The IPL 2020 was a grand affair in the UAE which saw the Mumbai Indians not only successfully defend their title but also win the tournament for a record fifth time in the IPL history. However, their win meant massive losses for several other franchises in the league, all of whom have been trying to at least finish in the top four, let alone win the competition.
With the possibility of a Mega-Auction right before the IPL 2021, many of these teams in the Indian Premier League may have a chance to realise their dreams. After multiple seasons laden with defeat and bottom-half finishes in the table, these franchises find themselves in dire need of a player overhaul and revise their squad. Even those watching the IPL may have pitied them at times. With that in mind, mentioned below are 3 teams who will benefit greatly with the onset of full-fledged player auctions.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
In the 13 seasons of the Indian Premier League, Virat Kohli-led RCB have reached the final thrice but always had to settle for the runner-up trophy. Their most recent final appearance came back in 2016; since then, they have finished at the 6th position or below thrice.
In the IPL 2020, they managed to qualify for the playoffs by the skin of their teeth, despite losing their final four league fixtures! Despite having a stellar squad, the best betting sites in India pegged them as underdogs on numerous occasions.
That humiliating defeat led to many staunch supporters call for Kohli’s resignation from captaincy and even prompted a revamp of the squad. Clearly, things have not worked for RCB in the last few seasons and trying a new formula may be the way forward.
Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings were among the most consistent teams in the IPL - since the inception of the tournament, they qualified for the playoffs in every edition they played. They have five runner-up and three champions trophies to their name - an enviable legacy, to say the least.
In 2020, however, they delivered their worst performance in the history of IPL by finishing at the 7th position. Over here, it is worth noting that they have many players who are in their mid-to-late thirties.
Letting them go and bringing in some young blood can help them get back to their winning ways in IPL 2021. At the same time, they need to retain their core unit and the key ethos that has led them to success in the previous seasons.
Kings XI Punjab
Kings XI Punjab have time after time finished in the bottom half of the table. In fact, since joining the league back in 2008, there have been only two instances where they made it to the playoffs.
Before the start of the tournament, the management shelled out a lot of money on the likes of Glen Maxwell and Sheldon Cottrell. On paper, they had a very strong team but as the league went on, an opposite story was emerging.
Ultimately, they finished at the 6th position in the table. Clearly, KXIP are in desperate need of an overhaul - cutting and rebuilding the team from zero may just give them what they need to win.
