It is IPL time again. The sixth edition has a new title sponsor in Pepsi and promises thrills aplenty.
Defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils will open the battle for supremacy at the Eden Gardens and the historic venue will also bring the curtains down on the extravaganza on May 26.
With the nine franchises wearing a settled look, it will be interesting to see which player will turn out to be a game-changer for his side.
Leading the charge of two-time champion Chennai Super Kings is its captain cool M.S. Dhoni. His rescue acts, as spectacular as his helicopter shots, are legendary. The team has also sharpened its bowling attack by adding T20 specialist Dirk Nannes. Player-turned-coach Stephen Fleming will again be masterminding the team’s success.
Reigning champion Knight Riders’ wily West Indian Sunil Narine, with 24 wickets in his first season, is the one to watch out for. Adding solidity to the middle-order is South Africa’s leading all-rounder Jacques Kallis, a man who is capable of delivering in any situation. Captain Gautam Gambhir and coach Trevor Bayliss are the driving forces behind the team.
The previous two years’ Orange Cap winner Chris Gayle is Royal Challengers Bangalore’s one-man army. Muthiah Muralidharan, at 40, still bowls unplayable stuff. Virat Kohli, leading the franchise for the first time, will be backed by coach Ray Jennings.
Fierce competitors
Among the Mumbai Indians, Glen Maxwell — acquired at a high price — is set to explode in his first season. Lasith Malinga is still a serious threat with his toe-crunching yorkers. Ricky Ponting comes in to lead the side and John Wright will lend his experience as coach.
India under-19 World Cup winning captain Unmukt Chand will be a treat to watch in the top order of Daredevils. The highest wicket-taker last season, Morne Morkel, can be a handful to any team with his pace and bounce. Mahela Jayawardene will lead the side with Eric Simons as coach.
The no. 1 bowler in contemporary cricket, Dale Steyn, can be discerning with his pace and movement for new franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad. Consistent Shikhar Dhawan can put any attack to sword. Vastly-experienced Kumar Sangakkara will lead from the front and Tom Moody will be the coach.
There can never be a better sight than watching Yuvraj Singh batting in full flow. Forced to miss the last edition owing to illness, the talented left-hander will be the one to guide the destiny of Pune Warriors India. With Allan Donald upgraded to head coach and Sri Lankan Angelo Mathews brought in to captain the side, a young Aussie, Steve Smith, could be the impact player for PWI.
A team that is teeming with a number of bits and pieces players, Kings XI Punjab all-rounders David Hussey and Azhar Mehmood could be the trump cards in the scheme of things planned by skipper Adam Gilchrist and coach Darren Lehmann.
And finally, the inaugural edition winner, Rajasthan Royals, skippered by the erstwhile wall of the Indian team, Rahul Dravid, in conjunction with head coach Paddy Upton, will be pleased to have Aussie big-hitter Shane Watson available for the entire duration of the league. The return of Trinidadian Kevon Cooper will bolster the team’s bowling department. The West Indian made a terrific impact before an injury sidelined him last season.