The Indian Premier League after having a successful start to its 2021 edition took a big hit when the coronavirus breached the bio-bubble of the tournament, leading to its indefinite suspension. But much the joy of the fans and the players who were left equally dejected after the decision of halting the tournament came by, there have been talks of playing the remainder of the tournament in England, which could make or break the game for many franchises. So, here’s a look at the 4 franchises who are the favorites to win the trophy If IPL 2021 held in England
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore
The Royal Challengers Bangalore looked right on point during the portion of IPL 2021 that was played before the suspension of the league. The team found a new bowling talent in the form of Harshal Patel who took wickets for them in good numbers. To add to their joy was the fact that their biggest investment, Glenn Maxwell fired to his full potential.
With the talks of the rest of IPL 2021 being played in England gain traction, the Royal Challengers Bangalore look to be one of those teams who are right ahead in the race for being the favorites to win the tournament. They have their leader, Virat Kohli motivated to get a cup win under his name and would be spending time in England prior to the potential start of the England leg of IPL 2021, tilting things more in favor of RCB.
2. Chennai Super Kings
One of the most fabled franchises of the Indian Premier League, the Chennai Super Kings had a big slump of form to overcome coming into IPL 2021, and they delivered in the best way they could. The whole squad under the leadership of MS Dhoni came together and played the best cricket of their lives during their matches of IPL 2021.
The team’s top performers were Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, both of whom have had a good track record in England. While Curran is the local boy on the English soil, Jadeja has proven his abilities with both the bat and the ball in hand, as he was the top performer in the Dhoni-led Indian team that won the Champions Trophy 2013. And other factors like their solid bowling attack and opening pair, make their case even stronger and earns them a place in the list of the favorites for winning IPL 2021 if it is continued in England.
3. Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals proved that even after a huge blow in the form of a last-minute captain change, they could live up to the potential that they had in their younger players. Rishabh Pant, the team’s captain has been in good form on foreign soil off late and complimenting him and the other prime batsman of the team, Shikhar Dhawan who has shown time and again how much he loves batting on the English soil, would be DC’s bowling attack.
Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje, and Kagiso Rabada proved their abilities with the ball and would like to continue their in-form run in the much-awaited England leg of IPL 2021. And, adding to this would be the local think tank that they would have in the form of players like Sam Billings, Chris Woakes, and Tom Curran who would help the team devise strategies that would definitely make them the favorites to win IPL 2021, if the England leg of the tournament, much to the joy of the fans, becomes a reality.
4. Mumbai Indians
The most successful franchise in the history of the Indian Premier League, the Mumbai Indians may not have looked in the best of forms during the initial part of the Indian Premier League, but if the tournament is shifted over to England, they make a side that is sure to be considered the favorites to win IPL 2021. The side has in store, some of the best cricketing brains and talents on the face of the earth.
The list starts from their captain, Rohit Sharma, the team star batsmen, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Quinton de Kock, goes into the bowling department which has the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Nathan Coulter Nile, Adam Milne and Trent Boult in it. And, even in the all-rounder department, they have the Pandya brothers and Kieron Pollard to take care of the duties. While the team may not have done well as a unit, each of these players has the ability to win matches on foreign soil, and it would be really interesting to see how things pan out for the franchise if and when the IPL bandwagon moves to England.
