Finally the wait is over and the highly anticipated Indian Premier League Season V kicks tarts today. And two powerhouses of IPL -- Mumbai Indians and the defending champions Chennai Super Kings -- would roll things off and would try to send early signals of the fierce battle that would last for over 50 days.
While Chennai Super Kings have Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to lead from the front, Mumbai Indians have the most prolific player the world cricket has ever seen, Sachin Tendulkar. Even though Sachin made a great gesture of letting ‘The Turbanator’ Harbhajan Singh to lead, it would be only foolish to think that Sachin would not be involved with the affairs on the field.
With temperature already on the rise and predictions as to who would start on a sweet note already making a buzz on the streets, it does look like a season which would be bigger and better. Pressure would be immense and odds are evenly placed when these titans collide to mark the opening of the IPL V.
Let us take you through as to what Chennai have and what might help them in reigning supreme over Mumbai.
• The affairs would start in M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, home ground of the defending champs and if records are to believed they have reigned supreme on most of the occasions playing at home. They are like Barcelona of IPL and beating them at home is the most difficult task that the teams have been facing since the inaugural edition.
• Their captain Dhoni has proved it over and over again. The national team captain might be pondering over India’s string of bad performance over the last year, but when it comes down to IPL it is a totally different job. He trusts his players, does take risks with conviction and has the ability to take the onus upon oneself during the hour of crisis. He has shown what he can do when it comes to captaining a domestic and two IPL titles and one Champions league victory speaks for itself. So Dhoni would look to start things off on a positive manner when he vies to make a hat-trick off titles. So when compared with Bhajji, he definitely leads the race. Harbhajan might have helped Mumbai Indians win 2011 Champions League but nothing much is been known about his captaining aptitude when it comes down to big stage. He might turn out be a great captain, but that needs to proved. So till then Dhoni would enjoy being supreme.
• Suresh Raina’s jump to form in the Asia Cup just before the IPL sends out signals that he is ready. And he has showed it to the world how devastating he can be in the sub-continent conditions.
But then it would be only unfair to talk about Chennai when the other team in picture is Mumbai Indians. They did choke at crucial times and might face an uphill task when they take on Chennai at home, but as it always said that only a moment and everything changes.
Let’s have a look as to what Mumbai have in their arsenal which might help them in beating Dhoni & Co.
• The biggest name in the cricket world Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is an integral part of the Mumbai Indians. Well he might not be leading this season but that would not mean that his expertise will not be used by Harbhajan. If Chennai really has to maintain their billing as a favorite in this opening tie, then they would have to curb the Master Blaster. Because if Sachin’s willow starts speaking and, it would be only fair to say that Dhoni and his team would have to resort to prayers for a miracle to win the match.
• Mumbai have the best fast bowler of present day cricket at their disposal, and it is none other than Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka. And if he starts getting those deadly yorkers and slowers spot on, then he can very well start taking wickets at will. So Dhoni would require to come up with a strategy to curb Malinga threat or else a plausible annihilation is on the cards for the defending champions.
• Richard Levi, from South Africa is a man to watch out. After going unsold, he came into limelight after scoring the fastest T20 ton of 45 balls and would really would be itching to show his batting prowess in the IPL.
By Samikshan Dutta Choudhury
