Having earned a lucky ticket, Chennai will be dangerous now, reckons http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292 - Cricket News Update
Former http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 skipper and the bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, Wasim Akram, feels that defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, will come bounce back strongly in the knock-out stage of the ongoing fifth edition of the Indian Premier League.
“I am sure Chennai will now be a dangerous side,” the legendry Pakistan pacer wrote in his column for a sports website on Monday.
“Having won a lucky ticket, CSK will understand the value of win more than anyone else now. So, table-toppers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 Indians and the Super Kings,” he added further.
Chennai Super Kings, the two-time IPL champions, were almost out of the contention for the title for a third time before Deccan Chargers knocked out Royal Challengers Bangalore with an upset 9-run win in their final league game at http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hyderabad-c792, on Sunday, allowing
Dhoni and company to sneak into the playoffs owing to their better net run-rate. Both RCB and CSK finished the league stage tied 17 points from 16 games.
The Men in Yellow, defending the IPL title for a second successive time, have had an inconsistent IPL-V so far where they looked anything but the champions. Wasim Akram however, feels that having earned the lucky ticket to the tournament playoffs, Dhoni’s
men must be eager to make the best of the opportunity.
The former Pakistan skipper also urged the teams to be consistent saying that in the short format of the game, a couple of mistakes can prove decisive.
"It has been an extensive tournament and in a long race, teams with consistency prevail. Bangalore played good cricket but they made mistakes like they did against Chargers. In a short game, one or two mistakes can be decisive."
However, the KKR bowling coach was happy that his side will not face the Gayle threat anymore this season. “I am happy that we will not bump into Gayle this year any more. He is a http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Neil-Killeen-c79132 batsman!” said the veteran of 140 Tests and 356 One Day Internationals.
The first Qualifier of the IPL-V will see Kolkata Knight Riders locking horns with table topper Delhi at Pune today, May 22, 2012, while Chennai will take on Mumbai Indians at Bangalore on Wednesday.
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