The excitement for the 2024 Indian Premier League is mounting, as cricket fans and experts speculate about which team will take home the most lucrative prize in club cricket. 2024 promises to be a blockbuster year in the cricketing world, topped off by the sport's venture into the USA with the T20 World Cup later in the year. However, as of right now, it is the IPL that is front and center.
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| Photo by Ajay Parthasarathy on Unsplash |
The tournament gets underway on March 22nd as the reigning champion Chennai Super Kings host the Royal Challengers Bangalore in a heavyweight clash at the 38,000-capacity M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. Over the course of the next two months, 74 matches will be contested between the ten best teams on the subcontinent to determine the champion of 2024. With another promising season of top-notch cricket just around the corner, we decided to take a look at the four frontrunners for the trophy this year.
Chennai Super Kings
The curtain-raising Super Kngs head into their 2024 campaign as the reigning champions, and popular cricket odds have made them the +500 joint favorites for glory once again this term. As well as being the joint-favorites, they also share the record for winning the tournament the most throughout history, with five titles to their name. The most recent of those came last term as a quickfire 47 from Devon Conway halted the Gujarat Titans in their quest to win back-to-back titles.
Under the guidance of the iconic MS Dhoni, CSK has become known for its ability to perform in crucial matches. Despite their man man being 42 years of age, he remains a key figure in Chennai and the upcoming campaign will be his 16th IPL season, the most of any other player in history. In fact, he has featured in every Indian Premier League since the league's foundation back in 2008 and he remains a keyman.
However, he has plenty of support this term. The likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Faf du Plessis, and Deepak Chahar will be able to supplement their age-defying wicketkeeper's exploits and that could prove crucial when it comes to the defending of their crown. And that is without mentioning Conway, the man who brought the title back to Chennai for the second time in three years last time out.
Mumbai Indians
The team that the Super Kings share the tag of favorites and record champions with is the Mumbai Indians. They too are positioned as +500 contenders this term, something that may have been somewhat surprising a couple of years ago. Between 2017 and 2020, the team won three titles in four years including two on the spin in the latter two campaigns. However, they followed that up by finishing fifth in 2021 before finishing dead last in 2022, their worst-ever performance. Last term, they returned to prominence with a third-place finish, and they will be among to build on that this term.
Led by the talismanic Rohit Sharma, the team blends experienced veterans with exciting new talent, making for a dynamic and powerful squad. Key figures such as their skipper Hardik Pandya and pace bowling ace Jasprit Bumrah are pivotal to the team, with Suryakumar Yadav providing significant batting strength should the aforementioned Sharma misfire.
Having clinched five titles already, the Mumbai Indians’ track record is impressive. Over the years, the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Kieron Pollard were integral to the franchise's success. This time around, the aforementioned quadro is perhaps the strongest backbone of any team in the league. They will be hoping that they can combine to take their team one step further than the semifinals they reached last term.
Gujarat Titans
The Gujarat Titans, who made a remarkable entrance to the IPL by winning the title in their debut season, are considered serious contenders at odds of +600. Under the new leadership of Shubman Gill, last year's beaten finalists will be aiming to continue their recent impressive form. They have reached the Grand Final in each of the last two years and with their captain being one of the most in-form players on the face of the earth at present, they have a great chance of making it three straight this term.
The likes of Gill as well as Matthew Wade and David Miller are central to the Titans' ambitions, providing a well-rounded foundation upon which they can build. Their victory in their inaugural season has proven that they are not just participants but strong competitors for the championship.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
The Royal Challengers Bangalore, despite never winning the IPL, have always been considered a team to watch, thanks to their impressive lineup and odds of +750. The quest for their first title remains a captivating story each season. The team's success often hinges on the performances of stars like Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj. Although they have reached the finals three times without securing a win, RCB's aggressive playing style and potential for high scores keep their fans hopeful and engaged.
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