Preview: Rajasthan v Chennai, 1st semi-final

Two of the most consistent sides in the Champions League Twenty20 this year will take on each other when Chennai clash against Rajasthan in their fortress in Jaipur. Rajasthan, dogged by controversies for the better part of the Indian Premier League, a few months back, came out all guns blazing in this tournament and won all their four league games. Chennai have been phenomenal too but were trumped by Trinidad and Tobago in their last group game to finish second on the table.

Rajasthan: They are probably one of those rare T20 sides that do not boast of too many stars. The captain Rahul Dravid retired from international cricket last year, Brad Hodge is no longer in the reckoning in the Australian side, Ajinkya Rahane is of course on the verge of an India call-up every now and then while the young Sanju Samson continues to impress with every innings he plays. Shane Watson is of course an exception in the line-up and yet his form in the CL T20 has been nothing to write home about. But Chennai would not have forgotten the Aussie all-rounder's breathtaking century in Chennai and then a whirlwind half-century in Jaipur on their return game; Dhoni would know it could be dangerous to ignore Watson's threat in the middle-order.

But all said and done, it is two young men who have made all the difference for Rajasthan this season. Like in the IPL, Samson and Rahane have held the batting together and even with the seniors, barring Hodge, not clicking, Rajasthan topped the group, thanks to some sterling knocks by the two.

The bowling has been remarkable too and the not very young Pravin Tambe has led the attack taking seven wickets from the three games he played while Kevon Cooper, who threatens every batting line-up he is pitted against, rocked Perth with a four-wicket haul, before following it up with two more wickets against Otago. Rajasthan would also have been excited with the way Rahul Shukla bowled against the New Zealand side; Dravid's range of bowling options and some solid batsmen in the line-up, will make Rajasthan a tough nut to crack, even against a formidable Chennai.

Key Players: Samson has scored 121 runs with two fifties while Rahane has rattled up 153 on the back of two consecutive half-centuries; these two will be the most prized scalp for Chennai upfront. But for the former CL T20 champions, the biggest threat could yet be Watson, a man who thrives on the big stage and against the best attacks in the business. This game will present Watson with both; a semi-final in the CL T20, the world's number one ODI bowler and the chance to put it past Chennai yet again.

Chennai: Chennai are a dangerous unit and perhaps have the most destructive batsmen in T20 cricket at their disposal. Hussey, Raina, Dhoni, Bravo, Jadeja. And when any two of them click, teams in their firing line have a lot to worry about. For one, Rajasthan would not forget how they lost despite a scintillating hundred by Shane Watson, how Hussey and Raina rendered that innings useless with their brutal assault and more recently, how Dhoni clobbered the living daylights out of the Hyderabad bowlers, with a blistering 19-ball 63, 48 of which came in sixes.

The Chennai attack is penetrative, well-balanced and gives the captain a wide array of options; the two spinners are India's first-choice and Mohit Sharma, the new ball operator is fast coming up the ranks and is considered to be among the most talented seamers in the country. To cut a long story, short - Chennai have over the years proven to be one of the most successful sides in T20 cricket. They won three on the bounce in the league stages before being humbled by Trinidad and Tobago but that is the kind of jolt that always serves as a wake-up call for any team, no matter how invincible it seems to be.

Key Players: Hussey's contribution at the top of the order has been key to Chennai's success over the years and the Australian southpaw, even in the twilight of his career is on a roll and has scored 128 runs so far from four games. However, Raina has been the baton bearer for Chennai this year with scores of 47, 84, 23 and 38 and will be dangerous early on given the kind of form he is in. The problem with playing against Chennai is that they keep sending one attacking batsman after another and Dhoni has shown that he is not shy of coming up the order to up the ante. Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja down the order are explosive too and can destroy attacks at will on their day.

Quotes: "Dhoni is a role model to many cricketers around the world. The reason India are the world champions is because of the quality of players they have, especially Dhoni," Chenai pacer Chris Morris