IPL 2020 first week review: Worrying signs for CSK, DC and KXIP send warning notice to rivals

IPL 2020 Week 1 round-up: Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab have been the most impressive teams in the opening week in the UAE. On the other side, there is trouble for Chennai Super Kings while familiar problems have returned to haunt Royal Challengers Bangalore.

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IPL 2020 first week review: Worrying signs for CSK, DC and KXIP send warning notice to rivals
IPL 2020 Week 1: Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Capitals impress early in UAE (Courtesy by BCCI)

In Short

  • Delhi Capitals top IPL 2020 points table after the opening week
  • Mumbai Indians and KXIP made strong comebacks after facing losses in their openers
  • Familiar problems have returned to haunt Virat Kohli's RCB

After a long, long wait, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 got underway in the UAE on September 19 and we have reached the end of the first week of the tournament with the completion of 7 single-headers. The opening week has certainly lived up to the hype, offering a Super Over, a record hundred, a six-fest and some setbacks for big names.

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Delhi Capitals were the only team to register more than 1 win in the opening week and are looking for a well-oiled unit. On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings have gotten off to a poor start and, as coach Stephen Fleming concedes, there are lot of questions marks after their first week in the campaign.

Who's on top of the points table after Week 1?

Are Delhi Capitals going to dominate IPL 2020?

Delhi Capitals were considered one of the most-balanced sides in the lead-up to IPL and if early signs are anything to go by, DC are going to have a fine run in the tournament. Shreyas Iyer's men opened their campaign with a Super Over win over Kings XI Punjab and made it 2 in 2 by thrashing Chennai Super Kings on Friday.

They have a battalion of match-winners. Marcus Stoinis, who won them the match against KXIP with an all-round effort, did not even bowl and bat much in their win over KXIP. Prithvi Shaw is looking dangerous at the top of the order. Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer are looking a bit rusty but when they get going, DC are going to be even more dangerous.

Anrich Nortje, who troubled CSK with his pace and variations, is a great addition to the squad. Despite not having R Ashwin and Ishant Sharma due to injuries, DC got the job done with their bowling unit.

Week 1 results: Beat KXIP via Super Over, beat CSK by 44 runs

Can Kings XI Punjab and KL Rahul stitch a series of wins?

Kings XI Punjab were heartbroken after a Mayank Agarwal blinder went in vain against Delhi Capitals in their opener. However, they came strong, sending a warning notice to the rest of the teams.

KL Rahul smashed 132 not out from just 69 balls as they thrashed Royal Challengers Bangalore by 97 runs. Rahul looked in superb touch as he broke the record for the highest score by an Indian in the IPL.

With both Mayank and Rahul hitting peak form, KXIP would hope Glenn Maxwell takes up more responsibility. Keep in mind, they haven't played Chris Gayle yet.

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KXIP have a settled bowling unit as well. With Mohammed Shami and Sheldon Cottrell breathing fire with the new ball, a battery of spinners, led by young Ravi Bishnoi, is going to make oppositions fret.

Week 1 results: Lost to DC in Super Over, beat RCB by 97 runs

Can Mumbai Indians achieve consistency in the upcoming week?

Courtesy by BCCI

Mumbai Indians were off-colour and rusty in their opening encounter against Chennai Super Kings. But they learned from their mistakes quite quickly. With Rohit Sharma striking a 54-ball 80 and Suryakumar Yadav continuing to impress, MI were able to register a big win over Kolkatta Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi.

It was a week of comebacks for MI as Jasprit Bumrah who was looking down and out against CSK came up with arguably the spell of the opening week against KKR. He got the big wickets of Eoin Morgan and Andre Russeell as KKR in their chase of 146.

With matches against RCB and KXIP in the coming week, MI will be hoping they can stitch a series of wins and give themselves the early boost.

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Week 1 results: Lost to CSK by 5 wickets, beat KKR by 49 runs

Rajasthan Royals make a stunning first impression

Not many gave Rajasthan Royals a chance, considering the absence of Ben Stokes. However, Steve Smith's men have made a brilliant first impression.

In Sharjah, Sanju Samson and Steve Smith decimated CSK bowlers as the duo added 121 runs in just 66 balls. In a six-fest, Samson took CSK spinners to the cleaners, clearing the stadium at will.

Jofra Archer then chipped in with the bat and stepped up with the ball to make sure they had 2 points on their opening evening.

RR will be hoping their untested middle order steps up to the party in the upcoming games.

Week 1 results: Beat CSK by 16 runs.

Will Chennai Super Kings be able to keep their play-offs record intact?

It's 2020 and anything can happen. If early impressions are anything to go by, CSK are not looking good to keep their play-offs record intact.

In the absence of Ambati Rayudu, their top order is struggling. Shane Watson, Murali Vijay and Ruturaj Gaikwad are not giving the team the good starts that they have relied on in the past.

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MS Dhoni is finding it difficult to find the right combination as both their batting and the bowling isn't firing. As Aakash Chopra points out, he is playing with only 5 bowlers for the first time in a long while.

There are concerns over Dhoni's batting form and lack of clarity when it comes to the batting order. Spin had been their ultimate weapon but now it's their biggest problem.

Week 1 results: Beat MI by 5 wickets, lost to RR by 16 runs, lost to DC by 44 runs.

Should Royal Challengers Bangalore be worried about their bowling attack?

Courtesy by BCCI

RCB were a happy unit after their win over SRH in Dubai. What was most satisfying was the effort of their bowlers in defending a total that was not even in excess of 160. With AB de Villiers and young Devdutt Padikkal showcasing fine form, Virat Kohli was looking upbeat after the win.

However, things changed for them in the span of 3 days. Familiar issues returned to haunt them as KL Rahul took their pacers to the cleaners. Dale Steyn leaked 57 runs in his 4-over quota, Navdeep Sainia 37 runs and Umesh Yadav did not even complete his spell. They gave away 49 runs in 2 overs.

Their batting also floundered in the chase of 207 as the scoreboard pressure went against their favour.

Week 1 results: beat SRH by 10 runs, lost to KXIP by 97 runs

What's up with Sunrisers Hyderabad?

David Warner would want to believe it was an off-day against RCB. However, SRH have not addressed some issues that have been haunting them for a while. After Jonny Bairstow got out against RCB, their middle-order woes were exposed. They suffered a massive collapse, losing their last 8 wickets for just 32 runs.

While SRH have a variety-rich bowling unit, they need to get their combinations right in the batting unit. The addition of Kane Williamson and Mohammad Nabi should help them address their middle-order issues.

Week 1 results: Lost to RCB by 10 runs

Are Kolkata knight Riders not learning from their mistakes?

They have one of the most power-packed line-ups at IPL 2020 but KKR's performance against MI was anything but power-packed. While Shivam Mavi impressed with the ball, their big-money signing Pat Cummins was taken to the cleaners.

Dinesh Karthik is once again struggling to find the perfect roles for his best batsmen. Andre Russell and Eoin Morgan came too late as the asking rate, in their 196-run chase, had shot up by then.

There is a big concern over the form of their lead spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who hasn't been able to give them the much-needed breakthroughs in the middle-overs for quite sometime now.

Week 1 results: Lost to MI by 49 runs.