Former Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir has picked his top-four of the Indian Premier League 2021. Gambhir backs Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians to reach the playoff stage of the season.

The second leg of the IPL 2021 will start with Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians locking horns on September 19 in Dubai. The league was halted midway due to multiple covid-19 positive cases inside the bio-bubble.

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The league is all set to resume in the UAE for the remaining 31 games. Gambhir believes the current top-four in the points table will maintain their position at the end of the league-match phase.

“For me the top four will be Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians. The positions might get changed with the matches, but those four are firm favourites,” said Gambhir on Star Sports.

However, Gambhir didn’t discard a possible sneak-in by Punjab Kings into the top-four.

“Punjab Kings have an outside chance. They are the only team who have got a realistic chance of making it into the playoffs,” added Gambhir.

Meanwhile, former West Indies captain Brian Lara supported Punjab Kings to make their way into the top-four.

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“Kolkata Knight Riders have a talented team but I will back Punjab Kings to make it into the play-offs. Punjab Kings have all the firepower to turn the tables around,” said Lara.

Punjab Kings are currently sitting in sixth place in the points table. KL Rahul-led team has won three games out of eight they have played so far. PKBS need to win five of their remaining six games to make it to the top four.

PKBS will resume their campaign against Rajasthan Royals on September 21 in Dubai.