Great question—and the answer proves that T20 cricket isn’t just about star power, it's about how well that star power is used. Some IPL teams have stacked lineups on paper, but still underperform due to deeper, structural issues.
Let’s break down why some IPL teams struggle despite having star players:
🧩 1. Poor Team Balance
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Stacking superstars doesn’t guarantee balance.
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Teams often go all-in on big names (batters or all-rounders) but lack:
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Specialist death bowlers
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Anchors or finishers
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Quality Indian backups
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Example: RCB in early years – had Kohli, ABD, Gayle… but a fragile bowling unit.
🧠 2. Weak Strategy or Tactics
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Some captains/coaches just don’t adapt fast enough:
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Example: Punjab Kings (PBKS) have had top-class squads, but inconsistent tactics & frequent mid-season changes hurt their rhythm.
🔁 3. Constant Chopping & Changing
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Star players need time to gel, but some teams lack patience.
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Frequent changes = low morale, no rhythm, poor confidence.
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Example: SRH’s constant captaincy and player shuffling post-2020 derailed their consistency—even with stars like Warner, Rashid, and Williamson.
🧑💼 4. Lack of Defined Roles
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Even stars need clarity. Are they:
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Teams that fail to assign clear roles often underutilize their best talent.
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Example: Andre Russell being sent too low down the order for KKR in some seasons.
💥 5. Stars Don't Always Fire Under Pressure
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High price tags = high expectations.
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But T20 cricket is brutal—one bad game can kill momentum.
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If a team is too dependent on a few stars, and they flop, the team collapses.
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Example: Delhi Capitals relying too heavily on Pant or Shaw when others underperform.
🔥 6. Not Enough Indian Depth
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You can only play 4 overseas players—Indian talent is the real backbone.
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Teams with strong uncapped Indian players often outperform paper-strong squads.
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Example: CSK & MI always invest in solid Indian benches, while others overspend on foreign stars.
🎭 7. Off-Field Drama & Instability
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Management interference, coaching shuffles, captaincy switches = chaos.
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It affects team culture and decision-making.
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Example: SRH’s messy fallout with Warner in 2021 became a full-blown PR disaster.
🧬 8. No Team Identity
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Winning franchises have a culture (think CSK’s loyalty, MI’s professionalism).
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Teams without a clear identity tend to feel disconnected—even with big names.
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Fans feel it, players feel it, and it reflects in results.
🧠 Bonus: Too Much Reliance on Reputation
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Star players may be past their peak, but teams pick on name value.
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They block rising talent who could make more impact.
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Example: Some franchises hold on too long to former superstars out of sentiment.