Royal Challengers batsman Rahul Dravid is excited by the multi-national aspect of the inaugural Airtel CL T20 tournament.

The Bangalore side, surprise finalists in the Indian Premier League this year, take on South Africa's Cape Cobras in the opening match of the tournament, the launch of which was pushed back by a year because of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai last November.

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The tournament's pioneer, IPL chairman Lalit Modi, has promised another extravagant affair, which has been preceded by unprecedented levels of hype for what is basically an inter-club tournament.

Whether the tournament rivals international cricket remains to be seen but Dravid believes the lure of the Airtel Champions League lies in the challenge of the unknown and a rivalry with strangers.

"The challenge of the Airtel Champions League is that players come together from different parts of the world just a few days ahead of the tournament," the Rahul Dravid said.

"Most of the teams have not played each other and the unknown factor is high. It is a challenge but it is also exciting to be up against players you have never played before."

IPL champions Deccan Chargers and Delhi Daredevils are the other two India-based teams in the tournament, which also features South Africa's Diamond Eagles, English county sides Somerset and Sussex, Australia's Pura Cup rivals New South Wales Blues and Victoria Bushrangers and a team each from the West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

While Delhi Daredevils' new captain Gautam Gambhir believes the IPL sides are at an advantage because of a superior knowledge of conditions, Deccan Chargers' coach Darren Lehman thinks the teams that succeed will be the ones that best handle the pressure.

"We have plenty of depth and quality so the conditions are not a concern," Lehman said.

"We have to focus on our game rather than worry about who our opponents are and what they are thinking."

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The Deccan Chargers, led by Adam Gilchrist, kick off their campaign against Somerset, led by Gilchrist's former Australia team-mate Justin Langer.

And Langer is pleased with the quality of the opposition for his first game.

"I'm glad that we are playing against Deccan Chargers first up actually," said Langer. "They are the champions of IPL and a game against them would give us an indication of how close we are.

"We come from a very successful English summer and the confidence levels are high.

"The talent in the side is pretty good and, as long as we don't panic in the big moments and keep our focus on the game, I don't see why we cannot be successful."

While Royal Challengers Bangalore's South Africa star Jacques Kallis believes experience will be key, Trinidad and Tobago skipper Darren Ganga is hoping the all-rounders in his side can spearhead their campaign.

"We have some good all-rounders like Dwayne Bravo, Rayad Emrit and Lendl Simmons," Ganga said.

"All-rounders are our strength and in Twenty20 games in conditions like these, multi-dimensional players are going to be very important."

Diamond Eagles skipper Boeta Dippenaar, meanwhile, is banking on a team effort.

"We know we do not have many players in the side who have played at the international level but we click very well as a team," he said.

"That's our strength and the underdog tag lends certainty in a tournament filled with uncertainties. We are up for the challenge."

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