The <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPL 2021</a> that had got postponed because of the second Covid-19 wave in India, is now all set to resume from September 19th. Despite the tournament reaching its halfway stage, again all of the eight IPL franchises are in strong contention for the potential playoffs spots, especially with the top four teams enjoying a considerable lead.

While earlier there were also a lot of doldrums regarding the availability of some key overseas players, but even that has got resolved mainly because of the cancellation of some international tours and fixtures.

Hence, with the tournament now yet again dwelling itself, let’s analyze each team’s strengths and weaknesses.

1. Chennai Super Kings

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-507592" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Chennai-Super-Kings-2.jpg" alt="Chennai Super Kings" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-507592" class="wp-caption-text">Chennai Super Kings. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Strength- Prolonged batting order, 5-6 Bowling options

By carrying a tally of 10 points from their first seven games, CSK seems to have found its natural zeal in IPL 2021. Under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, they are again at the top of the table (2nd position) and are comfortably expected to qualify for the playoffs. Now in their journey of five solid wins, the yellow army’s main strength has become its power-packed batting wherein there are batters till No. 10 position.

Especially with players like Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran and Dwayne Bravo forming a strong core in the lower batting order, the void of captain Dhoni’s reasonable batting also gets covered. And with players like Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur also being the regulars, CSK’s overall lower-order batting seems to be a never-ending profusion.

With plenty of all-rounders, CSK’s overall bowling is also significantly bolstered. To cover up for the quota of the fifth bowling option, captain Dhoni has both Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jadeja as two wicket-taking spinners accompanying their main four frontline bowlers. Hence, by bagging a plethora of quality all-rounders during the 2021 auction, the CSK franchise has brimmed their squad with a lot of depth and resources.

Weakness- Struggles with their premier overseas pacer

However, unfortunately, with regards to their overall bowling, the yellow army has endured its fair share of struggles in IPL 2021. The franchise is yet to find its premier overseas pacer as both Dwayne Bravo and Lungi Ngidi have been rusty in the first leg of the tournament. Especially with regards to Ngidi’s nippy bowling, the South African pacer looked to be adding a different variety in CSK’s crop of medium pacers but unfortunately, he has leaked runs at an economy of over 10.

Even the veteran Dwayne Bravo, who has oodles of experience, has reasonably struggled when it comes to picking wickets. Apart from these two spearheads, even Shardul Thakur has been ordinary especially with his economy also surpassing over 10. Hence, while the franchise’s overall batting has been piling match-winning totals, the overall bowling department has been substandard with their performances.

2. Mumbai Indians

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-511113" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mumbai-Indians-4.jpg" alt="Mumbai Indians" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-511113" class="wp-caption-text">Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Strength- Current in-form batting order

Yet again in the 2021 IPL, the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/mi-mumbai-indians/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MI</a> franchise had started slowly and had completely got into the groove when they had triumphed over CSK in a 200 plus run-chase. Up till the Chennai leg, their entire batting order had looked over-reliant on the top three or four batters, but in the present scenario, each one of them looks in a staggering form barring Hardik Pandya.

Especially with regards to their top-order, both QDK and skipper Rohit Sharma have been batting attractively in the UK and even the likes of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav were amongst the runs in the recent Sri Lankan series. The lower middle-order that comprises Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya also has looked in fine touch post the first leg of the IPL.

Overall, barring Hardik Pandya’s fitful form, the entire batting lineup of MI looks well composed that can collectively gel well once the IPL resumes. If MI’s entire batting order starts to click wholly, they can bank on their chances of winning the sixth IPL glory.

Weakness- Problem of second overseas seamer

In MI’s steady bowling department, the fast bowling duo of Jasprti Bumrah and Trent Boult have emerged as key architects who have scalped a majority of wickets since IPL 2020. Both of them are also skipper Rohit Sharma’s breakthrough pacers who are often responsible for defending the team in tough situations. However, regardless of their consistent performances, the team is grappling with its second overseas seamer as the likes of Marco Jansen and Adam Milne have so far been ordinary with their opportunities.

Since both of them were played before the injured Aussie pacer Nathan Coulter Nile, none of them had turned out as promising figures for future games. Overall, while even Coulter-Nile’s fitness is an ordeal to endure, the MI management needs to settle out its problem of second overseas seamer choices.

3. Punjab Kings

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-511737" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Punjab-Kings-Team.jpg" alt="Punjab Kings Team" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-511737" class="wp-caption-text">Punjab Kings Team. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Strength- In-form top three batters

The <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/punjab-kings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PBKS</a> team has so far played 8 games in the IPL 2021 and has only fetched three wins. Despite the regular performances from the top three batters, the franchise has crumbled especially because of its dreadful middle-order batting and overall bowling. Overall while the different UAE conditions will enforce different challenges to skipper KL Rahul and its side, their ultimate strength still seems to be its top-order batting.

Both the opening duo of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal have been commendable, as both individually do average above 40 in IPL 2021. Perhaps with the skipper also being one of the highest run-scorers, his current average of 66.20 seems to be a big blessing. And even the Universal Boss whose also currently in a solid batting form has a moderate average of around 25 from his 8 appearances so far. Hence, in a scenario where the PBKS team has to fetch maximum wins from its remaining games, the entire top-order has to largely take the onus of producing match-winning totals.

Weakness- Absence of economical overseas pacers

During the IPL 2021 auction, the PBKS franchise had made two chunky purchases where the likes of Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith were bagged for whopping amounts. Both of them were picked to strengthen the team’s reasonable pace bowling but unfortunately, their selection has backfired. Especially with regards to Jhye Richardson, the Aussie pacer had an atrocious time where he was leaking runs at an economy of above 10 in IPL 2021. Even Riley Meredith, who had scalped 4 wickets from 5 games, had drained runs at a similar economy of around 10.

The death-overs specialist Chris Jordan has overall been reasonable as only two wickets have been scalped by him in his three games, but it’s only the duo of Mohammad Shami and Arshdeep Singh who have constantly bowled well along with bagging most wickets. Hence, to finish in the top four, the PBKS squad surely needs a resolution in its overseas pace department.

4. Sunrisers Hyderabad

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-509765" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sunrisers-Hyderabad-3.jpg" alt="Sunrisers Hyderabad" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-509765" class="wp-caption-text">Sunrisers Hyderabad. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Strength- Comeback of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan

In the first leg of IPL 2021, the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/srh-sunrisers-hyderabad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SRH</a> franchise had to face an ordeal especially when their main players had either got injured or were found struggling with their form. In between, the injuries to their two key pacers (Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan) had also further rattled the overall balance of their side.

However, now with the above Indian duo being fully fit and ready, at least in the bowling department, the franchise will be expected to showcase some extraordinary performances. Now practically with bowling also being SRH’s core strength, the franchise surely needs a soaring run from its bowlers perhaps to give themselves a best of chance for playoff qualification.

Since they need to win all their remaining games, the bowlers have to produce some lofty performances that can also comfortably get in sync with SRH comprised batting lineup. Hence, there’s a lot relying on the likes of Rashid Khan, Bhuvi and T Natarajan from now on.

Weakness- Lack of a solid overseas batter in the middle-order

So far in the IPL 2021, the SRH team’s main shortcoming has been its dreadful batting lineup. The malfunction of David Warner had immensely brought in turmoil in the overall batting order as often the middle-order was found underwhelming to finish even modest of run chases. Especially, in the latter stages of their run chases, the batting order did potentially miss an overseas batter who could have fetched one or two wins through his big-hitting display.

Even with the mediocre performances by the senior lower-order batters like Vijay Shankar, the middle-order was found in doldrums during the first leg of the IPL 2021. However, if the Aussie all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is allowed to join back, then potentially his availability can become a fruitful solution for the SRH management.

5. Kolkata Knight Riders

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-504457" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kolkata-Knight-Riders.jpg" alt="Kolkata Knight Riders" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-504457" class="wp-caption-text">Kolkata Knight Riders. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Strength- In-from Andre Russell

Last year in IPL 2020, the West Indies all-rounder had a horrendous time as only 117 runs had come from his blade. However, the Jamaican, in the IPL 2021, had scored some crucial runs especially when the entire batting order of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/kkr-kolkata-knight-riders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KKR</a> had turned out to be rusty. Although, a fighting fifty-plus score was the best that Russell had showcased, his some other short cameos had certainly kept his strike rate of 150- plus intact.

However, with regards to the upcoming IPL leg, Andre Russell now definitely has both his form and his fitness. While recently playing for the WI team, Russell had muscled some match-winning scores. Hence, with the fibrous all-rounder also being the franchise’s biggest match-winner on any given day, his current fiery form is surely a big blessing for the franchise.

Weakness- Fitful batting order

Despite having some sturdy names, KKR’s overall batting order seemed to fail drastically even on wickets that were batting-friendly. Right from the top to bottom, almost every batter had struggled to apply themselves that also then resulted in a constant juggling amongst the No. 4, 5 and 6. Even captain Morgan, who had emerged as a backbone of the team in IPL 2020, has so far only managed to average around 15 in the first leg.

With the franchise also being in the dire need to win all its remaining games, none of its batters barring Andre Russell are at present in the best of touches. Especially, the skipper himself is yet in due to score a 50 from a very long time and even other top-order batters like Nitish Rana lately haven&#8217;t produced some big scores. Both Shubman Gill and Dinesh Karthik will be making a comeback after June which eventually also makes them rusty. Hence, the batting order will have to collectively bat out of their skins if KKR has to qualify for the playoffs.

6. Royal Challengers Bangalore

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-510486" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Royal-Challengers-Bangalore-9.jpg" alt="Royal Challengers Bangalore" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-510486" class="wp-caption-text">Royal Challengers Bangalore. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Strength- In-form premier batters

For a change, the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/rcb-royal-challengers-bangalore/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RCB</a> team is placed third in the points table and after a very long time are found as favorites to bag the IPL 2021 title. Perhaps the bagging of Glenn Maxwell has also brought in a fresh vitality as most of RCB’s premier batters have scored match-winning runs in the first half of IPL 2021. Right from the top, both skipper Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal are averaging around 33 and 39 respectively alongside Maxwell and ABD’s brimming batting form. And especially with De Villiers average also soaring above 50 certainly then makes their batting a strong force to reckon with.

Weakness- Lack of batting options after Maxwell and ABD

However, for instance, if the above of the four batters are having an off day then there’s barely someone who can uplift the side during crises. Apart from Dan Christian, hardly there seems to be someone whose well equipped in the lower batting order which in many ways surely leaves a big void. The two losses against CSK and PBKS were resulted because of such scenarios wherein barely any batter had raised its hands when the above four had malfunctioned. Hence, while it may not be every day that the likes of Kohli and De Villiers will fail, but an additional bolstering certainly looks the best way forward for the RCB.

7. Delhi Capitals

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-512535" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Delhi-Capitals.jpg" alt="Delhi Capitals" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-512535" class="wp-caption-text">Delhi Capitals. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Strength- In-form Indian batters

Currently, the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/dc-delhi-capitals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DC</a> team is bossing the top spot in the points tables and are looking sure shot to qualify for their third consecutive playoffs. Their profusion of quality Indian players has again wholeheartedly delivered especially in the batting order where their overseas batters have struggled a bit. Yet again Shikhar Dhawan has kept the entire batting lineup intact as the southpaw is currently holding the IPL 2021’s Orange Cap. Even Prithvi Shaw, who had a grappling IPL 2020, has an average of around 38 alongside a rich batting form from the Sri Lankan ODI series.

Even skipper Rishabh Pant has been brimming with runs alongside a hefty average of 35.50. Regardless of the middle-order’s topsy-turvy stand, often Rishabh has also looked to bat deep wherein he has helmed a few of the run chases. Overall, with regards to DC’s other main batters coming rusty ahead of the second leg, the current form of the above three batters is a big boon to start with.

Weakness- Lack of performances by overseas players

Last year in IPL 2020, the franchise had a soaring run, especially because the likes of Marcus Stoinis, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje were high amongst the runs and wickets. Especially with regards to Rabada’s fiery bowling, the pacer had scalped a total of 30 wickets last year. However, in the first half of IPL 2021, Rabada has only reasonably picked 8 wickets from his 7 games wherein even his economy is almost touching 9.

In the batting department, although Steve Smith had looked promising, unfortunately even he has just managed to score 104 runs at a strike rate of 111.82. And even Marcus Stoinis who had singlehandedly produced some match-winning scores last year has certainly looked grim with just 71 runs to his name. Even his secondary skill of medium pace bowling has made him leak runs above the economy of 10. Hence, overall the DC franchise will be hoping that their overseas giants must very soon find their deft touch and form before the second leg begins.

8. Rajasthan Royals

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-512412" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rajasthan-Royals-Celebrating.jpg" alt="Rajasthan Royals Celebrating" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-512412" class="wp-caption-text">Rajasthan Royals Celebrating. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Strength- Availability of Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone

Once again the void of not having Ben Stones will be a big setback for the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/rr-rajasthan-royals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RR</a> team but the availability of the above two in-form batters is surely a big plus point. While Jos Buttler’s T20 batting form has been impressive throughout the year 2021, the at present batting heroics from Livingstone make him now a very lofty proposition in the dugout.

His current powerful deft touch of taking every bowler to cleaners will certainly dwell him a place in RR’s grim middle-order where even skipper Samson’s form now has become topsy-turvy. Perhaps with the likes of Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube and Rahul Tewatia also being in a long due to produce a match-winning knock, the presence of the above two in-form batters surely looks like a big bonus.

Weakness- Problems in the spin bowling department

In the first half of IPL 2021, Shreyas Gopal had an atrocious time especially when his leg-spin bowling was spilling runs at an economy of above 12. In the two games so far, the leg-spinner had looked completely ordinary compared to his performances in previous seasons.

Unfortunately, with his place getting ceased, the RR team management had decided to pursue an extra seamer that eventually made the likes of Rahul Tewatia and Riyan Parag the mere two other spin bowling options available.

However, now with the IPL moving to the UAE, the spinners will again surely come at the fore and if the RR team decides to discard Gopal then there aren’t many spin options available for them. Besides Shreyas Gopal’s leg-spin, RR does has the presence of Mayank Markande, but even he hasn’t played any IPL game since the 2019 season.

And with the constant change in the conditions and venues, surely the duo of Parag and Tewatia are not well equipped to fulfill spin bowling duties in UAE. Hence, the RR management certainly is in dire straits if Gopal’s malfunction continues.

IPL 2021 resumes on September 19 in the UAE.

IPL 2021: Strength and weakness of each team ahead of UAE leg

The IPL 2021 that had got postponed midway is set to resume from September 19th in the UAE. Here are team-wise strengths and weaknesses