So, the 2nd edition of Champions League T20 starts this Friday. Let’s have a peek at the teams and their players...
Of course! IPL franchises first!!
Chennai Superkings
It is a very strong team, but is it strong enough in SA? That’s the question. No doubt likes of Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey will like the conditions, and will adjust to the bouncy tracks well. But, the rest are a doubt. Suresh Raina, Murali Vijay and co will have their tasks cut out.
Their bowling, save Doug Bollinger, who will be one of the key performers of the tournament for me, are lacking in resources that are handy in SA.Their strength was their spinning trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Murali and Shadab Jakati. I don’t think they will be the same force in SA.
Over and above all this, they are placed in a tough group consisting of Victorian Bushrangers, Warriors and Wayamba Elevens who have each won their domestic T20 tournaments(in Australia, SA and Sri Lanka respectively) to qualify.
So, again it’s up to their maverick captain M S Dhoni to inspire them!
Key players/ Players to watch out for: Matthew Hayden, Suresh Raina, Doug Bollinger
Mumbai Indians
They rode on the successes of young guns like Saurabh Tiwary and ICL recruits Ambati Rayudu and Rajagopal Sathish apart from the brilliance of a certain Sachin Tendulkar. And Kieron Pollard chipped in with useful cameos with the bat, ball and in field.
So, for me, the batting looks a tad bit suspect (yeah, I know they have Sachin). Their strength is their bowling- Zaheer Khan and Lasith 'Slinga' Malinga will be more than a handful on SA tracks.
For me, their 4 playing overseas players should be J P Duminy, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga and Ryan Mc Laren. This will take sufficient care in all the departments.
Strong favourites for me, they will definitely qualify from their group.
Key players/ Players to watch out for: Sachin Tendulkar, Kieron Pollard, Zaheer Khan
Royal Challengers Bangalore
They are undoubtedly the strongest among the IPL teams. Wealth of riches both in terms of domestic talent- Robin Uthappa, Virat Kohli,Manish Pandey, Praveen Kumar and overseas players like Jacques Kallis, Ross Taylor, Dale Steyn and having wily characters like Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid portray them as a formidable team.
Key players/ Players to watch out for: Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis, Virat Kohli
Australia
Victorian Bushrangers
They have been dominating the T20 arena in the tough Australian circuit for quite some time.
A consistent side, with dangerous players like Brad Hodge, Dirk Nannes, Shane Harwood, Rob Quiney is led by the 127 match T20 veteran David 'Bomber' Hussey who can single handedly win a game.
Firm favourites to qualify and win the league.
Key players/ Players to watch out for: David Hussey, Rob Quiney, Dirk Nannes
South Australian Redbacks
When you have someone who has once bowled a 4 over spell in which every delivery was above 150 kmph in your team- Shaun Tait, you know you have got more than a decent chance of doing well.
But that said, they have lost their two main contributors in Kieron Pollard and Shahid Afridi.
Still they have good batting firepower in Callum Ferguson, Dan Christian and Michael Klinger, so they will surely present a decent challenge to their rivals.
Key players/ Players to watch out for: Callum Ferguson, Michael Klinger, Shaun Tait
South Africa
The SA teams will always be difficult to overcome, particularly in SA, with the crowds cheering them on and of course, the pitches where they play day in and day out.
Warriors
Strong team with a good mix of players. Strength lies in bowling with Makhaya Ntini, Johan Botha, Nicky Boje, Juan 'Rusty ' Theron and Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Key players/ Players to watch out for: Makhaya Ntini, Colin Ingram, Johan Botha
Highveld Lions
They lost pretty badly in the Pro 20 finals to Warriors and I don’t think they have the firepower to carry them through. They do seem a well knit side though, with SA veteran Neil Mc Kenzie, Alviro Petersen, a good all rounder in Zander de Bruyn and a decent bowling attack.
Key players/ Players to watch out for: Jonathan Vandiar, Richard Cameron
Guyana
Although they caused an upset (if there ever is one in T20) by beating, in the semis a strong Trinidad and Tobago team laden with stars like Darren Bravo and Kieron Pollard (he has played for Somerset too, who reached their domestic T20 final, just in case you are wondering), I don’t think they will go too far in this competition.
Key players/ Players to watch out for: Assad Fudadin,Michael Foo, Ramnaresh Sarwan
Wayamba Elevens- Sri Lanka
They too, like Victoria, have been the dominant force in the Sri Lankan domestic circuit. They have a class batsman in Mahela Jayawardena, and along with the swashbuckling Mahela Udawatte, their captain Jehan Mubarak, they have their batting sorted out. Their bowling too is strong with Chanaka Welegedara, Ajantha Mendis, and Rangana Herath. And add to this mix some very capable all rounders like Farveez Maharoof, Thissara Perrera and Isuru Udana, you get a really strong team.
Key players/ Players to watch out for: Mahela Jayawardena, Thissara Perrera, Farveez Maharoof
Central Districts Stags- New Zealand
They have emerged out of the shadows of stronger teams of Auckland and Wellington to win their domestic league, but frankly speaking, they don’t have much of a chance. Here is why:
Their captain Ross Taylor, who made 80 runs in 30 odd balls in the finals, is not playing for them. Star all rounder Jacob Oram is injured. Their coach too, Craig McDermott has recently stepped down owing to indifferences with the players. So, on the whole, there aren’t many positives for the Stags going into this tough tournament.
Nevertheless, New Zealanders have been known to be the perennial 'Black Horses' and who knows, they might strike a surprise this time around!
Key players/ Players to watch out for: Jamie How(C), Peter Ingram
So, this is what the teams will be all about...
One point I wish to make is that except the IPL franchises, all other teams are very closely knit units. In the sense that it is not like IPL, that the franchisee teams assemble for a period of 1-2 months a year, and then the players go back to their international duties. These sides stay and play together year in year out. So, this will definitely make a difference.
My predictions? Victoria vs. RCB finals.
Who wins?
Keep watching this space!!!
