With sword of elimination over their heads, defending champion Mumbai Indians and IPL runners up runners-up Chennai Super Kings will lock horns against each other in a crucial group B match of the Champions League T20 at Johannesburg today.

Chennai winners here at 2010 failed to live up to the expectations and crashed to two successive, whereas Mumbai also are in a grave situation with a loss and one washed match.

They are desperately looking for their first win of the tournament and keep their hopes alive in the tournament even though semifinals chances remain very bleak for them.

Both the teams will field their best possible line-up and let us have a look at some of the players who will be in thick of action today.

Here are the players to watch out for in today’s match:

Mumbai Indians:

Rohit Sharma: Rohit Sharma has been one of the most successful batsmen for Mumbai Indians. He played a decent knock in their last match and his team would want him to deliver on the expected lines. He has been very good for Mumbai in the past under pressure conditions and will hold the key in the middle for them.

Dwayne Smith: Smith got Mumbai off to a brilliant start in the match against Lions, but then was not able to convert the start he got. He is a very aggressive batsman and can create rampage against any bowling unit when in full flow. His team would want him to get them off on a similar note and also to carry bat for the most part of the innings.

Mitchell Johnson: Mitchell Johnson was promoted up the batting order in their match against Lions and it did not work out as Mumbai would have wanted. He did get 30 odds runs but then exhausted too many balls but then was impressive with his bowling. He maintained a good economy rate by T20 standards and his team would want him to deliver with the ball more than his batting and he is someone who can create difficulties for batsmen. His steep bounce and swing has been his weapon and his team will like to see him make use of the conditions to the optimum.

Lasith Malinga: He is one of the best T20 bowlers of the world. He can bowl toe crushing Yorkers, slower bouncers, all with his slinging action which makes him very difficult to hit. He has always been brilliant for Mumbai and his team will want him to get some early breakthroughs and then later rattle the tail.

Chennai Super Kings:

Suresh Raina: Suresh Raina has been the best batsmen for Chennai Super Kings and even in this tournament he already has a half century to his name. He can clear any ground with ease and is a great player of spin bowling. He plays well under pressure and Chennai will be banking on him a lot. He at times runs into problem with short deliveries and Mumbai will target that area.

Murali Vijay: Murali Vijay came into the tournament at the back of some great performance in the domestic circuit but then has not been able to convert it into the tournament. He can be very dangerous in the match against their country rivals. He can play some huge shots and score at a very fast pace. He can change the course of the match in a matter of few overs and if he gets going things can get difficult for Mumbai. 

Ben Hilfenhaus: The Australian pacer is a key member for the side in this tournament. The conditions have helped the pacers he will want to make early inroads in the tournament.

R Ashwin: Ashwin is CSK’s main spinner and the team depends on him a lot. He is very important for Chennai as with his control and variation he has proven out to be one of the biggest match winners for the Chennai team.

By Indian Sports News Network