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The defending champions of the DLF Indian Premier League, the Chennai Super Kings take on the Kolkata Knightriders at home in the opening encounter of the IPL on the 8^th of April. They are bidding to be the first IPL team to retain their crown, and led by the man of the moment, MS Dhoni, who has just led the nation to the greatest prize in the sport, they are favourites to go all the way.

Chennai had everything to lose due to the reauction to accommodate the 2 extra franchises added this year, considering that they boasted the strongest squad over three seasons, with semifinal appearances in all 3, making the final twice and winning once. Unsurprisingly they retained their full quota of 4 players in MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Murali Vijay and Albie Morkel, and bought back as much of their former squad as they could. That means their XI is set to look very similar to that of seasons past, and they will waste no time in bonding, unlike other teams who have undergone major overhauls of personnel.

Batting:

Throughout the three seasons, CSK has boasted possibly the strongest batting lineup among all teams, and that will continue this season. In the absence of Matthew Hayden, they had opted for Michael Hussey at the top of the order to partner Murali Vijay in the Champions League, and Hussey looks set to reprise that role once he returns from the short 3-match ODI series in Bangladesh. He will probably miss only the initial 2 games.

Chennai’s real strength lies in the middle order that boasts only Indian names in Suresh Raina, Subramaniam Badrinath, Anirudha Srikkanth and the skipper himself. Raina plays the finisher for the Indian side, but at No.3 for the Super Kings, he has been nothing short of prolific, and is the highest run-getter in the IPL over three seasons. Badrinath offers solidarity while the less said about MS, the better. He has slapped his critics in the face with a matchwinning 91 not out on the biggest stage of all, and his corner in the pantheon of legends already seems assured.

Srikkanth was persisted with in the Champions League to decent results, and he will be kept on his toes by the presence of Abhinav Mukund, who has been almost Tendulkaresque on the domestic circuit, with First Class and List A averages pushing 60. Ganapathi Vignesh might be an option as he has met with success in the shortest version in the ICL, and is billed as an allrounder.

Chennai are blessed with a clutch of allrounders in Albie Morkel, Dwayne Bravo, Francois Du Plessis and Scott Styris. Morkel brings to the table his big hitting skills and is the only one of these star names assured of a starting role. Bravo is set to miss most of the season due to his international commitments for the West Indies. Du Plessis is touted as a man for the future by the Proteas, and apart from his allround skills is an absolute livewire in the ring. Styris is more of a steady accumulator than a hitter, and given his age, may have to sit out games more often than not.

Bowling:

Given the lack of depth in the Indian fast bowling talent of the Super Kings, Dhoni will look to a number of foreign names to do the job with the ball. Sudeep Tyagi and Joginder Sharma are the only Indian pace bowlers for Chennai, and neither is very likely to make the side.

Doug Bollinger missed the World Cup for Australia, but on recovery will return to lead the attack. He had an absolutely phenomenal first season at the IPL last year, picking up 12 wickets at a superb average of just 17. Ben Hilfenhaus has had to undergo surgery, and he has been replaced by promising young Kiwi pacer Tim Southee. Southee, 22, after a hugely successful World Cup personally, has been touted by none other than the legendary Alan Donald as capable of rising to the mantle of the premier swing bowler in the world. Southee will compete for a spot with Sri Lankan Nuwan Kulasekara, who is reputed for his metronomic accuracy, variations in pace, and tight lines in the death overs.

Chennai lost Muttiah Muralitharan to Kochi in a heavy bidding war, and that will hit them hard. Ravichandran Ashwin was a revelation last season, showing maturity beyond his years and a multitude of subtle variations, ending up with the best economy rate of just 6.10 rpo. He more than held his own with the new ball, and possesses a carom ball that is, some say, better than that of the pioneer, Ajantha Mendis himself. He has served India with distinction at the World Cup and will be once more key to the Super Kings’ chances.

Shadab Jakati showed a knack of picking wickets last season, ending with 13, and will make the side ahead of Sri Lankan offspinner Suraj Randiv due to the 4 foreigner rule. Ashwin’s and Jakati’s ability with the bat mean the Super Kings bat as deep as No.9.

From among the top 7, Albie Morkel will certainly bowl his full quota every time, and he has been steady as the opening bowler for Chennai. He may continue to do so to save Bollinger’s spell for the death overs. Dhoni has also shown great faith in Raina’s bowling, and has been rewarded every time with crucial wickets.

Squad:

Batsmen: Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, Subramanium Badrinath, Anirudha Srikkanth, Michael Hussey, Abhinav Mukund, Kuthethurshri Vasudevadas, George Bailey.

Bowlers: Doug Bollinger, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ben Hilfenhaus, Tim Southee, Suraj Randiv, Sudeep Tyagi, Joginder Sharma, Shadab Jakati, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh.

All Rounders: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt &wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Scott Styris, Francois du Plessis, Albie Morkel, Dwayne Bravo, Ganapathi Vignesh.

Players to Watch:

Suresh Raina: A vital cog in the wheel of Chennai’s success, Raina’s allround abilities are well known of and he is the man for any crisis. Watch out for him hitting those length balls over midwicket or rolling his golden arm over to break a burgeoning partnership. If nothing else, he'll be in the thick of the action, flashing across the turf in the infield.

Ravinchandran Ashwin: In Dhoni’s words, “mentally tough” and he has time and again shown his worth, thriving in conditions where spinners fear to take the ball. The mystery may no longer be there with Ashwin but he has the tricks and variations to take wickets in the bucketloads while tying batsmen down to no more than a run-a-ball.

Support Staff:

Head Coach: Stephen Fleming, Bowling Coach: Andy Bichel, Batting Coach: Steve Rixon, Physical Trainer: Gregory King, Physiotherapist: Tom Simsek, Manager: Russel Radhakrishnan.

Likely Playing XI: Murali Vijay, Michael Hussey, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c & wk), Subramanium Badrinath, Albie Morkel, Anirudha Srikkanth, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shadab Jakati, Doug Bollinger, Tim Southee/Nuwan Kulasekara.

Schedule:

The defending champions kick off the fourth season of the IPL and their campaign simultaneously on April 8^th against the enigmatic Kolkata Knight Riders. From south to north and then back south, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) travel to Mohali to play the Kings XI Punjab in their next encounter and return home to play Vijay Mallya’s Royal Challengers. In the next battle for the south, Chennai go up against Kochi on Apr 18^th. A riveting match in Mumbai on Apr 22 pits Dhoni against Tendulkar. Two games in three days with his friend Yuvraj Singh’s Pune Warriors would be a clash of one-upmanship.

Chennai get a bit of a breather in between and return home to welcome the Deccan Chargers and Rajasthan Royals. The reverse leg of the opening day encounter with a trip to Kolkata follows, ending it with a check in at Jaipur on May 9. They round up their home schedule against Kochi Tuskers on May 18 and four days later travel to Bengaluru to complete their group phase.

Chennai have the resources to repeat their 2010 performance, but a big hurdle for CSK could be the itinerary and their extensive travel along the length and breadth of India within a short span. Their Support Staff and depth in squad are sure to be tested if Chennai go the distance.

Home Fixtures: At the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
Fri Apr 8 vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 8pm
Sat Apr 16 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 4pm
Mon Apr 25 vs Pune Warriors, 8pm
Sun May 1 vs Deccan Chargers, 8pm
Wed May 4 vs Rajasthan Royals, 4pm
Thu May 12 vs Delhi Daredevils, 8pm
Wed May 18 vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala, 8pm

Away Fixtures:
Wed Apr 13 vs Kings XI Punjab (PCA), 4pm
Mon Apr 18 vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala (Nehru Stadium), 8pm
Fri Apr 22 vs Mumbai Indians (Wankhede), 8pm
Wed Apr 27 vs Pune Warriors (DY Patil Academy), 4pm
Sat May 7 vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Eden Gardens), 4pm
Mon May 9 vs Rajasthan Royals (Sawai Mansingh Stadium), 8pm
Sun May 22 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (M Chinaswamy), 4pm

File Photograph Copyright: Michael Henn

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