I am rooting for the underdogs: Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals, and Kings XI Punjab.
These teams have NEVER won the Indian Premier League. I desperately want to see a newer team take the title. So, I am fine with any of these three teams winning this IPL 2019.
Although RCB is far from being an underdog with legends like AB De Villiers and Kohli, it still has one of the worst IPL track records. Even this year, three matches down, the team continues to perform badly, sitting at the bottom of the points table. Yes, the entire tournament remains, but it seems quite unlikely that RCB can make a comeback. Not necessarily because they will be playing bad but because other teams are outdoing them in every department.
Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab seems to be trading better in IPL 2019 vs. the previous years. They are sitting at the 4th and 5th positions respectively on the points table. Both have played 3 matches, winning two of them.
I've been a fan of KXIP for long in its Maxwell-Miller-Bailey-Sehwag days. Before that, there was the legendary Adam Gilchrist, leading the team. The KKR vs. KXIP in the finals of Indian Premier League 2014 still stands as one of the most thrilling matches. However, this year, there seems something is missing. Yes, the team has Chris Gayle, Andrew Tye, Mohammad Shami, and KL Rahul. But I am not a big fan of Ravichandran Ashwin. He's a good bowler; but in a leadership role, he's debatable. To that, his recent Mankad incident made things even worse for him and the team. Hopefully, KXIP can win its first IPL. But I am not big on them.
Coming to Delhi Capitals, possibly one of my most favorite teams this Indian Premier League. The Delhi team has never looked this good. From Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan and Axar Patel to Trent Boult, Chris Morris, and Kagiso Rabada -- DC has a fine mix of the batsman, bowlers and all-rounder who aren't necessarily the "top" names but they are great in practice. To that, the biggest plus point for the Delhi Capitals is their management. Ricky Pointing is the head coach, Mohammad Kaif is the assistant coach, and Sourav Ganguly is the advisor.
In short, Delhi Capitals look highly balanced in its playing eleven, as well as the staff. Although I am fine with any of the underdogs, never-won before team win IPL 2019, DC is one team that I want at the very top.
But, of course, even with a good team, it's not as easy to win the Indian Premier League. You have to play exceptionally well to outdo CSK and SRH -- the biggies in the tournament. And this is not easy with Dhoni and Warner on each team.
Till now, IPL 2019 has turned up to be quite exciting. Hopefully, down the line, it doesn’t get predictable. And that Delhi Capitals continue the good performance.