IPL 2020:’Just another opposition’, says MI skipper Rohit Sharma ahead of facing CSK

XtraTime Web Desk: After a lot of speculation and anticipation for the last 6 months, Indian Premier League is finally going to start with two of the heavyweights facing each other. Defending champion Mumbai Indians will take on the 3 time IPL winning team Chennai Super Kings in the season opener on Saturday.

Rohit Sharma loves to compete against Chennai. That’s what he said to Harbajan Singh in an Instagram Live during lockdown. Now, when he was asked to share his thoughts on the ‘El Classico’ of IPL, MI skipper didn’t say much. He said that he enjoys the battle with CSK but then it’s just another fixture for them.

“Playing against CSK is always fun, we enjoy that battle. But when we play the game, it is just another opposition for us and that is how we want to move forward,” Rohit said in a video posted by Mumbai Indians on their official Twitter account.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya feels it is a clash between the two “most-loved” teams of the tournament.

“It has become a game which people look forward to. It is one of the two franchises that are most loved by the fans and that is how it becomes special. I do not know when we all will get our A-game out when we are playing against CSK and I wish we always do that,” Pandya said.

Head coach Mahela Jayawardene said the team has to “lift their game” to defeat CSK.

“To beat a team like this or compete against a team like this, you really, really have to lift your game; and I think naturally all the boys do that. As a franchise, it is something that we thrive (on) as well,” Mahela said.

In their last meeting, during the 2019 IPL final, MI beat CSK by just one run.

The match will be more special for Mahendra Singh Dhoni fans as the former India captain will return to action after more than a year. The 2019 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand was Dhoni’s last match, and he announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15 this year.

With inputs from ANI