IPL 2019: Probable Playing XI of all 8 teams with CWC insight 

The IPL Player auction has set the ball rolling with teams using their own strategies to strengthen their arsenal. Last year finalists Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad looked out for reliable backups while teams like Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Capitals were on a resurgence after another disappointing season in 2018.

Punjab, who had the biggest purse made two big buys bagging Tamil Nadu mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy for 8.4 Cr and England's teen sensation Sam Curran for 7.2 Cr. After freeing up 11.5 Cr by releasing Jaydev Unadkat, Rajasthan Royals bought him back for 8.4 Cr which again baffled many.

Just like Varun, many unknown Indians became crorepati's overnight with a 17-year-old Prabhsimran Singh going for 4.8 Cr to Punjab. As expected Shivam Dube stirred a bidding war with Bangalore spending 5 Cr to get his services. Availability for the entire season was seen as the main criteria, as West Indies players were most sought after among overseas players. T20 freelancers like Colin Ingram, Joe Denly were in the reckoning as most of them are out of contention for a place in the World Cup Squad.

Let us look at the probable playing XI of all eight teams with Cricket World Cup insight.

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#8 Delhi Capitals

Rishabh Pant will look to repeat his IPL 2018 antics

Probable Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Colin Ingram, Chris Morris, Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Sandeep Lamichhane, Amit Mishra, Harshal Patel

World Cup Backups: Delhi has an able replacement for Kagiso Rabada in the form Trent Boult who could also be in the starting XI. Colin Munro can step in place of Morris who will leave early for the World Cup camp. Indians like Hanuma Vihari, Avesh Khan and Ishant Sharma will come in handy for the two months long tournament.

#7 Kings XI Punjab

New Millionaire Varun Chakravarthy

Probable Playing XI: Lokesh Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Sam Curran, Ravichandran Ashwin (C), Mujeeb ur Rahman, Varun Chakravarthy, Andrew Tye, Ankit Rajpoot

World Cup Backups: Moises Henriques could come in place of Curran to contribute in the lower middle order. Hardus Viljoen who had the best economy rate in the T10 league may take over the death bowling duties from Andrew Tye. Then there is Chris Gayle who could come and smack a few at the top.

#6 Rajasthan Royals

Smith might use IPL to get into the World Cup team

Probable Playing XI: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Rahul Tripathi, Steve Smith, Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler (WK), Ben Stokes, Krishnappa Gowtham, Shreyas Gopal, Jofra Archer, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaydev Unadkat.

World Cup backups: Royals might lose their best four overseas players and don't have convincing replacements. Oshane Thomas in place of Archer and Liam Livingstone in place of Stokes is the possible option that royals management might be mulling at. They could play an extra spinner in Ish Sodhi as he will be available for the entire duration.

#5 Sunrisers Hyderabad

David Warner and Kane Williamson - Mainstays of SRH

Probable Playing XI: David Warner, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Kane Williamson (C), Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan, Vijay Shankar, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddharth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed.

World Cup Backups: SRH is the most balanced side with all bases covered even in their backups. Martin Guptill is a direct replacement for David Warner. Mohammad Nabi will replace Shakib. If Bhuvi and Khaleel are rested, then they could bring in Sandeep Sharma and Basil Thampi who are equally good as well.

#4 Kolkata Knight Riders

Dinesh Karthik

Probable Playing XI: Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Dinesh Karthik (C & WK), Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.

World Cup Backups: They are very well served in the bowling department with talented Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti in their ranks. Joe Denly can replace Lynn at the top but apart from that, there is a lack of depth in the batting when it comes to backups.

#3 Royal Challengers Bangalore

Kohli Will aim for his maiden IPL title

Probable Playing XI: Parthiv Patel (WK), Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers, Shirom Hetmyer, Shivam Dubey, Marcus Stoinis, Washington Sundar, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

World Cup Backups: Colin de Grandhomme or Moeen Ali could be that overseas all-rounder in the team after Stoinis leaves. Presence of the likes of Henrich Klaasen, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pawan Negi and Gurkeerat Mann Singh as backups bolster their squad.

#2 Mumbai Indians

Rohit should open the batting to increase MI's Chances

Probable Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Ben Cutting, Mitchell McClenaghan, Jasprit Bumrah, Jason Beherendoff, Mayank Markande.

World Cup Backups: Hard hitting Windies Southpaw Evin Lewis could come in place of De Kock. IPL veterans Yuvraj Singh and Lasith Malinga may not be in good form, but their experience will be handy for the three-time champions.

#1 Chennai Super Kings

CSK will once again be favourites to lift the title

Probable Playing XI: Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C & WK), Kedar Jadhav, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Imran Tahir, Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi, Mohit Sharma

World Cup Backups: The only team which was ready even without auctions, CSK have again covered all bases. Imran Tahir and Lungi Ngidi can be replaced by Mitchell Santner and David Willey. With Sam billings, Faf du Plessis and Murali Vijay they have more than what they would like to have. Presence of variety and experience in the form of Harbhajan Singh, Karn Sharma, and Shardul Thakur adds strength to the defending champions.