Ajit Agarkar, the former Indian pacer reckons that Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians have emerged as the two best teams in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 so far. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals are placed at the top of the points table so far as both sides have 10 points from seven matches.
Table-toppers MI is ahead of 2nd placed DC in terms of better run rate while Royal Challengers Bangalore are at the third spot in the halfway mark of IPL with all teams playing 7 matches each. RCB defeated KKR by 82 runs in their 7th match to move to 3rd spot.
Ajit Agarkar: DC, MI & KKR Will Qualify Directly
Ajit Agarkar has said that in his opinion, Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians and 4th placed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will definitely qualify for the playoffs. According to him, 6th placed Rajasthan Royals will have to fight out with 5th placed SunRisers Hyderabad in IPL 2020 for the remaining slot.
Speaking on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’, Agarkar said: “It’s such a close tournament, so many ups and downs, but clearly Mumbai Indians & Delhi Capitals look like the two best teams – form-wise and personnel-wise. KKR, in my opinion, got a real bonus win against CSK.”
“They are my third team. The fourth team for me is between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. I had CSK at the start of the tournament, but at the moment, these two teams look slightly better than what CSK is playing.”
Ajit Agarkar mentioned that it would be a toss-up between Rajasthan and Hyderabad, but Bangalore changed some equations by beating CSK and KKR. Ajit Agarkar mentioned that CSK was favourite at the start, but failure in recent matches may not see them in playoffs which they have never failed to qualify.
Chennai Super Kings had a poor IPL with only 2 wins from 7 matches because they are the only team to qualify for playoffs every year. They lack batting depth in the middle order and quality death over specialist bowlers. Their team management and selection of players and captaincy of MS Dhoni is also baffling.
Graeme Swann: SRH Will Qualify With Jonny Bairstow In Form Along With RR Who Is Boosted By Ben Stokes Return
Former England spinner Graeme Swann said that according to his opinion, 5th placed SunRisers Hyderabad having opener Jonny Bairstow in red hot form with 6 points and 3 wins and 4 losses will definitely qualify for the playoffs of IPL 2020. Rajasthan Royals will also have a chance after the return of 2019 World Cup Man Of Match all-rounder Ben Stokes who didn’t play the first 6 matches.
Speaking on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’, Swann said: “I’m definitely going with Sunrisers Hyderabad cause Jonny Bairstow not only looks dapper with his ginger hair and the orange shirt, amazing, it shouldn’t go, but it does, but he’s also smashing it.”
“And my fourth team is going more with my heart than my head, Rajasthan Royals, Tewatia hit 5 sixes off that over and I fell for the Rajasthan Royals. They’ve lost all 3 games, they cannot get any worse. Ben Stokes is coming back. They are going to qualify.”
The David Warner-led SunRisers Hyderabad is currently at the fifth place owing to the IPL 2020 standings with six points from seven matches and will be seen in action later on 13th October against the 7th placed Chennai Super Kings (CSK). KXIP are the last-placed team with only 1 win in 7 matches.
