Wednesday 19th November 2008
Super Kings want at least semi spot
The Chennai Super Kings want a Champions League Twenty20 semi-final spot VB Chandrasekar has revealed.
The glamour event gets underway in India next month, with Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men taking on Australia's Victoria Bushrangers in the first match on December 4.
Despite being drawn in a strong looking Group A - which also features English champions Middlesex Crusaders and South African powerhouse the Titans - director of cricket operations Chandrasekar feels that a last four berth is well within the Super Kings' reach, with the final being their ultimate goal.
"Our first port of call is the semi-final and then the final will be anybody's chance," he said.
"In this scenario unlike in the Indian Premier League, we have to make sure that we get to the semi-final. I am sure people will have a better idea about our players compared to other teams.
"No team in the Champions League Twenty20 can be taken for granted.
"In the IPL nobody gave Rajasthan Royals a chance. In the coming tournament, the element of uncertainty will be there.
"It will be tough to predict what is going to happen."
Even though New Zealand star Jacob Oram has been ruled out through injury, the Super Knights will still have the luxury of being able to call upon the services of several experienced overseas players such as Mathew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Muttiah Muralitharan, Albie Morkel and Makhaya Ntini.
"We have the option of rotating our Indian stars even if we play all the five overseas players in a match. We look at it differently," Chandrasekar said.
"Dhoni is the best wicketkeeper-batsman but he will be more useful in the outfield. If Parthiv Patel plays as an opener, he will keep the wickets. He did a reasonably good work in the IPL.
"We have the option of more than one player to keep the wickets with Hussey also being there."
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