Three Teams That Might Finish at The Bottom of The Table in IPL 2023
Mumbai Indians finished at the bottom of the table in IPL 2022 (Source: Twitter)
The Indian Premier League (IPL 2023) is all set to begin with its opening match scheduled for March 31, where the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) will take on the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the preceding three editions of the tournament were held in either selected venues in India or in overseas locations such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Cricket is a sport where luck plays a significant role, particularly in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where the winning and losing teams are often very evenly matched. Even small, decisive moments in the game can tilt the outcome in favour of the opposing team.
Despite each season having a declared winner, there are also teams that suffer the consequences of finishing at the bottom of the league table. This year too, numerous fans all over the globe would have to witness the disheartening feeling of seeing their favourite team lose at the tournament.
As per performance over the past seasons, here's our take at the teams that have a high chance to be at the bottom of the table in IPL 2023:
1) Delhi Capitals (DC)
The Delhi Capitals team at IPL 2022 (IplT20.com)
The Delhi Capitals, previously known as Delhi Daredevils, have been at the bottom of the IPL league table four times: in 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2018. In the first three seasons, they were a formidable team, even finishing first in the points table in 2009. However, they failed to make it to the final until 2020.
During the period between 2011 and 2018, Delhi Capitals struggled and lacked identity due to frequent changes of captains. They were one of the weakest franchises in the league.
Nevertheless, the appointment of Shreyas Iyer as captain midway through the 2018 season, along with Ricky Ponting as head coach, turned their fortunes around and they managed to make it to the playoffs in the last three seasons and even reached the final in 2020, although they fell short of winning the tournament.
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Unfortunately, last December, the team's captain Rishabh Pant underwent a terrible car accident, and as a result, he was ruled out of the tournament. In his place, this season DC would play under the leadership of Aussie-star, David Warner and the vice-captaincy of Axar Patel.
As the season approaches, DC must focus on having a head-on approach to their game and focus on winning right from the beginning. Even though DC has a squad filled with players capable of winning matches, it may not be feasible for the team management to provide playing chances to every individual on the roster. Hence, they should tactically review their squad before playing every match.
2) Punjab Kings (PBKS)
The Punjab Kings team at IPL 2022 (IplT20.com)
Throughout the 14 seasons of the IPL, the Punjab Kings (previously Kings XI Punjab) have been the least successful franchise, with only two playoff qualifications - a semi-final exit in 2008 and a final loss in 2014. They have finished in the bottom half of the table for 12 seasons and even finished at the last position three times, in 2010, 2015, and 2016.
In the past four years, under the captaincy of R Ashwin and later KL Rahul, Punjab showed promising performances in the first half of the season but failed to secure a playoff spot due to poor performance in the second half. As PBKS prepares for a fresh beginning for the 2023 season Shikhar Dhawan and Trevor Bayliss will be in charge of leading the team.
Moving forward in IPL, although PBKS made a significant acquisition by purchasing Sam Curran in the auction, they could encounter challenges once again. Their first three matches will be against KKR, RR, and SRH, with two of them being away games. The team will begin their campaign in Mohali against KKR, followed by two consecutive away fixtures, which may pose some difficulty for the Punjab franchise in the early stages of the tournament.
3) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
The Kolkata Knight Riders team at IPL 2022 (IplT20.com)
Despite having finished last only once in their history (in 2009) and having won two IPL titles, the Kolkata Knight Riders appear to be in a precarious situation this season.
With Lockie Ferguson recovering from a hamstring injury; he is anticipated to be unavailable for the opening week of the tournament. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer, who is the team's captain, is struggling with a persistent lower back issue that may keep him out of action during the first half of the competition.
And as if the rains on the team were not sufficient, as per reports during a practice session at Eden Gardens, one of the batters, Nitish Rana, suffered an ankle injury. In the event that Rana's injury deteriorates, it would be a significant obstacle for the team just before the tournament, as it would cause additional disturbance to their batting lineup.
Heading into the season, KKR must focus on making the most out of the remaining lot. With so many players being ruled out or joining in late due to injury the team must focus at maintaining a consistent position during the initial matches of the tournament at least.
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