IPL 2021 Predictions and Betting Tips

Three-time champions and last year’s runners-up, Chennai Super Kings, are among the favourites to win the 2020 IPL title.

CSK Team Information

MS Dhoni returns to the limelight as Chennai Super Kings’ captain, as they bid for a record-equalling fourth IPL title following a successful return to the tournament.

Banned for two years in 2016 and 2017 due to the involvement of their owners in the 2013 IPL Betting Case, Chennai have reached the final twice on their return.

Shane Watson batted them to victory in the 2018 Final, but they lost a thrilling match by one run to Mumbai Indians last time out. Chennai had finished second in the league table on both occasions.

Dhoni was their top runscorer last season, scoring 416 in 12 innings, while Watson and Faf du Plessis also made key contributions for the experienced Chennai team.

That experience also extends to their bowling attack, where 40-year-old Imran Tahir returns after taking 26 wickets last season to top the bowling charts.

CSK Squad changes

Despite an aging squad, Chennai Super Kings have been happy to largely keep things as they are. It means six players aged 35 or over in the CSK squad.

David Willey and Sam Billings have been released from last year’s squad, but Sam Curran and Josh Hazlewood arrive as new overseas players after Chennai spent big in the IPL auction. Curran and Hazlewood will miss the first two matches, however.

Their biggest buy was Piyush Chawla for Rs 6.75 crore and they also added R Sai Kishore as an extra spin bowling option too.

MS Dhoni will lead the team, despite his international career now being over.It remains to be seen if Suresh Raina will feature, however, after departing for personal reasons with suggestions he might still return. Harbhajan Singh has also withdrawn from the squad.

Summary

Chennai Super Kings have an extremely experienced squad, with key overseas quartet Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Bravo and Imran Tahir all 35 or older.

MS Dhoni is 38, though another veteran – 39-year-old Harbhajan Singh – has since dropped out.

New overseas signings Sam Curran and Josh Hazlewood will have their work cut out forcing their way into this Chennai Super Kings squad as a result.

But that is a testament to their strength in depth with both the bat and ball.

Away from the overseas players, Shardul Thakur has established himself as a likely T20 World Cup player for India recently and Deepak Chahar’s IPL record speaks for itself too.

It is easy to see how Chennai Super Kings have reached the final in each of the last two seasons and it would not be a great surprise if they managed it again.

Expert Prediction for CSK

Finalists

Chennai Super Kings have retained the experienced core of the their team and as long as they all live up to their reputations – and Imran Tahir’s recent form suggests he will at least – they are going to be among the top teams again.

Whether they have enough to claim the title remains to be seen, however – last year’s defeat could be replicated this time out.

Can CSK Win IPL 2020?

Chennai Super Kings are 6.00 to win the 2020 IPL – which would mean a record-equalling fourth title – with Bet365. The are 5.50 to win the title with Betway, which makes them joint-second-favourites.

Delhi Capitals have never reached the IPL final but go into the 2020 tournament looking to build on last season’s play-off place.

DC Team Information

Formerly known as the Delhi Daredevils, the franchise underwent some changes last season and, as the Delhi Capitals, reached the play-offs for the first time in seven years.

Coached by Ricky Ponting and captained by in-form Indian international Shreyas Iyer, the Capitals best finish is third place. They have never reached the final, but did finish top of the points table in the 2009 edition.

Bottom of the pile if 2018, they bounced back last year with some improved performances – Shikhar Dhawan’s return at the top of the order proving key as he hit 521 runs.

Rishabh Pant (488 runs) and Iyer (463) also placed in the top ten overall runscorers last season, while Kagiso Rabada proved an inspired signing as he took 25 wickets in 12 matches before succumbing to injury.

Dhawan, Pant, Iyer and Rabada all return for the 2020 season, but there have been a number of changes with some exciting, big-name signings announced for the new campaign.

DC Squad changes

Delhi have been busy in the build-up to the 2020 season, with their squad taking on a very new dimension even before this year’s IPL auction.

In the pre-auction trades, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane were acquired, while Sherfane Rutherford and Trent Boult were among those to make way.

Then, at the auction, having released nine players – including Colin Ingram, Colin Munro and Chris Morris – Delhi picked up some eye-catching overseas players.

English duo Jason Roy and Chris Woakes were both acquired, while Big Bash League star Marcus Stoinis joins up too, as do Alex Carey and ShimronHetmyer.Both Roy and Woakes have had to withdraw from the rescheduled tournament, however. In their place, Anrich Nortje and Daniel Sams have been signed up.

On the domestic front, the signings of Lalit Yadav, Tushar Deshpande and Mohit Sharma round off the new-look squad.

Summary

Delhi Capitals have never reached the IPL final, but they have taken a team which finished third last season and added plenty of quality to it.

Some are now not available – namely Jason Roy and Chris Woakes – and they will be without Marcus Stoinis and Alex Carey for their first matches. Still, Shikhar Dhawan’s return to fitness and the signing of Anrich Nortje compensate a little.

Add to that Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin – both traded in before the auction – and you can see the rise in overall quality of this team.

Kagiso Rabada managed 12 games last year before a back injury ruled him out, meanwhile – though he does not have a World Cup to manage his fitness for.

The new overseas signings also raises the question as to how everybody can be fitted in. Sandeep Lamichhane and ShimronHetmyer could be surplus to requirements early on – highlighting their strength in depth.

The Capitals have improved exponentially since last season, where their third place already highlight their capabilities.

They should be targeting a return to the play-offs at a bar minimum this season.

Expert Prediction for DC

Play-offs

Delhi Capitals have added quality to an already solid-looking team, which reached the play-offs last year.

At a minimum, the Capitals should be able to reach the play-offs again and a bit of luck at the right times – plus their big-name new signings hitting top form – can turn that into a first ever tilt at the title.

Can DC Win IPL 2020?

Delhi Capitals are 8.00 to win the 2020 IPL for the first time with Bet365, while Betway – presumably mindful of their new signings – have priced the Capitals at 7.00 to win the title.

Kings XI Punjab are one of the teams still searching for a first IPL title, despite having topped the league in 2014 and finished as runners-up. They have not reached the play-offs in any of the last five seasons.

KXIP Team Information

One of the least successful franchises in IPL history, Kings XI Punjab are still seeking their first ever Indian Premier League title.

Indeed, they have only reached the play-offs twice – finishing third in 2008 and as runners-up, after topping the table, in 2014.

In the five seasons since, they have finished bottom twice and were sixth last year and they go into this season having seen Ravichandran Ashwin depart.

They have no shortage of talent – KL Rahul was the top Indian run-scorer last year, with 593 runs, and arrives at this year’s tournament in excellent batting form.

Chris Gayle, meanwhile, returns aged 40 as he bids to add to the 490 runs he clocked last season too.He did not play in the Caribbean Premier League but has committed to the IPL.

Mohammed Shami leads the bowling attack, meanwhile, and took 19 wickets last season but a run of four straight defeats – before signing off with a win – ensured they missed out on a play-off spot on net run rate.

KXIP Squad changes

Kings XI Punjab have torn up the squad list from last season, having sold Ravichandran Ashwin to Delhi Capitals in a pre-auction trade.

Kings XI brought in Krishnappa Gowtham pre-auction, and then set to work spending their Rs 42.7 Crore purse on some big-name acquisitions.

Glenn Maxwell, fresh from captaining Melbourne Stars to the Big Bash League Final again, was their biggest acquisition – he previously helped KXIP to the 2014 final.

Chris Jordan and Sheldon Cottrell bolster the pace attack options, meanwhile, while James Neesham arrived for a bargain price of Rs 50 lakh.

Among their Indian acquisitions, teenager Ravi Bishnoi – who impressed at the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup – is among the more interesting new signings.

Summary

Kings XI Punjab lost form at the key time last season, with four consecutive defeats in games 10-13. They recovered to sign off with a win, but it was not enough to prevent them missing out on the play-offs on net run rate.

And they could end up coming up short this time too. For all their eye-catching acquisitions, their overseas contingent will only make up four of their starting XI.

Add KL Rahul and Mohammed Shami to the mix and there is obvious quality on show, but it does not run as deep as some of the other teams in action.

Rahul’s run-scoring form, and the performances Glenn Maxwell showcased in the Big Bash League, means there should be some good times ahead this season for the Mohali-based franchise.

But whether those good moments arrive often enough, and consistently enough, to earn anything other than yet another league-phase exit, remains to be seen.

Expert Prediction for KXIP

League Phase

Kings XI Punjab have strengthened impressively, with Glenn Maxwell a particularly eye-catching signing to join the likes of KL Rahul and Mohammed Shami in the squad. They seem to lack strength in depth, however – while their overseas contingent is strong, they can only play four at a time. Maxwell will be missed in the first couple of games.

Can KXIP Win IPL 2020?

Kings XI Punjab are ranked among the outsiders for the 2020 Indian Premier League, and the loss of Ravichandran Ashwin certainly does not help. They are now priced at 10.00 to win the title with Bet365 and a best price of 11.00 with Betway.

Kolkata Knight Riders are looking to get back on track after missing out on the play-offs for the first time in four years last season.

KKR Team Information

Two-time former winners and play-off regulars, Kolkata Knight Riders have a new coach in Brendon McCullum for the coming IPL season.

Still captained by Dinesh Karthik, they are looking to improve on a rare tournament in which they missed out on the play-offs last season – after finishing fifth on net run rate.

Champions in 2012 and 2014, they reached the play-offs in three consecutive seasons between 2016 and 2018.

This season, however, they have made some bold player decisions – including opting not to retain McCullum’s long-time opening partner, Chris Lynn.

They had plenty to spend in the IPL auction as a result, and they have gone big for the new season.

Kolkata Knight Riders have also retained last season’s star man too, with Andre Russell – who hit 510 runs at a strike rate of 204.81 and also took 11 wickets – set to be a key player once again as long as he stays fit.

As well as last season’s MVP in Russell, Kolkata Knight Riders also boasted the Emerging Player of the Season, Shubman Gill, and there is optimism ahead of their 2020 campaign as a result.

KKR Squad changes

Kolkata Knight Riders’ released list was one of the more eye-catching ahead of this season’s Indian Premier League.

Big-hitting Aussie opener Chris Lynn, West Indian Carlos Brathwaite and experienced Indian – and former vice-captain – Robin Uthappa were all released and KKR went big at the auction.

Pat Cummins cost Rs15.5 crore, but there was still plenty left in the purse for England captain Eoin Morgan and rising star Tom Banton.All three will arrive after the England vs Australia ODI series.

Other acquisitions include Varun Chakravarthy and Rahul Tripathi, though economical bowler Chris Green’s signing was marred by the fact he was slapped with a bowling ban shortly afterwards.

Manimaran Siddharth and Nikhil Nak were also acquired in the IPL auction, but a further signing – Pravin Tambe – was subsequently deemed unavailable after the 48-year-old veteran was drafted (but did not play) in the T10 League.Harry Gurney has also had to drop out due to a shoulder injury.

Summary

Kolkata Knight Riders are play-off regulars at the IPL and have spent big this season to ensure they get back there after missing out narrowly in 2019.

Chris Lynn’s departure has been countered by the signing of England captain Eoin Morgan and big-hitting Tom Banton, while Pat Cummins now heads up the bowling attack.If KKR can perform without that key duo in the first matches, they will be set up for a total onslaught when they all arrive in the UAE.

Those three join Andre Russell as a formidable overseas quartet and that is without considering the likes of Sunil Narine and Lockie Ferguson who could both play a part this season too.

In fact, Narine could be preferred to Banton as opener, and both will put pressure on the other to ensure only top performances will be rewarded with a regular place in the team.

Russell was the star of the show last season and deserved a shot at the title, but he arrives at the IPL fresh from T20 success in Bangladesh already this season.

Dre Russ could be the key man again, particularly if he fires as spectacularly as last season, but Kolkata will hope their new signings ease some of the pressure on the West Indian.

If they do, a play-off place should be the minimum KKR expect at the 2020 Indian Premier League.

Expert Prediction for KKR

Play-offs

Kolkata Knight Riders have a fiercely-strong, well-balanced team and, if they can keep the likes of Andre Russell fit and firing, they can seal a top-four place.

From there, the question is whether they can out-do the very best teams – but that is where they may come up short.

Can KKR Win IPL 2020?

Kolkata Knight Riders are 8.00 to win the 2020 IPL with both Bet365 and Betway, pricing them in the middle of the card with both.

Last year’s champions, Mumbai Indians, are favourites to defend their crown and win the IPL 2020 title.

MI Team Information

Captained by Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians secured a thrilling a one-run win in last year’s final to win the IPL title for the fourth time.

It was the same margin of victory by which they beat Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017 to win their previous title, while they were also victorious in 2013 and 2015.

Quinton de Kock was their top run-scorer last season, hitting 529 runs, while captain Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Hardik Pandya also passed 400 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah leads the bowling attack and took 19 wickets with an economy rate of just 6.63 runs per over last season.

They will be without all-time leading wicket-taker Lasith Malinga, however, who has withdrawn due to personal reasons – though James Pattinson is a big-name replacement.

MI Squad changes

The biggest news for Mumbai Indians at the IPL auction was the signing of Chris Lynn, with the big-hitting Australian set to join Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock at the top of the batting order.

Nathan Coulter-Nile also joins Mumbai Indians for this season, while Trent Boult and Sherfane Rutherford were traded in ahead of the auction.

Of the Indian players, Saurabh Tiwary re-joined Mumbai Indians in the auction, while Mohsin Khan, Prince Balwant Rai Singh and Digvijay Deshmukh were signed.

Mumbai Indians retained the core of their title-winning team, however – with the most notable released players including Evin Lewis, Yuvraj Singh and Alzarri Joseph.

Summary

Mumbai Indians have retained the core of last season’s title-winning team, packed with overseas experience and some of the cream of Indian talent.

Kieron Pollard and Quinton de Kock have international captaincy experience, while there is no shortage of big-hitting talent – particularly now Chris Lynn has arrived too.Lynn was below-par at the CPL but the same cannot be said of Pollard.

If both Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya recapture full match fitness and sharpness, Mumbai Indians will take some stopping again.

There is still strength in depth in this Mumbai Indians team if they do not recover, but there is no question they are both key to their hopes of success.

There is also the question of how they will fit their overseas stars in – the core of last year’s team included De Kock and Pollard and if both start, there are two places for Nathan Coulter-Nile, Trent Boult, James Pattinson and Chris Lynn to fight over. Lasith Malinga’s absence does free up one overseas spot, however.

Mumbai are the most successful team in IPL history and, while they have so far never successfully defended an IPL title, there is a first time for everything…

Expert Prediction for MI

Champions

Mumbai Indians could not be stopped last season and their additions this year will only strengthen an already strong line-up.

They have a brilliantly-balanced line-up with some huge hitters at the top of the order, some valuable all-rounders and then some of the stand-out bowlers in the tournament too.

Can MI Win IPL 2020?

Mumbai Indians are 5.00 favourites to win the IPL 2020 title with Bet365 and Betway. The defending champions have never won two consecutive IPL titles, but having retained the core of last season’s team, this could be the year.

Rajasthan Royals, winners of the inaugural Indian Premier League back in 2008, will be looking to bounce back after finishing seventh following a disappointing 2019 campaign.

RR Team Information

Back in the IPL after their two-year ban, Rajasthan Royals – who won the first ever IPL title – were fired to the play-offs by Jos Buttler in 2018.

His success was also their undoing, however, as it meant he earned an England recall and missed the play-offs, but the Royals could not reach those same heights last season and finished seventh.

Buttler and Ben Stokes return for 2020, but the Royals must do without both, as well as England team-mate Jofra Archer and their Australian captain Steve Smith, for the start of the tournament.

Captained by Smith when he returns, the Royals have otherwise undergone some big changes for 2020 – last season’s top runscorer, Ajinkya Rahane, was among 12 players released.

Some of those were re-signed – Jaydev Unadkat among them – but this is will be a Rajasthan Royals team with a very different look as they bid to bounce back this season.

RR Squad changes

Rajasthan Royals purchased more players in the IPL auction than any other team, having released 11 players and signed 11 players back up. That list does include Jaydev Unadkat and Oshane Thomas, however, who – after being released – were both re-acquired.

Robin Uthappa was their most expensive purchase at Rs 3 crore, while they also picked up some bargains – including adding strength in depth to their overseas quota.

David Miller cost just Rs 75 lakh, while Tom Curran and Andrew Tye were each Rs 1 crore. The issue will be coping without their English and Australian players for the first few matches.

Among the other interesting signings was Yashasvi Jaiswal – India’s star batsman at the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

He cost Rs 2.4 crore to prove his growing reputation and the 18-year-old could be a breakthrough star this season.

Kartik Tyagi and Akash Singh were also acquired on the back of their performances at the Under-19 World Cup, while Anuj Rawat and Anuruddha Joshi complete the list of incoming players.

Summary

Rajasthan’s biggest problems will come at the start of the tournament, when the England and Australia players are away, because when all return they have a strong line-up.

Jofra Archer looked set to miss the original tournament due to injury so the rescheduling has benefitted him and the biggest question mark now revolves around Ben Stokes’ availability.

Buttler’s hitting will be key, and the fact he hit a half-century in England’s win against South Africa to regain some form could be a timely boost for Rajasthan.

Buttler’s hitting will be key, and the fact he has really regained some form of late could be a timely boost for Rajasthan.

Stokes and Steve Smith are in fine form across all three formats too, and that overseas trio will be vital to Rajasthan’s hopes.

Their problem is a lack of domestic depth. Robin Uthappa arrives to add experience and Shreyas Gopal was in the wickets last season, but there is a lot of youth otherwise.

Yashasvi Jaiswal could prove a key signing given his form at the Under-19 World Cup – if not now, then certainly in the future.

The same applies to Akash Singh and Kartik Tyagi too, but as for the here and now, they are relying on players who have too often proved inconsistent.

Jaydev Unadkat is the classic example – initially released from his contract but resigned, he has signed for multiple franchises and often at big prices but his impact has been minimal too often.

All in all, Rajasthan have the star players to make a real impact on this tournament if they all fire together. If not, however, there could be too big a gap to make up to the top teams.

Expert Prediction for RR

League phase

Jos Buttler hit top form to lead Rajasthan to the play-offs two years ago, but they relied too heavily upon him. In Ben Stokes and Steve Smith they have two of the most in-form players in world cricket to back him, but beyond their overseas stars their strength in depth may be what costs them.

Can RR Win IPL 2020?

Rajasthan Royals to win the 2020 IPL

Rajasthan Royals are outsiders for the 2020 Indian Premier League. They can be backed at 10.00 to win the IPL title with both Bet365 and Betway.

Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore continue their search for a first IPL title and will be desperate to bounce back from finishing bottom for the second time in three years last season.

RCB Team Information

Captained by Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore have never really managed to live up to the expectations attached to boasting the national team’s most iconic current player.

Three times runners-up, they reached the play-offs on two further occasions too but the last three seasons have been fairly disastrous results-wise.

Bottom of the pile in 2017, they improved to sixth place in 2018 but again finished last in 2019.

This year, as a result, they have ripped up their overseas contingent and started again with the likes of Australia captain Aaron Finch now on board.

Kohli is their most iconic player, of course – one of only two to have hit 5,000 runs in IPL history, a feat he achieved last season as he scored 464 runs. AB de Villiers returns after scoring 442 last season, meanwhile.

With the ball, Yuzvendra Chahal took another 18 wickets last season to top the wicket-taking charts but it is perhaps telling that the next highest for the Challengers was Navdeep Saini on 11.

Nevertheless, with a new coach in Simon Katich – who replaced Gary Kirsten after his one year in charge ended so disappointingly – and some big new signings, there could be some improvement this year.

RCB Squad changes

Royal Challengers Bangalore released 11 players from last season’s squad, including six notable overseas players.

That freed up space and budget for an overhaul for this season and in have come some big-name players as a result.

Australia captain Aaron Finch is the most notable, while Chris Morris’ bowling form at the Big Bash highlights how good the South African all-rounder can be too.

Dale Steyn, Adam Zampa and Isuru Udana bolster the bowling options, meanwhile, and Josh Philippe is a big-hitting wicket-keeper-batsman who was also in good BBL form.

Shahbaz Ahmed and Pawan Deshpande also arrive, though that does leave RCB with the smallest squad in this year’s tournament.

Summary

Royal Challengers Bangalore have the smallest squad in this year’s IPL but they have replaced quantity with quality and Aaron Finch, Chris Morris and Dale Steyn could all be among the key acquisitions for this season.

Add that to the established quality already present – Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers being the obvious two, but also Indian internationals Yuzvendra Chahal, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar and Navdeep Saini too – and you have a very strong XI on paper.

Chahal, Dube, Sundar and Saini are auditioning to cement their place in India’s T20 World Cup plans so this is an important tournament for all four of them – and that could play in the Royal Challengers’ favour.

They also have an abundance of strength in depth when it comes to their overseas stars. The starting XI above, for example, does not include Moeen Ali or Adam Zampa, while Josh Philippe’s BBL form shows what he can do if called upon too.

It means they are not reliant on their veteran South Africans in Steyn and De Villiers playing every game – if there are any injury doubts, there are ready-made replacements.

Finch’s late arrival will be big too – his big-hitting ability is known the world over and he was in fine form in the Bash League earlier in the year too.

If he and De Villiers can set the tempo at the order, backed by Kohli, on their batting-friendly home wicket, they can expect a much better season than last time out.

The key question is whether they can break the top four and a lot will depend on how their starting XI fares given they have a small squad.

Whatever happens, however, it is reasonable to expect a vast improvement on their last-placed finish in 2019.

Expert Prediction for RCB

League phase

Royal Challengers Bangalore have added real quality this year, and on paper they have a very strong-looking best XI.

The key will be consistent performances and it would not be a surprise to see them challenging for the play-offs until the final match-day. Unfortunately, recent history suggests they may just fall short, however.

Can RCB Win IPL 2020?

Royal Challengers Bangalore, after their miserable season in 2019 and subsequent changes for this year’s edition, are priced at 8.00 with Bet365 and Betway to win the 2020 Indian Premier League.

Sunrisers Hyderabad, the 2016 champions and 2018 runners-up, will be looking to reach the IPL play-offs for a fifth consecutive season.

SRH Team Information

The youngest of the eight current IPL franchises, Sunrisers Hyderabad have enjoyed a successful time in the tournament since their 2013 debut.

Winners in 2016 and runners-up two years ago, they have been play-off regulars in recent years and are looking for a fifth consecutive top-four finish.

Last season, they were powered by the tournament’s top run-scorer, David Warner, who thumped eight half-centuries and one hundred on his way to 692 runs in total.

He and Jonny Bairstow, who scored 445 runs in ten innings, formed a formidable partnership at the top of the order as they ensured the team did not miss injured Kane Williamson.

Williamson – the key man in their run to the final the previous year – was injured at the start of last season’s tournament and then could not force his way in afterwards, but all three overseas stars will be key again this year.

Williamson has been named as captain again, of a team that retained the bulk of last season’s squad.

That also includes last season’s two top bowlers – Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan (17 in 15 games) and Indian paceman Khaleel Ahmed, who took 19 wickets in just nine matches.

Suspended Shakib-al-Hasan is the main absentee this year, but with 18 players on their retained list it was a quiet auction for the Sunrisers.

SRH Squad changes

Content with last season’s squad, Sunrisers Hyderabad retained 18 of last season’s players, with only five players released. Those five were Deepak Hooda, Martin Guptill, Ricky Bhui, Yusuf Pathan and suspended Shakib-al-Hasan.

In their place, they filled their seven available slots but only one of their incoming players has played IPL matches before – Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh.

Fabian Allen is their other incoming overseas player, while their domestic signings included India Under-19 captain Priyam Garg – fresh from leading them to the World Cup final.

Virat Singh, Bavanka Sandeep, Abdul Samad and Sanjay Yadav were also signed.

Summary

David Warner’s suspension in 2018 and Kane Williamson’s injury last season meant there was less selection pressure on the Sunrisers Hyderabad selectors.

Now, however, they must make a choice – it would be brave to leave out any of Warner, Williamson or Jonny Bairstow, but it does mean it could be difficult getting a good balance to the team.

Mohammad Nabi misses out this way, as does new signing Mitchell Marsh – both useful all-roundersand likely to be key players in their own right if they do feature.

Sunrisers have kept the core of the team that has reached the play-offs in the last two seasons but the big question is whether they can sustain that challenge this year.

If Warner or Williamson deliver the runs they have in previous years – ensuring Sunrisers have boasted the Orange Cap winner three seasons in a row – they certainly can.

But the big issue is their squad strength beyond those star players. Manish Pandey is playing for his T20 World Cup place, and will hope for big runs, while Khaleel Ahmed was in good wicket-taking form last season.

There is also Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has been plagued by injuries in the past year and will be desperate for some light at the end of the tunnel in that regard.

He is another who will ensure he is in T20 World Cup contention with a big IPL – making up for the time lost to injuries lately.

After four consecutive play-off places, however, could it be that Sunrisers Hyderabad have stood still too much while other teams have strengthened?

If their key players hit top form and their batsmen deliver again, they will be challenging the top four – but there are plenty of teams who missed out last season, who could pip them on their day.

Expert Prediction for SRH

League phase

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s quality has showed in recent years, with David Warner and Kane Williamson scoring key runs to lead them to the play-offs. But they have not changed much this season and if their key players do not deliver, this could be the end to their play-off streak.

Can SRH Win IPL 2020?

Sunrisers Hyderabad are among the favourites to win the 2020 Indian Premier League. They can be backed at 5.00 to win with Bet365 and 5.50 with Betway.