The Indian Premier League is nearing its final stages in 2021, and the question on everyone’s mind is ‘who will win the title?’, Which team is well equipped to reach the finals and grab hold of the prestigious trophy on the 15th of Oct. With teams already booking their spot in the playoffs, we can closely look at some of the best squads that can easily make it to the finals.
While our analysis is based on recent form and other related aspects, unpredictable situations can come in and change things in a whole new direction. Since it is the world of T20 that we are talking about, one should always be ready to face the unprecedented. Regardless, analysis and predictions do have a point, and if you want to know more about the same, you need to read the following.
Who can win IPL 2021?
CSK (Chennai Super Kings)
MS Dhoni and his team have rarely put in a bad move during the second leg of the IPL, which has helped them become the first team to qualify for the playoffs. While their recent form can come under question, we cannot disregard them as serious title contenders capable of causing serious damage to the opposition.
The team showcases a balanced squad with enough talent in all departments, which is an ideal requirement for not only playing T20 cricket but also for winning it.
Top Performers
1. Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been sensational for the Kings, and he continues to dominate whenever he is given an opportunity. His opening partnership with Faf du Plessis has been incremental in helping the team get off to a good start. Since both Gaikwad and du Plessis are on the list for most runs scored in the tournament, you can clearly understand how important this opening partnership is.
2. Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur had always helped CSK cement a dominant position even when the game was going away from their reach. The medium seam bowler has taken 15 wickets so far, and they have always been of great help in taking the team forward. While CSK also has Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar and Ravindra Jadeja as wicket-takers, Thakur has taken the most.
DC (Delhi Capitals)
Rishabh Pant may not be as experienced as MS Dhoni, but the young captain has managed to take his team forward and help them overcome major challenges. DC remains a title contender, having qualified for the playoffs and beating CSK to get to the top spot. In fact, betting website CricketBettingIndia has also tipped them to win the 2021 edition of the IPL.
And one of the main reasons why they stand on top is because of their top players.
Top Performers
1. Avesh Khan
A total of 22 wickets has placed Avesh Khan in second place in the list of the most wickets taken by a bowler. The fast seamer has managed to get some big batters out of the equation and has always proved to be the man you can rely on. With his stats showcasing an improvement, you can expect something big when he goes forward to display his complete potential.
2. Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan follows the likes of KL Rahul and Ruturaj Gaikwad as he is third on the list of batters to have scored the most runs in IPL 2021. His opening partnership with Prithvi Shaw might not be the best in the league, but when they do take off, they do so with ease. Due to that, both Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw have the potential to be a pair that can cause some serious damage.
RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Despite having a quality squad, RCB has showcased mixed results that have sometimes placed doubts over their potential to win their first IPL trophy. However, the Virat Kohli led team has what it takes to move forward, provided they put everything into practice. From their opening partnership to bowlers integral to the game, RCB needs every department to function if they want a slice of victory.
So far in the tournament, we have seen plenty of individual performers from RCB and two among them are mentioned below.
Top Performers
1. Glenn Maxwell
The purchase of Glenn Maxwell brought in doubts of its own as some people believed that the Australian would continue to struggle in the IPL. However, Maxwell has put all those concerns to rest with a batting style that sees every ball clear the boundary. As a result, he has improved their batting lineup and reduced the dependence on Kohli and AB de Villiers to get them runs.
2. Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel holds the orange cap for most wickets and is also part of an elite list of bowlers to have taken a hat trick of wickets. He is RCB’s dangerous man who can come in and place wickets to his name. With his form improving in every match, RCB can ride on his potential into the team.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
While the top 3 spots are already booked for playoffs, the last and final spot remains open for mainly two teams. And KKR is one among them who are now favourites to earn a spot in playoffs and even try to go past the rest. All they need to do is win their game against Rajasthan Royals (RR). If they do end up doing so, they can go through, but if they lose, things could go in different directions.
