By IANS,
Chennai : Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were a study in contrast on the opening day of the Indian Premier League’s fourth season Friday. While the home side decided to go with four foreign players, KKR were content to limit them to two and relied more on domestic players.
KKR were of course handicapped by the absence of its three Australian players –wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, fast bowlers Brett Lee and James Pattinson — who are on national duty for the three-match Bangladesh ODI series.
Shakib Al Hasan, who is leading the Bangladesh team against Australia, also features in the KKR squad.
South African veteran Jacques Kallis and exciting England batsman Eoin Morgan are the only two foreigners to figure in the KKR playing XI.
Defending champions Chennai Super Kings went in with four international players. They included three all-rounders in Scott Styris (New Zealand), Suraj Randiv (Sri Lanka) and Albie Morkel (South Africa) besides New Zealand quickie Tom Southee, who was the second highest wicket-taker in the World Cup.
The home team has four Australians — George Bailey, Doug Bollinger, Michael Hussey and Ben Hilfenhaus — in the squad.
While Hussey is in Bangladesh, Bailey, Bollinger and Hilfenhaus were not picked for the match Friday.