Cricket365's IPL Predictions

Gilchrist - expected to flourish.

With the IPL profiles all rolled out and the competition standing by for lift-off, Cricket365's finest dust off their crystal balls, put them to good use and prepare for the inevitable humiliation...

Who will win the whole thing?
Jonhenry Wilson: Kolkata Knight Riders - unlike the bulk of the other franchises they boast a solid pool of bowlers which includes homegrown Ishant Sharma and Ajit Agarkar, allowing them to load their batting order with international stars like Ricky Ponting, Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum.
Tristan Holme: Delhi - the most balanced side on paper with an excellent fielding unit, they should also have the local talent to back up the international stars.
Peter May: Deccan Chargers. Batting power is self-evident (Gilchrist, Gibbs, Symonds, Styris, Afridi) but wily signings of awkward bowlers (those three all-rounders plus RP Singh and Vaas) make a small squad a formidable one.
Shahida Jacobs: The Deccan Chargers - a top order compromising of some of the world's most-powerful batsmen, quality all-rounders and bowlers who won't let anyone down.
Dave Tickner: I want to say Kolkata Knight Riders as they remind me of childhood TV, but MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings look the team to beat.

Which four sides will make the semis?
Jonhenry Wilson: Deccan Chargers, Bangalore Royal Challengers, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils.
Tristan Holme: Delhi Daredevils, Deccan Chargers, Kolkata Knight Riders, Bangalore Royal Challengers.
Peter May: Deccan Chargers, Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Daredevils, Bangalore Royals Challengers.
Shahida Jacobs: Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings, King's XI Punjab, Bangalore Royal Challengers.
Dave Tickner: Chennai, Kolkata, King's XI Punjab, Deccan Chargers

Who will finish top run-scorer?
Jonhenry Wilson: An almost impossible prediction to make but one must fancy an Indian will top the charts. Yuvraj Singh pulled off some mighty blows in the World Twenty20 and you can put money on him soaring to even greater heights at home.
Tristan Holme: Gautam Gambhir will, injury permitting, play every game and have the opportunity to attack during the power plays, so he has every chance.
Peter May: Yuvraj Singh. The least successful of all eight captains in 'conventional' cricket, he is the best placed to make this format his own.
Shahida Jacobs: It will be an opener, and I'm going for Adam Gilchrist.
Dave Tickner: Who knows? It's almost impossible to predict, but aggressive openers should be well-placed so I'll go for Adam Gilchrist.

Who will take the most wickets?
Jonhenry Wilson: Shahid Afridi's ability to take the pace off the ball on slow tracks will leave the batsmen trying to force the boundaries, which will undoubtedly give the canny spinner numerous victims in the deep when the slog is on.
Tristan Holme: Umar Gul was the leading wicket-taker at the World Twenty20 in SA and has been in good form against Bangladesh.
Peter May: Bowling in T20 is not for the novice or the faint-hearted: Muralitharan and Lee to lead the way.
Shahida Jacobs: Some all-rounder or spinner who will be bowling in the middle of the innings when the pressure is on. I'm going for Shahid Afridi.
Dave Tickner: Chaminda Vaas has an economy rate better than a run a ball in T20Is, so he could have a chance.

Which player will have the biggest all-round impact?
Jonhenry Wilson: Rudra Pratap Singh will prove that there is, after all, something in it for the quicker bowlers.
Tristan Holme: The game is tailor-made for Shahid Afridi, whose leggies have reached such dizzying heights that they make him as dangerous with the ball as he is with the bat.
Peter May: Cinderella. The usual suspects will play their parts but with mandated quotas of home-grown and youth players, expect a hitherto unknown to make his parents and bank manager very proud.
Shahida Jacobs: The fresh stacks of cash in Andrew Symonds' pocket will inspire him to greater things.
Dave Tickner: An easier question. MS Dhoni. In fact, he's already had it. With the biggest price tag and his increasingly high profile, Dhoni is the face of the IPL. The fact he's shown himself the most astute captain around in this form of the game should seal the deal.

Which side will be completely rubbish?
Jonhenry Wilson: Rajasthan Royals - too many temperamental and injury-prone squad members, Graeme Smith's failure to compete in the opening stint of their campaign and further lack of preparation from their tardy Pakistan trio will take the ultimate toll on Shane Warne's hopefuls.
Tristan Holme: Mumbai - too reliant on the old guard of Tendulkar, Jayasuriya and Pollock, and if Malinga remains crocked they're in real trouble.
Peter May: Rajasthan. Warne will build team spirit and confidence but the Royals squad looks the weakest in batting and bowling departments.
Shahida Jacobs: Delhi Daredevils - they just don't seem to have enough quality batsmen.
Dave Tickner: Rajasthan Royals. Apart from the obvious disadvantage of being the only side saddled with an England player, theirs looks the squad shortest on batting firepower.

Name one incident you'd love to see which won't happen.
Jonhenry Wilson: Arch rivals and now temporary team-mates Smith and Warne to have a difference in opinion during play, breaking out into fisticuffs in a battle the media will label as 'Tussle of the Tubby'.
Tristan Holme: A media boycott of the entire event until the IPL climb down from their greedy, totalitarian position. Sad, sobering and not at all humorous, but true...
Peter May: Dimitri Masceranhas reverse-sweeps Murali for consecutive sixes to secure victory for the Royals over Chennai. MS Dhoni nips from behind the stumps to remove the batsman's mask and reveal his true identity: Kevin Pietersen. An on-field fracas looks inevitable until Harbajhan appears on the big screen to declare his true feelings for Chennai's Matthew Hayden. All players link arms and hum 'Why Can't We Be Friends?' by War.
Shahida Jacobs: Shane Warne, Darren Lehmann, Graeme Smith and special guest Inzamam enter a pie-eating contest. Surprisingly Inzy walks away with the trophy, but his joy is short-lived as the umpire decides he tampered with his opponents' pies. The prize eventually goes to... your guess is as good as mine.
Dave Tickner: Kevin Pietersen breaking ECB ranks and signing up to play for his mate Shane Warne in Jaipur, only to discover that he has to play alongside Graeme Smith.