2010 Indian Premier League Cricket Outright Winner Odds

With IPL chairman Lalit Modi confirming that this year’s edition of the much-vaunted twenty20 cricket league will be played in India despite security concerns, attention is now starting to turn to who is considered the favourite to win the tournament proper.

As it currently stands Gautam Gambhir’s Delhi Daredevils are the 7/2 favourites. They made it to the semi-final stage last season, but I expect their attack to click a bit harder this time around while the acquisition of Moises Henriques is also expected to pay dividends.

Chennai Super Kings trade at 4/1 for the tournament victory and Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side are justifiable in this position. I think with a strong start to the season, you’ll see their odds drop sharply.

Bookmakers are looking to see how the attack will fare this time around and whether they can actually bowl out the opposition when they’re under the gun. Andrew Flintoff is skipping this season, so the side has added Justin Kemp and Thisarra Perera, as well as former ICL cricketer Hemang Badani.

Last season’s unlikely champions, the Deccan Chargers, are listed at a very solid 5/1, and the security controversy may be affecting their price. Last year’s player of the tournament was Deccan captain Adam Gilchrist and when your batting line-up boasts the in-form Herschelle Gibbs as well as V.V.S Laxman (not to mention Rohit Sharma) you know that this team won’t struggle to score runs.

Throw in all-rounders Andrew Symonds and Ryan Smith, and you’ve got a pretty fearsome opening order. Additionally, Kemar Roach has been acquired to add a bit more steel to the attack.

2009’s runners up Royal Challengers Bangalore are also trading at 5/1, and this might be the team to beat. While everybody respects the presence of Kevin Pietersen, who looks to be rediscovering his form in limited-overs cricket, I think that the acquisition of the high-flying Eoin Morgan could prove to be the decisive move of the season.

That tandem combined for a record twenty20 stand for England against world champions Pakistan in Dubai just last week. It was a scintillating display and one those two to deploy on a regular basis for the Anil Kumble-coached team. There is so much depth all over the place in this side, that I think they’re going to need a fair amount of bad luck to miss out on this year’s tournament.

Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals can be backed at 7/1 and the strong Australian contingent should make a real impression. I think Shane Watson could prove decisive for them and if he has a big tournament then I see good things for Rajasthan.

Kolkata Night Riders trade at 8/1 and they are an attack-heavy side with plenty of batting all-rounders including David Hussey, Chris Gale and captain Sourav Ganguly. Shane Bond is slated for the attack, as well as Ajantha Mendis and the up-and-coming Indian bowler Ishant Sharma. Brendon McCullum as wicket-keeper also adds solidity.

Mumbai Indians are listed at 8/1 and they’ve brought in Kieron Pollard for this year’s tournament to compliment their cadre of talent players. Sachin Tendulkar and JP Duminy will likely put together some impressive stands while the all-Sub-Continental bowling line-up is intriguing.

English twenty20 specialist Graham Napier is set for another season while the West Indian tandem of Pollard and Dwayne Bravo should be intriguing. This is the potential dark-horse team.

Finally, Kings XI Punjab also trade at 8/1 and Kumar Sangakkara’s side will be looking to prove themselves up to the task by opening brighter than they did last season- losing their first two matches. They were blown out of the water at one point last year against Rajasthan so defensive solidity is key this time around.

Brett Lee has just retired from test cricket and will be looking to increase his profile in the shorter formats. Mahela Jayawardene is back again as is Englishman Ravi Bopara. King XI aren’t considered to be serious contenders, unless they can win convincingly early in the tournament.