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The most-watched cricket league in the world is back! The competition started a few days ago, on September 19. While specialists and fans already have their guesses about this season, sportsbooks are getting ready for a lot of action. This article will talk about the latest news and what to expect from the eight teams that delight cricket fans worldwide.
Playing Abroad
According to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), the 2021 season must continue in the UAE. Organizers confirm that fans will be allowed back into the stadiums for the rest of the season. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah will host the upcoming games.
Stadiums must respect the protocols for seating limits. Meanwhile, players from all eight teams are kept in ‘bio bubbles’ to prevent nasty surprises. The first matches have already been played, but many fans are ahead of the schedule with their IPL 2021 betting online in India predictions and wagers. The competition is scheduled to finish on October 15.
Futurology
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Fans, experts, and punters are following every new development of the competition. All teams have gone under changes during the offseason. With all updates in hand, it’s time to stretch the imagination, to ‘see’ what lies ahead in the competition. Here are the main predictions for the upcoming games, divided by teams.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
It hasn’t been a good season for the Rajasthan Royals. With only three wins in the last seven matches, the team occupies the lower positions in the ranking. Worse, some key English players have quitted for different reasons. While the franchise struggles for replacements for players like Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes, the future looks gloomy.
Finishing up last is a real possibility for RR. However, Indian players like Rahul Tewatia, Sanju Samson, and Robin Uthappa can surprise more pessimistic spectators. New players like Riyan Parag, eager for a successful start in their career, can also bring great results.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
It’s hard to believe that the ‘Orange Army’ came from a successful campaign last year. During the 2021 season, SRH lost six of the seven matches they disputed. A pitiful performance, indeed. The team showed an inability to keep its cool in decisive situations and have lost matches that seemed already won.
Despite the terrible performance, SRH supporters have hope for players like David Warner. Still, some specialists expect that the Orange Army will finish the competition in seventh place.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Currently, in the 7th position, KKR is expected to improve its condition towards the end of the season. If in the 2020 season, the team finished in 5th, everything points to a 6th position this year. KKR counts on great names, such as Shubman Gill, Eoin Morgan, and Andre Russel. However, Pat Cummins decided not to travel to the UAE.
The Indian side of the team lacks relevant names. Still, the overseas contingent could be enough. Although the team isn’t in its best shape, they’re still the champions of the 2012 and 2014 seasons, and it’s a force to be reckoned with.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
The Punjab Kings are currently at 6th position after losing five out of eight matches played this season. The shift to the UAE may not affect the team’s performance, which ended up in 6th last year. PBKS will be missing two important names: Riley Meredith and Jhye Richardson.
Young team talents can help improve the situation, but the team is unlikely to win this season. Still, Chris Gayle and the top-ranked batsman, Dawid Malan, are expected to put on a show. The 5th position is an educated guess for the end of the season.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
After a disastrous performance in 2020, CSK seems to be back in shape. The team that now proudly holds the second position lost five out of seven matches last season. However, the successful campaign is at risk with the shift to the UAE. A few players may drop out, compromising the team’s performance.
Additionally, the team’s batsmen can’t put out their best performance on the tracks available in the UAE. For those reasons, the chances are that CSK’s second position won’t last until the end. A 4th place seems reasonable under those circumstances.
Mumbai Indians (MI)
The ‘Men in Blue’ come from a splashing 2020 season, when they won the title for the fifth time. With names like Quinton de Kock, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rohit Sharma, MI has one of the strongest teams in the competition.
However, the team hasn’t maintained last year’s performance and now holds 4th place. If MI repeats last year’s performance from now on, the team can finish the competition in 3rd position.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
The ‘Men in Red’ also comes from an impressive performance in the previous edition. After winning five out of seven matches, RCB currently holds the 3rd position. The shift to the UAE doesn’t concern the Men in Red, which had a superb UAE campaign last year. Names like Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villers can be real game-changers.
The team is expected to keep much of its strength in the UAE and are genuine contenders. If they don’t finish the season on top, a second position is also a reasonable possibility.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
DC is having an excellent 2021 season, with six victories in eight matches. The team is overall excellent, and it’s undoubtedly one of the favorites to win the title this year. DC will suffer no losses for the UEA part of the season. DC is bringing all of its top players to the next part of the competition.
In Closing
With the start of the competition hitting a great start and a few interesting games, we can only wait for what the next couple of weeks will hold. There’s no doubt that competition is home to the best of the best, and we’re all excitedly waiting to see what will unfold.
Will we see Delhi Capitals take it home, or will the Mumbai Indians take their sixth crown? What are your thoughts?