Chennai, Apr 7 (UNI) Amid the serious threat on the raging
second wave of the COVID pandemic, the 14th edition of the
cash rich Indian Premier League (IPL) will kick off at the
Chepauk Stadium here tomorrow behind closed doors when
defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) take on constant
under achievers Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
While MI skipper Rohit Sharma, eyeing for a record sixth
title and a hat-trick of title triumps, is keen to start on a
rousing note, the Virat Kohli-led RCB is determined to
break the shackles and should consistently come out
with an all round display in a bid to lay its hand on maiden
title on May 30.
The talking point is the 22-yard strip, which has come in
for some criticism when the first two tests against England
were held here, with India losing the first and leveling it in
the second on a square turner, with the contest ending
inside three days.
In view of the spread of coronavirus and the subsequent
lockdown, last year's edition, was shifted to Abu Dhabi
and the belated event ended just five months back.
For the first time there will not be any home advantage
for any team as all the matches will be held in neutral
venues.
With this teeming metropolis under the grip of intense
heat wave, the contest too is expect to be more intense
with big-hitters from both the sides promising a high
voltage contest.
The event is being amid some players and support staff
testing positive, following which the BCCI has put in place
strict bio-bubble to ensure that this edition passes off without
any hitch.
The performance of the players of all the eight teams
will be keenly watched as the tournament is being held
a couple of months ahead of the World T-20 to be staged
by India.
MI have a strong batting line up with Rohit and Quinton
De Kock at the top of the order, and big hitters like Ishan
Kishan, Surya Kumar Yadav, besides the flamboyant
Pandya brothers--Hardik and Krunal--with the power
hitting prowess of West Indian all rounder Keiron Pollard
adding further strength.
Jasprit Bumrah and Kiwi swing bowler Trent Boult will
lead the pace attack and spinner Rahul Chahar, with his
googlies can pose problems for the RCB batsmen.
RCB is bolstered by the presence of Aussie Glenn Maxwell,
who, apart from his pyrotechniques, is also a hand off
spinner and New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson, besides the
Indian skipper lend solidity to the batting, with the
in form Devdutt Padikkal keen to make a mark in his
second stint, not to forget the blazing A B De Villers,
which can shift gears very quickly.
Kohli will be looking towards wrist spinner Yuzuvendra
Chahal and offie Washington Sundar, besides left armer
Adam Zampa to get breakthroughs, with the pacers Mohd
Siraj and Navdeep Singh had to be at their best.
Teams :
Mumbai Indians :
Rohit Sharma, Aditya Tare, Anmolpreet Singh, Anukul Roy,
Dhawal Kulkarni, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Jasprit
Bumrah, Jayant Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya,
Quinton de Kock, Rahul Chahar, Suryakumar Yadav, Chris
Lynn, Mohsin Khan, Saurabh Tiwary, Trent Boult, Adam
Milne, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Piyush Chawla, James Neeshan,
Yudhvir Charak, Marco Jansen, Arjun Tendulkar.
Royal Challengers Bangalore :
Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Yuzvendra Chahal, Devdutt
Padikkal, Harshal Patel, Daniel Sams, Washington Sundar,
Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Adam Zampa, Shahbaz Ahmed,
Kane Richardson, Pavan Deshpande, Glenn Maxwell, Sachin
Baby, Rajat Patidar, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Kyle Jamieson,
Dan Christian, Suyesh Prabhudessai, K.S. Bharat, Finn
Allen.
UNI GV