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Exclusive

espnstar.com's Rajarshi Gupta caught up with New South Wales Blues opener Simon Katich for an exclusive chat.

Katich, who is now an integral part of the Australian Test team said the IPL teams will have an advantage during the Champions League Twenty20, simply because of the crowd support.

"The crowds in India are amazing just through the sheer noise factor. There is no doubt the IPL teams will have a big advantage with the support they will receive.

"Both countries love watching 20/20 cricket but I think the Indian people are passionate about any form of the game."

Katich expects a tough few days in the CL T20 and though his team is studded with international jewels, his years in the Aussie squad has taught him not to take anything for granted.

"It will all be about which team is in form and playing well as a unit."

The left-handed opener does not seem too perturbed about the youngsters in his side, having to face Indian conditions.

"A lot of our youngsters have been to India for assimilation tours with NSW and the Academy so they have an idea of what to expect. The only thing that will be foreign to them is playing in front of huge crowds."

In fact, he even picked up all-rounder Steven Smith for special mention: "If selected, I think Smith will be a danger player for us with bat and ball."

You know Katich means business when he harps on the positives of Twenty20 cricket and the kind of interest the format has helped generate in the game.

"T20 has been great in creating new interest in the game but I would hate to see it become detrimental to Test cricket as this gives a more sterner test of a player's ability."

The Champions League Twenty20 will soon be upon us and it cricketers like Katich, that make such events all the more more worthwhile to remember.