RCB v CSK Champions League Twenty20 Semi Final Preview

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Sreelata YellamrazuSep 24 2010

It boils down to this : two IPL teams take on each in the first semi final of the Champions League Twenty20 2010 at Kingsmead, Durban in South Africa.

michael hussey batting for csk

It will be the battle of the minds and it will be interesting to see how the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain, Anil Kumble, handles his talent, flair filled forces against the compact, resilient Chennai Super Kings led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

On paper, Chennai look a little depleted on power and that is because the RCB are carrying the heavy weight of the international cricket world in the likes of Ross Taylor, Jacques Kallis and Cameron White, not to mention Dale Steyn in their line up. Chennai's foreign force has been limited by the next to no form of Matthew Hayden forcing the inclusion of Michael Hussey, the injury concern to Albie Morkel, who has not had the best year in international standards, and Justin Kemp who only gets limited opportunities to show his potential which is tough enough. What they have going is Muttiah Muralitharan, albeit only for four overs in the match.

But where Chennai make up is their tough attitude to come out in the most precarious situations, whether it was qualifying for the semi finals, playing against the Warriors, who did not lose a match to that point, or qualifying similarly in the IPL 3 where they toughed it out in Dharamsala.

But it will not be easy for Dhoni because he does not seem to have a lot of faith in his bowlers. Even Doug Bollinger, whose addition in the IPL 3 season significantly boosted their bowling attack, was not preferred choice for the Super Over against the Victoria Bushrangers. And Dhoni expressed concerns over Kemp at the end of the match against the Warriors, betraying a lack of faith. Even Morkel's presence would have created doubts because while Morkel has been opening the bowling for CSK, he had tended to be on the higher side, conceding runs, even with his reasonable wicket taking abilities, a problem that has persisted from his recent months with South Africa.

The one thing Chennai will do is back themselves to put the runs on board, even though their attempt against the Warriors would have attested to that. Their batting is still formidable, and whatever be their misgivings with the ball, both, Justin Kemp and Albie Morkel, are clean hitters of the ball, so the choice is merely down to Dhoni's preference for Morkel if he is fit.

In Murali Vijay and Hussey, Chennai will hope the opening order will do the trick for them. Subramaniam Badrinath had one good innings, while Suresh Raina is yet to fire, although he did with the ball. Dhoni himself may be required to play a strong role in the batting order, but if he does, Chennai will have the ammunition to counter the flamboyant resume of the Royal Challengers Bangalore who have sometimes tended to unravel despite expectations of a multi talented squad. Chennai would be hoping that day is today.

CL T20 Match 20: Chennai Qualify for CL T20 Semis, Warriors Make it Through, Victoria Out

CL T20 Match 19: Udana's Hat Tricks Gets Wayamba on Points Table

CL T20 Match 18: RCB Beat Highveld Lions To Book Place in Semi Finals

CL T20 Match 17: Redbacks Win All; Guyana Steal Some Saving Grace Through Sarwan's Knock

CL T20 Match 16: Wayamba Embarrass Themselves Again, Against Victoria This Time

CL T20 Match 14: MI Snatch Victory from RCB Despite Dravid, Kohli Drama; Make Road Tough

Bushrangers' Peter Siddle Fined for "Dangerous Bowling"

CL T20 Match 13: Lions Defeat Guyana Comprehensively by Nine Wickets; Keep SF Door Open

Was Doug Bollinger Angry with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the CSK Captain, over Super Over?

CL T20 Match 13: Super Over Gives Bushrangers win over CSK In Nerve Racking Thriller Tie

CL T20 Match 2: Warriors' Captain Jacobs Thwarts Stags' How; Closer to Semi Final Spot

Match 11: Redbacks' Klinger, Christian and Harris Tame RCB; Enter CL T20 Semi final