The Indian Premier League’s 18th season is heating up. Three teams have already booked their spots in the playoffs: Gujarat Titans, the current champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Punjab Kings. The fight for the fourth spot is intense, with Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians going head-to-head. Now, cricket legends are weighing in on who’ll take home the title this year.
Najot Singh Sidhu, a former Indian cricketer and current IPL commentator, is backing Punjab Kings to win it all. He loves what he’s seen from Shreyas Iyer’s team, saying they’ve defied expectations and shown impressive form. “They’ve got the players, like Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh, and Nehal Wadhera,” Sidhu explains. “And with Priyansh Arya joining the league, they’ve got the talent to make it happen.” Wadhera’s recent 70-run knock against Rajasthan Royals was a standout performance, with a strike rate of 180 and five sixes.
Sidhu believes Punjab Kings have what it takes to go all the way. “Not only have they improved, but they’re also strong contenders for the title,” he says. “I’m confident they’ll make it to the top two, along with either Royal Challengers Bangalore or Gujarat Titans. And historically, the team that makes it to the top two usually wins the championship.”
Under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, Punjab Kings are looking fierce this season. It’s been a while since they’ve made it to the playoffs – their last appearance was in 2014, when they reached the final but lost to KKR. In fact, Punjab Kings have only made it to the playoffs twice in IPL history, with their first semifinal appearance back in 2008. Can they break their championship drought this year?