The level of competition intensifies with every iteration of the Indian Premier League. As in previous years, this year, we are also seeing significant developments in the League.
Hardik Pandya’s high-profile transfer to Mumbai Indians and the lucrative acquisitions of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have already established the tournament’s dynamic and exciting nature.
The 2024 IPL will serve as a preparatory tournament for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in the United States and the West Indies later this year. In addition to the customary boasting opportunities, Indian and foreign players will have a chance to secure a place in their respective national teams.
The tournament promises to captivate and delight fans, and today, we’ll provide you with everything you need to know about the IPL 2024, including the top contenders and the latest betting odds.
The IPL 2024 Schedule
The Lok Sabha elections in India are scheduled from 19 April to 1 June. As a result, the whole timetable has not yet been disclosed.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has published the fixtures for the first two weeks, with the remaining games to be released at a later time.
The precise date for the final is yet undetermined; however, it is quite probable that it will occur around the last weekend in May.
IPL 2024 Format and Groups
The teams are divided into two groups of five and compete in 14 group matches. The teams in their group are played once, whereas the teams in the other group are played twice, once at home and once away. The findings are derived from a single table.
The play-offs begin with a match between the team that finished first and the team that finished second in the group stage, competing for a spot in the final.
After the third and fourth teams compete, the loser is eliminated. The victor of that match will compete against the loser of the initial play-off for the second and last spot in the championship.
Group A: Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rajasthan Royals.
Group B: Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Punjab Kings.
IPL 2024 Favourites: Mumbai Indians & Chennai Super Kings
CSK is considered one of the top contenders for retaining their championship and securing a historic sixth IPL victory, mostly due to the ongoing leadership of MS Dhoni.
Mumbai Indians, long-standing rivals of CSK, are considered the frontrunners to win the championship, according to the top-rated sportsbooks. It is usually predictable that a final match between MI and CSK will occur, who are involved in the IPL’s most intense rivalry and boast two of the most dominant teams in the sport.
Conversely, the Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, and Delhi Capitals have the lowest probability of winning IPL 2024 with easy betting apps.
Elsewhere, Sunrisers Hyderabad set a new record in the IPL franchise auction by acquiring the services of Pat Cummins, the Australian World Cup-winning captain. However, their performance in the IPL 2023 was disappointing, as they ended in 10th place in the standings.
Kolkata Knight Riders, who subsequently surpassed the record by acquiring Mitchell Starc, are now ranked as the sixth most favoured team.
IPL 2024 Outright Winner Betting Odds:
- Mumbai Indians [7/2]
- Chennai Super Kings [7/2]
- Kolkata Knight Riders [13/2]
- Rajasthan Royals [13/2]
- Royal Challengers Bangalore [15/2]
- Gujarat Titans [9/1]
- Sunrisers Hyderabad [12/1]
- Punjab Kings [18/1]
- Lucknow Super Giants [18/1]
- Delhi Capitals [25/1]
(Odds courtesy of Bet365 as of March 25)
Rightful Favourites: Mumbai Indians
Hardik Pandya will return as the captain of Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024, marking one of the most significant changes in the tournament’s history. In the auction, the five-time winners strengthened their bowling department by acquiring South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee and Sri Lankan main bowler Dilshan Madushanka. Additionally, the inclusion of Mohammad Nabi provides balance and an additional spin option for MI this year.
Mumbai Indians, a consistently strong team in the IPL, have effectively tackled many significant issues from the previous season. Dismissing their chances of winning the championship would be an error. With the comebacks of Bumrah and Pandya and significant acquisitions from outside, they will aggressively pursue that esteemed trophy once again.
Going for a Sixth IPL Title: Chennai Super Kings
The Chennai Super Kings enter the 2024 IPL season with multiple injuries like Mustafizur Rahman, Devon Conway, and Matheesha Pathirana. Nevertheless, MS Dhoni and bowling coach Dwayne Bravo have plenty of top-tier bowling choices in Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, and Mukesh Choudhary.
Thakur has had exceptional bowling skills for the Super Kings in past seasons. He was the franchise’s top wicket-taker in both seasons, and they won the championship, taking 16 wickets in 2018 and 21 wickets in 2021.
His last two seasons have allowed him to demonstrate his proficiency with the bat. Thakur achieved a score of over 100 runs in both 2022 (specifically 120 runs with Delhi Capitals) and 2023 (specifically 113 runs with Kolkata Knight Riders), further enhancing CSK’s collection of versatile players, which includes Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, and Ravindra Jadeja.
The Super Kings’ depth has been their advantage in the past, and that is precisely what they will rely on to pursue their sixth championship.
Also Read:Â JioCinema unveils ‘Galaxy of Superstars’ commentator roster for IPL 2024
