Chennai vs Bangalore: battle of wits

Chennai: MS Dhoni led Anil Kumble off the field on his shoulders as Jumbo handed over India's captaincy to Mahi. But come Wednesday, expect no such gestures as Royal Challengers Bangalore travel to Chennai to re-start their IPL campaign after a six-day break.

Hosts Super Kings too have their work cut out. Having lost the previous encounter at Bangalore, Wednesday's game is just the right time to return the favour to Kumble's men and re-join the race to make it to the last four. In the previous game, Chennai missed Dhoni who was out with an injury. But now fit and playing at home, Dhoni vs Kumble promises to be a battle of wits worth its wait.

Chennai have been sluggish this season and are struggling to make it to the last four. They have lost five of their seven games so far and are placed just one better than bottom-ranked Kings XI Punjab. Another loss would mean their hopes of making it to the title round will be extinguished much sooner than expected.

On the other hand, Bangalore have been in robust form. They have won four of their six games so far and their batting and bowling has looked steady. The only thing common to both teams is that they have both lost their previous encounters and therefore, would like to make immediate amends.

A week's break in a Twenty20 tournament can really disturb the rhythm of even a well-settled team and Bangalore must regroup their energies to ensure that they do not spiral downwards after having done all the hard work in the first fortnight.

And it is this break that Chennai must capitalise on. While the batsmen have done well in bits and pieces, they have not been able to string strong partnerships. And that has been their greatest undoing. Chennai will have to hold fort and win a couple of games if they are to give themselves a fighting chance once Doug Bollinger and Michael Hussey join the team on April 3. Otherwise, their inclusion will be a case of too little and too late.

The bowling too has blown hot and blown cold. Muttiah Muralitharan has taken the fight almost single-handedly, while L Balaji, Manpreety Gony, Albie Morkel will have to bowl a tighter line.

Meanwhile, Bangalore are boosted by the run-scoring machine Jacques Kallis, who has been ably supported by Manish Pandey and Robin Uthappa. Mark Boucher, Rahul Dravid and Eoin Morgan too have been in fine nick and lend solidity to the order.

Their bowling has been in top form with Kumble, Dale Steyn, Kallis, Praveen Kumar and R Vinay Kumar, they do boast of among the best bowling lineup in the tournament, rivaled only by Mumbai.

Wednesday's game at the M A Chidambaram Stadium should be a cracker of a contest, with both teams determined not to give an inch. Chennai, however, will hope that playing at home will give them the edge needed to put their campaign back on track.