Cricket fans across the globe, not least in India, can breathe a sigh of relief as IPL 2021 looks set to go off and hopefully without a hitch as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the schedule ahead of the new tournament.
Always prefacing the new season, the IPL Auction sees the movement of players between sides sold and confirmed in what marks the preseason’s stand out event. Taking place in December 2019, last season’s IPL Auction preceded the start of the season as normal, only to see the bottom taken out and months of waiting amidst rescheduling issues due to the initial outbreak of covid-19.
Now the IPL Auction for 2021 has taken place with the schedule for the season being released on time, it looks more than likely that proceedings will go ahead as predicted.
Due to start on 9 April when defending champions Mumbai Indians take on big spending Royal Challengers Bangalore, the tournament will come to a close on 30 May.
An incredible ₹1,45,30,00,000 was spent across all eight teams on a total of 57 players sold at the IPL auction, without a doubt demonstrating the intent of many teams ahead of the new season. It has so far proven to be one of the most lucrative auctions in IPL history with over 20 overseas players involved in making moves.
With a highly anticipated return to Indian shores it is unsurprising that many cricket betting tips and IPL predictions are gearing up to back a potential winner ahead of the impending tournament.
Although by no means the biggest spenders at this year’s IPL Auction, defending champions Mumbai Indians have retained many of last year’s championship winning squad and understandably head into the tournament as outright favourites.
Mumbai Indians have been the stand out side of the IPL era with a record five titles to their name. Backed heavily as favourites ahead of last year’s tournament, there’s no reason for many to sway from thinking Indians will lift the trophy once more.
Alongside Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are being backed amongst the favourites. Indians are currently priced at around 4.50 ahead of the tournament with Super Kings and Capitals slightly higher at 5.0.
Two of the biggest spenders in Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings are rank outsiders at an incredible 10.0 to go all the way and win IPL 2021. Many bookmakers and IPL tipsters alike seem to be looking at previous form and no doubt prestige ahead of this year’s competition in order to inform who they think will lift the trophy.
The return of IPL to India is highly anticipated and looks set to go off in timely fashion this year. The country’s corona policy is much clearer than 12 months previous and if England’s current tour of India is anything to go off it bodes well for the successful unveiling of the IPL itself.