Probable captains for all the teams : IPL 11

Another new year, another edition of the IPL and a lot of proper team combination efforts. The eleventh edition of IPL is on it’s way and all the teams have buckled up to find their dream team which will not just win them the trophy but also increase their brand value. With few teams retaining their captain material, few will be looking for a new face to captain them. Here’s my view on which team will try to pull off which player as their captain . And the players who are in the pool of captains.

THE PERPLEXED!

1. KOLKATA KINIGHT RIDERS

There is no doubt that KKR flourished the best under the captaincy of Delhi born Gautam Gambhir. In spite this, the Knight riders did not retain their captain material and it does not looks like Gambhir will be picked by KKR with RTM. So the question is who will lead KKR now? The team management of KKR works with analytics. That is, their each and every step is calculated with sheer caution and is full proofed. With this it won’t be wrong to assume that, Kolkata based franchise will look for a “young” dynamic leader. With out of the box thinking and someone who can take bold steps.
KKR is mostly going to stick with an Indian player leading the side, who is a captain material and has at-least 5-6 years of cricket left in him, The reason which made them leave Gautam Gambhir. So now who all are in the roster? The three most obvious choices coming in mind are Ravichandra Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, Shekhar Dhawan. The possibility of Manish Pandey leading the side can’t be ruled out completely. But it is less likely that Pandey will get the captaincy call.

BREAKING THE MESS!

Dhawan had a poor run as a captain of SRH. And presently, he is also out of touch in batting. With regards to previously mentioned, it is not feasible to make him lead the side. Coming to Ashwin, senior player with all round skills, a mind hunter and a prima facie of IPL. Despite these qualities, Ashwin might miss out as captain, considering his performance at the KKR den, The eden gardens. The recent test at the venue too suggests the same.

And now we are left with Ajinkya Rahane, the vice captain of Indian test team, a rigid personality, with experience of leading both the IPL side and the Indian test team, Rahane will be the best bet to lead KKR. Aged just 29, Rahane best fits in all the categories. His performance at the Eden Gardens is also remarkable.

2. KINGS XI PUNJAB

After a handful of satisfying performance, Kings XI Punjab is now a regular under performing team. Though they have big hitters of the game, they manage to fall short most of the time. With only Axar Patel being the retained player, the team’s main focus will be finding an appropriate captain. The team did decent under Yuvraj Singh in the tournament opener. And after that they heavily relied on foreign captains who gave them mixed results. So the probables to lead this side are Yuvraj Singh, Kane Williamson, Eion Morgan, Faf Du Plessis or Maxwell. With a big roster of captains in their wishlist, it is likely that they will try their best to get Williamson or Du Plessis as their captain.
It can be assumed that this season too, KXIP might use multiple captains leading their side. Trying to focus more on a young side, the possibility of Gautam Gambhir getting captain’s role might be hard but can’t be ruled out completely. With Sehwag in think tank, Gambhir too is in the race but might most likely lose to an overseas player.

I see, either Williamson or Morgan leading the side unless they pull off a blinder and get fan favourites Yuvraj or Gambhir to lead them.

3. DELHI DAREDEVILS

And this is where the real fuzz it. The team which either ends at the bottom or misses by few miles. The Daredevils have seen the most downs as compared to other team. Having their best run in the tournament openers, the team did it’s best under Sehwag and Gambhir. It also can’t be ruled out that DD is a team of young gun, so it won’t be irregular to see a young Rishab Pant leading the side. One of the safe and backup bet will be Faf Du Plessis, who can be easily retained by them using RTM. Who else? Rahane too can be in the “to get captain” list.

With Gautam Gambhir up for grabs and a desire to play for Delhi again in IPL, he will be the best fit for the job. His greats skills as a leader in both IPL and limited Indian team tenure, proves his mettle. With KKR trying their best to get a young leader, GG is most likely to get a new home in his old fortress Delhi. It also can’t be ruled out that CSK, who have indirectly flamed the idea of Gambhir in their team might give a fight to DD.

 

THE FIXES!

4. CHENNAI SUPER KINGS

MSD and the CSK are inseparable, despite coming out of ban, CSK managed to get a hold on their “Thala” (Leader). With Dhoni all set to captain Chennai Super Kings in IPL 11, it is unlikely that the management will try to look for someone else. It is also important for CSK to get a hold on their viewers, with Dhoni back in picture, CSK will easily find a huge amount of support from Tamil Nadu and other parts of the country.

5. ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE

Well, not a brainer, the captain of Indian side and the dude with millions of fan base, Virat Kohli will be captaining the side. A controversial side which has failed to win a single title so far despite making an 3 appearances in IPL final ones in CLT20. Negating the poor performance of the side in last season, Kohli will continue captaining the side and keeping the brand “RCB” alive.

6. MUMBAI INDIANS

Who other than the BLUE-EYED BOY of Indian cricket team? The former champions of the tournament will continue their regime under Rohit Sharma. Having a great team of coaches to guid Rohit and his own on field brilliance, he is going to lead the MI’s again. With 3 double centuries in ODI’s and his recent form, he adds a great value to the team’s value.

THE OBVIOUS!

7. RAJASTHAN ROYALS

With Steve Smith being the only retained player of the side and also the captain of Australian cricket team, Steve Smith is the obvious choice for the franchise. He was remarkable last season and ended up being the runner-ups of the tournament while leading a 2 year lived Rising Pune Supergiants. It is also unnoticeable that, RR’s only title triumph came under the regime of an Australian captain, Shane Warne. Hence, the management will want the Australian lucky charm to work this year as well.

8. SUNRISERS HYDERABAD

By retaining their most successful captain David Warner, they made it obvious that Warner will continue leading the side. Another team which flourishes the best under an Australian captain, SRH won’t let Warner go. SRH has a great support from their fan base around the globe, will continue doing what they are best at. Strike bowling and a rigid batting order.

 

THE CAPTAINS POOL :

The players most likely to be a captain :-

Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, R. Ashwin, Yuvraj Singh, Rishab Pant, Shikhar Dhawan, Eion Morgan, Kane Williamson.

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