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Chennai: The fifth season of the Indian Premier League will kick-off on April 4 at Chepauk, the home of champions Chennai Super Kings, with an opening ceremony the previous day.

The popular tournament will run a course of 54 days and conclude on May 27, according to an official press release issued after the meeting of the IPL Governing Council in Hyderabad on Friday.

It will be the second consecutive season that Chennai will host the opening ceremony and the inaugural game. Having won the 2010 IPL title, Chennai was the venue for the opening game of the 2011 competition that the Super Kings went on to win.

The Super Kings have been the most consistent among the IPL teams. They reached the final in the inaugural 2008 season, then the semi-finals in 2009 when the event was held in South Africa before clinching the title two years running, in 2010 and 2011.

The Super Kings, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, also achieved a unique double by winning the 2010 Champions League tournament that was held in South Africa.

The Governing Council has asked the Management team to come back with options for the format and structure for the 2012 season of the tournament.

The Governing Council also approved various operational items for the forthcoming IPL season, the release stated.

The player regulation and trading modalities will be discussed at the next meeting of the Governing Council.

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Chennai: A combination of factors, ranging from inconsistent bowling, fatigue and the pressure of having to chase 200-plus target in just 17 overs all contributed to the Chennai Super Kings’ exit from the Nokia Champions League T20 tournament, according to coach Stephen Fleming.

The Super Kings were knocked out of the competition on Tuesday when they lost by 46 runs to New South Wales Blues for whom opener David Warner scored a swashbuckling 135 not out in just 69 balls.

The Blues posted a total of 201 for two and then dismissed Super Kings for 155 to qualify for the semi-finals. The Super Kings needed to chase down the target in about 17 overs to progress to the semi-finals on better Net Run Rate, but failed in the process.

The pitch, that until the game was thought to be slow and low to make batting a difficult task, turned out to be totally different or at least it was made to look so with Blues chalking up a huge total when in the previous game, a 140 or 150 score was thought to be a winning effort.

Fleming observed that as much as Warner’s blitz, it was their bowling that caved in under pressure, and in turn made the chase doubly difficult.

“We were disappointing this season, particularly today. As well as Warner played, we were well off the mark with the ball which placed a lot of pressure on our batting. The first 20 overs was the most disappointing aspect,” he said.

Reviewing the overall performance, Fleming said the Super Kings were always competitive, but did not utilize the opportunity on Tuesday against the Blues.

“We have been pretty good, we have been okay, but we have been competing. Today, we got another opportunity and I thought we were really going to have a good go at them. But a mixture of Warner's ability and our inability to be accurate under pressure made us wilt.

“It is always disappointing when you have to bow out. It was made to look worse because we were trying to win the game in 17 overs to give us a chance. But it was a disappointing finish to what has been a great run.

“We have had three great titles. I guess in Twenty20, you cannot expect to win everything, but it (the Champions League) was certainly a poor return for a good side. We were too anxious and we got an opportunity today and I thought we really could go with that,” he said.

Fleming pointed out that the task of chasing a big target in fewer overs meant that the batsmen had to take their chances, but in the process, they lost wickets.

“The rivals bowled well and we needed to chase 200 runs in 17 overs. That is a difficult task and you have to take risks. I do not think anyone had chased 200 runs in 17 overs.

“We had no other option. The choice was to keep striking. I am overly concerned with the batting performance. I think it will always be a tough task when your rival scores over 200 runs. Even a total of 160 or 170 could have given us some sort of chance to make it at half way point,” he said.

When asked whether the team missed Albie Morkel who was injured and replaced by Sri Lankan all-rounder Nuwan Kulasekara, Fleming replied in the negative.

“We were pretty good in adjusting. We knew Albie was in trouble after the end of the last game. So, we had time to digest that information. We were comfortable with what Kulasekara could bring. So even if we lost a batsman of Albie's ability, we still had a lot of batting.

“That we needed to score about 12 runs an over was the main problem today. We got no excuses and our preparation was rather tough. A lot of teams were training and not being able to use the middle, we had to do something different. Probably that showed in the hesitant way that we played as we were used to be lot more confident,” Fleming said.

The coach held out the view that the change in the nature of the wicket had a bearing on the approach of the Super Kings batsmen in the context of adapting to the conditions.

“The change in wicket was a massive influence as we were expecting to play the same style of cricket that we have done for the last three years. I think that the wicket change was needed by the teams. We had to bring in massive adjustments once we learnt that.

“We fell to the unknown quality of teams and so we lost. Probably, it is difficult for an IPL side to come together for three weeks rather than the sides have been training for a long period of time. That might be the other reason an IPL side doesn’t feature as much and as consistently as some of the other teams,” said Fleming.

The coach admitted that fatigue could have dictated the performance, especially those of top Indian stars like skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina who have been playing cricket virtually non-stop for nearly a year now.

“I look at attitude. Attitude is the key thing for me. It was very good towards the team. In terms of their form and what they have come up, there was an element of fatigue. No doubt that they are playing a lot of cricket as have lot of other players.

“Hussey is an element of fatigue. If you mix the fatigue with poor energy, then as a Coach I have a problem. But playing with players with fatigue is part and parcel of an IPL coach.

“I really adopt a relaxed attitude towards these guys and give them as much time as possible to recover. They have come through a tough tour. And if you are looking for form, 20-20 does not give you lot of time to adjust to Indian conditions.

“I think the pitches that they have played on in the last couple of matches in England as compared to the pitches here, there is big difference. They could not give the production that they were used to.

“The rest of the answer has to come from them, but as a Coach I was happy with what they gave. Of course, they did not perform as well I expected them to,” he said.

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Chennai: The Chennai Super Kings campaign in the Nokia Champions League T20 tournament came to an end here on Tuesday as they went down by 46 runs to New South Wales Blues who thus reached the semi-finals with a tally of six points, along with Mumbai Indians who finished second (5).

It was a David Warner show at Chepauk on Tuesday night as he blitzed a 69-ball 135 not out as the Blues made 201 for two and then dismissed the Super Kings for 155 in 18.5 overs with left-arm spinner Stephen O’Keefe taking 3 for 28.

The Blues thus topped Group A with six points and along with Mumbai Indians (5) qualified for the semi-finals leaving the Trinidad and Tobago, who earlier beat Nashua Cape Cobras by two wickets, heart-broken and on four points. The South Africans finished with three points and the Super Kings ended at the bottom with two.

It was undoubtedly Warner’s night on Tuesday on a pitch on which batting was a task until the “pocket dynamo” captailised on a life when on 40 and launched into a save attack that spared no bowler. Clearly, Warner was in the zone as he played shots at will, notably the switch hits.

Fast bowler Doug Bollinger, who had opted for Super Kings rather than his home team Blues, was taken to the cleaners. He conceded 48 runs in three overs as also the other bowlers, save Nuwan Kulasekara who conceded only 23 in his four overs after having replaced an injured Albie Morkel.

The Super Kings response was as fiery with openers Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay indulging in hectic hitting, but then, the pressure was constant, and it eventually told on the batsmen.

Hussey was unfortunately to be ruled out leg before to Stuart Clark and then left-arm spinner Stephen O’Keefe dismissed Vijay and Suresh Raina, all scoring briskly but getting out attempting to step up the scoring.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni followed his mates into the dug-out in the 11th over and it was all over bar the shouting as the Super Kings fell to 88 for four.Thereafter, it was a regular procession and the Super Kings innings came apart in sharp contrast to the Blues innings.

Warner and Shane Watson (21) started at a gallop, scoring freely as Bollinger went for 13 runs in his first over. Both batsmen took their chances with Warner coming up with a couple of audacious switch-hits to the ropes.

The 50 came up at the end of the fifth over and the Blues seemed to be well on way to a big total. However, Ashwin struck in the seventh over as Watson top-edged to Dhoni, playing across the line and the Super Kings heaved a sigh of relief.

But then, Warner, with Steven Smith as his partner, never lifted his foot off the pedal and runs continued to flow. The left-hander was lucky to be dropped when on 40 (73 for one) off Bravo as Shadab Jakati misjudged the catch.

Dhoni wrung in bowling changes, but to no effect as Warner and Steven Smith carried on without undue problems as they added 50 in just 37 deliveries.

In a desperate move, Bollinger was brought back in for the 13th over, but again he leaked 13 with Warner smashing a six and a boundary. The 15th, bowled by left-arm spinner Jakati brought the Blues another 15 followed by 13 off the next by Raina as Blues touched 134 for one after 15.

The 100 partnership was raised in just 61 balls before Smith was brilliantly caught in the deep by Wriddhiman Saha off Nuwan Kulasekara who was brought in for an injured Albie Morkel. Soon, Warner notched his second Champions League century off just 58 deliveries.

Warner celebrated his century in style with two sixes and a switch-hit four on the back of new man Moises Henriques’ six as Bravo went for 24 runs in the 19th over.

Warner then completed the demolition of Super Kings attack by blasting Bollinger for 20 runs, including a massive six that sent the ball to the roof of the stadium and the Blues posted a daunting 201 for two in their 20 overs.

SCORE-BOARD

New South Wales Blues Innings:

David Warner (not out) 135 (69b, 8 x 6, 11 x 4)

Shane Watson c Dhoni b Ashwin 21 (19b, 3 x 4)

Steven Smith c Saha b Kulasekara 31 (29b, 2 x 4)

Moises Henriques (not out) 09 (4b, 1 x 6)

Extras (lb-2, w-2): 04

Total (for 2 wkts, 20 overs): 201

Fall of wickets: 1-54 (Watson, 6.4); 2-155 (S Smith, 17.3).

Bowling: Nuwan Kulasekara 4-0-23-1; Doug Bollinger 3-0-48-0 (1nb, 1w); Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-32-1; Dwayne Bravo 4-0-43-0 (1w); Suresh Raina 3-0-32-0; Shadab Jakati 2-0-21-0.

Chennai Super Kings Innings:

Michael Hussey lbw Clark 37 (27b, 7 x 4)

Murali Vijay b O’Keefe 17 (16b, 2 x 4)

Suresh Raina c Clark b O’Keefe 28 (14b, 1 x 6, 5 x 4)

Mahendra Singh Dhoni c S Smith b Henriques 02 (4b)

Dwayne Bravo c Warner b O’Keefe 16 (11b, 1 x 6, 1 x 4)

Subramaniam Badrinath b Clark 13 (14b, 1 x 4)

Wriddhiman Saha (run out – Warner/O’Keefe) 00 (0b)

Nuwan Kulasekara c Warner b Starc 18 (12b, 1 x 6, 1 x 4)

Ravichandran Ashwin c Henriques b S Smith 01 (4b)

Doug Bollinger c and b Sarc 17 (11b, 3 x 4)

Shadab Jakati (not out) 00 (0b)

Extras (lb-3, w-3): 06

Total (all out, 18.5 overs): 155

Fall of wickets: 1-55 (Hussey, 6.4); 2-67 (Vijay, 7.5); 3-88 (Raina, 9.6); 4-88 (Dhoni, 10.1); 5-111 (Bravo, 13.1); 6-112 (Saha, 13.2); 7-119 (Badrinath, 14.4); 8-124 (Ashwin, 15.4); 9-151 (Kulasekara, 18.5); 10-155 (Bollinger, 18.5).

Bowling: Stuart Clark 4-0-34-2; Mitchell Starc 2.5-0-21-2 (2w); Patrick Cummins 3-0-22-0 (1w); Stephen O’Keefe 4-0-28-3; Moises Henriques 4-0-39-1; Steven Smith 1-0-8-1.

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Chennai: The Chennai Super Kings fans would be hoping for another “Dharmasala” performance on Tuesday when they take on the New South Wales Blues in a must-win Group A game of the Nokia Champions League T20 tournament, here.

There is no safety-net for the defending champions Super Kings and the only way forward for them is to win, and win big so as to boost the Net Run Rate besides adding two points to the two they have in the kitty. It is a kind of situation that the Super Kings have been in and it is not beyond them to deliver when it counts most.

Obviously, the Super Kings would be looking up to Captain Cool Mahendra Singh Dhoni to provide the inspiration and leadership as he had done so tellingly in the past and with their fortress breached twice in the past one week, it is time for them to rebuild.

The situation in Group A is such that all the five teams have a mathematical chance to qualify for the semi-finals. Mumbai Indians currently head the table with five, but have completed their league engagements. Behind them are the Blues with four points, followed by the Cape Cobras on three and Trinidad and Tobago on two, while the Super Kings are at the bottom, also with two points, but a negative Net Run Rate.

Even the bravest of fans would hesitate to predict the outcome given the stunning and topsy-turvy results that the re-laid Chepauk wicket has produced in the ongoing tournament. While runs have been at a premium, it is the bowlers, especially the spinners, who have called the tune, and it is debatable whether it would be any different on Tuesday.

As Dhoni pointed out on Sunday night following the sensational 12-run defeat to Trinidad and Tobago, the Super Kings would be playing last and will have a clear picture as to what is required of them. But the fact is that should the Cobras win against the Caribbean champions, then it is all over for the Super Kings.

Likewise, if Blues win, then they will top the group with six points with Cobras (if they beat TT), or Mumbai Indians joining them depending on the NRR. But the tricky part would be if both TT and Super Kings prevail, then it will lead to a three-way tie also involving the Blues with all on four points. Again, the NRR will come into play.

For Super Kings, the Champions League campaign has been one of strange twists and turns. Their much-heralded batting has not measured up to expectations, while their bowling, hitherto reckoned to be their weak link, has actually outperformed the willow-wielders.

The likes of opener Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, Subramaniam Badrinath, Wriddhiman Saha and Dhoni himself, have not exactly been in top form while Michael Hussey, barring the 81 in the opening game that Super Kings lost to Mumbai Indians, has not stayed long enough to make an impact. It was all-rounder Dwayne Bravo’s magical 25-ball 46 not out against the Cobras that fetched the lone win for the Super Kings.

Under the circumstances, it requires a glorious confluence of batting and bowling for the Super Kings to make any progress in the tournament. But, they first need to look at the Cobras vs TT game on Tuesday before assessing their semi-final chances.

On their part, Blues showed a lot of character to win two games, against Trinidad and Tobago, and the Mumbai Indians, from difficult positions. With a good mix of youth and experience and skipper Simon Katich marshalling his troops to a nicety, the Blues have shown an enviable ability to close ranks in a crisis, much like Super Kings used to, but haven’t in the current competition.

Dhoni tried different tactics against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday night, including a switch in the batting order, and holding back offie Ravichandran Ashwin until the eighth over, but these ploys did not bring desired results.

Hussey was to say after Sunday’s game: “There was a bit of variable bounce on the track, so we thought it’s better to use fast bowlers up front. A lot of balls kept low and medium pacers could have better utilized it.”

Runs leaked at crucial juncture have also contributed to the Super Kings’ defeats and it is to be hoped that Dhoni’s magnificent men would regroup for one last battle on Tuesday, for nothing else will suffice.