IPL 2021: Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore can afford to lose a couple of games, says Gambhir

New Delhi, Sep 6: The second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 is set to start on September 19 in the UAE after the cash-rich tournament was halted midway due to the COVID-19 breach in May.

The franchises have gathered in the UAE and started their preparations for the second half of the marquee league approaches. Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir has shared his thoughts about the teams that are going to have an edge over others in the UAE.

The former left-handed batsman - who has led Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL triumphs - claimed Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are going to have an advantage at the start of the tournament.

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Speaking on STAR SPORTS show GAME PLAN, Gambhir highlighted the teams that are likely to benefit from the second half of IPL 2021 and said, "See again, Mumbai (Indians) probably will be having that advantage, because first they've won it last time in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in UAE, well and they're going back to the same place and they're in a position where they can actually finish in the top two as well.

If you look at other franchises especially franchises like KKR or for that matter even Sunrisers (SRH), it's pretty difficult for them to qualify or for that matter even Punjab Kings. But if you ask me one franchise who's going to have an advantage with this break, is Mumbai Indians."

Former India wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel spoke on what CSK and RCB will be feeling before entering the second half of IPL 2021, "Definitely I think there would be a jitter in CSK's mind, there would be jitters in probably RCB's mind. You know we're talking about teams like CSK, they wanted games behind their back, someone like Dhoni, like Raina, Like Raidu, like Robin Uthappa, they're not playing cricket throughout the year, but they're just getting into the groove and they got this break.

And teams like RCB you know, they need that momentum to start the tournament which they had, so I think these are the two teams which would be thinking 'Oh okay we'll go again, and start from scratch'. This break for teams which are at 4,5,6 they would be thinking that they have a chance to come back and teams who are in the 2nd or 3rd would be thinking that they have to start again as well."

Gambhir also shared his thoughts on why CSK and RCB can afford to lose a couple of games in the second half of IPL 2021, "See again, from CSK & RCB's point of view I think they've gotten themselves into a position where they can actually afford to lose a couple of games. So that's the reason why I said that Punjab Kings can't afford to do that, KKR can't afford to do that. Sunriser's can't afford to lose a single game if they want to qualify for the playoff and that's the reason why they probably will still have an advantage especially CSK and RCB because they've brought themselves up to that position."

The opening game of the second half of the IPL 2021 will begin with giants Mumbai Indians taking on Chennai Super Kings on September 19.