Warne plays the underdog card

Ahmedabad: The talk around Chennai Super Kings is all about the Mongoose bat and its purveyor, Matthew Hayden.

So when Chennai Super Kings come up against Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals, at the Motera ground, there will be a lot of expectation over the outcome.

Much of the anticipation lies around what Warne will do to counter the Mongoose bat and its wielder.

Yet Warne, keeping his cards close to his chest on that subject at the pre-match press conference, preferred to shift the emphasis to Chennai’s full array of stars – not just one bat.

“Look at Chennai. They have got Murali [Muttiah Muralidaran], [Suresh] Raina, Hayden and [MS] Dhoni, so are the favourites,” Warne reasoned. “We are the underdogs, there is definitely going to be pressure on those guys.”

“We will go in there, get into the contest and do the best we can,” Warne continued.

Pressed again on Hayden and his Mongoose, his Australian compatriot opened out a bit more.

“He is just one player,” said Warne. “He has had one good innings with the mongoose bat. Every bat has its advantages and disadvantages.

“We have a plan for Matthew Hayden, doesn't matter what bat he is using. He is going to play the same anyway. Maybe we can get him to try those short singles and run him out by half a bat again.”

Same old Shane Warne, beginning the battle off the pitch…and with the ability to end it on it.