One of the truest clichés of the IPL is that each edition is more open than the last. For example, playoff spots in the last four seasons were determined only on the last day of the league phase. But in 2020, a new twist in the form of a pandemic has made the most lucrative of tournaments even more unpredictable.
Most of the players in each franchise have not played competitive cricket since March. The tournament itself is played at three neutral venues, nullifying players’ familiarity with Indian conditions. The absence of crowds, a natural source of energy in sports, will be deafening in the empty desert bowls of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Cocoons inside the bubble for more than a month, players have been eager to play. Franchise owners are confident this is the most viewed IPL ever. It is being sold with the promise of being a panacea for pain caused by Covid-19. Under the gaze of millions of eyes, can this IPL deliver on that promise?
Your success will depend on the quality of your competition, which in turn depends on the following variables:
Neutral places = level playing field
Stephen Fleming admits there is no home game this time. Every game, says the Chennai Super Kings head coach, will be like an “away game.” While franchises say they have never had a say in creating pitches at the IPL in any event, teams have had some influence on the nature of the slopes, creating home-field advantage. A crucial factor behind the success of the Super Kings, three-time champions and the only team to reach the playoffs in every edition they have played, has been their ability to take advantage of home-court advantage at MA Chidambaram Stadium. . The same goes for the four-time champion Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium.
In conditions unknown in the UAE, adaptability will be key. For the coaching staff and captains, the challenge will be to keep the players mentally sharp while staying flexible with the selections dictated by the conditions – the pitch and the weather.
Adding to the unpredictability will be the fact that cricket has not been played on any of the three fields for several months. Also, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are slated to host a large volume of matches, which they are not used to. Court behavior, an intangible, is likely to keep teams on their toes.
New coaching settings, fresh energy
Five franchises have reviewed their coaching setup since IPL 2019. Kolkata Knight Riders have appointed former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum as their head coach. Trevor Bayliss, who led the Knight Riders to their two IPL titles, in 2012 and 2014, is now the head coach at Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Mike Hesson, who was New Zealand’s head coach when McCullum was captain, is the team principal at Royal Challengers Bangalore, one of only three teams without an IPL crown. This is Hesson’s second stint in the IPL after serving as a team manager at Kings XI Punjab last year. He will be assisted by former Australian hitter Simon Katich, who will serve as head coach for the first time, having served as an assistant coach with the Knight Riders for a few seasons.
There is only one Indian head coach in the IPL, former India captain and coach Anil Kumble, who is both the head of cricket and coaching staff for Kings XI, another team that has never won the title. Andrew McDonald, the former Australian off-roader, will take over as Rajasthan Royals head coach.
New coaches mean new philosophies and fresh ideas. But franchises always talk about retaining a core of players. Can you give coaches the same leeway to develop their ideas instead of going over their structures over and over again?
Depth Exploitation in Squads
The biggest challenge coaches are likely to face at this IPL could be discomfort and injuries, considering that most players are coming off a long break with limited practice. There will be no air travel involved, but the oppressive heat and dry conditions in the UAE will remain a challenge throughout the tournament. There may be situations where you need to manage the workload or there could be more injuries than normal. This places an emphasis on the depth of each squad. Reservations and backups for each role should be ready. This can be an edition in which we see the maximum number of players used by each franchise.
A tale of two halves
With only three venues, the courses will slow down as the tournament progresses. Fresh and lively pitches can be expected in the first two weeks, but the bowlers will be dominant as they slow down. Teams that have the arsenal to adapt and play a different kind of cricket in both halves will be in a good position to make the playoffs. Good spin players, T20 anchors, variation bowlers, reverse swing specialists and spinners will be the impact players. Don’t be surprised if you see teams playing with certain types of players in the first half and a different set in the second half.
Bowlers: Those with Variations
As the throws get slower, the variation bowlers will be more effective. Knuckle balls, leg cutters, and leg cutters are already used by fast bowlers in the T20 cricket, but they will become the preferred deliveries on slower surfaces. It will be valuable to slow down the pace of the ball and vary the speeds, as recently seen in CPL T20. The player who took the most wicket was a fast thrower, Scott Kuggeleijn, who started the tournament by throwing fast but adapted quickly to take the ball off the pace.
In the last three seasons of the IPL, the leg cutters and leg cutters have been the most successful deliveries. Bowlers have taken a wicket once every nine balls with the leg cutter, while the leg cutter has resulted in a wicket once every 11 balls. While Jasprit Bumrah, Dwayne Bravo and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will remain the key players for their teams, Keemo Paul, Daniel Sams and Jayadev Unadkat, who have good slower balls, could play an equally dominant hand.
A new visual experience
One of IPL’s unique selling points, and a visible part of its success, has been the sold-out crowd. They have flocked to witness not only cricket, but also to participate and enjoy the festive atmosphere, enhanced by the presence of Bollywood personalities alongside the rich and famous. For the fan, the IPL has become a “I was there” moment.
The enthusiasm of the fans not only added to the enthusiasm of the IPL, but also energized the players. Katich acknowledged that some international players who feel an adrenaline rush at key moments from the noise of the crowd could be affected. However, Katich also pointed out that younger players could take advantage of the absence of crowds and play without any outside pressure.
However, players from Hardik Pandya to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have said that while it would be a different experience, cricket will make all the noise this time.
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