Chennai Super Kings, like other three semifinalists of the Indian Premier League, are looking forward to two good three-hour sessions from now on.
MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings, like other three semifinalists of the Indian Premier League, are looking forward to two good three-hour sessions from now on, says its director of cricket operations V B Chandrasekhar.
"Now it's a question of just two good three-hour sessions. I'm sure the other teams would also be looking forward to that," said the former India opener and ex- national panel selector after arriving with his team here on Wednesday.
The victory in the must-win game yesterday against Deccan Chargers at Hyderabad, that piloted the M S Dhoni-led team into the last four, hopefully would stand it in good stead, said Chandrasekhar.
"Our last game was a virtual knock-out situation, no looking back. We are now looking out for two good days," he said ahead of the team's semi final clash at the Wankhede Stadium here on May 31 against Punjab King's XI.
Chandrasekhar said the team's path towards the last four saw quite a few ups and downs.
"We started well, lost players like Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey and then recovered. Our bowling now has good balance. In Albie Morkel we have perhaps the best all-rounder in the tournament," he said.
"Suresh Raina had a few starts which he could not capitalise on earlier and then played well in the last game. (S) Badrinath has adapted himself well in all positions. And captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has simply been outstanding."
Chandrasekhar said that paceman Makhaya Ntini has shown in clear terms that he was good enough to play in this shortest form of the game too.
"Ntini has proved he's good in Twenty20 too. (Laxmipathy) Balaji has shown he's clearly back on the track which is good for Indian cricket, let alone Tamil Nadu."
"The good thing is that the fitness worries, having gone through quite a few breakdowns (back problems including stress fracture) seem to be behind him (Balaji)," he said.
The Chennai team official pointed out that the squad had not experimented with the opening slot too much after the departure of Hayden.
"First it was (Stephen) Fleming with Vidyut (Sivaramakrishnan) and then with Parthiv (Patel)," he said.
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