Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, and others make bold IPL 2024 champions predictions

The IPL 2024 kicks off with Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Chennai Super Kings at the Chepauk on Friday. March 22. The match kicks off the 17th season of the Indian Premier League which is the most followed cricket league in the world and the oldest as well. 

MS Dhoni stepped down as the Chennai Super Kings skipper a day before the match to shock the entire cricketing fraternity. Ruturaj Gaikwad was named as his successor. The decision came as a shock to MS Dhoni fans but not to the management. 

Meanwhile, all teams are set now and looking forward to their respective campaign openers. CSK and RCB kick off the season on Friday. DC, Punjab Kings, KKR, and SRH play on Saturday, and Sunday sees Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants, and Rajasthan Royals play against each other. 

A panel of experts at Star Sports already predicted their favorites to win the IPL 2024 title. Chennai Super Kings were favorites among many of them. Some even predicted the likes of KKR and Mumbai Indians. Teams like Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Lucknow Super Giants were not the favorites to win. 

Star Sports Experts Panel Predicts IPL 2024 Winners

Interestingly, Harbhajan Singh and Ambati Rayudu backed CSK to win the title. Former Indian captains and veteran commentators Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar backed Mumbai Indians while former Windies skipper Brian Lara backed KKR to win the title. Kevin Pietersen made a bold prediction and decided to go with Punjab Kings. 

Punjab Kings have not made the finals of the IPL since making it last in 2014. KKR recently made the finals in 2021. CSK have made the final 10 times in the IPL and won five of them. Mumbai Indians made it to five finals and won all of them. RCB made it to three finals, SRH and Rajasthan Royals two, and Gujarat Titans made two back-to-back finals in 2022 and 2023 winning one and losing one. Delhi Capitals made the final of IPL 2020 and lost against MI. LSG are the only one among the current teams to not make it to the final even once. They lost out in the Eliminators in the last two seasons. 

Star Sports experts prediction for IPL 2024 Champions:

Ambati Rayudu – CSK.
Kevin Pietersen – Punjab Kings.
Harbhajan Singh- CSK.
Brian Lara – KKR.
Ravi Shastri – Mumbai Indians.
Sunil Gavaskar – Mumbai Indians. pic.twitter.com/P5gRilPibH

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 22, 2024

Also Read: Watch: Ellyse Perry shares love for ‘wonderful supporter’ Virat Kohli ahead of IPL 2024

Speaking about the CSK vs RCB campaign opener, in 31 matches between the two sides, Chennai Super Kings have won 20 matches while Banglore have won 10. More interestingly, RCB have won just one match at the Chepauk and not one in the last 15 years. Ahead of the season opener, MS Dhoni decided to step down as the CSK skipper. Ruturaj Gaikwad was named his successor. 

As per reports, the decision was taken based on the fact that MS Dhoni might retire after the IPL season and that the team wanted to start on a fresh note. 

“There is speculation that Dhoni will retire at the end of the season and therefore the franchise felt the need for a smooth transition in the stalwart’s presence as a player” said a CSK official. 

CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan opened up about MS Dhoni’s decision to hand over the captaincy to Ruturaj.

“Whatever Dhoni does, it is in the best interest of the team. I got to know of the decision just before the captains’ meeting. You have to respect his decision, it is his call” he said. 

Also Read: Watch: “Mahi bhai se toh pyaar hai” – Rishabh Pant gets emotional while talking about MS Dhoni