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I don’t know about most of you but at least I was bored with the ongoing IPL – Indian Premier League (not that the team I support – Royal Challengers Bangalore – isn’t doing great* except the last few games) Even though I’m a cricket fan, I though it was too much Cricket happening around and couldn’t catch up with every game. I even witnessed a match live between the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Royal Challengers Bangalore here in Hyderabad, but I wasn’t following other teams as much. However just as we were thinking the IPL is over, the contest has got to an interesting point. Just when we thought that this edition of the IPL was going to Sunrisers or Gujarat Lions, we have Delhi coming in great form along with Bangalore lately. So now we see a total of 6 teams contesting for the top 4 spots and we couldn’t have asked for anything more !
Sunrisers Hyderabad is arguably one of the best sides in the tournament thanks to the rock solid top order with the likes of Warner, Dhawan and Williamson and a strong bowling lineup with Nehra, Rahman, Bhuvaneshvar Kumar. This is a side that relies only on the pace department which is doing wonders for the team. They look extremely good to finish in the top 4.
Gujarat Lions is one of the children of the Chennai Super Kings with almost the half side playing for the new franchise. The team looks good with a power packed batting line up with the likes of Smith, Mc Cullum, Raina and others. The bowling department is doing great with Bravo being the key bowlers in the death overs. However this is an unpredictable side, so I’m not quite sure if they’ll make it to the top 4.
Delhi Daredevils are one of the most improved sides in this season of the IPL. They have improved vastly and why not ?All credits to the man behind the team – Rahul Dravid. We have seen him mentor several teams in the past too. The batting looks weak especially the middle order as not most of them haven’t fired – not consistently. The team has exceptional bowlers including the likes of Morris, Tahir, Mishra and the captain himself – Zak. Overall the team has great chances of making to the top 4.
Mumbai Indians, They have been the winners last time around, but I doubt whether they can hold on to it. The team hasn’t had a constant form in this edition as they have had mixed results. The side is balanced, but haven’t been going the 100% that they should be. They would be giving 100% but their performance doesn’t say so. Not sure if they will make to the top 4. In fact one from either Mumbai or Kolkata will make it to the top 4.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Aami Kolkata have won the IPL previously and are looking good this season too. Though they have lost few matches, the team has been playing good cricket with the batting and the bowling side doing good in tandem. Players like Gambhir, Pathan, Russell, Shakib, Narine hold the key. Barring few matches, the team has fared well this season and are likely to get to the top 4.
Royal Challengers Bangalore relies solely on its top order – one of the most imbalanced side this tournament I should say. The entire team relies on the top 4 players: Gayle, AB,Kohli and Watson to fire without which the team doesn’t look good to even chase a modest total. The bowling is very weak, except the likes of the slow bowlers like Chahal and Abdullah doing good in bits and pieces. Even though they have been doing exceedingly well in the past few matches, I’m doubtful that would reach the top 4.
So with 6 teams in the hunt for the top 4 spots,this years IPL has become even more interesting. My pick for the top four would be Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Lions, Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knightriders. The last spot can be taken by Mumbai Indians but the first three I’m quite sure. RCB can break into the top 4 IFF a miracle happens. So in the last leg of the tournament, the TRPs are set to rise. I do feel sad for Dhoni not making to the top 4 though.
So what are your picks for the top 4 in this year’s IPL ?Share your top 4 and lets see if you are quite there !
