Punjab Kings

Lose: Marco Jansen

Replacements: None

Punjab Kings will only lose one player, but it’s a significant one as fast-bowler Marco Jansen will leave for the WTC final. Jansen also provided incredible depth with his batting ability, and will be a key miss. Nonetheless, PBKS have a strong pace attack, and plenty of overseas depth to boot, which might explain their decision not to rope in a replacement.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Lose: Lungi Idi, Jacob Bethell

Replacements: Blessing Muzarbani, Tim Seifert

RCB will be happier about the fact that they have been given the ok to keep hold of Josh Hazlewood for the playoff run, with his importance to this team impossible to understate. They won’t mind the losses too much, with Ngidi being a backup and Bethell being more of a future prospect. Tim Seifert provides extra firepower at the top if they continue to miss Tim David, while Zimbabwean Muzarabani provides an extra arm in the pen.

Gujarat Titans

Lose: Kagiso Rabada, Jos Buttler

Replacements: Kusal Mendis

The team that is arguably hit hardest by the players they lose. While they have excelled without Kagiso Rabada being in the best form, Jos Buttler has been absolutely crucial to their season, part of their elite top three that has won them game after game. In Buttler’s absence, their batting begins to look a lot thinner: losing a player nearly averaging 60 and striking at 165 will do that to any team. Kusal Mendis is a like-for-like replacement as a top-order wicketkeeper, but he has humongous shoes to fill.

Mumbai Indians

Lose: Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, Corbin Bosch

Replacements: Jonny Bairstow, Charith Asalanka, Richard Gleeson

Three out, three in for MI. The biggest loss for them will be Rickelton, who has not only grown into the tournament as a batter and provided good starts, but also been exceptional behind the sticks with the gloves on. Jonny Bairstow has had a few bright IPL performances, but comes in somewhat out of the cold to replace him. Sri Lankan skipper Asalanka might be more of an insurance batter for a strong batting team that can shuffle around, while Gleeson is once again a bench option for Trent Boult.