(Image source from: iplt20.com)

The 12th season Indian Premier League (IPL) will gets underway today with the opening clash between defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) led by Virat Kohli at the M A Chidambaram Stadium  in Chennai.

Speaking to reporters before the first game against CSK, Virat kohli said, “MS knows exactly knows what he wants from his team in these conditions. We all have seen that and are aware of it. We are going to be backing our skills and then find ways to come out on top.”

He added, “It’s very easy to be overawed by the support that CSK are going to get. In the IPL, people can get carried away by the support that a team like CSK gets at home but we have to focus on our basics.”

Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming said, “There is a real emphasis on starting the tournament well. Last year, we won a couple of games which could easily have gone the other way. We know the importance of a good start. We are certainly not desperate to win it and it’s just an opportunity we are looking forward to.”

Predicted playing XI of both teams:

CSK: Ambati Rayudu, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, Faf du plessis, MS Dhoni(WK-C), Kedhar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Karn Sharma, Mohit Sharma.

RCB:  Virat Kohli (C), Parthiv Patel (WK), AB de Villiers, Shimron Hetmyer, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali,  Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini,  Yuzvendra Chahal, Tim Southee.

By Sai Kumar