IPL 2023: Teams who are likely to win IPL season 16

The 15 previous seasons have seen a total of six teams laying their hand on the coveted IPL trophy. Mumbai Indians (MI) have won the title five times, followed by CSK – 4 and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – 2.

Now defunct Deccan Chargers, Rajasthan Royals (RR), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and GT have won the trophy one time each.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are yet to win an IPL trophy.

Will the IPL season 16 witness a new team being crowned the champions? Will MS Dhoni lead CSK to their fifth IPL title? Or will the Rohit Sharma-led MI win their record-extending sixth IPL trophy. The IPL is an unpredictable tournament because of the massive talent pool all the teams carry with them. However, we have shortlisted the likely winners of IPL season 16.

IPL 2023: Teams who are likely to win IPL season 16

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

The buzz around the 4-time champions is massive this time. MS Dhoni would most probably be leading the team for one last time and big things are expected from the Yellow Army. The season will see two of the biggest all-rounders in world cricket turn up for the Chennai-based franchise. Ben Stokes will tag along Ravindra Jadeja to form a deadly all-round pair. With Moeen Ali also in the wings CSK will come across as a major threat to the opposition. Devon Conway is expected to add to the batting fire-power of the team.

The pace department does not have a big name but Indian bowlers have flourished under the guidance of Dhoni. Once the pace unit and openers get their act together, CSK will be aiming to give a deserving farewell to their club legend Dhoni. So the onus is on Ruturaj Gaikwad, and a Deepak Chahar-led pace unit which will feature Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary, all-rounder Shivam Dube and South Africa star Dwaine Pretorious.

Mumbai Indians (MI)

After a horrid IPL 2022 season in which they finished at the bottom after just four of their 14 league matches, IPL’s most successful team will be raring for a strong comeback. Rohit Sharma, who failed to lead India to the T20 World Cup 2022 title triumph, also has a point to prove.

Their premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah is set to miss the entire tournament but Mumbai. In another setback, Australia pace sensation Jhye Richardson has also been ruled out owing to an injury. In their absence Jofra Archer, who recently made his return after a prolonged injury break, will become the key to Mumbai’s success. Jason Behrendorff and all-rounder Cameron Green will most likely tag along with Archer to form MI’s core pace attack for the season.

Mumbai are excellently covered in the remaining departments. Captain Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs and Tilak Verma are the big names in the squad. Veteran spinner Piyush Chawla would be seen leading the spin attack. Uncapped left-arm pacers Shams Mulani and Kumar Kartikeya are the other two options in the spin department.

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Despite the absence of their regular captain Rishabh Pant, Delhi Capitals (DC) again walk into an IPL season with the favourites tag. They have qualified for play-offs in three of their last four seasons. In 2020 they qualified for the finals.

David Warner, who led SRH to their first title in 2016, will be leading a very talented group consisting of Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel, Mitchell Marsh, Manish Pandey, Kuldeep yadav, Rilee Rossouw, Rovaman Powell, Philip Salt, Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Mukesh Kumar and Lungi Ngidi. The likes of Khaleel Ahmed, Ishant Sharma, Lalit Yadav and Sarfaraz Khan also feature in the very compact squad.

Delhi have a very able leader, one of the most destructive opening pairs in Warner and Shaw, gun all-rounders in Axar and Marsh, world-class spinner Kuldeep, and arguably one of the best pace attacks. With all the ingredients to win a title, Delhi will be a team to watch out for.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

IPL 2022 runners up Rajasthan Royals also walk in as favourites. They have themselves covered in all the departments. Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer and Joe Root form a formidable batting group.

The side also features a world-class pace-bowling all-rounder in Jason Holder. Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzevndra Chahal and Adam Zampa in the spin department. Last but not the least, a pace attack featuring Trent Boult, Obed McCoy, Navdeep Saini and Kuldeep Sen. Once Rajasthan get going, stopping them would be hard.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

The IPL 2022 saw Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) qualify for the play-offs in their maiden attempt. The KL Rahul-led side would be aiming to travel the distance this time around.

The strength of the side is their star-studded line-up of all-rounders. Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Kyle Mayers and Marcus Stoinis form the world-class bunch of all-rounders.

Rahul and Quinton de Kock could emerge as nightmares for the oppositions at the top. West Indies star Nicolas Pooran and domestic star Ayush Badoni add to their batting strength. The bowling department features the likes of Ravi Bishnoi (spinner), Avesh Khan, Mark Wood, Daniel Sams, Amit Mishra (spinner), Mohsin Khan, Jaydev Unadkat and Krishnappa Gowtham (spinner).