Former <keyword id="19899437" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="South-Africa" source="keywords">South Africa</keyword> pacer <keyword id="20046999" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Morne-Morkel" source="keywords">Morne Morkel</keyword> has been appointed as the <keyword id="22501564" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bowling-coach" source="keywords">bowling coach</keyword> of the <keyword id="19920401" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-team" source="keywords">Indian team</keyword> on Wednesday. Under the new regime of head coach <keyword id="19914485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gautam-Gambhir" source="keywords">Gautam Gambhir</keyword>, Morkel has been named as the successor of previous bowling coach Paras Mhambrey. "South African pacer Morne Morkel appointed as new bowling coach of team India", Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah told ANI. India and Karnataka bowler Vinay Kumar was also reported to be in contention to replace Mhambrey as team India's bowling coach. But Morkel has been appointed ahead of him. Morkel has previously worked with Gambhir during his time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Lucknow Super Giants. Morkel also served as the bowling coach of India's arch-rival Pakistan. He was appointed in June 2023 and left after the conclusion of the ODI World Cup in November last year. But he left six weeks before his contract was meant to expire. During his playing days, the 39-year-old was one of the tearaways in South Africa's star-studded pace bowling line-up. He made 86 Test appearances for the Proteas and claimed 309 wickets at an average of 27.7. In the ODI format, Morkel played 117 matches and scythed 188 wickets at an average of 25.3. In the shortest format of the sport, he made 44 appearances and claimed 47 scalps to his name at an average of 25.3. In India's recently conluded series against Sri Lanka, Gambhir's coaching staff included Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches. T Dilip was retained as the fielding coach from the previous regime. (ANI) SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-9-pro-fold-launched-in-india-at-172999-but-you-cant-get-your-hands-on-it-right-now/articleshow/112517193.cms">Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold launched in India at ₹1,72,999, but you can’t get your hands on it right now</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/pixel-9-pixel-9-pro-and-pixel-9-pro-xl-launched-in-india-starting-at-79999/articleshow/112512198.cms">Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL launched in India starting at ₹79,999</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/ipo-scam-two-victims-from-hyderabad-lose-over-11crore-in-fake-ipo-scams/articleshow/112488051.cms">IPO scam – Two victims from Hyderabad lose over ₹11 crore in fake IPO scams</a>

Former South Africa pacer Morne Morkel appointed bowling coach of the Indian team

Why is the tournament that will start in earnest in Hyderabad on Wednesday called the Champions League T20 (CLT20) when more than half the competing teams are not the winners of the events that put them there? 
 
Yes, football also propagates this marketing myth. But since when does cricket, which likes to think of itself as the cerebral sport fan's game of choice, take its cues from something designed to deliver 90 minutes of nothing to mobs of yobs? 
 
And who can look past the farce of at least three and perhaps as many as four of the field of 10 sides who play in the CLT20 proper all hailing from the Indian Premier League (IPL)? 
 
The closest we can get to a truthful answer to these questions is to supply it ourselves - the CLT20 would be more honestly named Another Opportunity for IPL Franchises and Selected Others to Make Even More Money (AOIFSOMEMM). 
 
So, stand by for the 2014 edition of the AOIFSOMEMM, the tournament that commonsense forgot. If you live in Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Raipur or Bangalore, it is coming soon to a stadium near you. 
 If you live elsewhere, do not fear - it will be on a television not far away from you as surely as <keyword id="3257" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Lalit-Modi">Lalit Modi</keyword>, who styles himself as the "founder and architect of the IPL and CLT20" on his Twitter page, will in the next 10 minutes say something that confirms his arrogance. 
 
At least he will make us laugh when he does so, albeit unintentionally. The cricket itself, however, could bring tears to the eyes of South Africans - who are capable of seeing something like the AOIFSOMEMM for the ridiculousness it is while hoping like hell that their teams win the damned thing. Not this year, Josephine. 
 The Dolphins won outright - rather than shared - their first championship in <keyword id="6355117" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="South-Africa">South Africa</keyword>'s franchise history last season by claiming the T20 trophy. <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/david-miller/8001/8076">David Miller</a> was central to that cause as the competition's leading runscorer. But Miller will strutt his stuff in the colours of <keyword id="13883" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kings-XI-Punjab">Kings XI Punjab</keyword> in the AOIFSOMEMM. 
 
It is difficult to imagine the Dolphins staying afloat without Miller's presence and his destructive bat, not to mention his predatory patrol of the outfield from whence his bullet arm fires straight and true. 
 
But which is worse: the fact that some undeserving IPL lot will enjoy his services rather than the team that have nurtured him and his talent to fruition, or the awkward truth that his rightful team are happy to accept the ransom that the IPL side are only too willing to pay to hang onto him? Off with both of their heads. 
 The Cobras are no strangers to success in South <keyword id="12925" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Africa">Africa</keyword> having won or shared 10 trophies in the past 10 seasons. In the inaugural AOIFSOMEMM in 2009, they reached the semi-finals. But to get that far this year they will need all the world class players they can put into a team shirt. 
 
So, good thing they have <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/hashim-amla/8001/8034">Hashim Amla</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/vernon-philander/8001/53012">Vernon Philander</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/dale-steyn/8001/8051">Dale Steyn</a> to call on. Except that they do not have Steyn. 
 
Despite the unfair advantage given to IPL sides, Steyn's team in that tournament, Sunrisers Hyderabad, were not good enough make the AOIFSOMEMM grade. Steyn is not playing because Cricket South Africa (CSA) have told the Cobras to rest him. As his salary is paid by CSA and not the Cobras, the latter have no choice but to comply. 
 Whether CSA would have been quite as keen to tell the <keyword id="6354467" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Kolkata-Knight-Riders">Kolkata Knight Riders</keyword> to give <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/morne-morkel/8001/8057">Morne Morkel</a> a break is an interesting question that was made moot when Morkel was ruled out of the AOIFSOMEMM with a shoulder injury. 
 
For all that, many South Africans are quietly relieved that players of the importance and the workload of Steyn and Morkel will take no part in the irrelevance that is the AOIFSOMEMM. There is a World Cup coming, and that is a far bigger priority. The nation is happy with that, even if Steyn and Morkel themselves are not because of the AOIFSOMEMM-shaped hole that will loom large in their bank accounts. 
 
All set, then, for the 18 days of contextless cricket that will constitute this year's AOIFSOMEMM? Can't hardly wait...

CLT20 Is The Tournament That Commonsense Forgot

Batting superstar Virat <keyword id="19899436" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kohli" source="keywords">Kohli</keyword> spent about 45 minutes in the nets and pace spearhead Jasprit <keyword id="19989685" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bumrah" source="keywords">Bumrah</keyword> bowled full tilt as the Indian cricket team on Friday began its preparations for a two-Test series against Bangladesh. With the first Test against Bangladesh scheduled here from September 19, the entire squad, including skipper <keyword id="19899523" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rohit-Sharma" source="keywords">Rohit Sharma</keyword> and Kohli, assembled at the MA Chidambaram Stadium for a closed door training session. This would be the first home assignment for new head coach <keyword id="19914485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gautam-Gambhir" source="keywords">Gautam Gambhir</keyword>. New bowling coach, South African great Morne Morkel, and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar were also in attendance. The BCCI posted images of the first day of practice and wrote, "The countdown starts as Team <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> begin their preps for an exciting home season." The images showed the entire squad listening attentively to Gambhir, his support staff and skipper Rohit. "Virat was there for 45 minutes and Bumrah also bowled full throttle," a local source told PTI Virat has flown in directly from London for the opening Test. Wearing a yellow jersey, Rohit was seen emerging from the airport escorted by security personnel, in a PTI Video on Thursday night, while Kohli came from London in an early-morning flight. The likes of Bumrah, KL Rahul and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant had reached the city on Thursday. Batter Sarfaraz Khan will join the squad after the Duleep Trophy game in Anantapur, where he is playing for India B right now. The players are returning to the field after a much-needed break of more than a month and would look to put behind the disappointment of losing the ODI series against Sri Lanka in August, which was Gambhir's first assignment as head coach after taking over Rahul Dravid. It would be interesting to see how Rohit's side approaches the game against a Bangladesh side, which is on a high following its 2-0 Test series win over Pakistan recently. Vital World Test Championship (WTC) points are at stake in the two-match series as India get ready for a a gruelling 10-match Test season, which also includes a three-Test series at home against New Zealand and the five-match Border-Gavaskar series later this year in Australia. India are currently heading the table with 68.52 percentage points, while Australia are a close second with 62.50 percentage points. Bangladesh have jumped to fourth spot with 45.83 percentage points following their 10-wicket win over Pakistan in the opening Test and their amazing fightback in the second Test where wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das scored a century to singlehandedly guide the side to a series triumph. The second Test of the India-Bangladesh series will be played in Kanpur from September 27.

Kohli bats for long, Bumrah goes whole hog in India's first practice ahead of Bangladesh Tests

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/50077725.cms" /> 
It was a magnificent spell show by the hands of Indian bowlers, led by Ravichandran Ashwin (5/61 in 49.1 overs) that defeated South Africa's resistance. Team India won the final match by 337 runs, thus winning the four-match series by 3-0. 
 
Thanks to the Indian batsmen, South Africa needed a huge score of 481 runs; however, they were bowled out for 143, out of which the last five wickets fell within a score of seven runs. 
 
This win has upped India’s ranking to No 2 in the ICC Test rankings. 
 
The moment Ashwin took Morne Morkel’s wicket, marking the victory, the whole audience stood up to give a standing ovation to team India, including captain Virat Kohli and Man of the Match Ajinkya Rahane. 
 
The Test series victory came after frequent losses in ODIs and Twenty20s that we lost earlier. 
 
<a href="http://alltrendingsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/live-Score-India-vs-South-Africa-First-Test-Mohali-2015.jpg">Image Source</a>

India beats South Africa by a historic 3-0 in Test Series

High on confidence after win in the first Test at Galle, <keyword id="6355117" type="COUNTRY" weightage="40" keywordseo="South-Africa">South Africa</keyword> will look to create history by sealing their first series win in <keyword id="6355572" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sri-Lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword> in 21 years as the Proteas take on the hosts in the second match, starting Thursday at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo. Traditionally, the SSC pitch can easily be regarded as a sleeping beauty. However, with the series on the line and a Test required to win, Sri Lanka will hope for a surface that offers a lot of turn. They would need all the help from the pitch as the South African pacer <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/dale-steyn/8001/8051">Dale Steyn</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/morne-morkel/8001/8057">Morne Morkel</a> have showed that no matter what the surface is, disciplined bowling can help in taking wickets. 
 
Sri Lanka have not lost a Test here in more than 10 years. However, on a happy hunting ground for the hosts, only four out of the last 10 Tests have produced a result in their favour, rest have been draws. Once again they will be banking heavily on their stalwarts <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kumar-sangakkara/9001/9011">Kumar Sangakkara</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mahela-jayawardene/9001/9003">Mahela Jayawardene</a>. The famed duo carved the South African attack to all parts of the SSC the last time the two teams met here when the world-record stand of 624 saw Sangakkara miss out on a triple ton and Jayawardene miss out on a 400. 
 For South Africa though, only two current players from their 2006 squad will be having the horrid memories - AB de Villiers and <keyword id="12829" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dale-Steyn">Dale Steyn</keyword>. With a settled and hungry middle order comprising Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and De Villiers plus form of the Galle centurions Dean Elgar and <keyword id="69475" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="JP-Duminy">JP Duminy</keyword>, the Proteas go into the final Test as a slightly better batting force. Their bowling, however lethal in the first Test, will be tested to the limit on a deck full of runs. 
 
Team News: 
 
Sri Lanka: The hosts have made two changes in their squad. One has been form-based call of Dinesh Chandimal being dropped and uncapped wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella nearly set for debut. The other forced decision is that Shaminda Eranga misses out due to injury and Dhammika Prasad is favourite to take his spot in the playing XI. Spinners Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera will have to raise their game in order to trouble the South African batsmen. 
 
Probable XI: 1.Kaushal Silva 2. Upul Tharanga 3. <keyword id="22772" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kumar-Sangakkara">Kumar Sangakkara</keyword> 4. Mahela Jayawardene 5. Lahiru Thirimanne 6. Angelo Mathews 7. Niroshan Dickwella 8. Dilruwan Perera 9. Dammika Prasad 10. Rangana Herath 11. Suranga Lakmal 
 
Watch out for 
 
Local boy Jayawardene has some appetite for runs at this venue. With 2698 runs at an average of 77 and 10 hundreds to boot here, the former skipper has more runs than any other player on a single venue. He will be more than eager to once again make an impact as he plays his penultimate game on his choicest venue. If he scores big, Sri Lanka will garner enough wherewithal to challenge their opposition. 
 
South Africa: 
 
Their potent bowling makes them one of the biggest challenges that hosts would have faced of late, on what has usually been a placid track. At Galle, Steyn and Morkel took a total of 16 wickets with a deadly combination of pace, seam and reverse swing. They are likely to make the ball talk if and when the surface becomes abrasive. The only possible change in their ranks could be Wayne Parnell replacing Vernon Philander, who went wicketless in the first Test. With the bat, new captain Amla will have to impress upon as a leader, while opener Alviro Petersen is due a big score. 
 
Probable XI: 1. Alviro Petersen 2. Dean Elgar 3. Faf du Plessis 4. Hashim Amla 5. AB de Villiers 6. JP Duminy 7. Quinton de Kock 8. Dale Steyn 9. Vernon Philander/Wayne Parnell 10. Imran Tahir 11. Morne Morkel. 
 
Watch out for 
 
Steyn - world's best Test bowler and by some distance, is in rollicking form and by the looks of his showings this year (21 wickets in 4 games), he is on course to better his best figures in Sri Lanka, 9/99, which he took in Galle. Steyn's skill as a pacer is unparalleled and each batsmen will have to be at the top of his game to counter his penetrative style of attack. SSC will test him, but if any fast bowler one would want to bank upon to make an impact here, it would be Steyn.

2nd Test: SL Aim To Square Series On Batting-Friendly SSC

Back in the Indian one-day international side after a gap of six years, <keyword id="6405247" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Robin-Uthappa">Robin Uthappa</keyword> has vowed to excel in the blue jersey on the three-match tour of <keyword id="6354759" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</keyword>. The highest scorer in the seventh edition of Indian Premier League, Uthappa feels playing for India is an opportunity to start all over again. 
 
"I am very excited. It means a lot to me that I'm playing for the country again. It makes me extremely proud that I am able to do what I love doing at the highest level. But I just see this as an opportunity. I cannot sit back and I say I have made it now. It is an opportunity to start all over again," Uthappa told ESPNCricinfo in an interview on Tuesday. 
 He last played an ODI for India way back in July 2008 in the Asia Cup final, where he batted in the middle order. Uthappa, who opens the batting for Karnataka in domestic cricket, batted in the middle order in the initial stages of this year's <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword>. However, with that ploy not working, Uthappa was promoted to open, a move that triggered KKR's victory bid. The right-hander believes not much will change in the fifty-over format once he faces Bangladesh. 
 
"Winning the treble with Karnataka gave me a massive understanding of what I need to do in terms of being able to perform my role to the best of my ability. I am very certain about my role as an opening batsman, because I do it day in, day out throughout the season for Karnataka. So it is just a matter of repeating the same process at a different level," he said. 
 
Out of the 38 ODIs he played for India, he opened the batting on 13 occasions and registered three of his five career half-centuries including an 86 on debut against England at that position. The 28-year-old now has a fresh desire to help India win matches. 
 
"I know that if I stick to what works for me, I will be successful. I need to stay in the present. I need to make sure that I focus on the most important thing: to play on the merit of the ball. If I can do that, the scores will come. I am pretty confident that I can perform the role of an opening batsman to my fullest potential. I believe that I can set up games for India to win. Winning games for India is what I want to do. That is an intense desire," he said. 
 
For India's 2007 T20 World Cup winner, becoming IPL 7's Orange Cap holder with 660 runs wasn't an easy job. He had to bat through pain after suffering a toe niggle when he was hurt in the nets midway through the season. Uthappa explains his agony and how he came out of it. 
 "Two days before the Mumbai match in Cuttack, I was hit flush on my left big toe by a yorker-length delivery from Pat Cummins. Later, when I removed my shoe I had a broken nail and it was bleeding profusely. Our <keyword id="145841" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="physiotherapist">physiotherapist</keyword> Andrew Leipus gave me some painkillers. I was positive about playing the match considering we had to win it. But on match day, when I reached the ground, I realised I could not even get a sock on easily, let alone a shoe. 
 I am a UK size 10, so Andrew suggested I try a bigger size. I tried one size bigger but that too was not going in. Then I tried Morne Morkel's size 12. But I was feeling uncomfortable in them. Andrew suggested I wear something with an open toe to take the pressure off. <keyword id="61954" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Jacques-Kallis">Jacques Kallis</keyword> had his bowling boots, which were size 11. Andrew built a nice, thick protection cap over the cut part of the shoe to provide a good cushion. Fortunately we bowled first and it gave me little more time to adjust to the shoe. I finished with the Man-of-the-Match award with an 80. I thanked Kallis and played in them till the qualifier," he said. 
 
Uthappa says that his coach Pravin Amre played a big role in helping him correct his game, which was visible in the IPL where he hit 74 fours and comparatively lower number of sixes (18). "Amre Sir has always taught me that if I had the right technique, the end result would be good. The initial part of our training was a lot about making sure that my initial movements were correct, my set-up was correct, the way I picked up the bat, the way the backlift was, the way the downswing was. When all of that is proper, 60-70% of your work is done. The rest is about getting your head into position, holding that position well and playing the ball late into the gaps. 
 
"Very early in our training, I remember telling Sir immediately after hitting a fluent cover drive that I have hit so many sixes in my life but this shot I just hit I would never forget. I hit it so sweetly. He told me not to worry because I would do it more often. It is just a feel, more like a sensation. As a result, every shot in the V past the bowler on both sides has improved," he explained. 
 
Looking ahead, Uthappa also hopes he can make it to the 2015 World Cup squad but he plans to take series by series. "I believe in my ability and that I will play in the World Cup and contribute to our country's success in a meaningful manner. That is the hope. I am very, very consciously living in the present. I am confident but for the moment I am focusing to perform and succeed in Bangladesh to begin with and carry forward the confidence into subsequent tournaments," he said.

I Can Set Up Games For India To Win: Uthappa

In terms of ambition, the Champions League T20 was to be the perfect tool to showcase, and popularise, franchise cricket. It was modelled on the UEFA Champions League, with clubs from cricketing nations teaming up for a short T20 event. But into its sixth edition, it hasn't delivered on the promise front. The <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> in India is still the benchmark, and the involvement of international teams somehow fails to pique interest among fans who get behind their local franchises (a reason to include a fourth Indian team). From September 13, however, up until October 4, the disappointments of the England tour will be forgotten, and cricket's shortest format will once again drum up the entertainment before the home season in India gets under way. 
 
In many ways, the timeframe set apart for the Champions League is about perfect for a T20 competition. The IPL lasts two months; back-to-back games in the middle of the Indian summer making it an annual TV soap opera. The expectancy of home advantage is less; teams from South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand make it a more global event, and the chance to see several international players, who could soon be seen being snapped up by several franchises in next year's IPL. The Champions League then is the IPL's poorer cousin, but the unpredictable nature of the competition could make it for interesting viewing. 
 
Chhattisgarh's Raipur International Cricket Stadium will host the six qualifiers featuring Lahore Lions (Pakistan), Mumbai Indians (India), Northern Knights (New Zealand) and Southern Express (Sri Lanka), before the main league kicks off with games scheduled in Hyderabad, Mohali and Bangalore. Gocricket.com takes a look at the teams making up the competition: 
 
Kolkata Knight Riders: The IPL champions gained direct entry into the league stages by virtue of their title triumph a few months ago, but have been hampered by injuries to Morne Morkel and <keyword id="258312" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Chris-Lynn">Chris Lynn</keyword>, who have been ruled out of the tournament, as was Shakib Al Hasan, serving a disciplinary sanction by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The Indian domestic season was over before the IPL meaning several Indian players will be without practice, a situation that forced <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/yusuf-pathan/30001/4096">Yusuf Pathan</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/piyush-chawla/30001/4089">Piyush Chawla</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/manvinder-bisla/30001/27013">Manvinder Bisla</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kuldeep-yadav/30001/4133">Kuldeep Yadav</a> to undergo a boot camp in South Africa. <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/gautam-gambhir/30001/4043">Gautam Gambhir</a>, the inspirational two-time IPL-winning captain, however, is back playing franchise cricket after a nightmarish return to the Indian team on the England tour. Gambhir would have to brush aside that traumatic experience to lead his troops. 
 
Perth Scorchers: Like KKR, Perth Scorchers triumphed at the Big Bash League, but like the Indian franchise, they too come into the tournament with a depleted squad. Simon Katich was their leading run-getter but is not available, nor is Shaun Marsh, who was injured. The franchise will rely heavily on <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mitchell-marsh/1001/27022">Mitchell Marsh</a>, who is coming off a successful trip with the Australian team in Zimbabwe. 
 
Dolphins: Winners of South Africa's domestic T20 competition, Dolphins make their Champions League bow under former South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Morne van Wyk, who has previously turned out for KKR. With <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/david-miller/8001/8076">David Miller</a> opting to play for Kings XI Punjab, the Dolphins squad will miss the services of their explosive batsman, but <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kyle-abbott/8001/29036">Kyle Abbott</a>'s presence in the bowling line-up gives them some international quality. 
 
Barbados Tridents: The 2014 Caribbean Premier League champions will be without <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/dwayne-smith/26001/10043">Dwayne Smith</a>, Shoaib Malik and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kieron-pollard/31001/10060">Kieron Pollard</a> but still have enough quality to surprise bigger teams. Zimbabwe's hard-hitting ODI captain <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/elton-chigumbura/11001/11033">Elton Chigumbura</a>, James Franklin and <keyword id="1319274" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Dilshan-Munaweera">Dilshan Munaweera</keyword> will bolster the batting, while Ravi Rampaul will lead the bowling attack. 
 
Kings XI Punjab: KXIP turned out to be the surprise package of the IPL and despite falling short of a maiden title, turned heads with their all-round performances. Despite an injury to Sandeep Sharma, who was a revelation with the new ball, the KXIP line-up screams quality under the astute leadership of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/george-bailey/29001/26015">George Bailey</a>. Add to that the explosive batting order comprising <keyword id="7567" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Virender-Sehwag">Virender Sehwag</keyword>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/glenn-maxwell/29001/36006">Glenn Maxwell</a>, David Miller and Thisara Perera. 
 
Hobart Hurricanes: Bailey's absence from the Hurricanes has given discarded Australian wicketkeeper-batsman <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/tim-paine/1001/1088">Tim Paine</a> a chance to step up. Former Pakistan captain <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/shoaib-malik/7001/7011">Shoaib Malik</a> will give the side important advice about playing on subcontinent surfaces, while Chennai Super Kings' pace bowling duo – Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus – would know a thing or two about their former team. Aiden Blizzard and Ben Dunk add muscle to their batting order. 
 
Cape Cobras: After falling two runs short of the Ram Slam T20 title, Cape Cobras will be out to go one better at the Champions League with a team full of South Africa's top players. Justin Ontong has at his service the class of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/hashim-amla/8001/8034">Hashim Amla</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/jp-duminy/8001/8053">JP Duminy</a> and Vernon Philander, and their most successful domestic spinner, Dane Piedt. Veterans Justin Kemp and Robin Peterson are sure to lift the team with their all-round skills. 
 
Chennai Super Kings: CSK are out to emulate Mumbai Indians by attempting a second title. Free from international duty, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ms-dhoni/26001/4057">MS Dhoni</a> will look to his franchise to give his much-criticised captaincy a boost. Their all-round T20 skill under the Indian captain makes them one of the most feared sides in the competition. 
 
Besides the sure-shot contenders, four teams will contest the qualifying stages with two of them set to go through: 
 
Mumbai Indians: The defending CLT20 champions had to endure a difficult IPL but emerged late to snatch fourth place to earn a shot at a title defence. For majority of the competition, MI suffered by failing to field the right combinations and captain Rohit Sharma's absence means fellow seniors like Kieron Pollard, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/harbhajan-singh/31001/4008">Harbhajan Singh</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/lasith-malinga/31001/9036">Lasith Malinga</a> will have to step up. Star signing Corey Anderson's lack of form was a subject of great debate during the competition, but his game-changing 94 against Rajasthan Royals proved how dangerous the side could be with the big players firing. 
 
Lahore Lions: Pakistan's T20 champions had to endure a difficult passage into India with a visa delay, but on match day, their quality is set to leave an impact on the competition. The absence of Pakistani players from the IPL means the Lions will lend additional charm to the event, and the team is full of quality with six Pakistan internationals – <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ahmed-shehzad/7001/7070">Ahmed Shehzad</a>, Umar Akmal, Nasir Jamshed, Aizaz Cheema, Wahab Riaz and captain Mohammad Hafeez. 
 
Nothern Knights: <keyword id="13837" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Daniel-Vettori">Daniel Vettori</keyword>'s withdrawal from the competition wouldn't affect the side that already boasts of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kane-williamson/6001/6071">Kane Williamson</a>, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, BJ Watling and Ish Sodhi, the fulcrum of the revival in New Zealand cricket. Scott Styris brings in years of experience, most importantly of having played in India on several occasions. 
 
Southern Express: Without Lasith Malinga and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/tillakaratne-dilshan/9001/9034">Tillakaratne Dilshan</a>, the Sri Lankan side does look weak but expect them to fight tooth and nail. The familiarity with conditions in the subcontinent will make them a force to reckon with.

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