With the auction complete and squad lists decided, another big-hitting IPL season draws ever closer.
The biggest domestic competition in the world begins on March 29 as eight franchises comprising the best talent on the planet come together for 57 days of must-watch cricket.
But which team will come out on top? Who will score the most runs? Which player will take the most wickets? And who will step forward as the MVP?
Here are five alternative tips to consider when betting on the IPL.
Winner
When weighing up the winner of IPL 13, the narrative centers on whether defending champions Mumbai Indians will win their fifth title or if Chennai Super Kings can equal MI in lifting the trophy a fourth time.
But priced at 7/1 (Betway), are the Kolkata Knight Riders being overlooked? The two-time champs have reacted boldly to missing out on last year’s playoffs, making Australian pacer Pat Cummins the most expensive foreign buy in IPL history. If this isn’t a sign of how KKR intend to go about their business this season then we’re stumped!
Captain Dinesh Karthik is now armed with a bowling attack that will help to address the shortcomings of 2019. What’s more, the other end has been boosted with England’s World Cup-winning captain, Eoin Morgan, adding experience and undoubted skill to the ranks. All that without mentioning last year’s MVP, Andre Russell!
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Orange Cap
David Warner has taken home the award for the tournament’s leading run-scorer in three of the last five years. His 1,201 run summer across all formats means the powerful and aggressive Australian is understandably the favorite to do so again this year.
There are, though, other batsmen capable of matching Warner, Virat Kohli being one. ‘The run machine’ and RCB captain still holds the record for the most runs scored in a single IPL season (973) and remains the highest run-scorer in IPL history with 5,412. There’s a reason he’s the highest-paid player in the league you know!
Should Kohli combine the consistency he is known for with a strong motivation to improve on Bangalore’s abysmal bottom place showing in 2019, a second Orange Cap of a distinguished career won’t be too far off.
Purple Cap
The 2019 World Cup wreaked havoc on the plans of many teams last year. None more so than Delhi Capitals who had to cope without South African speed merchant, Kagiso Rabada.
No mid-season departure this time around, however. The fast bowler will lead Shreyas Iyer’s attack for the duration and without a doubt feature among the leading wicket-takers come the tournament’s end.
For obvious reasons, Pat Cummins and Jofra Archer will be fancied to be donning the Purple Cap. But should 24-year-old Rabada remain injury-free – and keep his celebrations in check – they’ll be little stopping Delhi’s paceman becoming one of the stars of the show in 2020.
Maximum Sixes
An Englishman has yet to win this award but Jos Buttler is a more than worthy punt to break that record.
The Rajasthan Royals opener was another player lost to World Cup preparations last year playing only eight games. Yet the wicketkeeper-batsman has been instrumental in changing the playing style of the franchise in recent times and has the shots in his locker to cope with conditions of all types.
Buttler, along with Ben Stokes and Steve Smith, will make up a thunderous trio of big hitters the Royals will look to rely upon to re-establish themselves as playoff contenders.
MVP
The hardest award to call is the competition’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and this year will be no different.
Recently announced ICC Cricketer Ben Stokes and last year’s MVP, Andre Russell are firm favorites. But a player who is known to thrive under pressure is new South Africa ODI captain Quinton de Kock.
Even with increased competition for places, de Kock is still expected to open at the top of the order for Mumbai Indians, who are destined to go deep in the tournament.
If, as expected, they do, de Kock will be central to their success.
