IPL 2019: 4 teams that are likely to make the playoffs

It's that time of the year! IPL is back for chapter no. 12 and with the ICC World Cup approaching, the enthusiasm is as good as ever. It's the time of the year, where fans from all around the globe join hands to support their franchises, fans go crazy with all the permutations for their fantasy sides and finally young players go all-out to redeem themselves and try to break through to the national side.

Chennai Super Kings, in their comeback season, showed why they are unrivalled, by lifting the IPL trophy for the third time under the leadership of MS Dhoni. Both Mumbai Indians and CSK have lifted the trophy thrice. Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Capitals (formerly known as Delhi Daredevils), Royal Challengers Bangalore have come close but never tasted success.

Here are the four teams that are most likely to reach the playoffs.

Please note that the teams are in no chronological order.

#4 Sunrisers Hyderabad

David Warner will be back in action after serving a one year ban.

Sunrisers Hyderabad are no newbies to the playoff stages, having reached the last four, 4 times out of the 6 seasons they have played in. They went to lift the trophy in 2016 and were denied by CSK in the final last year.

Sunrisers have inarguably the best bowling lineup among all the eight teams. In the trading window, they traded Shikhar Dhawan to Delhi Capitals for Vijay Shankar, Shahbaz Nadeem and Abhishek Sharma. In a move that looked like a setback, it now looks a blessing in disguise. With Shankar coming up through the ranks to stake his claim for the first choice all-rounder position in the Indian Team, he will be a definite starter in the Hyderabad based franchise.

Fireworks are expected as David Warner would be returning to the franchise. However, it remains to be seen that who'll captain the side. Williamson captained the side exceedingly well by reaching the final. The SRH think-tank also roped in Martin Guptill and Jonny Bairstow, one of whom could fill in for Dhawan if Kane decides to bat at three.

With Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan and Shakib in the middle and the lower order, the batting looks formidable. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is expected to partner Siddharth Kaul. The duo was exceptional in the death overs last year. After finishing second on the Purple Cap list in 2018, Rashid Khan will be the player to watch out for.

A cool minded captain, a formidable batting order, a bowling lineup that can give any team a run for their money, SRH look firm to go far in the league.

Probable XI - Warner, Saha (wk), Williamson, Pandey, Shankar, Shakib, Yusuf, Hooda, Rashid, Bhuvi, Kaul.

#3 Delhi Capitals

Delhi unveiled their new logo and crest last year.

This may come as a surprise to many, but Delhi Capitals have been investing heavily in the youngsters in the past two years. The investments could finally pay dividends as the team looks like a solid outfit.

Delhi bought Hanuma Vihari, Colin Ingram, Axar Patel and Keemo Paul in the auction and also poached Dhawan from SRH.

Delhi's top order looks ominous right now. Prithvi Shaw showed us glimpses of his class in last year's IPL and during his stint with the Indian Cricket Team. He'll be joined by Dhawan. Shreyas Iyer has been milking runs in the domestic arena for quite some time now and words won't do justice to the swashbuckling Rishabh Pant. The local boy was the second leading run scorer last year and will be hungry for more.

Delhi suffered a major setback last year after losing Rabada to injury, but this year, Rabada-Morris-Boult will be leading the pace attack. With a mystery spinner in Sandeep Lamichhane from Nepal, they look one of most balanced sides going into the IPL.

Probable XI - Dhawan, Shaw, Iyer (c), Pant (wk), Manjot Kalra, Vihari, Morris, Axar, Lamichhane, Rabada, Boult

#2 Chennai Super Kings

Shane Watson scored a ton in the IPL final last year.

There's something between with Men in Yellow and Cricket. They do walk in as favorites in whatever tournament they play in. Just like Australia have dominated world cricket, CSK have 'owned' the IPL. They have featured in the playoff stage in every season that they have played in.

A resurgent MS Dhoni would take center stage, in pursuit of his fourth IPL title. One of the most experienced sides in the tournament, they know how to cope up with pressure and win the important moments in crunch situations.

The Chennai based franchise were quiet in the auction as they decided to retain their core and rightly so. Dhoni's men will come out all guns blazing to clinch the double having achieved the same in 2010 and 2011 as well.

Probable XI - Watson, Rayudu, Raina, Dhoni (c & wk), Jadhav, Bravo, Jadeja, Chahar, Tahir/Santner, Ngidi, Shardul Thakur

#1 Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians are in pursuit to lift the title a record four times.

It was a direct toss-up between RCB and MI, but due to the experience of their captain, who has won four titles, Mumbai Indians take the last spot.

If numbers are to be believed, Mumbai Indians looks set for a fourth title, having won the same in 2013, 2015, 2017. Mumbai Indians relied heavily on the youngsters last year, with Rohit Sharma regularly playing four uncapped players in the playing XI. Two of them (Krunal Pandya and Mayank Markande) have gone on to play for the Indian Cricket Team. Just like CSK, MI vested more faith in their core, buying back Lasith Malinga in the auction. MI also roped Yuvraj Singh into their team.

The Mumbai based franchise have numerous talented all-rounders (Pandya brothers, Ben Cutting, Pollard) which makes them potent going into the league.

With Rohit Sharma in the middle order, MI have Quinton de Kock and Evin Lewis at the top. The clean-hitting duo was magnificent last year as well.

Deemed to be the world's best bowler across formats, Jasprit Bumrah is the player to watch out for and can single-handedly take his side to the playoffs.

Probable XI - Lewis, de Kock (wk), Rohit (c), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, H Pandya, K Pandya, Cutting/Pollard, Markande, Behrendorff, Bumrah