IPL Prediction 2020: Rating each team's chances of winning the tournament

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) is less than two weeks away, and all 8 teams are currently undergoing their preparatory camps in the UAE. The tournament, which commences on the 19th of September, is expected to be one of the most tightly-contested IPLs in years, given how balanced all the teams look on paper.

In any IPL, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the Mumbai Indians (MI), the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are usually the favourites before the league begins, with the other four teams often putting up impressive performances to challenge the top contenders.

IPL 2020, though, is expected to be much different - all teams will be on a level playing field after having been on a break for months, and most teams have been impacted by personnel changes ahead of the tournament.

In this article, we attempt to rate (out of 10) each team's chances of winning IPL 2020, based on their squads and recent circumstances.

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#8 Royal Challengers Bangalore - 3/10

RCB have a balanced squad, but is that enough to compete for the IPL 2020 crown?

RCB come into IPL 2020 with a squad that does look better balanced on paper, but it is still nowhere near the tournament-winning teams of the recent past. The batting lineup is still heavily reliant on Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, while Moeen Ali is the only world-class all-rounder in the team.

The death bowling will again be an issue for RCB and apart from Kohli, Parthiv Patel - who might not even be in the playing XI - is the only experienced Indian batsman. RCB might better their last-placed finish in IPL 2019, but there is next to no chance of them winning the tournament.

Also see: IPL prediction today

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#7 Kings XI Punjab - 4/10

Can new captain KL Rahul take his team to the playoffs?

KXIP are led by new captain KL Rahul, who is at the helm of an IPL team for the first time. His inexperience, along with the team's threadbare spin attack, aren't encouraging signs ahead of IPL 2020.

KXIP's Indian batting contingent, which mostly comprises of Karnataka stars, doesn't inspire much confidence either. Perhaps the biggest factor in their favour is their flawless record in the UAE (5 wins in 5 games). Having said that though, the side is probably nowhere near good enough to win the IPL title.

KXIP might manage to sneak through to the playoffs, but even if they do, they won't be able to win three (or two) games in a row to claim the IPL 2020 crown.

#6 Rajasthan Royals - 4/10

Steve Smith returns as RR captain IPL 2020

Since their win in the inaugural season, Rajasthan Royals haven't really come close to a second crown. RR will be led by former Australian captain Steve Smith in IPL 2020 as they look to end their miserable run in the competition.

The team is currently majorly reliant on their overseas players - Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Steve Smith and Jos Buttler. Stokes' availability for IPL 2020 is also under question, further reducing their chances of winning the title.

However, as always, they are expected to play a major role in the development of young players - something that is a given, even though their performances on the field usually aren't.

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#5 Kolkata Knight Riders - 5/10

KKR failed to qualify for the playoffs last season

After failing to qualify for the playoffs last season, KKR come into IPL 2020 after signing the likes of Eoin Morgan, Pat Cummins and Tom Banton.

However, the 2-time IPL champions' lack of depth in batting and the absence of a settled combination doesn't bode well for them ahead of the tournament.

Captain Dinesh Karthik has marshalled his troops well recently, but the team might be too reliant on Andre Russell and Sunil Narine to bail them out of trouble. Additionally, the likes of Banton, Cummins and Morgan aren't as tested in the pressure cauldron that the IPL inevitably morphs into.

They finished 5th last season, and even if they qualify for the playoffs this time around, it is highly unlikely that they will manage to win their 3rd IPL title.

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#4 Chennai Super Kings - 6/10

MS Dhoni has a job on his hands in IPL 2020

With two finals and one trophy in the last two years, CSK would've been far higher on this list, were it not for the withdrawals of vice-captain Suresh Raina and veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh.

MS Dhoni's men will be perfectly at home in the UAE conditions, but with an ageing squad and minimal practice ahead of IPL 2020, it would be difficult to put them above the other teams on this list.

However, the former Indian captain always has a few tricks up his sleeve, and CSK, in all probability, will qualify for the playoffs. Beyond that, it remains to be seen if they can string together a couple of wins to pull level with MI as the most decorated team in IPL history.

#3 Sunrisers Hyderabad - 7/10

David Warner captained SRH to the IPL title in 2016

Led by David Warner, SRH are certainly one of the favourites in this year's tournament. With a strong batting lineup complementing their lethal bowling attack, the Orange Army are in prime position to seriously contend for their second IPL crown.

Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Jonny Bairstow and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will all be key components of the SRH playing XI. In fact, such is the strength of their squad that they might even do well without a certain Kane Williamson.

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#2 Delhi Capitals - 8/10

DC will be led in IPL 2020 by young captain Shreyas Iyer

This is a bold claim given that Delhi have never reached the IPL final before but the squad is perhaps the strongest they have ever assembled. Led by the dynamic Shreyas Iyer, DC have an enviable blend of youth and experience.

A world-class top order is complemented by an equally potent spin attack, while they have solid overseas options in Kagiso Rabada, Shimron Hetmyer and Marcus Stoinis.

Coached by Rick Ponting, DC are one of the firm favourites to finish in the top two and claim their first-ever IPL title.

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#1 Mumbai Indians - 9/10

Rohit Sharma is one of the IPL's greatest-ever captains

An easy choice given how strong the MI squad looks on paper. Rohit Sharma's side seem to have all bases covered and are unsurprisingly, the undisputed favourites heading into IPL 2020.

Despite the withdrawal of leading IPL wicket-taker Lasith Malinga, MI's recent acquisitions such as Chris Lynn and Trent Boult add balance and variety to the side. The only flaw in MI's armour is their spin attack, which lacks versatility and experience.

However, the defending champions are in prime position to win back-to-back titles for the first time ever and solidify their standing as the greatest franchise in the history of the IPL.