IPL 2020: Brett Lee reveals why CSK will have an upper hand over MI in the season opener

IPL 2020– the much-awaited T20 extravaganza is all set to start on September 19th, with two heavyweights Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians locking horns with each other. Both the franchises have been the most successful sides in the history of the tournament.

While CSK have clinched the IPL title thrice, MI have lifted the trophy on four occasions. Considering the reputation of both the teams, the season-opener of IPL 2020 is expected to turn out to be a power-packed thriller.

CSK will brace the field tomorrow without their two vital players– Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh. To compensate for Harbhajan’s loss, CSK have several quality spinners in their arsenal including Piyush Chawla. Apart from veteran Chawla, the side also has several other quality spin options in all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, Imran Tahir and Mithcell Santner.

Brett Lee picks CSK to clinch the opening fixture of IPL 2020

Ahead of the season-opener, former Australia speedster Brett Lee opined that CSK will have an edge over MI due to a better spin attack at its disposal. “They are up there. I have picked them to win and I think CSK have a good chance because of their spin attack.

With Santner, Jadeja needs to step up and be the no.1 spinner and CSK have got great variety and none of the spinners is same so they are at an advantage for the conditions in the UAE as the tournament progresses,” Lee said on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected.

Picking MI as one of his semi-finalists, Lee added, “They have to be. Champions of last year, they have got a good squad. Pollard is in form and we know what Rohit can do. They have Jasprit Bumrah, and some good spinners and some power hitters as well, so yes, they are in my top four.”

Like CSK, Mumbai Indians will also hit the ground without their most experienced pacer– Lasith Malinga. The Sri Lanka veteran opted out of the tournament as he wanted to spend time home with his family. In Malinga’s truancy, Lee backed Bumrah to head MI’s bowling force.

“I am always Bumrah’s fan since he burst into the scenes some years ago. He has got a different bowling action, he pushes the ball in, and can swing the ball both ways. He is good with the new ball but I like him with the old ball and that’s why he can fill the shoes of Malinga and can bowl at death overs. He can bowl at 140kmph and zoom the ball in at the batsman’s feet. He is bowling the Yorkers consistently and there are very fewer bowlers like that, so he can fill those shoes,” Lee said.