Battle of Friends | Dhoni vs Gambhir | CSK vs KKR

CSK VS KKR IPL OPNER

In less than a week time , two World Cup Final heroes who collectively steered INDIA to victory are now, on opposite sides. Even significantly Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir leading their respective teams Chennai super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight riders (KKR) and are set for for opening match of IPL 4 2011.

CSK-KKR Head to Head: Played 6 Won 4.

Going by just what it looks like, IPL defending Champions CSK are favorites at home ground to win against KKR. But that's not all as KKR is completely new side. Their owner Shahrukh khan seemed so desperate to have an almost new team that he didn’t care to bid for DADA. If their young guns fire then it’s going to be a interesting contest for an IPL opener.

Let’s have closer look at this “battle of friends” going to me held in Chennai.

If Dhoni has huge expectations on him as a World cup winning and title defending captain, Gambhir has extreme pressure on him of reviving a Franchise / team which hasn’t reached the top 4 in last three years. Further it is up to him to win back the full support of cricket crazy Kolkatans who are unhappy with absence of Sourav Ganguly in the team.

Having a T20 Specialist batsman Yusuf Pathan in team in good for KKR, who will be more than handy in bowling too. He can singled handedly win some for KKR just as he did for Rajasthan Royals previous seasons.

It will be tough to pass super consistent CSK, who has been in final 4 all the 3 seasons, as they are much the same side. Except Muttiah Muralitharan (now with Kochi Tuskers) they have managed to keep all key players in Consistent Subramanium Badrinath, local boy Murali Vijay, flamboyant Suresh Raina, spinner Ashwin and off course successful captain Dhoni with themselves.

Dhoni feels that his team is good on paper but has to deliver on match day as he always reiterates which ever team he is leading.

Dhoni was quoted saying: “If all the players are fit and available for selection, it is a very good side. The batting line-up is as good as last year. Badri, Raina are there and South African Faf du Plessis has come in. We have all-rounders and Hussey will also join in. Overall, it’s a very good batting line-up. IPL is not about less pressure. Batting slots are decided according to situation. When all are shuffled up and down the order, it’s according to the situation. Batting slots from 1-3 are fixed, then it’s me or Badri. Aniruddh is batting very well for us. If we have to change the batting order, everyone has to be comfortable about doing it.”

A lot will depend on how experienced all-rounder Jaques Kallis and England’s batting star Morgan perform, as Bangla’s Shakib Al Hasan and Australian pacer Lee will join only Australia vs Bangladesh series. Domestic players like Manoj Tiwary, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, All rounder Rajat bhatia L balaji.

Gambhir who has been having average IPL tournaments with bat should use his world cup winning knock’s confidence into molding KKR into successful side. That way he will justify his 2.4 million $ price, which is the highest bid in auction.