One team has won the Indian Premier League title twice. The other has been unable to make a strong impact in the previous six editions so far. Chennai Super Kings take on Kings XI Punjab in Friday's first match and ground realities show that the 'vast difference' between the two may not count for much. The updates:
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been the undisputed giants of Indian Premier League (IPL) for several years. Having won the title twice (2011 and 2012), Mahendra Singh Dhoni has marshaled his men well to bring down opposing teams. The last one year though has been unlike any before. Controversies off the field have threatened to steal the thunder from the Men in Yellow. The objective in front of this team though is clear - play hard, play well and play to win not just the title but hearts as well. (Match preview)
Kings XI Punjab are standing in the way of CSK. This team has always been the one to beat to collect full points and move ahead in the table. The script may change this year as George Bailey leads the team under the watchful eyes of the only Indian coach in IPL - Sanjay Bangar. And then there is Virender Sehwag who is a man on a mission - raring to prove that he is still an attacker-par-excellence. The team has several other quality stars including David Miller, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Johnson who can thwart any challenge that is thrown at them. A win in the opening match and a win against a quality side like CSK can bolster the morale of the side and keep it up through the course of the tournament.
CSK coach Stephen Fleming has been candid enough to admit that off-field issues cannot be just brushed aside and are like a distraction for the team, which under normal circumstances comes across as a well-oiled machine on a mission. "There's a lot going on, I won't lie. There are a lot of distractions (leading up to the tournament). I think we were all uncertain about how it was going to play out," Fleming said in a subtle reference to the betting controversy which is now under a Supreme Court-monitored investigation. (Challenging to adjust in UAE conditions, says Dhoni)
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