<p>Ahead of their Indian Premier League (IPL) season opener against three-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi Capitals' Ravichandran Ashwin has named the 'team to beat' in the 2021 edition of the world's most followed T20 league.</p>.<p>Ashwin, a key member of the Delhi Capitals unit that finished runners-up last year, also said that this season is a good chance for Rishabh Pant to prove his mettle as captain and said his team's chances of winning the league is a "good, a well balanced one."</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/cricket/ipl/can-mi-begin-campaign-on-winning-note-ipl-2021-mumbai-indians-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-swot-analysis-972101.html" target="_blank">Can MI begin campaign on winning note? | IPL 2021 Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: SWOT Analysis</a></strong></p>.<p>In an <a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/cricket/2021/apr/07/ashwin-picks-mi-as-team-to-beat-2286881.html" target="_blank">interview</a> with the <em>New Indian Express</em>, the 34-year old dubbed defending champions Mumbai Indians as the favourites to win the league. He said that Mumbai had a "powerful and explosive" squad and that the five-time IPL champions were the "team to beat."</p>.<p>"Every team is strong and I am not making a diplomatic statement. But I definitely think Mumbai has got a powerful and experienced squad. Mumbai will always start as favourites in this competition. I think Mumbai is the team to beat," he told the publication.</p>.<p>Mumbai Indians begin their title defence against title hopefuls Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday evening.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/cricket/ipl/rishabh-pant-aims-to-do-something-different-in-first-match-as-captain-against-mahi-bhai-971028.html" target="_blank">Rishabh Pant aims to do something different in first match as captain against 'Mahi Bhai'</a></strong></p>.<p>The Indian spinner also hailed his new captain Pant. Ashwin opined that Pant was "naturally blessed" with a good bat swing and was abe to produce immense power, which he said was "not an ordinary thing" for a cricketer. Pant was announced as the Delhi-based franchise's captain on March 30, following his exceptional knocks in the India-England T20 series.</p>.<p>The Chennai local also admitted that <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/shreyas-iyer-says-will-be-back-stronger-after-shoulder-injury-966287.html" target="_blank">Shreyas Iyer's absence</a> due to an injury was a "huge blow" for the Delhi Capitals. The team he said would particularly miss Iyer's batting. Iyer was the Capitals' second highest run scorer last year with 519 runs and a strike rate of 123.27.</p>
<p>Ahead of their Indian Premier League (IPL) season opener against three-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi Capitals' Ravichandran Ashwin has named the 'team to beat' in the 2021 edition of the world's most followed T20 league.</p>.<p>Ashwin, a key member of the Delhi Capitals unit that finished runners-up last year, also said that this season is a good chance for Rishabh Pant to prove his mettle as captain and said his team's chances of winning the league is a "good, a well balanced one."</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/cricket/ipl/can-mi-begin-campaign-on-winning-note-ipl-2021-mumbai-indians-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-swot-analysis-972101.html" target="_blank">Can MI begin campaign on winning note? | IPL 2021 Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: SWOT Analysis</a></strong></p>.<p>In an <a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/cricket/2021/apr/07/ashwin-picks-mi-as-team-to-beat-2286881.html" target="_blank">interview</a> with the <em>New Indian Express</em>, the 34-year old dubbed defending champions Mumbai Indians as the favourites to win the league. He said that Mumbai had a "powerful and explosive" squad and that the five-time IPL champions were the "team to beat."</p>.<p>"Every team is strong and I am not making a diplomatic statement. But I definitely think Mumbai has got a powerful and experienced squad. Mumbai will always start as favourites in this competition. I think Mumbai is the team to beat," he told the publication.</p>.<p>Mumbai Indians begin their title defence against title hopefuls Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday evening.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/cricket/ipl/rishabh-pant-aims-to-do-something-different-in-first-match-as-captain-against-mahi-bhai-971028.html" target="_blank">Rishabh Pant aims to do something different in first match as captain against 'Mahi Bhai'</a></strong></p>.<p>The Indian spinner also hailed his new captain Pant. Ashwin opined that Pant was "naturally blessed" with a good bat swing and was abe to produce immense power, which he said was "not an ordinary thing" for a cricketer. Pant was announced as the Delhi-based franchise's captain on March 30, following his exceptional knocks in the India-England T20 series.</p>.<p>The Chennai local also admitted that <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/shreyas-iyer-says-will-be-back-stronger-after-shoulder-injury-966287.html" target="_blank">Shreyas Iyer's absence</a> due to an injury was a "huge blow" for the Delhi Capitals. The team he said would particularly miss Iyer's batting. Iyer was the Capitals' second highest run scorer last year with 519 runs and a strike rate of 123.27.</p>
