Chennai Super Kings gear-up for new look KKR in IPL opener

Kolkata Knight Riders in for a hard time against CSK during IPL opener

Chennai Super Kings gear-up for new look KKR in IPL opener

Kolkata Knight Riders in for au00a0hard time againstu00a0CSKu00a0during IPL opener

Foes turn teammates and vice-versa as the 2011 Indian Premier League (IPL) commences here Friday with defending champions Chennai Super Kings playing host to the new-look Kolkata Knight Riders.

Chennai Super Kings came off best from the January auctions as they managed to retain a majority of their players even as other teams indulged in a drastic shake-up. The next six weeks will show whether the chopping and changing has had the desired impact or further weakened the teams.

Knight Riders are a case in point. They finished sixth out of eight teams in 2008 and 2010, and last in 2009 edition that was moved to South Africa in view of security issues.

The Knight Riders face an uphill task considering their dismal record against the Super Kings who have won four of their six previous meetings one of which in Cape Town was rained off.

The Knight Riders' sole win against the Super Kings was at the Centurion two years ago when they chased a target of 189 for the loss of only three wickets.

The Kolkata team met with failure on all their three previous visits to Chennai, although this time around, the visitors appear to have far more potent ammunition in the form of Yusuf Pathan, Brett Lee, Brad Haddin and Jacques Kallis in their ranks, to douse local hopes.

It is a task easier said than done although the csk are without Doug Bollinger who is expected to join the squad later this month, and ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who was bought by Kochi. Yet, the csk boast of a strong batting line-up that yet again is expected to carry the side through the tournament, despite the absence of Matthew Hayden who was cast free following his dismal form last season. Being the first match of the IPL season, it is early days to judge the teams on the basis of names, but the Chennai Super Kings appear primed for the challenge far better than the other nine sides in the fray.

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