Ranchi, getting a chance to host two matches during this Indian Premier league (IPl), is set to witness clash of cricketing icons during this season. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is to play two matches against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Ranchi on May 2 and 13. Cricket lovers here are quite excited for the high voltage matches to be played at the Jharkhand State Cricket Stadium in Ranchi.
Even though Ranchi being a non-regular venues for IPl matches, is set to host the high-octane T-20 matches as the seventh edition of the IPl is slated to return to India from May 2 where CSK will take on KKR, after the first leg of matches in the United Arab Emirates.“Ranchi being the home turf for Dhoni, we hope that he will not disappoint the cricket lovers who will go to the stadium only to see him playing on the ground,” said cricket coach Banshidhar Sarangi.
According to Sarangi, Dhoni itself is enough to add excitement during the matches who will not miss any chance to gratify the thirst of the people here to show his might at his home turf. Sarangi however, said that despite cricket losing its popularity, the magnificent stadium will attract more and more crowd.
Moreover, players of both the teams will try to compete with each other to prove themselves, he said.Cricket lovers also expect that the matches will be quite interesting as both the teams already proved themselves having won the tournament earlier once or twice.“As both teams -- CSK and KKR are strong, the first match in Ranchi will be quite interesting having Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the one side and Gautam Gambhir on the other,” said a district level cricket player from Hazaribagh Sushant Ranjan.
According to Ranjan, one time champion KKR will put in all energy to defeat CSK which has won the tournament twice. The recent reshuffling in both KKR and CSK will also make it interesting to watch the match. “It will be good to see those playing together last time will be against each other this time,” added Ranjan.
With a capacity of around 40,000 spectators and 76 corporate boxes, JSCA stadium in Ranchi to host two home games for the SRK-owned IPl franchise this season.