IPL 2021: Aakash Chopra backs these four teams to qualify for playoffs

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has predicted four teams who will make it to the playoffs of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. Chopra felt that Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are certain to qualify. Both CSK and DC have 16 points to their name and need a win to secure a place in the top four. The former India cricketer then backed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to go through as the third team. For the fourth spot, Chopra feels it will be a stiff fight between Mumbai Indians ( MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). With five wins in seven games, MI and KKR are placed neck and neck in the points table. However, MI are marginally ahead in terms of net run-rate.

“Chennai, Delhi there’s no doubt about that. Third, hopefully, Bangalore will qualify. For the fourth, there’s going to be a fight between Mumbai and Kolkata. I have a strong feeling that if Kolkata doesn’t hit a self-goal, they’ll make it. If (Andre) Russell is fit then there will be no self-goal but it can happen here because the captain is in zero form. However, it’s Eoin Morgan, a big player, so it’s also possible that he might turn around his form and give a strong finish,” Chopra said in a video on his YouTube Channel.

Talking further, Chopra said that five times IPL champions Mumbai Indians have not looked themselves thus KKR have a greater chance of moving ahead. Mumbai Indians resumed their IPL campaign in UAE with three back to back losses before breaking the losing streak against Punjab Kings (PBKS).

“I am tilting towards Kolkata for a simple reason that Mumbai isn’t looking like the ‘Paltan’ of the old. Yeah, you won against Punjab but even that wasn’t convincing. They are winning all games scrappingly, which isn’t like them. They still have one game to go against Delhi which is the next game only in Sharjah.

“If you lose this, you won’t have luck on your side because Kolkata’s all matches are against teams placed below them. Kolkata has got something going for them, for Mumbai, there’s something not going for them,” Chopra added.