Ferguson, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna

#4. Sunrisers Hyderabad

24/3/19 - Kolkata Knight Riders (Away)

David Warner

After yet another successful IPL Auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad look set to mount another challenge to assume the mantle of IPL Champions and will be further boosted by the return of David Warner.

In spite Shikhar Dhawan's departure to Delhi Capitals, SRH's batting looks well balanced with the likes of Jonny Bairstow, David Warner and Kane Williamson probably forming the top three for the Orange Army. The chances of the aforementioned happening is quite high though this could take a toll on their middle order.

Wriddhiman Saha is also another option at the top of the order while Manish Pandey, Vijay Shankar and Yusuf Pathan form the middle order for SRH. Rashid Khan's evolution as a pinch-hitting all-rounder bodes well for the franchise.

In the bowling department, their pace attack is stacked with quality Indian seamers led by Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Siddharth Kaul. The likes of Abhishek Sharma and Sandeep Sharma are also in the running to make the side for their first match this Sunday.

Possible XI: David Warner, Wriddhiman Saha /Jonny Bairstow(WK), Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Vijay Shankar, Yusuf Pathan, Mohammad Nabi/Abhishek Sharma, Rashid Khan, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed/Sandeep Sharma and Siddarth Kaul.

#5. Mumbai Indians

24/3/19 - Delhi Capitals (Home)

Rohit Sharma

Mumbai Indians, the three-time IPL champions are one of the favourites to win this year's edition. The team is filled with impact players, capable of winning the matches single-handed on their day.

Last season, the transition for some of the players such as Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya into senior players came too soon, resulting in a disappointing campaign. This time around, Mumbai seem well-equipped with Quinton de Kock being traded from RCB during the off-season.

The Indian contingent in Mumbai is perhaps the best with Rohit Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Mayank Markande in their ranks. Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan come into the tournament on the back of a highly successful Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and will take their places in the top order of the Mumbai line-up.

Kieron Pollard still remains one of the most destructive players in the world and is most likely to play in the middle order, ahead of Ben Cutting. Krunal Pandya and Hardik Pandya provide much-needed balance while Mitchell McClenaghan should share the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah against the Delhi Capitals.

Mayank Markande recently made his debut for India and will look to build on his debut year exploits with another fruitful campaign in 2019.

Possible XI: Evin Lewis/Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan(WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Ben Cutting, Mitchell McClenaghan, Jasprit Bumrah, Mayank Markande.

#6. Delhi Capitals

24/3/19 - Mumbai Indians (Away)

Rishabh Pant

Delhi Capitals face a stern test first up as they travel to the Wankhede to play their first match of the season. Heading into the competition, Delhi have made radical changes to their set-up, starting from a change in name to the addition of proven performers like Axar Patel and Shikhar Dhawan into their side.

Delhi boasts of a fearsome, all-Indian top four of Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw and Shreyas Iyer while the likes of Colin Ingram and Axar Patel should follow them in the batting order.

The acquisition of Hanuma Vihari in the IPL Auction was widely acknowledged and should see the Andhra captain play at number five. Delhi are blessed to have the spin duo of Amit Mishra and the Nepal sensation, Sandeep Lamichhane while their pace bowling attack is one to be feared with Trent Boult leading from the front.

Chris Morris isn't available for the first match and with Kagiso Rabada's availability also up in the air, Keemo Paul could make his debut. The option of Ishant Sharma and Avesh Khan playing alongside Trent Boult also looms large.

Possible XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Colin Ingram, Colin Munro/Sherfane Rutherford, Axar Patel, Sandeep Lamichhane, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan and Ishant Sharma/Harshal Patel.

#7. Rajasthan Royals

25/3/19 - Kings XI Punjab (Home)

Jos Buttler

Buoyed by the return of their star player, Steven Smith, Rajasthan have a number of selection headaches to address for their opening match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium next Monday.

Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes are certainties to play in the side while Steve Smith's fitness is to be monitored before a call is made. Ajinkya Rahane and Sanju Samson should feature in the top order while one of Rahul Tripathi or Shubham Ranjane could take up the finisher's role.

Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat and Dhawal Kulkarni are in good wicket-taking form and should feature alongside Jofra Archer while Krishnappa Gowtham's presence brings in the much-needed balance with his big-hitting abilities proving to be the difference on a couple of occasions in 2018.

Possible XI: Ajinkya Rahane, Jos Buttler(WK), Sanju Samson, Steve Smith, Ben Stokes, Rahul Tripathi/Shubham Ranjane, Krishnappa Gowtham, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Dhawal Kulkarni and Jaydev Unadkat

#8. Kings XI Punjab

25/3/19 - Rajasthan Royals (Away)

KL Rahul

The Ravi Ashwin led Kings XI Punjab enter into the 2019 edition of the IPL with renewed hope, stemming for the recruitment of talented individuals such as Sam Curran and Nicolas Pooran.

Chris Gayle and KL Rahul should open the batting for the Kings while the Karnataka duo of Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair should provide much-needed stability in the middle order. Nicolas Pooran, the big money signing could make his IPL debut with David Miller occupied with national duty.

Mandeep Singh was traded with Marcus Stoinis during the off-season and should play in the middle order with Sarafraz Khan and Prabhsimran Singh also available in their squad. Another big-money signing, Sam Curran is also in line to make his IPL debut with the likes of Mujeeb ur Rahman and Mohammad Shami set to share the new ball up front.

Ankit Rajpoot was one of the positives from last season while the task of including Andrew Tye is one headache the Kings should sort out before their season opener next Monday.

Possible XI: Chris Gayle, Lokesh Rahul (WK), Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Mandeep Singh, Ravi Ashwin(C), Sam Curran, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Andrew Tye, Varun Chakravarthi and Mohammad Shami