The Hallmark of a great T20 team can be judged by how they do their business in the middle overs. For it to be good, a solid middle-order is an absolute necessity. There is absolutely no time for the batsman to get an eye in, and he has to get going from the ball 1 in this format. If we look at the past history of IPL, a team with a potent middle order has always gone the distance.
With this edition of IPL happening, it is necessary that a team’s middle-order fires. The pitch condition will surely deteriorate as the tournament progresses, and the team’s contribution of no 4,5,6 and 7 will be more crucial. To understand who will open the batting for the IPL teams this season, you can check our predictions for teams’ opening combinations here.
We will look at 5 of the teams with the best middle order and rank them.
1. Kolkata Knight Riders
Possible Middle-order batsman: Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell,
Kolkata Knight Riders have probably the best and most attacking middle-order in this IPL. In their team, they have two of the best finishers in T20 cricket in Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik. There are talks in talks in the KKR camp that Andre Russell may move up the order at 3 or 4.
Andre Russell won many games single-handedly for KKR last season. We have seen his performance in the ongoing CPL as well. While Morgan has flourished as a limited-overs batsman in the middle order, the skipper of KKR is equally dangerous in the last few overs of the innings.
If this trio, along with the company of Indian youngsters like Rana or Rinku Singh, can fire, then they will win more often than not.
2. Mumbai Indians
Possible Middle-order batsman: Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya
One of the main reasons why Mumbai Indians have won the IPL title 4 times is their strong core in the middle-order. At certain points, each of their players can win a match on their own.
MI middle order boasts players like Kieron Pollard, the Pandya brothers, and Ishan Kishan. These players are probably the hardest hitters of the cricket ball and can hit from ball 1. These aspects make them as strong on paper as KKR.
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore
Possible Middle-order batsman: AB De Villiers, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris
This may come as a surprise, but this RCB’s middle order has the ability to take the game away from the opposition. They are no longer seem to be dependent on Kohli or ABD with the arrival of players like Aaron Finch and Chris Morris.
RCB’s middle-order in all probability will include ABD, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris. The 3 overseas pros have an excellent track record in T20, while Dube is a destructive player himself.
4. Delhi Capitals
Possible Middle-order batsman: Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis.
The Delhi Capitals are a team that has an Indian batting heavy contingent in this IPL. They possess players like Rishabh Pant, Shimron Hetmeyer, Shreyas Iyer in the middle order. These players are among the most talented in this generation.
DC’s batsman impressed last season, and with the inclusion of Stoinis and Hetmyer, their middle order is much more robust and flexible. They may seem less potent as Russell or Pollard but can be dangerous when in full flow.
5. Kings XI Punjab
Possible Middle-order batsman: Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Sarfaraz Khan, Mandeep Singh.
The exciting Nicholas Pooran has impressed many in his brief career so far and will a vital cog for KXIP. The addition of Glenn Maxwell has brought in some explosiveness in the middle order, which was missing last year.
The Indian youngsters such as Mandeep Singh, Sarfaraz Khan, and Deepak Hooda will have a massive role to play to relieve the pressure of those 2. Overall the batting lineup of the Kings looks much more stable than the one they had last year.
SRH, RR, and CSK have a relatively weak middle order compared to the other five. CSK heavily relies upon their skipper MS Dhoni once again, and the absence of Raina has dented their batting line up.
With Kane Williamson not a sure starter in the playing XI, the SRH middle order will not have much experience to play with. Finally, RR will likely miss the services of Ben Stokes for the first part of the IPL.
