The IPL 2024 has entered its second week, and still there are three teams that have not opened their accounts on the points table. Meanwhile, the defending champion Chennai Super Kings have started from where they left off in 2023.
They are currently at the top of the table after winning their two games and have a better NRR than the other two teams with four points. It won’t be a wrong statement to say that CSK is the favourite to defend their title in 2024, and that too under the captaincy of a new leader, Ruturaj Gaikwad.
They have all the basics covered and also have some good backup players who can come in at any time. However, Australian superstar and member of the unofficial “Fab Four,” Steve Smith, feels something else. Smith, who went unsold at the IPL 2024 auction, is currently part of the broadcasting team of Star Sports Networks.
He feels that not CSK but Rajasthan Royals are the “team to beat” in the IPL 2024. In an interview on Star Sports, Smith highlighted that with the team doing well at home, it would be very hard to challenge RR at their home venue. He also said that RR has the best spin duo of Yuzi Chahal and Ravi Ashwin that can do well at any venue in India.
He said, “RR looks like the complete team this year. They have got all the bases covered. Their spinners: Chahal and Ashwin, are outstanding. If RR gets going and has an incredible season, they will be hard to beat. I think Sanju’s captaincy was outstanding, and he would want to continue that form.”
RR has started the IPL 2024 pretty well, with two wins on the trot. They beat LSG and DC and are currently third on the table. Apart from good spinners, RR also has Trent Boult, Nandre Burger, Avesh Khan, and Sandeep Sharma in their pace attack. They have got Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, and Sanju Samson at the top. And not to forget, Nicholas Pooran, Jitesh Sharma, and in-form Riyan Parag make a brilliant middle order.
