T20 action can be compelling and battles within battles only add spice. The sparks will inevitably fly when star-studded Mumbai take on the league's most-decorated franchise under lights at the Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.
Chennai, who have entered the finals on four occasions, are inarguably the team to beat since they boats the tournament's best victory percentage. But Mumbai with Sachin Tendulkar as the marquee player, interestingly, are the only team to hold the better of them head to head at 6-5.
While Chennai, traditionally slow starters, will look to kickstart the tourney on a winning note, Mumbai will be keen to get their campaign back on track following their cliffhanger defeat to Bangalore away on Thursday.
Mumbai are among the few teams to have breached 'Fortress Chepauk' -- home has always been Chennai's stronghold -- and had, in fact, defeated Chennai both home and away last season, when the franchise from the southern metropolis were the defending champions.
That said, however, MS Dhoni-led Chennai have invariably held their own in the big games, defeating Mumbai away in the 2010 final and again last year when they won the eliminator by 38 runs in Bangalore to book a berth into the play-offs.
Chennai were eventually denied a record hat-trick of titles, ambushed by Kolkata at Chepauk, and Dhoni, who appears to have regain his touch following the record 4-0 triumph over Australia in the recent Test series at home, will be looking to re-establish Chennai's supremacy in the premier global competition.
Interestingly, Chennai bolstered their pace department, which Dhoni accepted was the side's Achilles heel on certain occasions, during this year's players' auction, with Australian Dirk Nannes one of the top signings. Chennai will be without their two Sri Lankan players (Nuwan Kulasekara and new signee Akila Danajaya) due to the governing council barring Sri Lankan players from playing in Chennai owing to the political situation in Tamil Nadu.
They are depleted further due to the absence of South Africans Faf du Plessis (injury) and allrounders Albie Morkel and Chris Morris (domestic commitments). However, Dhoni said his side is sufficiently balanced and with a back-up option for every position.
Sri Lankan quick Lasith Malinga missed the season-opener with a sore back, a game that Mumbai allowed to slip through their grasp in the final over. His absence certainly hurt. "I may lose most of my finger nails. Disappointing not to have won the game. We have to analyse our game," said Ponting.
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