The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season is almost upon us, bringing the most elite cricketing talents together for high-octane T20 action. As fans eagerly await the upcoming edition, speculation runs rampant around team compositions and preferred starting lineups.
Playing XI selections often make or break campaigns, balancing experience against prodigious talents on cricket’s biggest stage. While official Playing XI confirmations only come to an hour pre-match, expected combinations leaked early can influence everything from fantasy picks to betting odds.
It’s always good to check the latest IPL Dream11 predictions so you have an idea of how certain teams or players will likely perform in upcoming matches. This is especially the case for those who are planning to wager on their favorites this season.
So let’s dive in and predict the PlayingXI of each team. Know that there’s no guarantee that these are the names that the franchises will announce, but they are based on analyzing players’ past performances, as well as the team’s auction purchases and their dynamics.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK):
- Openers: Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway
- Middle Order: Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Daryl Mitchell
- Wicketkeeper: MS Dhoni (c)
- Allrounder: Ravindra Jadeja
- Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Maheesh Theekshana, Mitchell Santner
This lineup retains CSK’s seasoned core that delivered their 2023 trophy. Ruturaj and Conway should continue providing strong starts. Moeen, Raydu, and Mitchell boast experience in stabilizing the middle overs while maintaining scoring rates.
Dhoni remains the inspirational leader behind the stumps. Meanwhile, Jadeja’s batting prowess and clever spin merit his all-rounder spot. The pace duo of Chahar and Thakur offers swing and variation respectively to take wickets, and Theekshana’s mystery spin and Santner’s left-arm round out a balanced bowling attack.
Mumbai Indians (MI):
- Openers: Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan
- Middle Order: Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David, Kieron Pollard
- Wicketkeeper: Vishnu Vinod
- Allrounders: Hardik Pandya and James Neesham
- Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Jofra Archer, Riley Meredith
The Mumbai Indians return to the IPL arena in 2024 with a mix of familiar faces and exciting new acquisitions. Leading the charge is the newly appointed captain, Hardik Pandya, whose all-around brilliance promises to energize the team.
While Quinton de Kock’s departure leaves quite a void, Ishan Kishan might step up to partner the explosive Rohit Sharma at the top of the order. Their experience and aggressive intent lay a strong foundation for the middle order, where Suryakumar Yadav’s 360-degree game seamlessly blends with Tim David’s power-hitting and Kieron Pollard’s experience.
Delhi Capitals
- Openers: David Warner and Prithvi Shaw
- Middle Order: Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Lalit Yadav
- All-rounder: Axar Patel
- Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Khaleel Ahmed
The Delhi Capitals head into IPL 2024 with a mix of explosive batsmen, versatile all-rounders, and reliable bowlers. The opening pair of David Warner and Prithvi Shaw promises an exciting start, with their fearless stroke-making potential.
Mitchell Marsh adds depth and balance with his all-round abilities, while Rishabh Pant, the captain and wicketkeeper, brings his trademark aggressive batting to the middle order.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Openers: Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis (c)
- Middle Order: Glenn Maxwell, Suyash Prabhudessai, Dinesh Karthik (wk)
- Wicketkeeper: Anuj Rawat
- Allrounders: Mahipal Lomror, Tom Curran, and Cameron Green
- Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep
The opening partnership reunites the proven duo of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis (c), providing a solid foundation for the innings. Glenn Maxwell’s explosive batting would be nicely complemented by the promise of youngster Suyash Prabhudessai. This year will be a good opportunity for him to shine.
Gujarat Titans
- Openers: Shubman Gill (c) and Wriddhiman Saha
- Middle Order: David Miller, Kane Williamson, Sai Sudharsan
- Wicketkeeper: Matthew Wade
- Allrounder: Rashid Khan and Jayant Yadav
- Bowlers: Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Josh Little
Gujarat Titan’s batting power has the potential to score big totals, while the bowling attack boasts world-class spin and experienced pace options.
However, the lack of a reliable lower-middle order finisher and a left-arm pacer could be areas to address depending on the situation. If these areas are managed effectively, the Gujarat Titans are a force to be reckoned with in IPL 2024.
Kolkata Knight Riders
- Openers: Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell
- Middle Order: Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Sam Billings (wk)
- Allrounder: Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer
- Bowlers: Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Mitchell Starc
KKR possesses an exciting squad with an aggressive batting approach and world-class spin options. Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell at the top offer unmatched firepower, capable of tearing apart bowling attacks from the start. This aggressive approach puts pressure on the opposition early and sets the tone for a big score.
However, the bowling attack’s inexperience and lack of swing bowling might be vulnerabilities. They should work on these concerns and find a reliable lower-middle-order finisher.
Lucknow Super Giants
- Openers: KL Rahul (c) and Quinton de Kock
- Middle Order: Devdutt Padikkal, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis
- Wicketkeeper: KL Rahul, Nicolas Pooran
- Allrounders: Krunal Pandya and Jason Holder
- Bowlers: Ravi Bishnoi, Mark Wood
The partnership of KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock is a nightmare for any bowling attack. Both are capable of scoring big runs quickly, providing a strong foundation for the innings.
However, questions remain about the lack of a specialist wicketkeeper, pace depth, and lower-middle-order stability. While both Rahul and Pooran can keep wickets, the absence of a dedicated wicketkeeper might raise concerns about consistency behind the stumps.
Punjab Kings
- Openers: Mayank Agarwal (c) and Shikhar Dhawan
- Middle Order: Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Wicketkeepers: Prabhsimran Singh
- Allrounders: Sam Curran, Chris Woakes
- Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada
Punjab Kings blend experienced openers in Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan with explosive firepower from Liam Livingstone and Jonny Bairstow. While experience and explosiveness are present in their lineup this year, some still think their bowling and wicketkeeping sectors require some working on.
Rajasthan Royals
- Openers: Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Middle Order: Sanju Samson (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag
- Allrounder: Ravichandran Ashwin
- Bowlers: Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna
Rajasthan Royals boast firepower at the top with Buttler and Jaiswal, while Samson brings leadership and aggression in the middle. Hetmyer’s explosiveness adds another dimension, but Parag’s consistency remains unproven. Overall, the Royals possess exciting potential, but their bowling depth might be tested.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Openers: Mayank Agarwal and Rahul Tripathi
- Middle Order: Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen
- Wicketkeepers: Glenn Philips and Upendra Singh Yadav
- Allrounder: Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar
- Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Marco Jansen, Pat Cummins
Sunrisers Hyderabad strike a balance between experience and youth in their batting, with Agarwal and Tripathi providing solidity at the top. The presence of both Philips and Yadav allows flexibility in wicketkeeping choices, but their overall batting depth might lack a proven finisher.
Conclusion
The upcoming IPL 2024 edition is shaping up to be an event that will blow away fans around the world. You can catch the IPL 2024 matches on Star Sports and streaming platforms like JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar.
