Three teams who might change their captains, IPL 2019
Here are three teams who might change their captains ahead of IPL 2019. Image Courtesy: Getty

In the limited-overs cricket, batting, bowling and fielding are not only enough for a team to be at the top. It also requires the skill of captaining the side and who he can handle every possible situation. Here we will take a look at three teams who could change their captains in the twelveth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2019).

Currently, with eight teams, each team plays each other twice in a home-and-away round-robin format in the league phase. However, the top four teams will qualify for the playoffs, and the top two teams from the league phase will play against each other in the first Qualifying match. The winner goes straight to the IPL final, and the loser gets another chance to qualify for the IPL final by playing the second Qualifying match.

Meanwhile, the third and fourth place teams from league phase play against each other in an eliminator match and the winner from that match will play the loser from the first Qualifying match. The winner of the second Qualifying match will move onto the final to play the winner of the first Qualifying match in the IPL final match, where the winner will get crowned the Indian Premier League champions.

Let us look at the three teams that are expected to be in the race for switching their leaders:

1. Rajasthan Royals

IPL 2019, Three teams who might change their captains
Three teams who might change their captains ahead of IPL 2019.

Rajasthan Royals had a decent outing in the IPL 2018, as they hold the fourth position on the list. However, it had happened due to individual performance and not for the leadership quality. Ajinkya Rahane who captained the last season for RR has been struggling with his batting in recent times. His production in Test cricket has dipped a lot which is quite evident, as his batting average has dropped from nearly 50 to just 41.

However, it might have affected his captaincy as well. Moreover, with his performance not up to the mark, if Rahane had to take another burden of leading the side might hamper his batting capabilities as well as on his teammates.

Rajasthan Royals should try England’s wicket-keeper batsman, Jos Buttler for the role. He his having good luck and can take the extra burden with his calm nature which might be suitable for a high-pressure skipper situation in a T20 format.

2. Kings XI Punjab

IPL 2019, three teams who might change their captains
Three teams who might change their captains ahead of IPL 2019.

Ravichandran Ashwin who led the team Kings XI Punjab in the last edition holds the seventh position in the 11th edition of the IPL. It will be a tough call for Punjab to withdraw captaincy of the newly appointed skipper. Moreover, the 32-year-old is not having a good time, as he is unable to provide results out of his bowling and batting as well.

In addition to, with his performance it is difficult to grab a spot for the next year’s IPL. KXIP should turn up to KL Rahul for the new role. The opening batsman is an experienced cricketer and has years of cricket ahead of him who could be a long-term investment for his team. They have frequently been changing captains and can try the fiery opener, Kl Rahul.

3. Delhi Daredevils

IPL 2019, Three teams who might change their captains
Three teams who might change their captains ahead of IPL 2019.

Though having a lot of young talents in Delhi Daredevils, the franchise is still waiting to put hands on the trophy. The 2018 IPL was yet another dreadful season for the DD, as they stand in the last position of the table. Veteran Gautam Gambhir got dropped from the captaincy in the middle, and Shreyas Iyer took the burden of carrying the team for the rest of the tournament.

However, Iyer had batted quite well, but he couldn’t impress many with his captaincy skill. He was not an experienced cricketer and will surely need time to grab the uphill task. DD who was missing the Indian southpaw Shikhar Dhawan has entered into the side and willpower their batting line up. Maybe, DD think they’ve found a new captain for their side too.