IPL 2021: Rating the batting line-up of all the teams ahead of the tournament

As per the recently concluded 2021 auction, once again all the IPL franchises are looking well-stacked and are exuberantly eager to kick start the 14th edition in April. Although the auction day did illustrate a bowler’s day out, there were actually some interesting buys done by few IPL teams to provide additional bolstering in their batting department.

Teams like KKR, RCB, and DC did grab some genuine overseas batters to fill up their voids. Whereas teams like MI and SRH were mainly up to fill in their backup bowling essentials. Overall with such a low shortfall, one can thus easily understand that there’s already an inflated supply of batters available for the teams at their disposal.

Here are the conclusive ratings regarding the batting line-up of all 8 franchises before IPL 2021:

8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – 7

Despite being a team much known for its robust bowling, the side had qualified for the playoffs in the last edition. But yet another year the squad does look heavily dependent on the likes of skipper David Warner and Manish Pandey. In their top three, the team can either pick Kane Williamson or Jonny Bairstow as an opener or at no three. Someone like a Wriddhiman Saha also looks like a viable option opening with David Warner.

From no.4, the team can actually try some new combinations depending upon their overseas picks. Someone like a Manish Pandey along with the likes of either Vijay Shankar or Kedar Jadhav will be seen occupying the fourth and the fifth position. With a certain lag of firepower, number six will be well fixed by Mitchell Marsh and most probably one might anticipate the left-hander Abhishek Sharma chipping in at no 7.

For the reserves, there’s already a veteran waiting in the form of Mohammad Nabi, who can very well grab any position starting from no 4. Also, youngsters like Priyam Garg and Abdul Samad can accommodate themselves in the lower middle-  order. All in all, one can immaculately say that the team does look a kind of one-dimensional and does lag some adequate firepower. But as we all know that with SRH, it’s always about bowling than batting.

7. Punjab Kings – 7.5

With a little revamp in their name, the management also did some exclusive shopping at the auction table. Although the team does have some of the most accomplished players of this format, in an actual sense, the team desperately requires a breakthrough season. For opening the batting, the Karnataka duo of skipper KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal will once again make the best fit along with the Universal Boss at number three.

For no 4, the side will have to elevate Nicholas Pooran which means he now surely will have to bat with a lot of responsibility. At five and six, there are some reasonable options like Mandeep Singh and Sarfaraz Khan but for number seven there’s already buzz about the newbie (Shahrukh Khan) occupying the position. The team can also explore with someone like Deepak Hooda who actually used to carry a reputation as a lower middle-order specialist.

For backups, the team has also acquired the world’s no.1 T20I batsman (Dawid Malan) who mainly looks like a potential replacement of Chris Gayle. There are also some all-around abilities of Moises Henriques available who could be positioned mainly in the top five. Overall, the squad does look a little exposed in terms of their lower middle-order but can become a lethal force if the top order starts blazing runs and sixes.

6. Rajasthan Royals – 7.5

With a new skipper on board, the RR camp will surely be looking for a certain revamp in the upcoming season. By adding Chris Morris, there’s no second-guessing that he will be accompanying the likes of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, and Jofra Archer. Hence most probably the team selection will be revolving around these four overseas stallions.

For opening the batting, the squad can choose someone like Manan Vohra or Yashasvi Jaiswal partnering with Jos Buttler. At no 3, skipper Samson can then chip in along with Stokes at four. For no.5, 6, and 7 the trio of Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia and Shivam Dube can all be interchanged based on the match situation. Also with Morris at no.8 along with Jofra Archer at nine does mean that side has some prolonged batting.

In the reserves, the side also has someone like David Miller who can simply accommodate any position starting from no.4. Even the overseas option of Liam Livingstone does look pleasant service as he can very well replace Stokes or Buttler because of their unavailability at the fag end. Overall, the RR batting line-up does look like a settled unit but once their England players depart, the side might fall short of firepower.

5. Royal Challengers Bangalore – 8

Similar to the Delhi camp even the RCB management has a lot of options available to explore right from top to bottom. But with an odd of lacking a strong Indian core, their batting mainly revolves under the presence of captain Kohli and ABD. Also, not to forget that since the arrival of Glenn Maxwell and Kyle Jamieson, it will be a no-brainer that the duo along with ABD become their regular overseas options. For opening the innings, the RCB camp can either partner the young Mohammed Azharuddeen with Devdutt Padikkal or can infuse someone like Josh Philippe who currently had a robust BBL as an opener.

Number three and four have been shut by skipper Kohli and ABD since 2013 and the fifth position is likely to be grabbed by Glenn Maxwell. For no.6, the team can prefer having the veteran Dan Christian followed by Washington Sundar at seven. Although after Maxwell the batting might look bleak but not to forget even someone like Kyle Jamieson can notch some crucial runs down the order.

In terms of backups, the team does has someone like Sachin Baby who can bat at any number in the top seven. Even someone like Harshal Patel, who’s a handy bowling all-rounder, can chip in with some runs. All in all, with the infusion of Glenn Maxwell, the batting order does look solid but the uncertainty of this team will still hound the RCB fans.

4. Delhi Capitals – 8

Being a franchise that has now made it back to back into the playoffs, the Delhi camp, this time, will be looking to lift their first IPL title. Although there is a lot of variety available at least on paper, the side does look to have some front-line batters overlapping certain batting positions. Also, because of their strategy of two overseas pacers, the playing XI can then only accommodate two overseas batters in their top seven.

For opening the batting yet again there will be a dilemma of whom to partner with Shikhar Dhawan, but with Prithivi Shaw currently being in a steadfast form, the management might be propelled to fit him ahead of Ajinkya Rahane. For no.3 either the class of Steve Smith or the flamboyance of Shimron Hetmyer can be fetched. Number 4, 5, and 6 earmark the team’s vital cog as it is mostly exerted by the likes of skipper Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant alongside the Aussie all-rounder Marcus Stoinis. For no.7, the team can either explore with someone like Chris Woakes or Axar Patel as well.

In terms of backups, the team genuinely enjoys having someone like Sam Billings who predominately can be well fitted in DC’s lower middle-order. All in all, a lot depends on who will be the preferred top two partnering Dhawan as the opening slot’s vagueness does accompany an underlying effect in the entire batting order.

3. Chennai Super Kings – 8.5

With a very disappointing show being condemned in the previous edition, the CSK fans would be expecting normalcy back from the yellow army. Batting was one of the core reasons which abstained them from qualifying in the top four and they were expected to rectify it with an immediate settlement. However, with the team being well renowned for its strong Indian core, the batting department does look adequately well equipped.

For opening the innings there’s already a buzz about young Ruturaj Gaikwad partnering with Faf Du Plessis. No.3 has been shut by Suresh Raina since 2008 and its subsequent number will be ferried by the eventful batting of Ambati Rayudu. Skipper MS Dhoni will be expected to bat at no.5 followed by R Jadeja at six. For the last spot, the management can either equip someone like Sam Curran who was mainly seen as a floater in the last season. On a spinning pitch, the team can also add someone like Moeen Ali or Mitchell Santner for no.7. Also not to forget that the newly-acquired Krishnappa Gowtham can also become a regular member of the lower middle-order.

For backups, the squad also has someone like N Jagadeesan who can be fitted anywhere in the top five. However, with captain Dhoni being well known for his enigmatic brain, the batting order might experience a dazzling look over. Overall, with a sea of available all-rounders, it will be interesting to watch their winning combination throughout the IPL.

2. Kolkata Knight Riders – 9

The KKR camp in their recent trade visit had done some further exclusive shopping just to add more resources in their batting department. The team with their new recruits now enjoys a realm of 11 front-line batters, who can propel the management to experiment with some unique permutations and combinations. For opening the batting, Shubman Gill’s presence does secure one spot whereas for the second opener the team can explore with someone Karun Nair or Rahul Tripathi.

At no.3 although one might be firmly expecting Nitish Rana, with Shakib Al Hasan’s presence, the team might get tempted to go with him. The crux of their action-packed batting does get formed at no 4, 5 & 6 as it mainly features the likes of Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik, and Andre Russell. At no.7, someone like Rinku Singh or just to further accommodate their bowling, Sunil Narine can be infused and sent early.

In terms of the backup covers, the squad is well equipped both at the top and even in the middle-order. For the opening slot, there’s already a Kiwi specialist, Tim Seifert, present along with Sheldon Jackson. In the middle-order, there’s a very valuable cover of Ben Cutting, who can seamlessly replace anyone carrying the dual skills. All in all, with a plethora of resources available, it will be a delight to see which playing XI thus becomes their winning combination.

1. Mumbai Indians – 9.5

Being the most successful team in IPL’s history, MI is once again on the top when it comes to their robust batting line-up. The team from top to bottom is immaculately well-balanced and also flaunts itself with some exquisite backups. For opening the innings, there’s already a well-established pair of skipper Rohit Sharma and Quinton De Kock, who both predominantly gave some rational starts to the team in the previous edition.

At no.3, there’s a very well-trusted product in the form of Suryakumar Yadav along with the husky presence of Ishan Kishan. From no.5, the middle-order then reaches its well-established core comprising of the Pandya brothers and the muscular Kieron Pollard. The above trio is logically used as a floater mainly depending on match situations. In other words, one can also call this an elusive luxury that mainly the MI camp enjoys in the IPL.

In terms of their backups, there’s already someone like Chris Lynn who can directly replace De Kock, as the South African will be expected to fly for his national responsibility against Pakistan. The team also has the likes of Aditya Tare, Saurabh Tiwary, and newly recruited Jimmy Neesham who can adequately replace their pros if required in the middle-order. All in all, the batting department of MI camp is a well-oiled machine that would be expected to have a vigorous run to fetch their sixth IPL glory.