IPL: Rahane leads KKR as Kohli aims to end RCB’s wait – Stumped podcast, BBC World Service

Key Concepts

• Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024: Upcoming season, team changes, predictions.
• Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Captaincy change (Rahane replacing Iyer), past success.
• Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Star-studded history, lack of titles, shift to younger players.
• Rishabh Pant: Expensive player for Lucknow Super Giants, pressure to perform, questions about his approach.
• Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Spin-friendly pitches, strong spin attack.
• Jasprit Bumrah: Injury concerns, workload management, conflict between franchise and national team.
• Harry Brook: Pulling out of IPL, focus on international cricket, debate about a potential ban.
• Bilateral vs. Franchise Cricket: Growing conflict, potential impact on international cricket.

IPL 2024 Preview

• The 18th edition of the IPL starts on March 22nd in Kolkata.
• Indian cricket's recent success (T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy) adds to the excitement.
• The Mega Auction in November led to significant team changes, making predictions difficult.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

• KKR surprisingly released their title-winning captain, Shreyas Iyer, who then got a "very good deal" with the Punjab Kings.
• Ajinkya Rahane is the new captain. Sunil Gupta believes Rahane is the "right choice" due to his captaincy experience, citing India's Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in '21/22 under his leadership.
• KKR's explosive batting was key to their success last season, and Sunil Gupta expects a similar approach this year.
• While KKR spent over $2,000,000 on Venkatesh Iyer in the auction, Sunil Gupta doesn't believe he is ready for captaincy due to his lack of experience.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

• RCB has consistently had star players (Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Dale Steyn) but has never won the IPL.
• The team is shifting its focus to "young and hungry people," with Rajat Patidar as captain instead of Virat Kohli.
• Sunil Gupta believes this change reflects an understanding that star power alone hasn't brought success and that RCB "had to start all over again."
• RCB has not won the IPL from 2007 to 2024.

Rishabh Pant

• Lucknow Super Giants made Rishabh Pant their most expensive player in IPL history.
• Despite being a first-choice player in the past, there are now questions about his place in the Indian T20 side.
• Sunil Gupta sees this IPL season as a "big test" for Pant to prove his maturity and decision-making, not just his aggressive batting style.
• Sunil Gupta recalls an instance in the Sydney Test match where Pant threw his wicket away, highlighting his tendency for unnecessary risks.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

• CSK is expected to continue playing on turning pitches with a strong spin attack (Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmed).
• Jim Maxwell believes that despite the spin-friendly conditions, scores are unlikely to be lower due to the variety of shots batters now possess (reverse-sweep, paddle-sweep, scoop).

Jasprit Bumrah

• Jasprit Bumrah is expected to miss the first few games for the Mumbai Indians due to injury.
• There is a debate about managing his workload, especially with a five-Test series in England coming up shortly after the IPL.
• Sunil Gupta emphasizes the need to prioritize Bumrah's fitness for the Test series, suggesting that the franchise should manage his workload carefully, even if it means giving him breaks during the IPL.
• Sunil Gupta points out that Bumrah was "bowled into the ground" in Australia, leading to a year-long absence due to a back problem.
• Sunil Gupta suggests that franchise owners should understand that they can win without him, as India won the Champions Trophy without him.

Harry Brook

• England batter Harry Brook has pulled out of the IPL to focus on international cricket.
• There is debate about a potential two-year ban from the IPL for Brook.
• Jim Maxwell supports Brook's decision to prioritize his country but disagrees with a ban.
• Jim Maxwell highlights the growing conflict between bilateral and franchise cricket, warning that international cricket may suffer due to the financial power of franchise leagues.
• Jim Maxwell expresses concern that cricket will be a "lesser game" if Test match cricket disappears.

Conclusion

The upcoming IPL season is marked by significant team changes, captaincy shifts, and individual player pressures. The program highlights the ongoing tension between franchise cricket and international cricket, particularly regarding player availability and workload management. Key storylines include KKR's new captaincy under Rahane, RCB's shift to younger players, Pant's need to prove his maturity, and the management of Bumrah's injury concerns. The debate surrounding Harry Brook's decision underscores the broader challenges facing the sport as franchise leagues gain prominence.