Champions League T20 2014: SWOT analysis of IPL teams

Written by Pradeep K

The 6^th edition of the Champions League T20 is underway and here we have a look at the chances of the 4 IPL teams in the main draw.

Riding on an impressive team performance the Kings XI Punjab booked their ticket to the global T20 competition for the first time. Gautam Gambhir’s Knight Riders might not be the team to watch out after their reduced fire power in their squad owing to various reasons.

Expect-ably, the Chennai Super Kings enter the tournament as one of the favorites. Mumbai Indians made to the qualifiers on the back of a spectacular innings from Corey Anderson.

MUMBAI INDIANS

STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES
Having the most effective death over specialist in Lasith Malinga, the defending CLT20 champions pose a considerable threat with the ball towards the closing stages of an innings. With the experienced veteran Michael Hussey lending solidity at the top, Harbhajan Singh, given that he builds on from a good last IPL will be a significant threat in the middle overs.	The absence of Rohit Sharma due to injury is undoubtedly going to affect their chances in all possible ways be it batting, captaincy or fielding. They are a batsman short and are going to struggle big time unless their top order and new captain Keiron Pollard fires every time.
OPPORTUNITIES	THREATS
The lack of specialist batsmen means Corey Anderson is facing a situation to sit out of the playing XI (with Michael Hussey taking his place at the top) and it questions the need to rob him from Northern Knights. Pragyan Ojha will be inching to prove his worth after a poor IPL 2014.	Pollard might come from the successful captaincy stint with Barbados Tridents, but it doesn’t guarantee success and it has to be seen how effective he can be. They still have to come out of the tough qualifying group that contains enough firepower to stun the Mumbai Indians.

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS

STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES
The former CLT20 title winners boasts the strongest batting line-up of all teams with the most experienced Brendon McCullum and explosive Dwayne Smith opening the batting. In Mahendra Singh Dhoni they have the most effective finisher in the world and an astute leader who hardly puts a foot wrong with his instinctive moves. Suresh Raina is the most consistent batsmen in the IPL history and along with Dwayne Bravo, who is back in the squad after missing the larger part of IPL owing to a shoulder injury adds more value to the side in all three departments of the game.	The death bowling continues to be an issue despite Mohit Sharma’s effective slower balls and Bravo’s comeback. Stephen Fleming should make sure that his countrymen McCullum opens the batting as him coming in at No.4 is not a good ploy considering his limitations against spin early in his innings. The batting line-up might look solid, but the batsmen have a unknown tendency to leave everything to the other player without taking up the responsibility themselves, which have left them with very little to defend or lose a small chase fair too easily.
OPPOURTUNITIES	THREATS
Ishwar Pandey will be hoping for another good tournament after his maiden IPL with the ‘Men in Yellow’ and the absence of Ben Hilfenhaus opens the door for the young right-arm seamer. Samuel Badree and John Hastings might not be required at all with Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Bravo being the preferred choices for MS Dhoni. The team will be keen to add to their only CLT20 title in 2010.	The Kings were known to come good with the progress of a tournament and even carry a weak reputation of being slow starters. Considering the format that demands teams to start winning from the word go, the laid back attitude might hurt the team. Playing three of their four matches in Bangalore means their usual strategy of bowling spin inside the power-play and relying on slower balls at the death might not bear fruits.

KINGS XI PUNJAB

STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES
The M factor (Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, Mitchell Johnson and Manan Vohra) has been working well for the Mohali based franchise and gives hope to their campaign. With the younger lot headed by Akshar Patel and Sandeep Sharma coming good under Sanjay Bangar, the seniors have time and again contributed with match winning performances in the last IPL season which is good sign.	The middle order, despite possessing the destructive duo of Maxwell and Miller might collapse dramatically given the highly-risk playing style of the Australian. George Bailey is entering the competition on the back of some below par contributions. He did not do that well in the IPL season either and is a concern.
OPPORTUNITIES	THREATS
The franchise will be making its debut in this year’s competition and they have a great chance to make it count with a good blend of experience and energy. Manan Vohra as an opener continues to delight, albeit wasting his starts on some occasions and should be making the most of his chances to prove that he is not a one season wonder. Shaun Marsh might again be warming the benches with all four foreign slots engaged.	The Virender Sehwag conundrum is not something to be denied of and the opener fails to live up to his reputation (if not the expectation) more often than not. The astonishingly inconsistent Maxwell is the other hit-or-miss player and it might leave Miller with too much to do on his own - to steady the ship and then to finish on a high.

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS

STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES
The opening pair looks well set and giving consistent contributions ever since Robin Uthappa moved to the top of the order. The ultra-effective Sunil Narine is undoubtedly an asset for any team with a bagful of variations up his sleeve.	The Knight Riders sometimes turn very reliant on Narine’s contributions such that an off-day from the West Indian means curtains for the side. The form of Gautam Gambhir turned from horrible to decent in the later stages of IPL and he needs to stay above average for his team to compete with the best team in the world. Shakib Al Hasan’s absence is a terrible blow for the IPL champions who are seeking their first CLT20.
OPPORTUNITIES	THREATS
Morne Morkel’s injury and with just 5 foreigners to choose from means either Pat Cummins or Andre Russell is expected to start in the opening fixture against Super Kings. (The former is the ideal one to replace the South African bowler) With Chris Lynn ruled out of the tournament, Jacques Kallis is likely to return to the XI and should bat at No.3.	There is very minimal resources available on the overseas front: Andre Russell cannot be termed as a reliable all-rounder and Kallis is in the twilight of his career. Hence, the responsibility falls on Ryan ten Doeschate’s shoulders to perform every time. The very same reason might lead to the team’s downfall. The law of averages might catch up with Robin Uthappa and their death bowling, sans Narine, is not the best either. Therefore, they need plenty of things to go their way if they hope to stand a chance.

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