IPL 4 Final Four ( IPL 4 Qualifier ) Teams Profile: Chennai Super Kings

The Chennai Super Kings are an enigma. On the one hand, they should have been the team that was the most consistent simply because they have had their core intact. However, the up and down season leaves the favourites and IPL 3 winners as favourites, but not overwhelming ones.

mahendra singh dhoni chennai super kings

The Chennai Super Kings' loss to the Royal Challengers Bangalore, albeit in the dress rehearsal, does not leave much case for inspiration. Apart from Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the CSK captain, who has been majestic, their batsmen simply failed to pick themselves up and were exposed by the RCB bowlers.

However, the IPL 4 qualifier stage should change the mindset of the team that has lifted the IPL trophy once more to know what is required. What will be paramount in their interest is that they shake off the fact that they were second in the IPL 4 points table and play to win in the first qualifier itself rather than await the opportunity of the IPL 4 qualifier 2.

The Chennai Super Kings have had their moments with Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay at the top. With Suresh Raina, Subramaniam Badrinath and Dhoni himself, they have a strong middle order. How they manage their batting personnel will tell the story as also who wins the nod, Saha or Badrinath. Perhaps their only issue is when to bring in Albie Morkel because if he gets going, Chennai could feast on a belligerent Dhoni-Morkel partnership. That would be the success script.

Morkel's bowling will also have to come to the party if they are to continue leaving Doug Bollinger out. Ravichandran Ashwin remains their stock weapon while Shadab Jakati will have to play out of his skin. Dwayne Bravo, the all rounder, will also have to play out a key role if Chennai can get over their mid-IPL hiccups and once again, prove to be the team that has always looked like winning but did not in the first two seasons of the IPL.

Confidence will be key for the Chennai Super Kings as they look to face off a team that has had the better of them in an encounter only forty-eight hours before. It is perhaps why Mahendra Singh Dhoni the captain becomes critical for the Chennai team's cause. If he can inspire his team to relive glory as defending champions, the RCB and some other team could be in for a nasty surprise as well.

The final will be in Chennai and Chennai Super Kings' home record is amazingly consistent. They would certainly want to get up there in the IPL 4 final to become the first team to win the IPL twice.