Ahead of Mumbai Indians’ game against the Chennai Super Kings on September 19 at Abu Dhabi, Indian batting legend Virender Sehwag picked favourites to win the IPL 2021 title. The Indian Premier League is set to resume after it was deferred due to a COVID-19 scare in May. 

After 29 matches, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was forced to postpone the tournament and it was shifted out of India to the UAE. The Delhi Capitals lead the points table followed by the Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians in order. 

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As the season resumes, many have started analysing the conditions and choosing their favourites for the title. Virender Sehwag has his pick too. 

He picked Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals – the finalists of the last year – as the favourites to win IPL 14. 

“Since the second half has been shifted to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, I think Delhi and Mumbai will again be favourites and the five-time champions are slightly ahead,” Sehwag told PTI.

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Sehwag reckons that pitches in UAE will be slower and thus Chennai and Bengaluru might face some problems.

“Chennai’s average score in India was 201 during the first phase but I think when it comes to UAE tracks, they would be lacking a bit in batting firepower. If I have to pick one team, that will be Mumbai.” He said that for Chennai, after such a long gap, it might take “some more matches” to settle down and get into the “groove”.

Also read: IPL 2021: How the teams fared in the India leg

When asked which are the players that he would be looking forward during the next four weeks, Sehwag named four batters.

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“My first choice will be Ishan Kishan followed by Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul and Sanju Samson. These four I will be intently watching. I have loved Devdutt’s batting and if I have to pick one amongst the four, he is my man. Who knows, if he does well, he might be drafted in as that Indian top-order for the T20 World Cup,” he added.