One witnessed those attributes in the crunch games during the IPL. They seemed dead and buried in the do-or-die game against Kings XI Punjab at Dharamshala. Then came Dhoni and brought with him a sublime six-hitting form to steer the team home. After that great escape, Chennai lifted their game by several notches in the semifinals and finals where they set aside the challenge of Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians respectively.

Doug Bollinger made light work of Deccan's batting with his aggressive bowling while Suresh Raina expressed himself with authority against Mumbai as Dhoni's men stole the thunder in the big games. The good thing about CSK is the fact that it is a close, well-knit unit and has the right mix of youth and experience. Add to that the understated, yet immense, contribution of their shrewd coach Stephen Fleming and you have a team ready to take on any opponent. And yes, Dhoni's team has the fire power too to succeed in the alien conditions of South Africa.

Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey have a proven track record in South Africa. Along with Suresh Raina and Dhoni, they will form the nucleus of the Chennai batting. Murali Vijay Albie Morkel, Srikkanth Anirudh and S Badrinath will also be keen to prove a point.

In the bowling department, Bollinger and Albie Morkel form a potent strike force among pacers. They would be complemented in the slow bowling section by R Ashwin, who had an excellent IPL 3, and Shadab Jakati, who impressed with his left-arm spin in IPL 2 played in South Africa. Veteran Muttiah Muralitharan's experience and guile will also be handy.

Indeed, if their mindset and talent combine, MS Dhoni's well-populated trophy cabinet will need to make space for another one.

Courtesy:TOI