Mumbai Indians face a tough proposition in trying to stop the juggernaut that is the Chennai Super Kings when the two sides meet at the Wankhede Stadium in their IPL 2013 clash Sunday.
CSK have been near unbeatable in IPL 2013 and have won nine of their eleven games, which have seen them comfortably perched at the top of the points table on 18 points.
Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, have been a little inconsistent, and currently occupy the final playoff place with six wins in ten games.
"We're actually having our first decent IPL if you think about it," CSK all-rounder Albie Morkel said. "We've always played well overall but at this stage of the tournament we've never been on the top.
"We've always come from behind, snuck into the semis and then win. We're having a good year, playing some good cricket and doing our basics right. The best part is that we're not relying on one guy. Everybody is making contributions.
"IPL is such a tournament that if you have a bad start you can always catch up later on. If you look at the make-up of our side, we've got lot of dynamic and explosive players, and sooner or later, you expect them to come good.
"Luckily this year it has happened from the second game. We have qualified in the top-four but now that challenge for us is to keep improving as a team and keep setting that bar higher."
CSK have been at their best this season, with almost every single player contributing at one point or the other, and the last game, when the league leaders beat the Kings XI Punjab, it was Suresh Raina's turn to contribute, scoring a brilliant unbeaten hundred.
"He was phenomenal, Morkel who had a good partnership with the southpaw said. "When I went in to bat I got a few good balls and couldn't hit boundaries. But every time I got a one, the next ball Suresh hit a six or a four.
"He has scored runs in the last two-three matches but in the nets right from the start of the tournament we thought, 'geez, Suresh is looking in good nick.' I'm very happy for him. This is his first hundred for us. He's a serious performer and what a talent!"
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