It has been a captivating week in IPL which saw lots of runs and big performances. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has been one of the best teams so far as they went quickly off the blocks although they lost their third match. This is a great sign for them with the new captain. I feel this is great succession planning from CSK. They tried it a couple of years ago, with Ravindra Jadeja. It did not work out. But they have planned this one better. They did not want to pick the new captain when Dhoni had left. I like the fact that they have a new captain with Dhoni out there in the middle for any help.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s captaincy career has started well. He is a class player who will hope his batting form is in good order as any leader will tell you that the job gets harder if your not looking after your own game.
Against DC, CSK could not get off to a good start in the chase and eventually, in the end, even MSD could not finish the innings off as there was just too much to ask in the end. But I will still be surprised if Chennai aren’t one of the sides who boss group stages.
They have many positives despite the loss to Delhi. Rachin Ravindra came in and done a terrific job straightaway. At the start of the season, the biggest worry for CSK was how they got off to a great start in the powerplay without Devon Conway but thanks to Rachin, the opening pair is still not a big headache for Chennai.
A couple of games at home have also helped CSK. Daryl Mitchell has done well since coming into the side. These early wins are very crucial. Remember that almost half of the side have different captains than last year and hence, it will take some time for these teams to start doing well, for the captains to settle down in their roles. In this scenario, early wins are a bonus when teams are still looking to find their best combinations.
Like CSK, Rajasthan Royals have started well too. I think RR are blessed to have some of the best thinkers of the game, including head coach Kumar Sangakkara, R Ashwin, international T20 captain in form of Jos Buttler. The flip side of this plus is that you sometimes begin to overthink and overcomplicate things. They tried Ashwin at number 5 against DC, a move which worked somewhat. But it could have also gone the other way.
RR are a side who are not afraid to try different things which is why they are so watchable. They have got a couple of wins, which is a good start.
RR also have one of the best opening pairs in IPL in Yashasvi Jaiswal and Buttler. They have not fired yet, which has given the middle-order a bit of time in the middle. The top order might not have got off to fliers, and they will hope they do at some stage, but RR should be happy to see the middle-order doing well with the likes of Riyan Parag finally realising their full potential in the IPL.
Kolkata Knight Riders registered a brilliant win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday night. Phil Salt is a very good player at the top for them. I have seen a lot of him in the UK. He is
extremely comfortable in the role of an opener. He is fearless and does not play for milestones. If he is on 49, he is ready to hit the next ball for six, not caring about the scoreboard.
I also like how Andre Russell has made a real impact with the ball. He has not had the same impact with the ball in the past few years. Russell, the bowler, is a huge plus for KKR if he can continue to deliver the goods. He looks more confident this year, playing good T20 cricket in the lead up to the IPL.
Getting runs against RCB will do a lot of good to Shreyas Iyer’s confidence as captain. KKR look to be in good order.
Delhi Capitals have finally won a match which after losing two which will do wonders to their confidence as they beat a champion team like CSK. They had lost both of their matches but came back strongly to beat Ruturaj and co.
DC’s top order had got starts before this game but failed to convert them. I have always felt that DC’s top order is very dangerous, but they were still trying to find the right combinations. Finally, they got the opening combination right with Prithvi Shaw and David Warner scoring at the top while captain Rishabh Pant also came among the runs. It looks like DC are trying a flexible top order to try and ensure left-hand, right-hand combinations are at the crease.
SRH have been outstanding as a batting lineup. The league has just started, and they have two double-hundred team scores already. Heinrich Klaasen is a player I love watching. Particularly against spin, he is an outrageous hitter of the ball. They lost to GT on Sunday night but SRH remain a dangerous side, capable of making a run in the early part of the competition at any time.
Punjab Kings, like I said in my preview, are a side to keep an eye on. They are an entertaining side. I feel Shikhar Dhawan is very crucial in Punjab setting the tone of the innings. They will be happy to see him score runs in the last match, but Punjab need someone who plays power game around him to elevate the innings. I am hoping Rahul Chahar’s form improves although Sam Curran and Arshdeep are impressive at the top and tail of the innings.
When it comes to Gujarat Titans, I feel they are restructuring a little under a new captain in Shubman Gill. The all-round talent of Hardik Pandya will be a tough one for them to cover. But I feel GT have done well to sign all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, who has great potential to become a new star from Afghanistan in IPL.
Then there is Spencer Johnson and Rashid Khan in the side who tick off the bucket list while making a strong T20 team. When you look at making a top T20 side, you need to have extreme pace and mystery spin. Johnson and Rashid provide that together, which is a good sign for GT moving forward.
GT will carry a lot of confidence forward after the win over SRH. With Hardik not there anymore in the middle order, David Miller is batting in a more elevated position. His experience and calmness under pressure will play a key role if GT are to dominate the group stages.
RCB had a tough start to the season, losing to CSK. As I said in my previous article, they were going to face trouble, facing the spinners at Chepauk. But it was fantastic to see Dinesh Karthik getting them past the finish mark in the next match. They lost to KKR again and are in dire need
of consistency. But great signs for Virat Kohli as he is scoring runs at the top of the order. It is only a matter of time before Faf du Plessis finds his feet.
One of the challenges for RCB is how they use Cam Green. They used him at No 3 vs KKR while he has also been used down the order. It looks like they are using him as per the situation. If the wicket falls early, he comes in at No 3 to face more of pace. But it will be interesting to see how they use him over a period. If I may, I would rather use him at the top of the order than send him in at 5 or 6. His batting style and strengths can create more impact top of the order. Andy Flower is an excellent coach, and I am sure he will find the best use of Green in games ahead.
Mumbai Indians are starting slowly which is something they have done historically. Great signs for them in Jasprit Bumrah. He is still coming into bowl as first-change. We have seen so far how the opposition are getting off to fliers in the powerplay and I still feel he should bowl with the brand-new ball. He will probably have more impact right at the start. MI see it differently. I like the fact that Hardik has taken responsibility with the new ball. How they use him as a batter will be interesting. When Suryakumar Yadav comes back, it will be a challenging task for them to get the batting order right. They have got so many players who are destructive.
Tilak Varma has started well. He is the sort of player who holds the innings together and his good run is important for MI.
Coming to LSG, it was a huge win for them against Punjab Kings the other night. I maintain my stand that LSG must make Nicholas Pooran bat higher up the order. I think he came in bat in the 8th over in the first game, forced by quick fall of wickets. He played another crucial innings coming into game with the bat in time to make substantial contribution. I still feel he can have more impact in the game early on than finishing the innings. And hopefully that innings vs RR, when he came in to bat early right after the powerplay, sends a message to LSG and persuades them that Pooran can bat at the top of the order.
Quinton de Kock got himself a well-deserved fifty too, which shows encouraging signs for him as well as Lucknow. Having said that, LSG’s big concerns lie in the potency of spin attack. But good was Mayank Yadav was. He bowled at an eye-catching pace. It will be fascinating to follow his performances in the next few matches.