IPL Betting: What makes the perfect Twenty20 team?

Indian Premier League - IPL / Mark Ilott / 05 March 2010 / Leave a Comment

Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar hits out for Mumbai in last year's competition

"Keeping the scoreboard ticking over isn't good enough in 20 overs, you need boundaries and that is why Hussey, Hayden, our very own Freddie Flintoff and the biggest hitter of them all, Manendra Singh Dhoni, make the Chennai Super Kings ([6.8]) a formidable outfit."

Ahead of the Indian Premier League's third year, county cricket stalwart Mark Ilott identifies just what you need to build a top Twenty20 outfit and picks out his likely winners from this year's IPL

So one of the richest, most glamorous sporting events of the calendar is back - the Indian Premier League.

After a short sojourn in South Africa where the Deccan Chargers, led by the ever-impressive Adam Gilchrist, enjoyed the faster paced pitches and lifted the 2009 trophy the competition returns to its inaugural home. As a former pace bowler (the longer I'm retired the quicker I was) I do enjoy the short version of the game and especially watching my contemporaries being smacked out of the parks!

But while big hits are part of the game, a good team is more than just that. So I'm taking a look at the IPL's key men to work out what makes a great Twenty20 team.

It is no surprise to me that the most successful bowlers in the IPL have been those who do not rely on pace, instead using mystery as their chief weapons. Murali and Harbajhan Singh being two of the best. The only quickie to appear in the top 10 for economy rate is Lasith Malinga and his slower ball possesses such mystery that I can't see how people can set themselves against him. Both Harbajhan and Malinga play for the Mumbai Indians giving them a fierce bowling attack and together and with a batting lineup including Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Dwayne Bravo and the exciting Kieron Pollard they have a great chance of going all the way at [7.4].

The Rajasthan Royals won the 2008 IPL but this was more to do with the excellent leadership of Shane Warne who weighed in with a high tally of wickets. It's worth remembering that it was the less 'famous' players that performed above expectation to secure victory that year, so don't be blinded by teams with big name players.

On the slow, low pitches of India, it's the big hitters at the top of the order that I'll be looking at to win games. Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Brendon McCullum and Jayasuriya have all enjoyed hundreds and any bowler, slow or express, will want to see the back of them.

Even though Gilly retired from international cricket some years ago now he still strikes fear into the hearts of any opening bowler - more IPL hundreds, more IPL runs and more IPL boundaries than anyone. The veteran Aussie provides more proof that a keeper/batter is the way forward in World cricket - how long until we see Craig Kieswitter pulling on an IPL shirt? On the bowling front, RP Singh has sent down more deliveries than anyone and if the Deccan Chargers are to be crowned champions again this year - they are available to back at [8.0] to do that - he will have to keep his IPL form going.

The out and out quicks haven't fared too well in India, the slower pitches allowing batsmen that extra fraction of a second to blast them to all parts of the field.

One paceman who could make a difference is Shaun Tait in the Rajasthan Royals team ([9.4]). Express speed and capable of explosive deliveries, his weakness is consistency - he'll either be a godsend or he'll go miles! He does possess the ability to literally blow away the tail end but any batting side worth their salt would like to think the tail won't be exposed during a 20 over thrash!

Keeping the scoreboard ticking over isn't good enough in 20 overs, you need boundaries and that is why Hussey, Hayden, our very own Freddie Flintoff and the biggest hitter of them all, Manendra Singh Dhoni, make the Chennai Super Kings ([6.8]) a formidable outfit. Finalists in 2008, semis last year, 2010 could be their year.

Delhi Daredevils are the favourites for the competition at [5.5] and in Virender Sehwag they have one of the most destructive batters in world cricket. He's scores at nearly a 100 in Test cricket - in this shortened version he currently holds the best strike rate. Along with Ashish Nehra who is fine form and the 'death' bowling expertise of Dirk Nannes they will be a force to be reckoned with.

My money is on the Chennai Super Kings with a smaller wager on the Daredevils of Delhi. Gilchrist's Deccan Chargers are my dark horses.