IPL teams and their EPL counterparts

IPL teams and their EPL counterparts: The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the Indian answer to the English Premier League (EPL) of England. Both leagues have been highly competitive over the years and the drama has been absolutely engrossing every time that it is played. While Cricket is followed by millions of people around the world, it cannot match the popularity of Football. Football is followed by more than 150 countries around the globe and enjoys a reach wider than cricket. But IPL is the first step in addressing that and it has generated enormous interest leading to instant comparisons with the EPL. So here’s a look at IPL teams and their EPL counterparts. 1. Chennai Super Kings – Manchester United: Manchester United. (© Getty Images) The most successful IPL team of all time has many similarities to the most successful team of the EPL. Apart from a blip last season United has consistently been at the top end of the table fighting for the title much like the CSK. Also United have kept their core players together and have created huge stars of the game at Old Trafford. Similarly CSK have made Bravo, Smith and Ashwin stars by introducing or re-introducing them to the world. Both teams have been successful and winning titles consistently over the years. CSK have an inspirational and influential leader like Dhoni and United have been led by legends of the game like Giggs and Van der Sar, Scholes and Ferdinand. Both teams are big brands in the industry and have a huge fan base. 2. Mumbai Indians – Manchester City Mumbai Indians IPL Winners 2015. (Photo Source: BCCI) Manchester City. (© Getty Images) MI much like City has spent a lot of money on quality players. MI much like City has always wanted to buy the shiniest new toy available. Richard Levy, Davy Jacobs, Hussey, Corey Anderson, Pollard, etc. were bought by MI after they had some breakthrough performances elsewhere. Similarly City has bought Mangala, Navas, Fernandinho, Jovetic, Bony, etc. after they performed brilliantly elsewhere. It would be wrong to suggest that they have both entirely bought their success but yes money has definitely helped. Like MI, Manchester City has also depended on their star players to win them the title over the last years. For MI its Pollard, Malinga, Harbhajan and Rohit parallel to it for City its Aguero, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Vincent Kompany. Much of their success depends on these players. While both have been champions recently, the two teams will be hoping or willing to add more firepower to their teams before the next season commences. 3. Kolkata Knight Riders – Chelsea: KKR IPL Champions 2014. (Photo Source: BCCI) Chelsea. (© Getty Images) Although this season Chelsea won the title and KKR didn’t these two teams have quite a few similarities to be equated together. Both these teams have enough cash reserves to buy an entire playing XI every season. They are very popular among a certain number of people. KKR and Chelsea have enough haters too while they also have equally passionate fans across the globe. Kolkata found a much needed stability last season which Chelsea has found recently and both look solid on paper. Both are teams and not dependent on just star power. Although Gambhir, Russell – Hazard, Fabregas can be influential players both teams have built a strong team and rely less on just one or two players. Both the owners of KKR and Chelsea – Shah Rukh Khan and Roman Abramovich respectively – are passionate followers of the game and are almost always present to support their team. KKR and Chelsea both look strong contenders for the title next season. 4. Royal Challengers Bangalore – Arsenal RCB 2015. (Photo Source: BCCI) Arsenal. (© Getty Images) Till last season Arsenal may have been compared to the Royals but a more apt comparison is possibly with the RCB. Yes youngsters have been a big part of Royals and Arsenal both but RCB have also been positively looking to give chances to more and more youngsters. Kohli himself developed his skills at RCB; Sarfaraz Khan was another kid who got a chance to show his skills this year. Arsenal has almost stubbornly been relying on home grown talent for years. They have a clear philosophy and developing young stars has been their key achievement. But in the last couple of years they have rectified their mistake by signing super stars like Ozil and Sanchez. Arsenal doesn’t usually depend solely on them but these stars are the key to their success and similarly for RCB, de Villiers, Gayle and Starc are equally crucial. Another key similarity between these teams is their league positions. Both are strong teams on paper and at the start of the season both are expected to fight for the title but somehow they both manage to finish poorly and yet in the top half. These are teams who have always managed to finish below expectations. 5. Rajasthan Royals – Southampton Rajasthan Royals 2015. (Photo Source: BCCI) Southampton. (© Getty Images) RR and the Saints are well known for their nurturing of youth players. Both have had an excellent history of producing great talents. For Southampton, Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain are perfect examples and for RR its Faulkner, Samson and Rahane. Admittedly Rahane was already a budding star but RR is known to give a well deserved chance to such aspiring and talented players. These clubs have made strong and dedicated efforts in developing youth and have been rewarded handsomely. For the Saints this season has been brilliant and for RR their young guns have almost always fired if not so regularly. It was RR who won the first IPL season against all odds and expectations. Southampton may not be able to achieve that one feat but these teams are more similar than they look like. 6. Sunrisers Hyderabad – Tottenham Hotspur SRH 2015. (Photo Source: BCCI) Tottenham Hotspur. (© Getty Images) SRH has been always flirting with the Top 4 much like Spurs have been for the last couple of years. But they have just fallen short of that magical finish. For SRH, Warner has been the sole fighter for the last two seasons who has performed brilliantly and couple of other players who have performed well intermittently. It’s a stark reminder of the season Spurs had when Bale was in his last season in England. Seems like Warner may also like Bale, want to go to a more successful team in the near future. Both teams have got great talent in their lineups but somehow always manage to underperform when it matters the most. 7. Delhi Daredevils – Everton Delhi Daredevils 2015. (Photo Source: BCCI) Everton. (© Getty Images) This might not necessarily be the happiest thing for DD as Everton always flirts with danger and finishes safely in the mid table but never really challenges the established order in the table. DD have consistently failed to knock on the doors of the top 4 and always been struggling in the IPL. Everton have also similarly been struggling and have always been an under achieving team in the EPL. DD tried to change their squad completely this season but the revamp didn’t get them much success. Mid table is where these teams live and thrive and that is what makes them incredibly similar. 8. Kings XI Punjab – Liverpool Kings XI Punjab 2015. (Photo Source: BCCI) Liverpool. (© Getty Images) Both teams have had similar campaigns n recent years. Both won the title a long time ago and both have been trying to re create those glory days. After a surprise title challenge last season from Liverpool, when they ultimately missed out and finished 2nd, they have this season struggled to even break into the Top 4. Similarly, KXIP had a fantastic last season and made it to the finals but have struggled since then and have had a miserable IPL 8. Another shocking resemblance in both teams is their dependence on one player. For Liverpool it was Suarez last season that scored so many goals that brought them close to a title and for KXIP it was Maxwell who destroyed opposition teams at will. After losing Suarez, Liverpool have suffered drastically and after losing Maxwell’s form KXIP have struggled similarly. Both these teams have decent players on board and with a couple of good signings they will surely want to challenge the champions next season.

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IPL teams and their EPL counterparts

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