3 minute read
The Indian Premier League table is well balanced with just over 20 games remaining in the regular season and just eight points separating top from bottom.
The top four earn a place in the end of season playoffs and currently all 10 franchises are in with a shot of claiming one of those berths.
Table toppers Gujarat Titans – the current defending champions – lead the way with eight wins from 11 matches so far in the tournament. They have won four of their last five contests and are led by potential Orange Cap (leading run scorer) contender Shubman Gill. The Indian batter has 469 runs in 11 innings, 42 behind the run scoring leader Faf Du Plessis (RCB, 511 runs in 10 matches)
They also have a pair of Purple Cap challengers (leading wicket taker) with Mohammad Shami (19 wickets) and Rashid Khan (19 wickets) both at the top of the standings with Tushar Deshpande (Chennai, 19 wickets). Gujarat Titans are 2/1 in the betting.
Deshpande and the Chennai Super Kings are second in the betting at 10/3. They have two batters in the competition's top seven run scorers – Devon Conway (458 runs) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (384). In addition, they have explosive talents such as Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jajeda. They also have Ben Stokes on their roster should he be fit for the run-in.
With the ball, Deshpande and Jadeja are both in the top eight in the wicket taker stakes, with Matheesha Pathirana and Ali not too far behind.
Those looking for a much bigger price could consider the Delhi Capitals (80/1). After losing their first five games, DC have returned with four wins from five and are the form team – with Gujarat. The bonus for Delhi is that they aren't reliant on a single bowler – Mitch Marsh with nine wickets leads the team with Kuldeep Yadav (8). Axar Patel (7). Anrich Nortje (7), Ishant Sharma (6), Khaleel Ahmed (6) and Mukesh Kumar (6) all chipping in.
Led by David Warner (330 runs) with the bat, they are again a team with no star, just solid contributors – Patel (246), Phil Salt (151), Manish Pandey (133) and Marsh (120) all hand with the willow. At 60/1, they are a huge gamble admittedly, but do not write them off.
Rajasthan Royals (4/1) are fifth in the betting despite losing four of their last five games. Ravichandran Ashwin (14 wickets) and Yuzvendra Chahal (17 wickets) are in purple cap contention with Yashasvi Jaiswal (477 runs) second in the Orange Cap stakes. With power in abundance including Orange Cap holder Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer, they are a dangerous entity heading into their last few games.
The remaining teams' odds for the tournament: Royal Challengers Bangalore (15/2), Lucknow Super Giants (17/2), Mumbai Indians (10/1), Kolkata Knight Riders (16/1), Punjab Kings (50/1) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (100/1).
The regular season ends on Sunday, May 21 with the playoffs scheduled to begin on Tuesday, May 23.
