The 2019 Indian Premier League is just beginning to take shape but the Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals have put in some eye-catching displays.
The IPL can’t be won in April but teams who fall off the pace early on risk going into a self-destructive downward spiral no matter the quality of the players in the dressing room.
Monday 1 April
IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali (16:30)
IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali (16:30)
To Win Match
Kings XI Punjab 21/20
Tie 35/1
Delhi Capitals 82/100
Both sides come into the match on the back of wins albeit of a completely different nature.
The Capitals needed a bit of super over magic from Kagiso Rabada to see off the Knight Riders, while the Kings XI were dominant in running down the Mumbai Indians sub-par target.
The Kings XI haven’t really tested the quality of Sarfaraz Khan and Mandeep Singh because their top four have been on song. That top four each have something to prove in this IPL. Chris Gayle can’t have too many more IPL campaigns left in him, Lokesh Rahul has a reputation to restore, Mayank Agarwal will want to build his and David Miller defend his.
Delhi, meanwhile, are powered by the next generation of India stars in Shreyas Iyer and Prithvi Shaw at least as far as their form batsmen go.
Sandeep Lamichhane and Rabada have formed an excellent opening-bowling partnership and the young Proteas bowler has shown a great willingness to lead the Capitals attack.
The wicket in Mohali is a great one for batting and any team batting first should aim to crack the 200 mark if they want to give their bowlers a good chance.
Verdict: It’s tight but not super over tight. The Kings XI should shade it.
Tuesday 2 April
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur (16:30)
To Win Match
Rajasthan Royals 23/20
Tie 35/1
Royal Challengers Bangalore 72/100
The Royals have a chance to bury the ghosts of Ravichandran Ashwin’s Mankad of Jos Buttler but they face a Royal Challengers Bangalore side with a lot to prove.
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have done enough to suggest they could yet unleash fury on a bowling unit without actually pulling it off for RCB.
Royals’ Ajinkya Rahane has been criticised for eating up a few too many balls without pressing for the kind of acceleration needed when the surfaces are good. Sanju Samson got his second IPL ton earlier this season but he needs to be more consistent if he wants to join the India conversation in Twenty20 cricket.
The pitch in Jaipur can be tricky to get in on but batsmen who do can really punish the bowlers.
Verdict: The Royals are well placed to put RCB under pressure and get the result.
Wednesday 3 April
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (16:30)
To Win Match
Mumbai Indians 21/20
Tie 35/1
Chennai Super Kings 82/100
The Chennai Super Kings’ visit to the Wankhede to face the Mumbai Indians is one of the most anticipated in the IPL.
The match has a real derby feel to it and form can often go out of the window when these two class acts face each other.
Mumbai Indians star bowler Jasprit Bumrah may have got the better of Kohli but the Capitals’ Rishabh Pant got hold of him, making the prospect of Bumrah bowling at MS Dhoni an intriguing one.
Indians skipper Rohit Sharma needs to give his bowlers the hurry up after picking up and early over-rate fine. Rohit’s opening partnership with the Proteas’ Quinton de Kock has yet to really deliver on its promise.
CSK have shown that they are capable of winning ugly, and the Wankhede is one of those grounds that can sometimes produce a bit of a dud pitch. The Indians stand a better chance, though, in a high-scoring game.
Verdict: Mumbai Indians to bring CSK down to earth.
Thursday 4 April
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi (16:30)
To Win Match – prices to be added on release
Delhi Capitals
Tie 35/1
Sunrisers Hyderabad
The Capitals can’t dally in Punjab but their lengthy trip dwarfs in comparison to the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s long haul up from Southern India.
The Sunrisers will be a real test of whether or not the Capitals will be real contenders for the IPL crown in 2019.
The Orange army have been powered by a David Warner seemingly determined to impress with Australia’s World Cup squad currently being pondered.
If Pant can take control of games for the Capitals it will go a long way towards elevating the reputation of both the wicketkeeper-batsman and the franchise.
The pitch at the Feroz Shah Kotla has been just a little bit two-faced although it seems the ground staff are putting some effort into ensuring the runs flow more freely.
Verdict: Home ground advantage tips the scales in the Capitals’ favour.
Written by Jonhenry Wilson for Hollywoodbets.
