Chennai break stronghold Jaipur

Chennai Super Kings 196 for 3 (Vijay 53, Hussey 46, Raina 43, Dhoni 41) beat Rajasthan Royals 133 (Rahane 52, Bollinger 3-22) by 63 runs


MS Dhoni is satisfied that Monday's 63-run win over Rajasthan Royals has put Chennai Super Kings in disputation for a place in the play-offs.

"It's good to be in the estimate for the play-offs with no departure it for too late," Dhoni said after the match at the Sawai Mansingh stadium.

About the pathway, Dhoni said it look like a 180-190 wicket.

"We had one additional batsman in the playing XI. It was between Albie Morkel and me. I pressed myself up, and I am pleased that I scored some runs. I didn't score in the last match. The batting was unfortunate in the last game, but the stage was good this time. Michael Hussey, Murali Vijay and Suresh Raina also perform well," Dhoni said.

Rajasthan skipper Shane Warne was gracious in defeat, but did talk about the small boundary.

"It's one of those wounded due to the small boundary. But all credit to Chennai. They played well and Dhoni was excellent in the end. It had nothing to do with the wicket. We were chase 20 too many and it got hard," Warne, who is playing in his final IPL, said in the post-match ritual.

The legendary leg-spinner was, however, confident of a rotate.

"Our after that game at home next to Bangalore is enormous. We expect to win that one and give ourselves a chance." he said.

Warne also had some good terms to say about Ajinkya Rahane, who top-scored for the hosts with 52.

"Good stuff from Rahane and huge to see him come throughout and does well. He was very impressive, very cool."

Man-of-the-Match Vijay credited the team for the victory. "It was completely a team effort. I was beating the ball well. I just required to stay there and keep going. Suresh, Hussey did really well and then Dhoni 'bhai' played some big shots," Vijay said.

Yuvraj: Ganguly to play in opposition to Deccan

Pune captain Yuvraj Singh have said Sourav Ganguly will be a part of the playing eleven when the Warriors obtain on the Deccan Chargers in the IPL on Tuesday.


Ganguly was roped in by the Warriors as a substitute for the wounded Ashish Nehra after he went unsold in the auctions for the fourth edition.

The team and the fans alike are hoping that the former India captain will make dissimilarity to the declining fortune of the bottom-placed side.

The ex-Kolkata skipper did not take part in the last two matches.

"Sourav will be playing on Tuesday," Yuvraj told journalists at a felicitation ritual on Monday.

Yuvraj had complete it clear that Ganguly did not characteristic in the earlier games as he needed more time to prepare for the challenge: "I have never seen him get ready like this even for for a Test match," Yuvraj had said Sunday.

On his team unmemorable movement so far, Yuvraj said: "The talent is absolutely there and the team could have win three more games. But that's the way Twenty20 is and hopefully we should be talented to win our outstanding four games."

Harbhajan Singh, who was also at the event, dismisses a media statement claiming that Indian cricketers were concerned with the bookies: "We don't need to act in response to such silly things."

Modi: stinking play in Jaipur pitch change

Former IPL chairman Lalit on Monday take potshots at the Cricket Board official for altering the playing field for the IPL match flanked by Rajasthan and Chennai in Jaipur.


A BCCI pitch examiner visit Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur after Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar criticized the narrow piece as "two-paced and hard" after their IPL match next to Rajasthan Royals on April 29.

It was then ordered that the last two matches of Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur - on Monday against Chennai Super Kings and on May 11 against Royal Challengers Bangalore - would be played on a new strip.

"A little birdie just whispered that the big diversion in Jaipur has been stimulated to a side wicket on the square. Why? Ask RCA administrator and CSK ...," Modi wrote on his Twitter page.

"Shows clearly how small things like a pitch selection can influence a game. And it goes unnoticed," Modi wrote.

"N Srinivasan Company’s new name - Indian Cements & Cricketing Monopoly Pvt. Ltd.," Modi continued.
Srinivasan, the Cricket Board President-Elect, is also the owner of Chennai Super Kings IPL side.
Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne tweet that he was amazed to know that his side will play on a new pitch.
"First time in four year we got tell what wicket to play on - strange? Average score in Jaipur is 154. Groundmen has/does a great job," Warne, who is playing in his last IPL period, said. To this Modi replied, "Good luck mate. I am sorry for the pitch fiasco you need to put up with. I am sure you will find a way out of this too."

Warne had expressed displeasure over Tendulkar's remarks on the pitch after the April 29 IPL matches. "It is very unfortunate. Mumbai still is not relishing the fact that they were restricted to 94 for 8 and that is why they are searching for excuses. They should admit that they were outplayed," Warne had said.

Pollock: Mumbai to field full side

Mumbai Indians bowling Coach Shaun Pollock on Monday said his side will not relax key players in their IPL match next to Kings XI Punjab in Mohali on Tuesday.


"Confidence is significant and you want to keep the self-assurance and impetus going. We are in a good place but that doesn't signify you have to make changes. In this arrangement of the game you take nothing for arranged," Pollock said when asked if his side will rest senior players for Tuesday's game as they have previously booked a berth in the play-offs.

"We have got to keep the energy going and maintain those high principles. At some stage it tends to look simple and then there is a slip. It's a significant game for us," said Pollock at the match-eve push conference.
Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians are on top of the IPL table with 16 points from 10 matches.

Pollock refused to reveal the team masterpiece for Tuesday, saying that the team organization will make a decision on this later.

On Tendulkar not participate in Monday's practice sitting though he had come to the PCA stadium, Pollock said there was nothing unusual about it and there was no be anxious about the winner batsman.

"From a carry out viewpoint, Sachin has been concerned (playing cricket) for 3-4 months now and not have one net do doesn't make much of a dissimilarity. Sometimes rest is better than having time in the nets and on the field...he will be ready for us on Tuesday," said the South African.

He said that there was a six-day break approaching up ahead in between their matches should be a "polite period" to charge the team's development and further planning. Pollock rate Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga as the team's "trump card".

"I think he would inspire fear. He has got quite a lethal yorker. Malinga has got plenty of variation. He can bowl an honest bouncer and he also has the slower release which he uses very well. He's got that kind of act which you don't come across every day. He has shown how lethal and accurate he can be," said Pollock, who also recall him having fallen victim to Malinga in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

"Malinga is a wicket taker and so is Bhajji while Munaf (Patel) has performed well. Young guys like Abu (Nechim) and Dhawal have performed well when given a chance. Overall, we have got a good balance," he said.

Pollock praise Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard and Ambati Rayudu for lend strength to the team batting section "with Sachin being very good at the top of the order". "Even the young guys like Davy Jacobs, Blizzard have given the side fast starts," he said.

Asked his view on having day-night Test cricket, Pollock said it will help transport back crowds to Test cricket and people coming back from work can watch 3-4 hours of good cricket. "It is absolutely appeal a try," he said.

Harbhajan: Symonds is a enormous guy

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Monday describe Australian middle-order batsman Andrew Symonds as a "great guy".

This statement comes a day after information claim that Sachin Tendulkar help Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh bury the cut of the Sydney Test racial row disgrace to become friends.

Harbhajan also answerable the media for creation a mountain out of a mole hill by analytical the two as foes.
"We are playing jointly for Mumbai. He is a huge guy and is enjoying his stint," Harbhajan said about his Mumbai Indians IPL colleague Symonds.

Three years of seething hostility triggered by the "Monkeygate" disgrace of the 2008 Sydney Test has broken, thanks to the Indian Premier League, with both the spirited players forming a bond at Mumbai Indians playing surroundings, 'The Australian' report on Sunday.

When Harbhajan was asked concerning the newspaper report, he said, "We have always been friends. Thanks to all of you (media) for making it such big news."

He however added that "such things (spat between the two) occur when you play the sport at that level".
"Every team needs to win. Few words get exchange throughout the games, but I left that matter there and then. From then beyond, we have been playing mutually for Mumbai," Harbhajan said.

The spinner recognized that Tendulkar played a part in finish one of the most talked-about feuds in world cricket.

"It is not just this (Symonds) matter, but he (Tendulkar) has helped me in lot of other matters as well. I am grateful to him," he said.

Harbhajan said that he does not read the journalists and blamed the media for its propensity to rake up the issue.
"I don't actually read newspapers," he said.