IPL 2020: 5 things fans want to see in the tournament

With a Super Over decider coming only in the second fixture of the tournament, the IPL 2020 has started off on the most perfect note. And the expectations will only get higher from now onwards.

Even though there will be no supporters in the stadium throughout the entire season, it will be a roller-coaster ride if things are to go by like the first few games. So it is a good sign for the event, and as well as for the fans who always hope for good things to happen in the league.

As usual, the 13th season is an opportunity for teams to write new chapters in the cricketing annals of IPL. Besides, players will also be looking to add new pages to their IPL diaries. More importantly, it is finally a chance for the cricket fans to wish for something good in 2020, and a few of these wishes will be common.

There are some things that the fans will like to witness in IPL 2020, irrespective of the franchise they are supporting. If any of these moments take place, then it is sure to define this year’s IPL.

Here are the five things fans will like to see in IPL 2020:

1. Virat Kohli and Ab de Villiers lifting the title

For all the Royal Challengers Bangalore fans, their anthem “Ee Sala Cup Namde” is not just a means to cheer their team. It is an emotion that connects the millions of the comrades of the Bold Army around the world. Their support to the franchise has been so profound that even when their team is languishing at the bottom of the points table, one can never see an empty seat at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

To an extent, it is their belief in their heroes Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, who has been their only ray of hope in all these turbulent times. The dynamic duo of RCB has been carrying the franchise on their shoulders for some time now. From piling on tons individually to forming double century partnerships together, they have done everything possible to lay their hands on the silverware.

In fact, in the last 5 seasons, they have scored 43 per cent of the team’s runs, which shows the amount of workload shared by them. In return, both Kohli and ABD have got multiple Man of the Match awards, a mere consolation prize for their efforts. So this time, the fans will be wishing that they get proper support from the rest of the Bangalore squad to finally keep up the promise of their anthem.

Especially, when De Villiers is at the fag end of his career and Kohli is already under the pump for his poor captaincy record in IPL, it is now or never for them. Moreover, the team also needs to give something back to their supporters who have showered unconditional love season after season. It will be sweeter for the fans if Kohli and De Villers will hold the title above their heads at the end of IPL 2020.

2. MS Dhoni batting with complete freedom

You suspend them, they will win the championship on their comeback; you call them Daddies Army, they will make you eat your words, it is the kind of things that only Chennai Super Kings can do. Their aura doesn’t lie in the number of titles they have won or their consistency in the league. It is their brand of cricket that has given them a cult following in the cricketing circle. And at the heart of it is their leader, MS Dhoni, the biggest charisma surrounding the team.

The Thala of Yellow Army has changed the outlook of franchise cricket with his utmost loyalty to CSK. He has stood by the team in the most trying times and has invariably carved out their niche by guiding them to their heydays. As a batsman also Dhoni has been an enigma in this league. He has produced several awe-inspiring moments with his last-over heroics.

That’s why now when he has returned to the game in IPL 2020 after hanging his boots in the international circuit, fans have been growing restless to see him in his final few outings on the cricket field. There is no doubt that the whistles will blow in each and every household whenever he walks onto bat in this IPL season. The fans will also want to see him win another title in the Yellow jersey.

But more than that, they will be hoping to see him bat with complete freedom. In all these years, Dhoni the batsman has always batted with a sense of responsibility and has often put the team’s interests ahead of him. However this year it needs to change as the cricketing fraternity is longing for the raw and lively Dhoni who didn’t care teeing off from the first ball itself. It will be treat for all if he brings back the desert storm in IPL 2020.

3. Seeing young captains like KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer flourish

In the history of the league, the two IPL teams which have always flattered to deceive are Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Capitals. Both the franchises have shown the odd flashes of brilliance but have never maintained enough consistency to win championships. It’s also to do with the frequent change in the leadership of these teams.

Time and again, they have passed the captaincy hat ala the “Hat sorting ceremony in Harry Potter”. And this year, the hat has selected two young Indian players, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer for the role.

Agreed that it will be an uphill task for the youngsters to changes the fortunes of their respective franchises right away. But it is a step in the right direction, as KXIP and DC have experimented too much. Rahul and Iyer can boost the confidence of their teams with fresh ideas and new strategies. It might also help them become more responsible in their trade, a positive for the franchise itself.

Moreover, the supporters of both the teams will also be excited to see Indian players leading their sides as Punjab and Delhi have a rich history of overseas skippers. The young IPL fanbase will also find a better connection with them. More people will root for teams like Punjab and Delhi, which doesn’t enjoy much support like Chennai and Mumbai.

In all, it will be a great learning curve for the future stars of Indian cricket. Besides, the fans will like to see the next-gen flourish with their captaincy skills. Even in the larger scheme of things, it will be a positive sign for Indian cricket as they need to shape new leaders if they have to continue their ascendency in world cricket.

4. Eoin Morgan stamping his white-ball legacy in IPL

As their name suggests, Kolkata Knight Riders have been the knights in shining armour of this league. Their audacity has not only won them championships but has also won millions of fans around the world. In other words, with each passing season, the chants of “Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re” are getting louder and louder.

And it is set to reach a new decibel in the IPL 2020 as the World Cup-winning captain, Eoin Morgan has joined the franchise. It’s kind of homecoming for Morgan, as he has played for the Kolkata franchise previously. At the time, he didn’t make it count and lost his place in the squad. With that being said, now he is returning to the team with his reputation at stake.

The southpaw has been a pioneer of the game as under his leadership the Brits have changed the dynamism of limited-overs cricket. And recently, he became the first England skipper to win 100 games as the captain of the side. For all that international glory, he has been unable to make his presence felt in IPL. So this time around, Morgan will be looking forward to setting his record straight in the tournament.

He can turn this KKR side into an indomitable force. Be it with his batting or leadership skills, he will be a blessing for the Dinesh Karthik-led side. Besides, the fans will be eager to see Kolkata’s power-packed middle-order consisting of him, Karthik, and Andre Russell running riot on the opposition. If you are a true cricket fan, you will want to see Eoin take-off in the Middle-East in the 2020 IPL. A white-ball giant like him should have an IPL chapter to himself.

5. Senior bowlers like Ravi Ashwin and Dale Steyn regaining their ground

The IPL has indeed been a cricketing model intended to nourish the future of Indian cricket. Primarily, it is to provide a source of income for the thousands of people associated with the game in the country. It is also considered a platform for the budding cricketers of the country. And many of them have now become stars in the international circuit.

Amidst all these, one must not forget the contributions of several established cricketers who have been plying their trade from the first season of this league. For instance, Dale Steyn and Ravichandran Ashwin are two of the most senior players in IPL history. They have been part of various defining moments of this tournament. Besides, they are two of the most leading wicket-takers in the league.

Unfortunately, now these players are not celebrated enough due to their poor record in the last couple of seasons. Their consistency in their craft has fallen off, which has not helped them either. As a result, their popularity has declined, and some of them even think that they are well past their prime.

Still, in IPL 2020, both Steyn and Ashwin will be key members of their respective franchises, Royal Challengers Bangalore team and Delhi Capitals. The bowling units of both the teams will need them if they have to go deep in the tournament.

Apart from that, it will also be great to watch these world-class bowlers turn out to be the front-runners for the Purple Cap in this year’s IPL. Who will not like watch Steyn running through the sides and Ashwin outfoxing batsmen with his bag of tricks? Their fans will be hoping to see them at the top of their game.