As the league stage of IPL 2021 coming to an end, the points table looks quite interesting with multiple teams fighting it out for a spot in the top four to qualify for the playoffs.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra addressed this fact in his latest YouTube video and also predicted his four teams that will be qualifying for the knockout stage in IPL 2021. The cricketer-turned-commentator firstly picked Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals (DC) as the obvious choices.
“Chennai, Delhi there's no doubt about that. Third, hopefully, Bangalore will qualify. For the fourth, there's going to be a fight between Mumbai and Kolkata. I have a strong feeling that if Kolkata doesn't hit a self-goal, they'll make it,” Chopra said in his YouTube video.
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CSK and DC are the top two sides on the points table with 16 points each, but the real competition is between the defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as both teams are tied at 10 points each with the latter taking the fourth spot owing to a better net run-rate.
“If Russell is fit then there will be no self-goal but it can happen here because the captain is in zero form. However, it's Eoin Morgan, a big player, so it's also possible that he might turn around his form and give a strong finish,” he added.
The ex-India cricketer then picked KKR over the five-time champions MI citing Rohit Sharma-led team’s not so convincing win against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Abu Dhabi.
“I am tilting towards Kolkata for a simple reason that Mumbai isn't looking like the 'Paltan' of the old. Yeah, you won against Punjab but even that wasn't convincing. They are winning all games scrapping, which isn't like them,” the 43-year-old said.
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Chopra then pointed out that MI is yet to take on some of the top teams in this IPL 2021.
“They still have one game to go against Delhi which is the next game only in Sharjah. If you lose this, you won't have luck on your side because Kolkata's all matches are against teams placed below them. Kolkata has got something going for them, for Mumbai, there's something not going for them,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
MI will be locking horns with Rishabh Pant’s Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday (2 October) at Sharjah.
