The 2014 edition of the Champions League T20 tournament will get under way with the competition proper starting on Wednesday, with an all Indian clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, between the Indian Premier League (IPL) Champions, Kolkata Knight Riders and the side that finished in third place in the 2014 IPL, the Chennai Super Kings.
This will be the Knight Riders third appearance in the CLT20, having also played in the 2011 and 2012 tournaments. Although as yet, they have little in the way of success to shout about. They will therefore, be eager to carry their IPL form over into the Champions League, and hope to replicate the success of Mumbai Indians in 2013, who completed the IPL and CLT20 double.
In 2011 the Knight Riders had to play in the qualifying competition. Despite losing to Somerset Sabres from England, a victory over Auckland saw them through to the main draw. Losing their first two matches, once more to Somerset and then South Australian Redbacks, meant that victories over Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chevrolet Warriors from South Africa, were not enough to see them through to the semi-finals.
The following year they fared little better. Heavy defeats to the Delhi Daredevils and the Auckland aces, effectively eliminated them, before their game with Perth Scorchers fell victim to the weather. Again they closed their campaign with a consolation victory against the Titans from South Africa.
Chennai Super Kings will once more be amongst the favourites to take the title, as they inevitably are, when they take part in a T20 tournament, with their array of big hitting batsman, and talented bowlers.
This will be Chennai’s fifth successive appearance at the CLT20, having missed out on the tournament back in 2009. Their four previous appearance have seen them win the competition back in 2010, and they were semi-finalist last year.
With only the top two sides in each group to go through to the knockout stage, it is vital for both sides to get off to a winning start, as the losers will effectively be playing knockout cricket through the rest of the pool stage, as two wins is unlikely to secure a top two finish.