IPL 4 - Chennai v Pune - Mahendra Singh Dhoni v Yuvraj Singh
The Pune Warriors are all set for a clash against the Chennai Super Kings on 25 April, 2011, the match is a crucial one and to make things more interesting, it is a clash between the two 'best friends', M.S Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh.
Pune Warriors under the captaincy of Yuvraj Singh, made their debut with a bang, bagging two consecutive wins over Kings XI Punjab and the other debutant, Kochi Tuskers Kerala.
On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, were the Champions in the 2010 edition but failed to make their mark in the current season, winning only two out of their five matches.
The captains of both the teams have been stars of the Indian campaign which clinched the recently concluded International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2011.
Apart from clinching the IPL title in 2010 edition, Dhoni also won the Champions League Twenty20 trophy in the same year.
The Indian batting icon, Sachin Tendulkar praised Dhoni as the best captain he (Sachin) had played under.
In the inaugral season of the League, Dhoni was signed in for $1.5 million and guided the CSK side to the final of the IPL, he is popular among his teammates for his calm behaviour and the capability to handle tough situations with ease.
Besides serving as a remarkable batsman, the captain also serves as a useful wicket-keeper. In 25 One-Day International innings, he has scored 451 runs at an average of 26.52.
In short, skipper Dhoni is a complete package for the Chennai Super Kings, offering them much in terms of talent and experience.
Before leading the Pune Warriors in the ongoing season, Yuvraj had been playing for the Kings XI Punjab from 2008-2010.
Yuvraj is an aggressive, left-handed batsman and also serves as an occasional left-arm orthodox spinner.
In the 2011 edition of the mega event, he gave some crucial performances, not only as a batsman but also as a spinner and claimed several match changing wickets for his national side.
The 29 year-old came into limelight when he hit six sixes off England’s pacer Stuart Broad in an over during the opening ICC World Twenty20.
The left-handed batsman has played 22 Twenty20 innings, and has scored 567 runs at an average of 31.50 including five fifties.
''Yuvi' was awarded the Player of the Tournament title for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, his talents were invaluable in India's campaign for the World Cup and he secured several Player of the Match awards as well.
Yuvraj is a formidable opponent for any side, his batting prowess coupled with his effective bowling and fielding can change the course of a match.
The competition is expected to be a thrilling one as both teams are expected to fight tooth and nail to secure their position amongst the tournament's finalists.
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