Calcutta: The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) appear to be the team to beat as far as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are concerned.
"It's tough to go past RCB, with their strength in batting. The quality of players and the coaching staff make them the side to beat," Chris Lynn said on Monday.
Even though captain Virat Kohli will not be available for the initial phase of the tournament, RCB have a star-studded batting line-up, comprising the likes of Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers. The team also has a fine finisher in Kedar Jadhav, while Shane Watson and Stuart Binny can also come in handy.
"Our plan will be to bowl as many dot balls as possible... Really need to bowl many... It will be challenging for us, but if we can reduce the number of boundaries conceded, then that will go a long way in winning the game," the Australian said about KKR's strategy.
On the absence of key Indian players like Kohli, Lynn said: "There are 14 games in the season. Someone like Kohli would be out only for a few games. That won't have any impact as a whole.
"We will also miss Umesh (Yadav) for a couple of games even though he will walk straight back into the side. He's a vital part of the team. So, I guess things will be fine."
Lynn, also the Brisbane Heat captain, had pulled off the fastest fifty in the Big Bash League in 2014-15 with an 18-ball half-century. He backed his fellow Indian all-rounder Yusuf Pathan to do something similar in this IPL.
"Yusuf Pathan's role is to hit the fastest fifty of the tournament. He's going to come in at number five or six and add power to the batting order by clearing the ropes, hitting as many sixes as possible. That's what he does the best.
"We also have a good pace bowling attack with Trent Boult, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Woakes and Umesh, and then we have some quality spinners," Lynn emphasised.
Top-order batsman Darren Bravo feels privileged to be playing in the IPL. "By all means, the IPL is the No.1 Twenty20 competition in the world. I am very privileged to be part of the Knight Riders team," the West Indies left-hander said.
Yusuf said he is eying a comeback to the national team through the T20 event. "The brand of cricket I've played so far, my only aim has always been to play for India again. IPL is one such platform where I can prove myself again," the three-time IPL winning all-rounder said.
"To make a comeback for the country is the ultimate aim. It's about making full use of the opportunity I get here."
New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme, meanwhile, replaced Andre Russell in the squad. De Grandhomme, whose international career took more than four years to resume after his debut in a T20I against Zimbabwe in February 2012, started his Test career with a bang when he scalped six for 41 against Pakistan on a green-top in Christchurch.
Those were also the best figures for a New Zealand debutant.
Since that Test, De Grandhomme has more or less made his place permanent in the New Zealand squad. Ever since making his way back to international cricket, the 30-year-old has played eight T20Is and nine ODIs apart from six Test matches.
He's yet to do anything noteworthy in T20Is, but the numbers in his T20 career are certainly inspiring - 1772 runs from 100 matches at a strike rate of 171.04.
According to vice-captain Suryakumar Yadav, the two-time champions will go all out this time to add a third star on the jersey by bringing the trophy home. Usually, teams have stars on top of their badge or crest to depict the number of titles they have won.
KKR, winners of the IPL in 2012 and 2014, lost to eventual champions Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator last year by 22 runs.
"There is not point thinking about last year. We have moved on and are thinking about this season," Yadav, who played a match-winning knock of 60 against Rising Pune Supergiant last time, told reporters on the sidelines of Senco Gold & Diamonds' tie-up with KKR.
"We have two stars on our shirt and hopefully will add a third," the 26-year old said.
