First-timers Rising Pune Supergiants, led by MS Dhoni, will face defending champions Rohit Sharma-captained Mumbai Indians in season-9 opener today
It is a strange feeling initially when one joins a new organisation, leaving the earlier one. New bosses, new colleagues and a whole new atmosphere. It takes time to sink in, especially when you have pleasant memories of the past.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a Chennai Super Kings loyal, must be going through a similar feeling.
Although it is a professional world for cricketers and much easier to get into the groove, it is human nature that emotions get the better of even the toughest.
On Thursday evening, Dhoni donned a new look, spiked hair, dyed beard at the unveiling of jersey of his new team – Rising Pune Supergiants. A day later, he was seen sweating it out in the nets in the scorching heat at the Wankhede Stadium preparing for the Indian Premier League's opening encounter against defending champions and hosts Mumbai Indians.
Dhoni, who usually would form a huddle or have fun with his core group comprising Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin during the CSK practice sessions, walked straight back to the dressing room after he was done with his batting in the nets. Not that he was aloof but he must be taking time to sink in the new set up.
While Raina, as captain, and Jadeja may have formed a new combo for Gujarat Lions, Dhoni still has his favourite go-to bowler Ashwin.
As Dhoni batted, some familiar faces in Kevin Pietersen and Steven Smith looked on from behind the nets, making it quite a side of champions.
"It's a fresh start, a new team for me. It's going to be a new challenge. A new environment. How much better you can get. It's going to be exciting," Ashwin said on the eve of the game.
If Dhoni's team is new, the opposition, last year's winners Mumbai Indians, are a much established side with more or less the same combination.
Skipper Rohit Sharma, this time, has cut out a task for himself. They may have won the title last year but their start to the tournament wasn't really great, having lost four successive games.
Even as their key bowler Lasith Malinga will be missing the first half of the season, expect the MI camp to put up a strong XI that could counter the thinking of shrewd captain Dhoni.
"The (franchise) owners and (head coach) Ricky (Ponting) have done a good job in recruiting a couple of fast bowlers in the side. So, we have cover for him. If he arrives fit, he will surely fit into our squad. If he doesn't, we have good cover for him," MI's bowling coach Shane Bond said on Friday. "Nothing changes, like in any injury, that is the depth of the squad. When it comes to IPL during the course of time, there are 16 players, so you cannot rely on one player," added the former New Zealand pacer.
In the absence of Malinga, MI will bank on the unorthodox India seamer Jasprit Bumrah. Bond added: "Last year, he (Bumrah) was coming into the matches after a serious knee injury. So didn't see the best of him. But his development over the last year is credit to himself, the manner of hard work he has put in.
"I think the way he particularly bowled for India in the World T20, he has been one of the best bowlers for India. And for us, it's great to get him back with the form that he is in and also with the confidence he is in. He has got great skills like the way he is bowling, so he adds a great amount to our team."
Batting may not be a concern, though, considering they have match winners like Corey Anderson, Lendl Simmons, Jos Butler, Hardik Pandya and Ambati Rayudu apart from Sharma himself.
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