Points table showing which teams are moulding quickest

The relative bowling strengths of the top-5 sides is evident that conditions have played their part with an even covering of live grass on the pitches.

It’s provided opportunities for top class bowlers to exploit them. In contrast the bottom of the table has two sides in Chennai Super kings and Mumbai Indians whose bowling units have struggled for potency.

Chennai though may well prove to be a side who prosper from now on as spin may be more influential with pitch conditions beginning to change as they dry out and the grass dies off and pitches are used for a second or even third time.

Therein lies the fascination moving forward as to which teams will prosper in the second half of the tournament. My best guess will be the better functioning batting units and the spinners will bring their sides to the top end of the table.

Rajasthan Royals with Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna followed by the spin twins of Yuzi Chahal and Ravi Ashwin have been outstanding. It’s not always about individual bowlers but bowling units who combine well and complement each other. Ashwin has generally bowled economically and built pressure and Chahal has been terrific and also benefited from pressure created by Ashwin. That may change over time with Ashwin picking up wickets if Chahal builds pressure.

Spinners generally also prosper when opening bowlers thrive with the new ball. Trent Boult has been exceptional with his control of the swinging ball and Prasidh very effective. Teams under pressure and spinners bowling to batters fresh to the crease rather than set makes a big difference.

KKR too have built early success on a similar mantra. Umesh Yadav and now Pat Cummins and Tim Southee initially combined so well in the early stages and with control of opposition batting units can unleash Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. Though Narine is a handful for batters regardless of the match situation.

Punjab Kings with Rabada picking up key wickets throughout the innings combining well with Arshdeep, a left armer so effective in this format with a change of angle and ball going across the right hander and sometimes in depending on whether ball is swinging can be so effective. Add Arora, Rahul Chahar and Odean Smith, that’s makes for a decent bowling line up.

Of the two new franchises Gujarat Titans and LSG have good bowling line ups. Though the Titans look to be arguably the best bowling line up in the competition. Certainly, with conditions helping the outstanding combination of Mohammad Shami, Lockie Ferguson and H Pandya with support from Nalkande and Rashid Khan to bowl wherever the captain chooses.

Rahul Tewatia may come into his own later in tournament as conditions change. LSG have relied mainly on Chameera, Jason Holder, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan and Gowtham. A combination of at times nerveless bowling and outstanding batting has led them to 3 crucial wins so far.

A look into the crystal ball and which teams may prosper later on takes me to Chennai with Theekshana, Jadeja and Mooen Ali all should be effective certainly if the batting can fire. Spinners love it when batter are looking to be aggressive as it can create wickets, that so evident with Theekshanas brilliant spell against RCB.

I expect KKR to continue to thrive and more onus and importance on Narine and Chakravarthy moving forward. RCB with Hasaranga, Shabaz and now important overs from Maxwell may well continue to climb the table. Mumbai have a mountain to climb and their bowling resources lack potency at the moment.

I expect Delhi Capitals to prosper moving forward looking at the makeup of their side quality batting line up with Warner to shine and spin bowling options in the resurgent Kuldeep Yadav, Lalit Yadav and Axar Patel. The ball spinning both ways important too with some grounds having smaller boundaries at times as the pitches move across the square.

There is so much to look forward to over the coming weeks and teams adapting to conditions, which may change, integral to their success.