The only thing that CSK has over Mumbai currently is that they managed to defend their title successfully once in contrast to Mumbai's inconsistency in the even years. This year might be the perfect time to break that curse and if they win there will be no doubts over Mumbai's dominance of the IPL being a level above Chennai's. The only team that I can see stopping this juggernaut is Delhi if Pant and Dhawan get back to their best or Bangalore/Punjab having a crazy season on the back of a few stars firing.
Rajasthan looked to have a really solid base to build on after those first two games but these losses make it clear that their side is quite not up there. Samson's contribution needs to be significantly better if he wants that Indian spot and they need to stop bowling Rajpoot in the powerplay when he has been so atrocious. Archer needs to bowl with the new ball instead, give your best pacer the new ball in the first two overs. It is not rocket science at all. At worst, the opposition chooses to play him out safely which is a huge bonus on these bigger grounds where you need to do damage in the powerplay. Mumbai did that with Bumrah bowling the second over and it is no coincidence that after that superb over of his, Boulto was able to nab another wicket with scoreboard pressure adding it's weight.
Always said Smith is a terrible captain. He's just Kohli leagues and it takes a substantial amount of madness to qualify in that bracket.
Coming to the quality, I think MI is streets ahead in terms of quality. If Pattinson is replaced by NCL, you have a genuine number 7 coming in at 8 and an upgrade on Pattinson the bowler in this format. As I've stated in numerous posts, they have benefitted massively by investing in the Pandya's and Bumrah. Once you introduce an uncapped player and he becomes a world class international player, it's like adding a marquee player. Rohit, Hardik and Bumrah are mainstays in the national side and that is the basis of the MI success. Some moron trades from brainless franchises has helped. It can only be RCB that gives away QdK for 2.5 crores, buys Finch for 6.5 and then makes their best T20 batsman keep wickets. It's just RCB things and anyone that says Finch is a better batsman than QdK in any format is smoking deep stuff. The keeping is not even a factor in this. Which other franchise would give away Boult for 2cr to a championship side? Cottrell makes like 8? It's just madness that Delhi agreed to this trade.
I also feel MI have actually underachieved. OK, they won 4 titles but just look at the backroom staff and the financial backing they have. 2 of those finals were won by 1 run. CSK on the other hand have just been a cult franchise. I think they're the very bedrock of the IPL. Pure passion and absolutely max utilisation of resource. People are counting them out this year, and I keep repeating it-
Do not count MSD out.
MI can win this and the next title, but for me, CSK will be the best franchise of the first 15 years of IPL.
I genuinely think we can add two more franchises just looking at the talent on the bench of all franchises. Also, RR, RCB and KXIP have underachieved massively in the last 15 with RR's first 5-6 years being very solid and punching above their weight.
Mission Accomplished
! If we get a little consistent, KKR can win trophies (2012 and 2014 being the biggest examples).
