Five-time IPL winners, the Mumbai Indians, have been installed as the favourites to retain their crown this year as online bookmakers are offering 5/2 on them to make it six titles in nine years.
The Indians are involved in Friday’s curtain-raiser against Royal Challengers Bangalore, who themselves are third in the outright winner market at 6/1.
Yet to win the IPL despite three final appearances, the Challengers, captained by Virat Kohli, are respected in the betting markets, with Kohli listed as the favourite to earn top batsman honours at 7/1.
But Mumbai remain the team to beat, and they are 4/7 to kickstart their campaign with a victory. If those odds are too short for you, better value can be found across all of the IPL markets when claiming betting offers through online bookies.
Day two of the tournament sees the second-favourites, Delhi Capitals, take on the 8/1 shot, Chennai Super Kings. Both teams have been runners-up in the last two seasons, and it’s the Capitals who are fancied at 8/11 to get off to the perfect start.
Delhi are 9/2 with most betting sites to win their first title, and with Steve Smith now an option in the batting lineup, the Capitals look well equipped to mount a serious challenge.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad are 13/2 to win the IPL for the second time, while the Kolkata Knight Riders are priced at 7/1. The teams face off on Sunday and the bookies can hardly split them.
At the bottom of the market are the Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, both of whom can be backed at double-figure prices.
As far as the top batsman market is concerned, Kohli is closely followed in the betting by Lokesh Rahul (last year’s winner), David Warner, and Rohit Sharma. They are all between 7/1 and 9/1 generally, though some bigger prices can be found.
Capitals fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was the top wicket taker last year with 30, and the Indians’ Jasprit Bumrah was just behind him with 27. The pair are joint-favourites to take the most wickets this term at 8/1 apiece.
Bet365 are offering a market on the player to hit the most sixes, and it is Chris Gayle and Ishan Kishan who lead the way at 11/2 each.
Another special unique market is on offer courtesy of Betfred, who allow you to bet on whether or not there will be a hat-trick throughout the tournament. Yes is priced at 1/4, and no is at 11/4.
You can bet on which team will finish bottom of the league, and it is essentially the reverse of the outright winner market in terms of the position of each team.
The best price on Kings XI Punjab ending up at the bottom of the pile is 4/1, while the Mumbai Indians are as big as 25/1 to finish eighth out of eight.
