CSK is full of belief now, says Meiyappan Gurunath
“Bangalore, here we come,” said a delighted Gurunath Meiyappan after Deccan Chargers ambushed Royal Challengers to seal Chennai Super Kings's spot in the IPL V play-offs.
Gurunath, CSK's team principal, had followed Sunday's key duel at Uppal — an emotional rollercoaster — with members of the Chennai side at the team hotel here. And the result was followed by joy, relief and the celebrations of the moment.
The defending champion will now travel to Bangalore to take on Mumbai Indians in the ‘eliminator' on Wednesday.
This was, indeed, an incredible jail-break for CSK. It now is the only team to have made the semifinals in all the five editions of the IPL.
“From here on, the teams will have to cope with pressure games. We have been in these situations before and come through them. The side is full of belief,” Gurunath said to The Hindu after CSK received a lifeline.
Following its defeat against Kings XI Punjab, the team from Chennai required Rajasthan Royals to lose one of its last two matches, Kings XI to go down to Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers to upset Royal Challengers Bangalore to enter the last-four stage. And a combination of results went CSK's way in the climactic phase of the league.
Gurunath was also pleased that CSK will feature in the Champions League this October. The top three teams in the play-offs automatically make the cut while the fourth side will be given an opportunity to figure in the qualifying rounds of the competition.
‘Will miss Anirudha'
CSK's Team Principal, however, conceded the collar-bone fracture that ruled out Anirudha Srikkanth — he suffered the injury in Dharamsala — for six weeks was a blow to the side. Anirudha's big-hitting had propelled CSK to a vital win in a thriller at Jaipur.
Gurunath also confirmed Australian paceman Doug Bollinger, who has flown back home due to personal reasons, will not be available for the play-off games.
The side's manager, Russell Radhakrishnan, said the team members were cheering every run scored and every wicket taken by Chargers.
He revealed, “the mood was a little down when Chris Gayle launched into the bowling early on. Then Dale Steyn bowled a tremendous spell and everything changed. I was always hopeful. Miracles do happen in sport!”
Russel was soon busy with the team's travel arrangements for the Bangalore duel; CSK will leave on Monday. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina — the two had taken a break to spend some time at home — will join the side in Bangalore.
And batsman S. Badrinath was looking forward to the tournament's business end after recovering from indisposition. “Let's not forget, this is a champion side,” he said.
Meanwhile, the team's Australian stars Michael Hussey and Ben Hilfenhaus accepted greetings from CSK supporters at the dinner table.
The Chennai side's dream of an IPL hat-trick endures.
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