The second edition of Champions League Twenty20 kicks off in South Africa today. DNA analyses the challenges the three Indian teams are likely to face in the Rainbow Nation
The second edition of Champions League Twenty20 kicks off in South Africa today. DNA analyses the challenges the three Indian teams are likely to face in the Rainbow Nation.
If you are in the game just for the fours and sixes, this Champions League Twenty20 tournament isn’t for you. As the world’s fastest bowler, Shaun Tait of South Australia, declared immediately on touching down in the Rainbow Nation: “The fast bowlers are licking their lips”. In short: the conditions in South Africa will be a real test of a batsman’s skills.
Used to being mauled in Twenty20 cricket, pacemen are relishing the opportunity of an even contest on the fresh pitches of South Africa.
This being the start of the season, they will have the zip too.
Given the conditions, the Indian Premier League teams — Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings — will have their task cut out.
“After having played for such a long time, I’m playing in South Africa in September for the first time in my career, so conditions are slightly different. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t produce good cricket,” said Sachin Tendulkar. Mumbai Indians play the opening game against Highveld Lions at the latter’s homeground, Wanderers, on Friday.
“The Highveld Lions have the advantage of knowing the conditions and the ground better than us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t beat them,” said Tendulkar.
The Mumbai team is on a high after a brilliant run in the third IPL in which they won 10 of their 14 games. Yet, experts are not sure about what to expect from Tendulkar’s team. The general perception is that the Mumbai team’s strength is more suited to the subcontinent conditions. The team had a poor run in IPL 2, which was held in South Africa.
MI’s 2010 success was mainly due to magical batting by Tendulkar and solid support role played by youngsters
like Saurabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu. A big factor in Mumbai’s success will depend on how their Indian youngsters adapt to the
bouncy wickets.
The team will be looking at their South African players, batsman J P Duminy and all-rounder Ryan McLaren, to lead the way.
Mumbai coach Pravin Amre, who was part of MI’s coaching staff in the disastrous 2009 season in SA, felt Tendulkar and Pollard will be the key. “In this format, start is important and Sachin is in tremendous form and leading from the front. Pollard has also done well in all conditions and not just in India,” said Amre.
Also, Mumbai Indians will be playing most of their games in Kingsmead, Durban. “In Durban, 135 will be a fighting score. It is close to the sea and apart from the bounce, swing is also a factor,” said Amre, who, incidentally, had scored a hundred on Test debut in Durban back in 1992.
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