IPL 2018 guide: Team-by-team analysis ahead of the new season

We take a look at each team’s chances and the business they’ve done ahead of the big kick-off

The new IPL season is upon us (@ChennaiIPL / Twitter)

With IPL XI now almost upon us, the 578 payday hopefuls have been whittled down to the chosen few via this year’s ground breaking IPL auction.

The mass jettisoning of players set to take place after the competition’s tenth edition prompted an inevitable backlash from team owners desperate to keep hold of their big telent. Each team, as a result, has been allowed to retain three players.

Strong local talent, depth in key departments and an experienced senior playing group go a long way historically in the IPL, and the contract cycle change will likely highlight the teams who can gel their playing group together quickly.

We take a look at each team’s chances and the business they’ve done, in The Independent’s IPL 2018 preview.

Chennai Super Kings

The prodigal son returns (well, one of two). CSK are back following two years on the betting scandal ‘naughty step’, with Stephen Fleming the man tasked with ensuring their return is a fruitful one. Historically, the Super Kings have been perennially strong. The experience in their line up bodes particularly well for CSK fans, with MS Dhoni leading a side that includes Suresh Raina, Ravi Jadeja and Faf Du Plessis as well as Harbhajan Singh, who returns from Mumbai Indians. IPL and global T20 experience is a base they have covered, with the dynamism of Sam Billings and South African quick Lungisani Ngidi adding a new dimension. South Africa’s leg spinner Imran Tahir will be looking for another big year, with exuberant celebrations a likely side effect.

Tournament Chances: There or there abouts. Team Rating = 7/10

Player to watch: Lungisani Ngidi – Right Arm Bullets from roughly 9ft.

CSK will always have a puncher's chance with Dhoni at the helm (Getty)

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Last year was one to forget, which is easier to do when you’ve got a fresh crop of talent to choose from. Coach Daniel Vettori will be desperate to foster some success after the 2017 season saw their big batting canons misfire repeatedly on a home pitch which lost its usual flatness. Three time finalists, they’ll be looking for a better showing from messrs Kohli, De Villiers and McCullum this time round. Pawan Negi stood out in a poor 2017 campaign, with his darting left arm spin a real asset. The key will be whether Vetorri can keep a more settled line up and get his big guns firing. In Chris Woakes and Corey Anderson, they have two more match winners capable of coping with extreme pressure.

Tournament Chances: Middling, based on history. Team Rating = 6/10

Player to watch: Partiv Patel – not a shirt seller, but 8^th in last year’s batting list.

Delhi Daredevils

Daredevils coach Ricky Ponting, a man who openly admits he didn’t take T20 overly seriously as a player, has become a sought after commodity as a short format coach. Cricket Australia want him, Mumbai Indians won with him, and he takes on the coaching ‘poison chalice’ at Delhi. One of the more versatile teams, all-rounders such as Chris Morris and Dan Christian provide excellent support for the more explosive Jason Roy and Colin Munro. Glenn Maxwell will undoubtedly insist on not wearing a helmet, smiting as he goes. With the ball, Delhi have real class. Kagiso Rabada adds genuine pace to an attack boasting Mohammed Shami, Trent Boult and Amit Mishra. Leg spinner Mishra will be looking to improve on his 2017 showing.

Tournament Chances: Ponting factor aside, nothing more than ok. Team Rating = 6.5/10

Player to watch: Kagiso Rabada – just 6 games last year, and in some form.

Ponting could help Delhi make a few headlines (Getty)

Mumbai Indians

Last year’s winners have recruited well this year. Rohit Sharma has been retained, and they are blessed with depth in key areas. Pat Cummins is a class act, but this will be a test of his reserves after intense workloads against England and South Africa this winter. That depth could indeed prove vital. Jasprit Bumrah is a top addition with 20 wickets at 7.35 an over last year, his quirky action belying serious pace. Most importantly, they have players coming in with form. Evin Lewis scored well in the World Cup Qualifiers, whilst JP Duminy has had an excellent PSL campaign. Nothing to suggest, on paper, that they can’t challenge again this year.

Tournament Chances: Unsurprisingly strong. World class local players. Team Rating = 8/10

Player to watch: Hardik Pandya – hitting form and getting used to being the ‘go to man’ for India.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Simon Katich has assembled a backroom staff second to none, a vital component to success when personnel change is as wholesale as it is this year. The squad itself is a balance of IPL stalwarts in Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine combined with firepower with the likes of Mitchell Starc and Chris Lynn in the ranks. Robin Uthappa is arguably an IPL great, a consistent top order whacker who made last year’s batting top ten. This is a small squad - just 19 of the possible 25 spots have been filled - but they’ll be hoping their pace with bat and ball will make an impact early in the tournament. Nitish Rana racked up 437 runs last year in an impressive campaign, and Javon Searles arrives courtesy of injuries and a strong personal showing at the latest CPL.

Tournament Chances: Dinesh Karthik has some sharp tools at his disposal making Kolkata contenders. Team Rating = 7.5/10

Player to watch: Nitish Rana – in some great form in domestic cricket and a top IPL X last year.

Narine is an IPL veteran and is always dangerous (AFP)

Rajasthan Royals

They’ve been in the news. Thanks, Steve. They’ve also been into their pockets. Looking for a new captain a week out from the start of a tournament isn’t ideal, but Rajasthan have added Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and T20 firebrand Jofra Archer to the mix, which will help. Back after their own hiatus, Rajasthan have a squad full of match winners led by Ajinkya Rahane. Shane Warne will add some IPL experience, having won the inaugural IPL with RR back in 2008. Archer has to be the key man. His Big Bash exploits saw his social media following and cash value grow exponentially, with England clamouring to do whatever they can to fast-track his England eligibility. Captain Rahane has been a consistent IPL run scorer, and adding the firepower they have with Stokes and Buttler could make up for a lack of depth. Jaydev Unadkat, who took 24 wickets for Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017, adds variety to the Royals’ attack.

Tournament Chances: Unlikely, dangerous underdogs. Team Rating = 6.5/10

Player to watch: Jofra Archer – his first IPL. He’ll want to ensure he does enough to return next year unlike his Sussex teammate, Tymal Mills ($1M man last year).

Kings XI Punjab

Management of big players, and their egos, is a challenge magnified by tournaments like the IPL. Yuvraj Singh and Chris Gayle are two of the biggest names in world cricket, and Ravichandran Ashwin will be hoping coaches Brad Hodge and Virender Sehwag can assist in keeping the squad together. They’ve added international experience in Karun Nair and KL Rahul, having had three poor years. In Mohit Sharma and Andrew Tye, they have two very skilled and battle hardened T20 bowlers. David Miller, Aaron Finch and Manoj Tiwary provide additional clout to accompany Singh and Gayle. The key could be Gayle’s form. His recent ton at the World Cup qualifiers was his 23^rd in ODIs, and a timely reminder that the 38 year old is a bit of a bargain here.

Tournament Chances: Batting heavy, with promise. Team Rating = 7/10

Player to watch: Barinder Sran – likened to Zaheer Khan by his teammate, Yuvraj Singh, Sran’s height makes him a tricky prospect for those looking to get after him.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

It remains to be seen whether David Warner will be at the helm, with Australia’s pious and vociferous defender of cricket’s values caught up in the recent ball tampering scandal. That aside, this is the strongest squad going this year. Tom Moody brings an abundance of T20 experience, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have the varied attack to adapt to different surfaces. In Billy Stanlake, they have a man capable of thunderbolts – impressive in the most recent Big Bash for the Adelaide Strikers. Spin options are plentiful with Shakib Al Hasan, Afghan superstar Rashid Khan and Mehdi Hasan of Bangladesh bolstering the ranks. Chris Jordan is great at the death, and electric in the field. In Warner and Shikhar Dhawan, they have the potential for consistent, blistering starts – although Warner’s form will be a concern. Kane Williamson and the experience of Mohammad Nabi gives them a strong chance.

Tournament Chances: Altogether, promising. Team Rating = 8.5/10

Player to watch: Billy Stanlake – just two games in 2017, he’s capable of making a real impact with the ball this year. He also goes at 6.77 per over in Big Bash Cricket, which is exceptional.