IPL 2019 Squad Analysis of all teams

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Mumbai Indians

The three time champions and the comeback experts in the history of Indian Premier League (IPL), Mumbai Indians(MI) will be looking to lift the cup once again as they prepare for the 12th edition of the tournament.

The new comer Quinton De Kock is most likely to open the innins for Mumbai along with Suryakumar Yadav. De Kock was bought by MI from Royal Challengers Bangalore. Last season, it was Evin Lewis who opened the innings for the team but with the inclusion of the wicketkeeper batsman from South Africa, it will be interesting to see how Lewis will be used this season. Rohit Sharma, the skipper is the obvious choice at number 3 while another new comer to the side Yuvraj will bat at number 4. In case he plays most of the matches, Yuvraj’s performance will be vital to determine how long the journey will last for Mumbai this season.

The lower middle order looks pretty strong with hard hitting Kieron Pollard and the Pandya brothers. Even Ben Cutting can produce special innings in death overs. Mumbai will bat upto Ben Cutting that means they bat deep, really deep.

Talking about bowling, Mumbai is always known for best at bowling at death overs. Jasprit Bumrah is super with his variations at the death along with Mitchell McClenagan. Three top quality allrounders in the name of Ben Cutting, Krunal Pandya and Hardik Pandya does make this side a dangerous team for the opposition. The right arm leg break bowler Mayank Markande is also a bowler to watch from this side.

Overall, the side looks a dangerous T20 unit that can upset any opposition in their day. And the legacy they carry with coming back even after losing 5 consecutive matches of the tournament will make them believe that they can lift the cup even after series of loss.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

2016 IPL Champions and finalist from the 2018 IPL, Sunrisers Hyderabad will be looking to repeat the same feat this season as well.

Their title winning captain David Warner is coming back after a year ban from international cricket. This team has been giving consistent performance since 2016 when they won the title. They reached playoffs in 2017 while they were defeated by Chennai Super Kings in 2018 final.

Shikhar Dhawan was released from the squad for Abhishek Sharma, Vijay Shankar and Shahbaz Nadeem. David Warner is most likely to open the innings with wicketkeeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha. The middle order looks strong with Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey and Shakib Al Hasan. Yusuf Pathan, Vijay Shankar and Deepak Hooda will be playing the role of finisher.

Rashid Khan, as always, will hold the key in bowling department along with dependable Bhuvneswar Kumar. Khaleel Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma and Basil Thampi will be assisting Bhuvneswar in the pace department.

Overall, the squads seems to have all basics covered with a good combination of specialist batsmen, perfect T20 allroundrs and strike bowlers who pick up wickets as well as control the flow of runs.

Chennai Super Kings

2016 IPL Champions and finalist from the 2018 IPL, Sunrisers Hyderabad will be looking to repeat the same feat this season as well.

Their title winning captain David Warner is coming back after a year ban from international cricket. This team has been giving consistent performance since 2016 when they won the title. They reached playoffs in 2017 while they were defeated by Chennai Super Kings in 2018 final.

Shikhar Dhawan was released from the squad for Abhishek Sharma, Vijay Shankar and Shahbaz Nadeem. David Warner is most likely to open the innings with wicketkeeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha. The middle order looks strong with Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey and Shakib Al Hasan. Yusuf Pathan, Vijay Shankar and Deepak Hooda will be playing the role of finisher.

Rashid Khan, as always, will hold the key in bowling department along with dependable Bhuvneswar Kumar. Khaleel Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma and Basil Thampi will be assisting Bhuvneswar in the pace department.

Overall, the squads seems to have all basics covered with a good combination of specialist batsmen, perfect T20 allroundrs and strike bowlers who pick up wickets as well as control the flow of runs.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have always been among favorites in almost every edition of Indian Premier League (IPL). Looks a good team in paper but somehow find a way to miss few crucial moments and thats why this team is tagged as “Chokers”.

RCB released players including Quinton de Kock, Brendon McCullum and Sarfaraz Khan before auction as they finished on 6th position last season. Daniel Vettori was also sacked from head coach position which is now taken by former world cup winning Indian coach Gary Kirsten.

Looking at the possible combinations for RCB, a lot will depend on two batting genius Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers in the batting department with support from guys like Shimron Hetmyer, Parthiv Patel and Colin de Grandhomme. Marcus Stoinis did a decent job in the recently concluded series against India which Australia won by 3-2.

Only one may get a place in playing XI between Nathan Coulter Nile or Tim Southee. Along with then Umesh Yadav and leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal’s preformance will be a key if RCB is to get anywhere close to their maiden title.

Rajasthan Royals

Winner of inaugural edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), Rajasthan Royals will start this season with a hope to bring back the glory of victory. With their title winning captain in 2008 IPL Shane Warne back as a mentor of the side, this team will certainly have some points to prove.

Ajinkya Rahane will most likely open the innings for RR along with Jos Butler. A middle order comprising of experienced Steve Smith, talented Sanju Samson and Rahul Tripathi provides some solidity to this team. Tripathi had impressed all in previous season where he managed 267 runs in 14 matches playing for Rising Pune Supergiants.

Guys like Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer playing in the role of a finisher can cause trouble to any bowling attack. The bowling department seems to be some concern for the side this season. Jaydev Unadkat will have a key role to play as a frontline seamer while this team lacks a quality frontline spinner.

Varun Aaron and Jofra Archer along with Ben Stokes will bowl seamers while Krishnappa Gowtham and Shreyas Gopal will bowl spin.

Delhi Capitals

Delhi Daredevils squad for the 2019 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) looks a balanced one. Quality top order batsmen, young talents in middle order and a finisher like Chris Morris is expected to produce some good results for this team this season. Bowling department also looks good wit pacers like Trent Boult, Kagiso Rabada.

Young sensation from Nepal Sandeep Lamichhane can be a surprise package in this squad along with experienced Amit Mishra and off spinner Axar Patel in spin department.

Kolkata Knight Riders

The 2 time champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be looking to increase that number to 3 by winning the tournament. KKR squad this season looks strong and anyone would bank on this team looking at the paper.

KKR looks a complete T20 team. Deadly opening duo of Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine would be a challenge for any bowling attack. Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana along with the skipper Dines Karthik form a solid middle order for KKR. The X Factor in this lineup is the hard hitting allrounder Andre Russel. Finishing the match with his big shots or bowling tight overs and picking up crucial wickets or showing brilliant athleticism, Russel knows it all.

Kuldeep Yadav and Piyush Chawala will have a vital role if KKR has to come close to the trophy this season. A bowler like Lockie Ferguson can prove to be a surprise factor for Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan owned Kolkata franchise.

Kings XI Punjab

With just few days remaining for the start of the awaited edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), all the teams would be planning their combinations and strategies. Kings XI Punjab are yet to win an IPL title. Despite not ranked as one of the favorites, this team can produce some good results this season.