IPL 2021 Special: Ranking the Best Pacers Attack of Each Team

Mumbai Indians, the team with the best set of pacers as we look at the rating and ranking of pacers of all the teams for phase 2 of IPL 2021 UAE. 

Pacers, the category of bowlers that plays a huge role in the powerplay and death overs is always one of the most exciting categories to review about. A team can survive without spin bowlers in white-ball cricket, but can never survive without quality pace bowlers. 

Every team is expected to have a playing 11 that has at least 3 Pacers in the squad. It is the combination that generally sees pacers bowling 4-6 overs in the power play, 3-4 overs in the middle overs, and 3-4 overs at the death. No surprise teams heaving invest in the Pacers, and IPL 2021 has some of the most costly players in the form of pacers. 

So, which are the best pacers in each Team, and what are their ranking and rating for the Phase 2 of IPL 2021 in UAE? Let’s find out in this article. But before that, let’s look at the unique methodology that would help us analyze the players, and reach a logical conclusion. 

Methodology:

• Pacers are classified as Main pacers, Good backup pacers, and other backup pacers, and all are being rated on a scale of 10. However, for the overall rating calculation, the weighted average is taken with higher weightage given to the main pacers. 
• All pacers are relatively rated with respect to benchmark pacer basis their last two IPL’s performance, and/or their current International and Domestic form.
• While any player can play an additional role as ”Backup’, main players and good backups should have a unique set of players. 

Benchmark Pacer for IPL 2021 UAE: Jasprit Bumrah

Alright then, let’s look at the best pacers ranking and rating of each team for phase 2 of PL 2021. 

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#8: Punjab Kings – 8.28

Two Main Pacers: Mohammed Shami and Chris Jordan 

Three Good Backup Pacers: Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis, and Ishan Porel 

Other Backup Pacer(s): Moises Henriques 

Punjab Kings had heavily Invested in the pacer department ahead of IPL 2021. They purchased Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith for over a million dollars, but the returns were extremely poor. As a result, the second leg of IPL 2021 saw both, Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith missing from the Tournament, and instead, PBKS Invested in Nathan Ellis as the overseas pacer. 

Mohammed Shami remains the team’s best pacer with a rating of 9. He is followed by England’s Chris Jordan, who is a brilliant white-ball bowler with a rating of 8.5. Arshdeep Singh and Nathan Ellis are the team’s good backups with a rating of 8.25 each. Apart from this, PBKS have Ishan Porel and Moises Henriques as other backups.

Overall, Punjab Kings get a weighted average rating of 8.28 in the pacers category.

#7: Kolkata Knight Riders – 8.32

Two Main Pacers: Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee 

Three Good Backup Pacers: Andre Russell, Prasidh Krishna, and Shivam Mavi 

Other Backup Pacer(s): Ben Cutting Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Sandeep Warrier, and Vaibhav Arora

A highly overseas pace driven team, Kolkata Knight Riders is at the 7th position when it comes to the best pacers for IPL 2021. The absence of Pat Cummins means Lockie Ferguson is KKR’s best pacer with a rating of 8.75. His Kiwi teammate Tim Southee is the second-best pacer with a rating of 8.25. Following these two is another overseas pacer, Andre Russell with a rating of 8.25

Apart from the overseas options, KKR have a potent Indian pace contingent in the likes of Prasidh Krishna, Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, and Sandeep Warrier. Prasidh is the best of the lot with a rating of 8.25. He is followed by the other three pacers with sub 8 ratings.

Overall, Kolkata Knight Riders get a weighted average rating of 8.32 in the pacers category.

#6: Sunrisers Hyderabad – 8.33

Two Main Pacers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jason Holder 

Three Good Backup Pacers:  Khaleel Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma, and Siddarth Kaul

Other Backup Pacer(s): Basil Thampi and Vijay Shankar

Just as SRH were looking to play their first game of Phase 2, an unfortunate instance of their star pacer, T Natarajan came in, and the pacer was ruled out of IPL 2021 after being tested positive. T Natarajan’s absence affects SRH’s ranking drastically as they fall from 3rs position to 6th position. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar remains the team’s best pacer with a rating of 8.75. Jason Holder follows him with a rating of 8.75 himself. Khaleel Ahmed and Sandeep Sharma form for really good backups with a rating of 8.25 each. Apart from these 4, SRH have Basil Thampi and Vijay Shankar with a sub 8 rating.

Overall, Sunrisers Hyderabad get a weighted average rating of 8.33 in the pacers category.

#5: Rajasthan Royals – 8.39

Two Main Pacers: Chris Morris and Mustafizur Rahman

Three Good Backup Pacers: Oshane Thomas, Kartik Tyagi, and Chetan Sakariya 

Other Backup Pacer(s): Shivam Dube, Jaydev Unadkat, Akash Singh, and Kuldip Yadav. 

RR shall be happy to see that this is an area where they aren’t ranked at the bottom of the table. They are 5th with Chris Morris and Mustafizur Rahman leading the pace bowling contingent with a rating of 9 and 8.75 respectively. Both have been in really good form in IPL 2021, and are still performing well.

Chetan Sakariya and Oshane Thomas form for really good backups with a rating of 8.25 each. Apart from these, RR have Kartik Tyagi and Jaydev Unadkat as other good backup options with a rating of 8 or below. RR have also have more young pacers in the form of Akash Singh and Kuldip Yadav; thus forming a formidable pace attack.

Overall, Rajasthan Royals get a weighted average rating of 8.39 in the pacers category. 

#4: Royal Challengers Bangalore – 8.46

Two Main Pacers: Mohammed Siraj and Kyle Jamieson

Three Good Backup Pacers: Harshal Patel, Navdeep Saini, Dushanta Chameera 

Other Backup Pacer(s): George Garton and Akash Deep

Not the most outstanding pace squad, but RCB have an all-round pace contingent with the leader of the pack being Mohammed Siraj and Kyle Jamieson. Both have been brilliant white-ball bowlers since 2020, and carry a rating of 8.75 each. 

The rise of Harshal Patel in the first half of IPL 2021 elevates his rating to 8.25 alongside Navdeep Saini, who is at 8.25 himself. Coming to other backups, RCB have the overseas pace duo of Dushanta Chameera and George Galton; although both might not play in the playing 11 unless such a situation arises.

Overall, Royal Challengers Bangalore get a weighted average rating of 8.46 in the pacers category.

#3: Delhi Capitals – 8.49

Two Main Pacers: Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje

Three Good Backup Pacers: Avesh Khan, Ishant Sharma, and Umesh Yadav

Other Backup Pacer(s): Tom Curran, Ben Dwarshuis, and Lukman Meriwala

One of the best performing teams in the competition also have one of the best pacers in the squad. The South African duo of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje are DC’s best pacers with a rating of 9.5 and 8.5 respectively. Both are in red hot form, and it is also been seen from the results. 

Although quite young, Avesh Khan is the team’s best backup with a rating of 8.25. Team India’s Test specialists, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav as the two-best backups with a rating of 8 each. Barring these 5, Delhi Capitals also have Tom Curran, Ben Dwarshuis, and Lukman Meriwala as the backups in the squad.

Overall, Delhi Capitals get a weighted average rating of 8.49 in the pacers category.

#2: Chennai Super Kings – 8.66

Two Main Pacers: Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar

Three Good Backup Pacers: Dwayne Bravo, Josh Hazlewood, and Sam Curran

Other Backup Pacer(s):  Lungi Ngidi, Km Asif, and Hari Reddy

The fantastic form of Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur in not only IPL but also International cricket make Chennai Super Kings a formidable side in the pace department. Not just these two, the other two regulars, Sam Curran and Dwayne Bravo are almost equivalent when it comes to bowling capabilities. All 4 carry a similar rating of 8.75. 

Coming to backups, CSK are no short on this as they have two overseas pacers, Josh Hazlewood and Lungi Ngidi in the ranks. Both are leaders of the pace attack for their respective countries, and both carry a rating of 8.5. Apart from these, CSK also have KM Asif and Harishankar Reddy as other backup pacers.

Overall, Chennai Super Kings get a weighted average rating of 8.66 in the pacers category.

#1: Mumbai Indians – 8.76

Two Main Pacers: Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult

Three Good Backup Pacers: Adam Milne, Hardik Pandya, and Nathan Coulter-Nile

Other Backup Pacer(s): Marco Jensen, James Neesham, Dhawal Kulkarni, Kieron Pollard, and Mohsin Khan

Undoubtedly, the best pace contingent among all the teams. While CSK have more quality pacers in their roster, MI have two outstanding pacers in the form of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. While Jasprit Bumrah is the benchmark pacer with a rating of 10, Trent Boult has been one of the best performing pacers in IPL since 2019, and has a rating of 9.25. 

Supporting these two, MI have three overseas pacers, Adam Milne, Nathan Coulter-Nile, and Marco Jansen with a rating of 8.25, 8.25, and 8 respectively. Just shows the availability and bench strength of MI pacers. Apart from these, MI also have Hardik Pandya, Dhawal Kulkarni, and James Neesham ad other backup pacers.

Overall, Mumbai Indians get a weighted average rating of 8.76 in the pacers category.

Thanks for reading! Looking at the ranking of each team, which team do you think has the best set of pacers in IPL 2021? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

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