IPL 5: Chennai Super Kings – Defending pride and glory
Ever since the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the team from Chennai has been a daunting force under the leadership of charismatic skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028, and the team which has won the last two finals, were the semi-finals before that
and were the runner-up side in the inaugural tournament, are not feeling this heat this year.
Being the defending champions, Chennai were expected to be force to reckon with this time around, but unfortunately for them and for their fans, the side is only a shadow of its former self as they started the tour as they lost the opening match to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820
Indian by eight wickets, after failing to defend a total a meagre total of 112 runs.
With a previous record so high, the side is without a doubt the best in the lucrative league, however, five years on its seems like other sides have caught on and are now ahead of the Chennai, but then again Chennai management should have seen this coming
and it was should have prepared before hand in order to avoid being run over by other teams in the tournament.
Nonetheless, the side is still not out and done as they are hanging on and with the likes of MS Dhoni at the realms of captaincy; the side is certainly not going to go out of the tournament without a fight.
However, many believe that it is perhaps Dhoni, as he is the one of the remaining few captains who still hold their position, when many others have been replaced by their squads.
Dhoni has been facing criticism in certain months due to the inconsistent performance of team http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in the Test series.
These defeats were difficult to swallow as many failed to understand how a team that had just won the International Cricket Council (http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625) World Cup got manhandled in recent months.
While fingers were pointed at many aging Indian players in the national team, Dhoni was made everyone’s punching bag as many saw certain flaws in his captaincy.
However, the criticism to some extent is being taken out of proportion and uncalled-for as Dhoni till this date is without a doubt one of the most talented captains in modern-day cricket.
Wicketkeeper/batsman Dhoni, who started his international career in 2004 rose high because of his cricketing mind and a lean patch in recent months, should not lead to his demise.
Speaking about Chennai’s stint in the lucrative league, the team will most probably come around, and with the arrival of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MEK-Hussey-c1942, Chennai’s middle-order has received the boost they so desperately sought.
Currently the side is among the top five teams in the tournament this year after getting to a bad start, this just shows how well the team is managed as they are still in the running for the final four.
In days to come, the situation is likely to get clearer and Chennai’s fate will be visible as to where the team stands, as winning the title third time in a row would immortalize Chennai for all times to come,
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