IPL 2021: Aakash Chopra names four teams who will qualify for playoffs

While one can safely say that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals will qualify for the playoffs, the race to grab the other two spots is still pretty intense. Both CSK and DC have 16 points and need a win in their remaining four games to go through. However, barring Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), all the remaining five teams have an opportunity to finish in the top four.

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Cricketer turned expert Aakash Chopra has named the four teams he feels will go through the playoffs. The former India cricketer was on the same page as other experts and felt that CSK and DC will qualify for sure. He then backed Virat Kohli-led RCB to book a berth in the playoffs. RCB currently have seven wins in 11 games. They resumed their UAE leg on a dismal note and lost games and KKR and CSK. However, they bounced back to claim two impressive wins over Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals.

Further, Chopra felt it will be a close fight between KKR and MI for the final spot in the top 4. “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.

The former India player, however, said that KKR have a greater chance of going through as MI have looked a shadow of their own in IPL 2021. With five wins and six losses, MI are placed fifth in the points table.

“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.