After the conclusion of the IPL auction hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the upcoming 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on February 18 in Chennai, all the eight franchises have gotten their desired squads and will now be looking forward to making strategies and plans for the marquee tournament.

While there were teams who managed to cover up their holes from IPL 2020 and have formed competitive squads for the 14th edition, a few teams failed to make proper buys which might cost them the whole season. In this article, let&#8217;s take a look at the predicted standings of the teams at the end of the league stage of IPL 2021.

Here we predict the IPL 2021 standings at the end of the league stage:

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-460788" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kings-XI-Punjab-4.jpg" alt="Kings XI Punjab" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-460788" class="wp-caption-text">Punjab Kings. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Punjab Kings (previously known as Kings XI Punjab) had the biggest purse heading into the IPL 2021 auction. The franchise was thus very active throughout the event and managed to make some valuable editions in their squad. However, one thing that can hurt Punjab is their bowling unit.

Punjab had gone bonkers behind Big Bash League stars <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/felt-like-i-played-a-game-jhye-richardson-opens-up-on-emotions-he-went-through-during-ipl-2021-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jhye Richardson</a></strong> and Riley Meredith but both the pacers rarely played on Indian pitches. Fabian Allen, Chris Jordan, and Moises Henriques haven&#8217;t featured in the T20 Extravaganza regularly.

Also, their spin attack is quite inexperienced. Though Ravi Bishnoi and Murugan Ashwin had performed exceptionally well in IPL, they aren&#8217;t backed with much experience.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-454466" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Royal-Challengers-Bangalore-1.jpg" alt="Royal Challengers Bangalore" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-454466" class="wp-caption-text">Royal Challengers Bangalore. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

IPL 2021 can be another year of disappointment for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The Bangalore outfit has a formidable batting line-up due to the presence of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Devdutt Padikkal, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Philippe, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Daniel Christian, and Daniel Sams.

Their spin-attack is also world-class as they have Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa, and Washington Sundar on their sides. However, the thing that can cost Challengers the season is their inexperienced pace attack. RCB had released Umesh Yadav, Chris Morris, and Dale Steyn ahead of IPL 2021 and they are now left with no experienced seamer.

Their highest buy <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-didnt-know-how-much-rs-15-crore-was-in-new-zealand-dollars-kyle-jamieson-after-getting-a-bid-from-rcb-in-ipl-2021-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Jamieson</a></strong> hasn&#8217;t played a single game on the Indian pitches. Other quicks like Kane Richardson, Dan Christian, and Daniel Sams have not played much in the IPL while Indian options Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj haven&#8217;t been at their fluent best in the shortest format in the recent past.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-460786" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rajasthan-Royals-3.jpg" alt="Rajasthan Royals" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-460786" class="wp-caption-text">Rajasthan Royals. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Rajasthan Royals had hogged all the limelight during IPL Auction 2021 by picking Chris Morris for a whopping amount of INR 16.25 crores. They have also acquired the services of players like Liam Livingstone, Mustafizur Rahman, Shivam Dube, and many others. Despite spending hefty amounts on the players, Rajasthan might fail to qualify for the playoffs this year too.

One of the major problems encountered by the Royals last year was the lack of support for Jofra Archer especially while bowling in death overs. To solve this, RR picked Morris but the South African pacer is prone to injuries and this can hurt the team. In addition, the Royals will be led by an inexperienced captain, <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/brad-hogg-suggests-india-to-drop-sanju-samson-or-shreyas-iyer-to-accommodate-rishabh-pant-in-odi-and-t20i-side/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanju Samson</a></strong>.

Just like the previous season, RR is overly dependent on their overseas batsmen Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes. Though they have Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube, the two are relatively inexperienced and yet to make a mark for themselves.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-458824" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kolkata-Knight-Riders-5.jpg" alt="Kolkata Knight Riders" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458824" class="wp-caption-text">Kolkata Knight Riders. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are one franchise that knows how to deliver even without the presence of star players in their squad. They had failed to qualify for IPL 2020 due to less net run-rate than RCB. It is expected that the same scenario might repeat itself this year too as it is speculated that KKR can finish at the sixth position in the points table.

The Knight Riders had a good auction as they managed to pick players like Shakib Al Hasan, Ben Cutting, Harbhajan Singh, and Karun Nair in their squad. However, one thing that can put the team in trouble is their over-dependence on overseas players in the batting department. KKR have only two Indian batsmen, <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/yuvraj-singh-hilariously-trolls-shubman-gill-after-youngsters-poor-shot-selection-in-1st-innings-of-3rd-test/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shubman Gill</a></strong> and Nitish Rana, who can actually do wonders for the team.

The team will be very much dependent on Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell and their failure can result in a collapse of the whole batting line-up. All being said, KKR can also spring some surprise for the viewers as it is almost impossible to stop Russell if gets into the groove.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-461391" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Chennai-Super-Kings.jpg" alt="Chennai Super Kings" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-461391" class="wp-caption-text">Chennai Super Kings. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were one of the most talked-about teams in IPL 2020 as for the first time they had finished at a seventh position on the points table by winning just 6 games out of 14 played. However, leaving the demons of the past behind, the Super Kings, under the leadership of MS Dhoni, is expected to bounce back stronger and book a berth for themselves in the second stage of IPL 2021.

Suresh Raina will make a comeback for the Yellow Army in IPL 2021, which will provide required stability to the team while the inclusion of all-rounders Moeen Ali and <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/crictracker-exclusive-ms-dhoni-knows-how-to-handle-players-and-get-the-best-out-of-them-krishnappa-gowtham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Krishnappa Gowtham</a></strong> is also expected to do wonders for the team. This time, CSK looks a good blend of batsmen, bowlers, and all-rounders.

The only thing that can backfire for the three-time champion is the lack of practice for their senior players. CSK has many players in their squads who have taken retirement or don&#8217;t play international cricket anymore. This list includes veterans like MS Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu, Raina, and Robin Uthappa. The lack of match practice can also take a toll on the fitness of the senior players.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-459856" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sunrisers-Hyderabad-6.jpg" alt="Sunrisers Hyderabad" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-459856" class="wp-caption-text">Sunrisers Hyderabad. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

It would be wrong to say that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have all their bases covered and have one of the strongest squads. Despite having an average squad, SRH is likely to qualify for the playoffs and finish at the third position on the points table as they have mastered the art of using their resources well.

Something similar had happened during IPL 2020 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the Orange Army had managed to reach the semi-finals by winning the games in the end. There is enough fire in their batting line-up due to the presence of David Warner, Kane Williamson, Jason Holder, Jonny Bairstow, and Manish Pandey.

SRH also has a competent bowling attack owing to the presence of pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/thank-you-laddu-for-choosing-us-as-your-parents-t-natarajan-posts-adorable-photo-with-his-daughter-and-wife/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">T Natarajan</a></strong> and spinner Rashid Khan. However, SRH can face problems due to their inexperienced and young middle-order.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-463699" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Delhi-Capitals-vs-Sunrisers-Hyderabad.jpg" alt="Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-463699" class="wp-caption-text">Delhi Capitals. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

There is no doubt over the fact that the finalists of the last season, Delhi Capitals (DC) are in contention of winning their maiden IPL trophy this year. Delhi boasts of having one of the most competent squads among all the eight franchises and the picks made by them during the IPL auction ensures that the team has all the bases covered.

DC has one of the best spin attacks on their side in the form of Axar Patel, <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/india-vs-england-ravi-ashwin-leaves-the-fans-bewildered-with-his-cryptic-tweet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ravi Ashwin</a>,</strong> and Amit Mishra along with a formidable pace attack including the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Chris Woakes, Anrich Nortje, Umesh Yadav, and Ishant Sharma.

Coming to batting, the inclusion of Tom Curran and Steve Smith gives good back-up options to the team-management. The presence of Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shimron Hetmyer, and Marcus Stoinis in the batting line-up is nothing less than a nightmare for any opposition.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-465291" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mumbai-Indians-vs-Delhi-Capitals.jpg" alt="Mumbai Indians IPL 2021" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-465291" class="wp-caption-text">Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

It is a no-brainer that the defending champions Mumbai Indians will enter the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the favourites as they have the strongest team. Mumbai is most likely to play their winning combination of last year from the very beginning of the league.

The presence of Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, and Hardik Pandya in the middle-order means that the team is capable of firing as many as 50-60 runs in the last few overs. The top-order is well settled including Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma, and <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-actually-went-alone-to-the-beach-for-the-walk-suryakumar-yadav-on-how-he-reacted-after-australia-tour-snub/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suryakumar Yadav</a></strong>.

Owing to the presence of Krunal Pandya in the lower-order, Mumbai has a great depth to their batting order. Coming to the bowlers, they boast of having the services of world-class bowlers with Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult being their ace pacers.

<p>After the conclusion of the IPL auction hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the upcoming 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on February 18 in Chennai, all the eight franchises have gotten their desired squads and will now be looking forward to making strategies and plans for the marquee tournament.</p>
<p>While there were teams who managed to cover up their holes from IPL 2020 and have formed competitive squads for the 14th edition, a few teams failed to make proper buys which might cost them the whole season. In this article, let’s take a look at the predicted standings of the teams at the end of the league stage of IPL 2021.</p>
<h3>Here we predict the IPL 2021 standings at the end of the league stage:</h3>
<h3>8. Punjab Kings</h3>
<figure id="attachment_460788" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-460788" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-460788" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kings-XI-Punjab-4.jpg" alt="Kings XI Punjab" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-460788" class="wp-caption-text">Punjab Kings. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Punjab Kings (previously known as Kings XI Punjab) had the biggest purse heading into the IPL 2021 auction. The franchise was thus very active throughout the event and managed to make some valuable editions in their squad. However, one thing that can hurt Punjab is their bowling unit.</p>
<p>Punjab had gone bonkers behind Big Bash League stars <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/felt-like-i-played-a-game-jhye-richardson-opens-up-on-emotions-he-went-through-during-ipl-2021-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jhye Richardson</a></strong> and Riley Meredith but both the pacers rarely played on Indian pitches. Fabian Allen, Chris Jordan, and Moises Henriques haven’t featured in the T20 Extravaganza regularly.</p>
<p>Also, their spin attack is quite inexperienced. Though Ravi Bishnoi and Murugan Ashwin had performed exceptionally well in IPL, they aren’t backed with much experience.</p>
<h3>7. Royal Challengers Bangalore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_454466" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-454466" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-454466" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Royal-Challengers-Bangalore-1.jpg" alt="Royal Challengers Bangalore" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-454466" class="wp-caption-text">Royal Challengers Bangalore. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>IPL 2021 can be another year of disappointment for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The Bangalore outfit has a formidable batting line-up due to the presence of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Devdutt Padikkal, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Philippe, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Daniel Christian, and Daniel Sams.</p>
<p>Their spin-attack is also world-class as they have Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa, and Washington Sundar on their sides. However, the thing that can cost Challengers the season is their inexperienced pace attack. RCB had released Umesh Yadav, Chris Morris, and Dale Steyn ahead of IPL 2021 and they are now left with no experienced seamer.</p>
<p>Their highest buy <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-didnt-know-how-much-rs-15-crore-was-in-new-zealand-dollars-kyle-jamieson-after-getting-a-bid-from-rcb-in-ipl-2021-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Jamieson</a></strong> hasn’t played a single game on the Indian pitches. Other quicks like Kane Richardson, Dan Christian, and Daniel Sams have not played much in the IPL while Indian options Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj haven’t been at their fluent best in the shortest format in the recent past.</p>
<h3>6. Rajasthan Royals</h3>
<figure id="attachment_460786" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-460786" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-460786" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rajasthan-Royals-3.jpg" alt="Rajasthan Royals" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-460786" class="wp-caption-text">Rajasthan Royals. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Rajasthan Royals had hogged all the limelight during IPL Auction 2021 by picking Chris Morris for a whopping amount of INR 16.25 crores. They have also acquired the services of players like Liam Livingstone, Mustafizur Rahman, Shivam Dube, and many others. Despite spending hefty amounts on the players, Rajasthan might fail to qualify for the playoffs this year too.</p>
<p>One of the major problems encountered by the Royals last year was the lack of support for Jofra Archer especially while bowling in death overs. To solve this, RR picked Morris but the South African pacer is prone to injuries and this can hurt the team. In addition, the Royals will be led by an inexperienced captain, <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/brad-hogg-suggests-india-to-drop-sanju-samson-or-shreyas-iyer-to-accommodate-rishabh-pant-in-odi-and-t20i-side/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanju Samson</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Just like the previous season, RR is overly dependent on their overseas batsmen Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes. Though they have Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube, the two are relatively inexperienced and yet to make a mark for themselves.</p>
<h3>5. Kolkata Knight Riders</h3>
<figure id="attachment_458824" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-458824" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-458824" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kolkata-Knight-Riders-5.jpg" alt="Kolkata Knight Riders" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458824" class="wp-caption-text">Kolkata Knight Riders. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are one franchise that knows how to deliver even without the presence of star players in their squad. They had failed to qualify for IPL 2020 due to less net run-rate than RCB. It is expected that the same scenario might repeat itself this year too as it is speculated that KKR can finish at the sixth position in the points table.</p>
<p>The Knight Riders had a good auction as they managed to pick players like Shakib Al Hasan, Ben Cutting, Harbhajan Singh, and Karun Nair in their squad. However, one thing that can put the team in trouble is their over-dependence on overseas players in the batting department. KKR have only two Indian batsmen, <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/yuvraj-singh-hilariously-trolls-shubman-gill-after-youngsters-poor-shot-selection-in-1st-innings-of-3rd-test/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shubman Gill</a></strong> and Nitish Rana, who can actually do wonders for the team.</p>
<p>The team will be very much dependent on Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell and their failure can result in a collapse of the whole batting line-up. All being said, KKR can also spring some surprise for the viewers as it is almost impossible to stop Russell if gets into the groove.</p>
<h3>4. Chennai Super Kings</h3>
<figure id="attachment_461391" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-461391" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-461391" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Chennai-Super-Kings.jpg" alt="Chennai Super Kings" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-461391" class="wp-caption-text">Chennai Super Kings. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were one of the most talked-about teams in IPL 2020 as for the first time they had finished at a seventh position on the points table by winning just 6 games out of 14 played. However, leaving the demons of the past behind, the Super Kings, under the leadership of MS Dhoni, is expected to bounce back stronger and book a berth for themselves in the second stage of IPL 2021.</p>
<p>Suresh Raina will make a comeback for the Yellow Army in IPL 2021, which will provide required stability to the team while the inclusion of all-rounders Moeen Ali and <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/crictracker-exclusive-ms-dhoni-knows-how-to-handle-players-and-get-the-best-out-of-them-krishnappa-gowtham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Krishnappa Gowtham</a></strong> is also expected to do wonders for the team. This time, CSK looks a good blend of batsmen, bowlers, and all-rounders.</p>
<p>The only thing that can backfire for the three-time champion is the lack of practice for their senior players. CSK has many players in their squads who have taken retirement or don’t play international cricket anymore. This list includes veterans like MS Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu, Raina, and Robin Uthappa. The lack of match practice can also take a toll on the fitness of the senior players.</p>
<h3>3. Sunrisers Hyderabad</h3>
<figure id="attachment_459856" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-459856" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-459856" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sunrisers-Hyderabad-6.jpg" alt="Sunrisers Hyderabad" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-459856" class="wp-caption-text">Sunrisers Hyderabad. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>It would be wrong to say that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have all their bases covered and have one of the strongest squads. Despite having an average squad, SRH is likely to qualify for the playoffs and finish at the third position on the points table as they have mastered the art of using their resources well.</p>
<p>Something similar had happened during IPL 2020 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the Orange Army had managed to reach the semi-finals by winning the games in the end. There is enough fire in their batting line-up due to the presence of David Warner, Kane Williamson, Jason Holder, Jonny Bairstow, and Manish Pandey.</p>
<p>SRH also has a competent bowling attack owing to the presence of pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/thank-you-laddu-for-choosing-us-as-your-parents-t-natarajan-posts-adorable-photo-with-his-daughter-and-wife/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">T Natarajan</a></strong> and spinner Rashid Khan. However, SRH can face problems due to their inexperienced and young middle-order.</p>
<h3>2. Delhi Capitals</h3>
<figure id="attachment_463699" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-463699" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-463699" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Delhi-Capitals-vs-Sunrisers-Hyderabad.jpg" alt="Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-463699" class="wp-caption-text">Delhi Capitals. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>There is no doubt over the fact that the finalists of the last season, Delhi Capitals (DC) are in contention of winning their maiden IPL trophy this year. Delhi boasts of having one of the most competent squads among all the eight franchises and the picks made by them during the IPL auction ensures that the team has all the bases covered.</p>
<p>DC has one of the best spin attacks on their side in the form of Axar Patel, <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/india-vs-england-ravi-ashwin-leaves-the-fans-bewildered-with-his-cryptic-tweet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ravi Ashwin</a>,</strong> and Amit Mishra along with a formidable pace attack including the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Chris Woakes, Anrich Nortje, Umesh Yadav, and Ishant Sharma.</p>
<p>Coming to batting, the inclusion of Tom Curran and Steve Smith gives good back-up options to the team-management. The presence of Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shimron Hetmyer, and Marcus Stoinis in the batting line-up is nothing less than a nightmare for any opposition.</p>
<h3>1. Mumbai Indians</h3>
<figure id="attachment_465291" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-465291" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-465291" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mumbai-Indians-vs-Delhi-Capitals.jpg" alt="Mumbai Indians IPL 2021" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-465291" class="wp-caption-text">Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>It is a no-brainer that the defending champions Mumbai Indians will enter the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the favourites as they have the strongest team. Mumbai is most likely to play their winning combination of last year from the very beginning of the league.</p>
<p>The presence of Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, and Hardik Pandya in the middle-order means that the team is capable of firing as many as 50-60 runs in the last few overs. The top-order is well settled including Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma, and <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-actually-went-alone-to-the-beach-for-the-walk-suryakumar-yadav-on-how-he-reacted-after-australia-tour-snub/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suryakumar Yadav</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Owing to the presence of Krunal Pandya in the lower-order, Mumbai has a great depth to their batting order. Coming to the bowlers, they boast of having the services of world-class bowlers with Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult being their ace pacers.</p>

<p>After the conclusion of the IPL auction hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the upcoming 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on February 18 in Chennai, all the eight franchises have gotten their desired squads and will now be looking forward to making strategies and plans for the marquee tournament.</p>
<p>While there were teams who managed to cover up their holes from IPL 2020 and have formed competitive squads for the 14th edition, a few teams failed to make proper buys which might cost them the whole season. In this article, let&#8217;s take a look at the predicted standings of the teams at the end of the league stage of IPL 2021.</p>
<h3>Here we predict the IPL 2021 standings at the end of the league stage:</h3>
<h3>8. Punjab Kings</h3>
<figure id="attachment_460788" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-460788" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-460788" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kings-XI-Punjab-4.jpg" alt="Kings XI Punjab" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-460788" class="wp-caption-text">Punjab Kings. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Punjab Kings (previously known as Kings XI Punjab) had the biggest purse heading into the IPL 2021 auction. The franchise was thus very active throughout the event and managed to make some valuable editions in their squad. However, one thing that can hurt Punjab is their bowling unit.</p>
<p>Punjab had gone bonkers behind Big Bash League stars <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/felt-like-i-played-a-game-jhye-richardson-opens-up-on-emotions-he-went-through-during-ipl-2021-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jhye Richardson</a></strong> and Riley Meredith but both the pacers rarely played on Indian pitches. Fabian Allen, Chris Jordan, and Moises Henriques haven&#8217;t featured in the T20 Extravaganza regularly.</p>
<p>Also, their spin attack is quite inexperienced. Though Ravi Bishnoi and Murugan Ashwin had performed exceptionally well in IPL, they aren&#8217;t backed with much experience.</p>
<h3>7. Royal Challengers Bangalore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_454466" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-454466" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-454466" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Royal-Challengers-Bangalore-1.jpg" alt="Royal Challengers Bangalore" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-454466" class="wp-caption-text">Royal Challengers Bangalore. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>IPL 2021 can be another year of disappointment for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The Bangalore outfit has a formidable batting line-up due to the presence of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Devdutt Padikkal, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Philippe, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Daniel Christian, and Daniel Sams.</p>
<p>Their spin-attack is also world-class as they have Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa, and Washington Sundar on their sides. However, the thing that can cost Challengers the season is their inexperienced pace attack. RCB had released Umesh Yadav, Chris Morris, and Dale Steyn ahead of IPL 2021 and they are now left with no experienced seamer.</p>
<p>Their highest buy <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-didnt-know-how-much-rs-15-crore-was-in-new-zealand-dollars-kyle-jamieson-after-getting-a-bid-from-rcb-in-ipl-2021-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Jamieson</a></strong> hasn&#8217;t played a single game on the Indian pitches. Other quicks like Kane Richardson, Dan Christian, and Daniel Sams have not played much in the IPL while Indian options Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj haven&#8217;t been at their fluent best in the shortest format in the recent past.</p>
<h3>6. Rajasthan Royals</h3>
<figure id="attachment_460786" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-460786" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-460786" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rajasthan-Royals-3.jpg" alt="Rajasthan Royals" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-460786" class="wp-caption-text">Rajasthan Royals. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Rajasthan Royals had hogged all the limelight during IPL Auction 2021 by picking Chris Morris for a whopping amount of INR 16.25 crores. They have also acquired the services of players like Liam Livingstone, Mustafizur Rahman, Shivam Dube, and many others. Despite spending hefty amounts on the players, Rajasthan might fail to qualify for the playoffs this year too.</p>
<p>One of the major problems encountered by the Royals last year was the lack of support for Jofra Archer especially while bowling in death overs. To solve this, RR picked Morris but the South African pacer is prone to injuries and this can hurt the team. In addition, the Royals will be led by an inexperienced captain, <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/brad-hogg-suggests-india-to-drop-sanju-samson-or-shreyas-iyer-to-accommodate-rishabh-pant-in-odi-and-t20i-side/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanju Samson</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Just like the previous season, RR is overly dependent on their overseas batsmen Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes. Though they have Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube, the two are relatively inexperienced and yet to make a mark for themselves.</p>
<h3>5. Kolkata Knight Riders</h3>
<figure id="attachment_458824" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-458824" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-458824" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kolkata-Knight-Riders-5.jpg" alt="Kolkata Knight Riders" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458824" class="wp-caption-text">Kolkata Knight Riders. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are one franchise that knows how to deliver even without the presence of star players in their squad. They had failed to qualify for IPL 2020 due to less net run-rate than RCB. It is expected that the same scenario might repeat itself this year too as it is speculated that KKR can finish at the sixth position in the points table.</p>
<p>The Knight Riders had a good auction as they managed to pick players like Shakib Al Hasan, Ben Cutting, Harbhajan Singh, and Karun Nair in their squad. However, one thing that can put the team in trouble is their over-dependence on overseas players in the batting department. KKR have only two Indian batsmen, <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/yuvraj-singh-hilariously-trolls-shubman-gill-after-youngsters-poor-shot-selection-in-1st-innings-of-3rd-test/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shubman Gill</a></strong> and Nitish Rana, who can actually do wonders for the team.</p>
<p>The team will be very much dependent on Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell and their failure can result in a collapse of the whole batting line-up. All being said, KKR can also spring some surprise for the viewers as it is almost impossible to stop Russell if gets into the groove.</p>
<h3>4. Chennai Super Kings</h3>
<figure id="attachment_461391" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-461391" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-461391" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Chennai-Super-Kings.jpg" alt="Chennai Super Kings" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-461391" class="wp-caption-text">Chennai Super Kings. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were one of the most talked-about teams in IPL 2020 as for the first time they had finished at a seventh position on the points table by winning just 6 games out of 14 played. However, leaving the demons of the past behind, the Super Kings, under the leadership of MS Dhoni, is expected to bounce back stronger and book a berth for themselves in the second stage of IPL 2021.</p>
<p>Suresh Raina will make a comeback for the Yellow Army in IPL 2021, which will provide required stability to the team while the inclusion of all-rounders Moeen Ali and <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/crictracker-exclusive-ms-dhoni-knows-how-to-handle-players-and-get-the-best-out-of-them-krishnappa-gowtham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Krishnappa Gowtham</a></strong> is also expected to do wonders for the team. This time, CSK looks a good blend of batsmen, bowlers, and all-rounders.</p>
<p>The only thing that can backfire for the three-time champion is the lack of practice for their senior players. CSK has many players in their squads who have taken retirement or don&#8217;t play international cricket anymore. This list includes veterans like MS Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu, Raina, and Robin Uthappa. The lack of match practice can also take a toll on the fitness of the senior players.</p>
<h3>3. Sunrisers Hyderabad</h3>
<figure id="attachment_459856" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-459856" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-459856" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sunrisers-Hyderabad-6.jpg" alt="Sunrisers Hyderabad" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-459856" class="wp-caption-text">Sunrisers Hyderabad. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>It would be wrong to say that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have all their bases covered and have one of the strongest squads. Despite having an average squad, SRH is likely to qualify for the playoffs and finish at the third position on the points table as they have mastered the art of using their resources well.</p>
<p>Something similar had happened during IPL 2020 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the Orange Army had managed to reach the semi-finals by winning the games in the end. There is enough fire in their batting line-up due to the presence of David Warner, Kane Williamson, Jason Holder, Jonny Bairstow, and Manish Pandey.</p>
<p>SRH also has a competent bowling attack owing to the presence of pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/thank-you-laddu-for-choosing-us-as-your-parents-t-natarajan-posts-adorable-photo-with-his-daughter-and-wife/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">T Natarajan</a></strong> and spinner Rashid Khan. However, SRH can face problems due to their inexperienced and young middle-order.</p>
<h3>2. Delhi Capitals</h3>
<figure id="attachment_463699" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-463699" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-463699" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Delhi-Capitals-vs-Sunrisers-Hyderabad.jpg" alt="Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-463699" class="wp-caption-text">Delhi Capitals. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>There is no doubt over the fact that the finalists of the last season, Delhi Capitals (DC) are in contention of winning their maiden IPL trophy this year. Delhi boasts of having one of the most competent squads among all the eight franchises and the picks made by them during the IPL auction ensures that the team has all the bases covered.</p>
<p>DC has one of the best spin attacks on their side in the form of Axar Patel, <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/india-vs-england-ravi-ashwin-leaves-the-fans-bewildered-with-his-cryptic-tweet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ravi Ashwin</a>,</strong> and Amit Mishra along with a formidable pace attack including the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Chris Woakes, Anrich Nortje, Umesh Yadav, and Ishant Sharma.</p>
<p>Coming to batting, the inclusion of Tom Curran and Steve Smith gives good back-up options to the team-management. The presence of Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shimron Hetmyer, and Marcus Stoinis in the batting line-up is nothing less than a nightmare for any opposition.</p>
<h3>1. Mumbai Indians</h3>
<figure id="attachment_465291" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-465291" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-465291" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mumbai-Indians-vs-Delhi-Capitals.jpg" alt="Mumbai Indians IPL 2021" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-465291" class="wp-caption-text">Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>It is a no-brainer that the defending champions Mumbai Indians will enter the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the favourites as they have the strongest team. Mumbai is most likely to play their winning combination of last year from the very beginning of the league.</p>
<p>The presence of Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, and Hardik Pandya in the middle-order means that the team is capable of firing as many as 50-60 runs in the last few overs. The top-order is well settled including Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma, and <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-actually-went-alone-to-the-beach-for-the-walk-suryakumar-yadav-on-how-he-reacted-after-australia-tour-snub/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suryakumar Yadav</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Owing to the presence of Krunal Pandya in the lower-order, Mumbai has a great depth to their batting order. Coming to the bowlers, they boast of having the services of world-class bowlers with Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult being their ace pacers.</p>

From CSK to MI and RCB, here we predict the standings of all teams at the end of the league stage in IPL 2021.

IPL 2021: Predicting where each team will finish on the points table at the end of league stage

In this article, let's take a look at the predicted standings of the teams at the end of the league stage of IPL 2021