Kochi aims to upset defending champs CSK

There are striking contrasts when we look at Chennai Super Kings and Kochi Tuskers Kerala ahead of their Round 4 clash in IPL 4 at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on Monday. As defending champions and a well-settled outfit, CSK may be overwhelming favourites to win the match but this edition of IPL has shown that the crown does not sit easily on any head.

Curiously, CSK themselves found it out the hard way against Kings XI Punjab in their second-round match. As the new entrants to IPL, Kochi were written off even before they started their campaign but with every match, they proved their critics wrong, having their chances in the two losses and finally came into their own with a stunning win over Tendulkar's side.

As giants vs giant-killers, this contest may even out some of the disparities between the sides on paper in the context of the T20 format and its uncertainties. Yet it cannot be denied that Chennai Super Kings will hold the edge for the simple reason that they have the best indigenous talent in their ranks while Kochi will bank heavily on imported stuff.

Both the sides have the option of trying their Australian resources and CSK may very well use Mike Hussey in the middle-order while Kochi may throw all-rounder John Hastings, who had a good tour of Bangladesh, into the party at the expense of either Thisara Perera or Muralitharan.

Curator Ramachandran kept a fair amount of grass on the surface until late on Sunday before shaving it off, showing the concern that Kochi had following Murali's form in the two matches he played. Interestingly, Kochi were rated better in their bowling department but it was their batting that showed "character", to use Mahela's compliment to his team after the Mumbai victory. In fact, throughout the three matches, the Kochi battling looked decent and it was their bowling that has let them down.

CSK's batting order is tried and tested with the three Chennaites — Vijay, Anirudha and Badrinath — and Suresh Raina having established themselves at the top. Mike Hussey proved his worth as an opener with his unbeaten 83 against Royal Challengers in his first match this season.