IPL 2021 UAE Exclusive: Rating and Ranking the Squad of all the Teams

Chennai Super Kings with the highest-rated squad as we look at the rating and ranking of each team for the second leg of IPL 2021 in UAE. 

Please note, the following article has been updated to accommodate the squad changes as of Sep 11, 2011. 

With just a week left, almost everyone around the world has just one word in their mouth, and that is IPL 2021. And why shouldn’t it be? Cricket fans across the world consider it as a festival, and wait for the tournament quite eagerly every yea – although, the 2021 edition of the tournament is happening twice with the first phase played in India and the second phase scheduled in UAE. 

To recap, the first half of IPL 2021 was postponed after the completion of 29 matches amidst the COVID-19 breach. Delhi Capitals maintained their awesome run from IPL 2019 and IPL 2020 to remain at the top of the points table with 6 wins. They were followed by CSK and RCB with 5 wins each and MI with 4 wins. 

With a gap of almost 3.5 months, a lot of players made themselves unavailable either to remain fresh for the T20 World Cup or to keep away from the bio bubble, which can take a toll on the mental fatigue. In that scenario, a lot of teams saw changes in their team roster; especially in the overseas department. 

So, as we wait for the tournament to begin, let’s slim through all the squads, and do a squad ranking and rating for all the teams. The base of ranking shall be Team ratings, and the base of Team ratings shall be aggregate player ratings across the 5 different categories mentioned below. 

Please note: The rating for all the players is derived basis their last two year’s IPL performance, and their current International and Domestic form. 

Benchmark Players:

• Opener: KL Rahul
• Middle-order: AB de Villiers
• All-rounder: Ravindra Jadeja
• Spinner: Rashid Khan
• Pacer: Jasprit Bumrah

Alright then, let’s do a squad Rating and Ranking comparison of all the teams ahead of the second leg of IPL 2021. 

#8: Rajasthan Royals – 8.26

Rajasthan Royals have been the most affected team due to the unavailability of their overseas players. 3 of their top 4 overseas are unavailable. Those are Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, and Jofra Archer. As a result, the squad rating has taken a dramatic fall; although not significantly. They are also the only team to not have a player in the T20 World Cup 2021 squad for Team India.

From the squad standpoint, Chris Morris and Sanju Samson are their highest-rated players with a rating of 9. They are followed by Mustafizur Rahman and Tabraiz Shamsi with a rating of 8.75 each. From the team standpoint, it is decently balanced in all departments with pace bowling being their strength. Overall, RR have a squad rating of 8.26 for IPL 2021 UAE. 

#7: Punjab Kings – 8.37

Punjab Kings didn’t have a great first leg of IPL 2021 with 3 wins from 8 games, but the team parted ways with their two most expensive players, Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith. Instead, they brought in Adil Rashid and Nathan Ellis. The team, however, has been struggling with performance issues from their star players. 

KL Rahul is not only PBKS’ highest-rated player but is also the best opener in the competition currently. He is a benchmark opener with a rating of 10. Following him are India’s Mohammed Shami and Mayank Agarwal with a rating of 9 each. Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran follow them with a rating of 8.75 each. 

Punjab Kings’ strength is their opening category where they have some really quality openers. They are decent in Middle-order, Spinner, and Pacer category, but it is the all-rounder area that is their weakness. It is the worst among all the teams, and their best all-rounder, Moises Henriques isn’t even a confirmed starter. Overall, PBKS have a rating of 8.38 for IPL 2021 UAE. 

#6: Royal Challengers Bangalore – 8.39

Alright, this might sound slightly controversial, but even though Royal Challengers Bangalore are third on the points table, the squad isn’t as strong as it should be. Yes, the playing 11 has seen some really strong performances from a few players, but there are huge gaps the team is facing. In addition, RCB are also the team that has done the most number of changes ahead of the second leg. 

RCB’s best player is definitely AB de Villiers, who is the benchmark middle-order batsman with a rating of 10. Virat Kohli is their second-best player with a rating of 9.5. Yuzi Chahal follows him with a rating of 9.25. All-rounder Glenn Maxwell follows with a rating of 9, and Devdutt Padikkal, Mohammed Siraj and Kyle Jamieson are fifth with a rating of 8.75 each. 

However, barring these 7 players, the team had huge gaps to fill. They lack backups, and the rest 4 completing the playing 11 are mere of fillers. RCB’s strength is their middle-order, but their weakness is their fragile all-rounder and lower-order department. Overall, RCB have a squad rating of 8.39 and ranking of 4th for the second leg of IPL 2021 UAE. 

#5: Kolkata Knight Riders – 8.44

KKR is one team that is full of potential, but the performance is always not in sync with that. The team always expects the likes of Morgan, Russell, Gill, Karthik, Narine, etc. to perform well, but has mostly seen them not performing to the potential. As a result, the squad rating has taken a hit to settle at 8.44. 

From the team standpoint, Andre Russell is the team’s best player with a rating of 9.1. Lockie Ferguson, Nitish Rana, and Varun Chakravarthy follow them with a rating of 8.75 each. Post these 3, there are 5 players with a rating of 8.5. KKR’s strength is their all-rounder department with Russell taking the charge. 

#4: Sunrisers Hyderabad – 8.51

Currently eight on the points table, Sunrisers Hyderabad actually don’t have such a bad squad as the points table suggests. Except for the all-rounder section, the team has some really quality players in all the departments with the opening category being their core strength. Overall, SRH may find it difficult to qualify for knockouts, but their squad is still well placed with a rating of 8.51 for the second leg of IPL 2021 UAE. 

Looking at individual players, the Afghan spin wizard, Rashid Khan is the benchmark spinner with a rating of 10. David Warner and Kane Williamson follow them with a rating of 9.25 each. Whereas Manish Pandey follows them with a rating of 9. The team also has some really good pacers, but it is the all-rounder department where Team struggles still. 

#3: Delhi Capitals – 8.51

Delhi Capitals are currently leading the points table with 6 wins from 8 games, but when it comes to a top-rated squad, they are third on the list. A team without any major weakness has an overall rating of 8.55 for IPL 2021 UAE. DC are also one of the 4 teams to have not made any changes in their squad. 

Shikhar Dhawan is the Delhi Capitals’ best player with a rating of 9.75. Kagiso Rabada is their best pacer with a rating of 9.5. Whereas Rishabh Pant is their best middle-order batsman with a rating of 9.25. Shreyas Iyer and Marcus Stoinis follow them with a rating of 9 and 8.75 respectively. The only area where DC aren’t as strong as others, it is their spin department. 

#2: Mumbai Indians – 8.71

The defending champions are currently 4th on the points table with 4 wins from 7 games, but that’s due to the poor form of their middle-order and lower middle-order. The team is still full of class with great players in each category. It is only the dip in performance in the first phase has dethroned them from the first position, otherwise there’s nothing MI don’t have or have to worry about. 

Quite rightly, Mumbai Indians’ best player is Jasprit Bumrah, who is the benchmark pacer with a rating of 10. The team has opener Quinton de Kock and middle-order Kieron Pollard with a rating of 9.5 each. Hardik Pandya, who otherwise was a benchmark in the all-rounder category has been woefully out of form, and as a result, loses the benchmark to the current best all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. 

Hardik has a rating of 9. His middle-order partner Ishan Kishan too loses some rating, and is currently at 8.5. Suryakumar Yadav has been doing really well, and is at a rating of 9. Whereas Trent Boult has a rating of 9.25. Overall, MI’s strength are their openers and pacers with a good support in Middle-order and all-rounder category. 

#1: Chennai Super Kings – 8.76

Only just, but Chennai Super Kings have the best overall squad among all the teams for IPL 2021 UAE. The team is potent in all the departments with the best show coming in the all-rounders category. They have 3 solid all-rounders in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, and Moeen Ali, and fortunately all three are a part of first-choice playing 11 for CSK. 

CSK’s most valuable player at the moment is undoubtedly Ravindra Jadeja. Be it attacking knocks down the order, superlative fielding or aggressive bowling, Jadeja has it all. Apart from him, CSK have Faf du Plessis at 9.5, Imran Tahir, Sam Curran, and Moeen Ali at 9. Only if Dhoni and Raina were in form, the overall rating would have touched 9. 

So, that’s how all the teams stand when it comes to their squad rating and ranking ahead of the second leg of IPL 2021 in UAE. 

Thanks for reading! Looking at the squad rating and ranking of all the teams for IPL 2021, which one feels the best? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

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