Tom Moody picks his contenders for IPL 2020 playoffs

Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody has picked four teams, who he believes could qualify for the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs. To start with, he went with the Mumbai Indians (MI), the four-time champions of the T20 tournament. Rohit Sharma’s men are also the defending champs, having beaten the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final of the 2019 edition.

It’s not a surprise that Moody went for the most successful team in the IPL. However, that he didn’t pick MS Dhoni’s Super Kings could raise a few eyebrows, if not a whole lot. The pitches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expected to be on the slower side and CSK’s spinners are expected to make hay. It’s pertinent to note that CSK have made the playoffs every other time.

As his second pick, Moody went for the Delhi Capitals, led by Shreyas Iyer. The Delhi franchise has been the underachievers of the championship despite having some big names in their ranks. However, last year, they progressed to the Qualifier 2 where CSK beat them. Like CSK, even DC’s spin-attack is strong with the likes of Amit Mishra and Sandeep Lamichhane in it.

Moody zeroed in on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as his third choice. SRH, led by David Warner, have made the playoffs in the last four seasons, winning the championship back in 2016. Even in 2018, the Orange Army made the final where the Super Kings beat them at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Warner, their skipper, has led from the front, having won the Orange Cap a few times.

KXIP yet to win the IPL
As his fourth and final choice, Moody picked Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), who are yet to get their hands on the IPL trophy after 12 seasons. However, back in 2014 when the tournament, partially, took place in the UAE, the Mohali-based franchise made the final and it remains to be their best season.

Glenn Maxwell was in red-hot form and his knocks guided KXIP through. This time around, KL Rahul will be in charge as the captain after Ravi Ashwin moved to the Capitals. Rahul has been a consistent performer for them with the bat with a century against Rohit Sharma’s MI in Mumbai last year.

With the @IPL kicking off tonight who’s your pick for 2020 champions? 🏆 #Dream11IPL

My top 4 prediction @mipaltan @DelhiCapitals @SunRisers @lionsdenkxip

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) September 19, 2020