4 Teams that can qualify for playoffs in IPL 2020 in UAE

The news of the likelihood of IPL being conducted in the UAE has come as a great relief. Relief– a word that has almost become an aberration in the times we’re living in! The never-ending rampage of coronavirus has slammed all the possibilities of conducting IPL in India. However, getting the IPL shifted outside India is not even remotely as scary as the thought of IPL being cancelled is.

The very second edition of IPL was held in South Africa as the elections of 2009 forced the tournament out. An initial part of the 2014 edition was shifted to the UAE due to the same reason. General elections and IPL have not been very good friends, but it’s understandable that a tournament of such vast magnitude cannot coincide with a democratic exercise of a similar magnitude. Anyway, long story short, this won’t be the first time that IPL would be played outside India.

As the situation kept getting from bad to worse, the question was whether the IPL should be conducted this year at all. However, the organizers have done a commendable job to convert that question into whether the IPL should be conducted in India.

It is certainly going to be challenging for teams as they shopped thinking the IPL will be in India like usual. However, the dynamics of the game will change and there will be many differences as it shifts out. The tournament is not going to be the same this year, but is there anything that has remained the same this year?

Let’s take a look at the changing dynamics that awaits teams this year and the contenders having the best chance of making into the playoffs as the IPL travels UAE:

1. Mumbai Indians

2013, 2015, 2017, 2019…? If you solved number-patterns in logical reasoning (or even if you didn’t), you’ll immediately call 2021 after reading the above pattern. That’s what Mumbai Indians’ IPL winning record looks like. Well, jokes apart, they are one of the most reliable and consistent teams in the history of the tournament.

Mumbai Indians have always been smart in their approach to the auctions. While adding some exciting and young players, they have ensured to not loosen their grip on the core. They have an opener who needs no certification in Rohit Sharma, who when paired with Quinton de Kock or Chris Lynn makes a magnificent duo.

Though the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan in the middle-order may not sound the most dazzling, they have made contributions and gelled up with the team extremely well over the years. Having Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, and the specialist all-rounder like Pollard, their lower-middle order is pleasingly taken care of.

The strongest part of this camp is probably the bowling attack. The tracks in UAE have offered not much assistance to the pacers over the years, however, with quicks like Trent Boult and Mitchell McClenaghan, the MI camp need not solely depend on assistance from the wickets.

Moreover, the distinguishable versatility of Jasprit Bumrah and the incessant yorkers of the mightily experienced Lasith Malinga many a time takes the pitch out of contention. The four-time-winning team is a sure-shot contender of making in the playoffs.