As the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) kicks off in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, one cannot help but say ‘Thank God’. With the pandemic raging and good news hard to come by, IPL will be a much-needed distraction – well, for cricket fans at least.
The beauty of IPL lies in its simplicity. At first glance, every game is like a ride in an amusement park, except for a few wet squibs, which end quickly and provide enormous excitement.
The first match will pit defending champions Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings, undoubtedly the ‘Classic’ of the IPL. Purists may accuse me of blasphemy, but watching these two teams fight is a lot like watching Al Pacino and Robert De Niro together on screen. There is intensity, mutual admiration and a lot of talent on display.
What makes this clash unique is the “battle of the best” factor. With 7 titles and 13 final appearances between them, these two bring up the cream of the crop in the league. But unlike in the past, when there has been little to choose between the two outfits, this time there seems to be a clear favorite.
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Rohit Sharma’s team have outscored Dhoni’s men in the last five games and it is not in vain. CSK is a band that ages with its leads beyond its expiration date. Therefore, they succumb to a well-oiled machine like the Indians of Mumbai.
But people like Dhoni, Bravo and Watson love to make journalists and naysayers (both should not be beaten together) eat their words. But the reality is that these players will depend more on muscle memory than form and that is where the problem lies. If we add to that the absence of Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh, both guaranteed starters, CSK has a huge gap in their arsenal. Mumbai Indians also lack Lasith Malinga, but they still have Jasprit Bumrah to turn to.
The Mumbai Indians hitting is their strongest suit, with Captain Rohit leading the way. Quinton de Kock and Kieron Pollard add muscle, while Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan provide quality Indian talent. The Pandya brothers are the engine room of this unit and can deliver the merchandise with both bat and ball.
CSK will rely heavily on the duo of Watson and Dhoni for the blitz. Faf du Plessis could well be the blade’s anchor, while Ambati Rayudu will have to step up in Raina’s absence. Bravo and Jadeja can provide additional coverage with the bat, but cannot be asked to do the heavy lifting. Kedar Jadhav might come as a surprise or two, if his fitness allows.
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The yellow field seems more in charge with the ball in hand. Imran Tahir and Jadeja are more than dependable with their spin, while Deepak Chahar, now recovered, is expected to lead the pace attack with the crafty Bravo providing capable support. Dhoni can also target Lungi Ngidi, who will increase the quality of CSK’s attack variety.
The Mumbai bowling department will be run by Bumrah and he needs to be at his best. Rahul Chahar is a skilled modifier and will have to collect terrain as Krunal Pandya is more in the space of a protector than an enforcer. Trent Boult has been added to the team, but Mumbai could opt for the other kiwi, the proven Mitchell McClenaghan, who has been a star for the franchise.
It will be interesting to see how the Abu Dhabi field performs, but if it is a belter where the ball hits the bat through 40 overs, then the balance tips heavily in favor of the defending champions.
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