IPL 2020: Predicting where each team would finish in the league stages

4. Chennai Super Kings

Can MS Dhoni turn back the clock in IPL 2020? Well, CSK would hope so (Credits: DNA India)

Even before the dust had settled on CSK’s luggage post their arrival in the UAE, they were dealt a considerable blow with Suresh Raina returning to India. In fact, the 2020 season represents the first time the franchise would have to make do without their charismatic all-rounder for an entire edition.

Apart from that, CSK seem to have plenty of other ailments to cure as well. Shane Watson has not played competitive cricket in a while, whereas Ambati Rayudu and Kedar Jadhav also seem to have fallen off a cliff.

Though Faf du Plessis did participate in the Solidarity Cup, he has endured an incredible number of crests and troughs in recent times, both for his batting and his captaincy.

And, then, there is also the small matter of MS Dhoni having not played a competitive fixture since July 2019.

Fortunately for CSK though, they seem to have a few facets that are in their favour, especially considering that IPL 2020 is going to be held in the UAE.

Over the years, CSK have been a side that relies heavily on its spinners and on its batsmen to lift them to scores in the 160-180 range. While the latter facet might come a cropper on docile surfaces, it could perhaps be the right ploy on relatively unfavourable batting tracks in IPL 2020.

As for their spin bowling contingent, they added Piyush Chawla during the off-season, whereas the presence of Mitchell Santner and Imran Tahir would also take the burden off Ravindra Jadeja during IPL 2020.

Coming to Ravindra Jadeja, he has built up a reputation as a genuine all-rounder over the past twelve months, indicating that he has traversed quite a bit since being termed a ‘bits and pieces’ cricketer.

Thus, there exists a feeling that the potential of ‘Ravindra Jadeja – the all-rounder’ might get completely unlocked at IPL 2020. And, if that happens, there aren’t many match-winners capable of rivalling his exploits.

Most tellingly though, CSK would be led by their talismanic skipper MS Dhoni. A few weeks ago, the wicket-keeper bid adieu to the international game, meaning that the IPL represents his holy grail until he hangs up his cricketing gloves completely.

Though he doesn’t normally talk about proving anything to anyone in front of the camera, there seems to be a fiery character within the confines of that calm demeanour he showcases.

And, one can bet one’s life that that personality would want to make people ask MS Dhoni why he retired at the time he did, rather than hammering further nails into his coffin, quipping that he left it a little too late.

Well, if that is indeed the case, CSK, despite seeming a tad weak on paper, might just scrape through to the IPL playoffs.

3. Royal Challengers Bangalore

Could this finally be Virat Kohli and RCB's year in the IPL?

Royal Challengers Bangalore, much like numerous previous seasons, have found a place in the top four of pre-season IPL predictions. Unfortunately for them though, not many editions have followed that script, and they’ve seldom been a side that has lived up to its billing.

However, the perennial under-achievers of the IPL might be in for a turnaround this time. And, while the hopeless romanticist would talk about the law of averages and similar notions, there is plenty of cricketing logic to back RCB for a playoff berth.

For much of the New Zealand tour earlier this year, Virat Kohli looked a pale shadow of himself, not just with the bat but also as a captain. And, knowing Virat Kohli, he would want to prove that that was just an anomaly, rather than a worrying sign of things to come.

Elsewhere, AB de Villiers might want to remind the world what they are missing in international cricket. At the same time, he might also want to justify South Africa’s attempts to bring him back to the international fold.

Apart from that, RCB might also have a stable opening combination to call upon in IPL 2020. At present, Aaron Finch is one of the most dangerous openers in the shortest format. Devdutt Padikkal, too, has done his reputation no harm over the most past couple of years in domestic cricket.

Most importantly though, RCB seem to have a much better bowling attack this time around, especially considering the conditions that might be on offer during IPL 2020.

Adam Zampa, who was signed as a replacement for Kane Richardson, might ultimately prove to be their smartest bit of business, whereas the additions of Chris Morris and Dale Steyn also accords them more balance.

Furthermore, with the grounds in the UAE housing larger boundaries, the likes of Mohammad Siraj, Navdeep Saini and Umesh Yadav might actually be a handful in the death overs in IPL 2020, considering their proclivity to hit the pitch hard.

On the spin-bowling front, Moeen Ali would hope to audition himself as a capable spin-bowling all-rounder. In addition, Yuzvendra Chahal’s tendency to entice the batsmen into playing huge shots, could fetch him a lot of wickets.

Thus, for the first time in a few years, RCB do seem to have a good roster on their cards – something that AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli have repeatedly said in the build-up to IPL 2020.

And, perhaps now is the time for RCB to finally deliver on their promise in the IPL. Else, there could be massive ramifications.

2. Mumbai Indians

Can Mumbai Indians defend their IPL crown? (Credits: The Sports Rush)

Since the turn of the last decade, Mumbai Indians have rarely not assembled a squad that possesses the ability to win the IPL. And, fortunately for them, they’ve stayed true to those expectations on four different occasions (2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019).

MI begin IPL 2020 as one of the soundest outfits, with an array of batting and bowling alternatives. They have Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock at the top of the order, with Suryakumar Yadav acting as the perfect foil to the pair at No.3.

Further down the order, the presence of Kieron Pollard, Hardik and Krunal Pandya is bound to send shivers down opposition spines, considering the damage each is capable of inflicting towards the end of an innings.

And, if that isn’t enough, they have exceptional back-up options in Chris Lynn and Sherfane Rutherford, with the former, in particular, hoping to re-establish his credentials as a premier T20 batsman.

As far as their fast bowlers are concerned, even without Lasith Malinga, they have an enviable battery, which consists of James Pattinson, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Trent Boult.

Though they might seem a little short in the spin bowling sector, the form Rahul Chahar showcased in 2019 could cast him as MI’s primary wicket-taking option during the middle overs.

Thus, under the able stewardship of Rohit Sharma, MI seem to have a squad that comes as close to T20 perfection as any. Yet, one just feels that the lack of world-class spinners could prove to be their undoing in a couple of league games in the IPL – something that makes them narrowly miss out on the numero uno spot.

1. Delhi Capitals

Rishabh Pant would hope to put his best foot forward in IPL 2020

Right. There might be a lot of eyebrows raised at the Delhi Capitals featuring at the perch of the list, but there is substantial evidence to suggest that it could indeed happen (for the first time since 2012).

At the top of the order, DC have Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw – the archetypal modern opening partnership that is equally adept against pace and spin. Additionally, they have a fairly decent alternative in Ajinkya Rahane.

A little lower down the batting order, they have Shreyas Iyer and the enigmatic Rishabh Pant. While the former would be wanting to continue his recently charted upward curve, the latter would be looking for redemption – something that would again cast him as the protagonist of India’s next generation of cricketers.

And, if for some reason, one feels that that particular top four lacks belligerence, they might have Shimron Hetmyer and Alex Carey/Marcus Stoinis coming in at No.5 and No.6.

Yet, most essentially, DC seem to have ironed out the flaws that existed in their machine last season. For much of IPL 2019, they failed to pick up the requisite wickets during the middle overs, meaning that they had to rely on the brilliance of Kagiso Rabada to bail them out.

However, with the acquisition of Ravichandran Ashwin, it seems that that problem has been rectified. Moreover, the off-spinner, in tandem with the evergreen Amit Mishra, could be quite a quandary for several teams in the IPL.

Moreover, pacers of the ilk of Anrich Nortje, Daniel Sams, Ishant Sharma, Keemo Paul and Rabada might prefer bowling to the longer boundaries in the UAE, considering that their first instinct is to push the batsmen onto the back foot.

Thus, the stars just seem to be aligned in DC’s favour heading into IPL 2020. If they can carry that momentum into the playoffs is another matter altogether. Yet, when talking about the league stages in isolation, one just can’t look past them as table toppers.