Mahendra Singh Dhoni during Chennai Super Kings’ practice session, in Chennai, on Monday. (PTI)

Chennai: Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin Monday reckoned that the Chennai Super Kings, the Indian Premier League (IPL) side he represents, would be under pressure to defend the title in the fifth edition of the tournament, which begins on Wednesday.

However, Ashwin said that they would look to peak at the right time as they did in IPL-IV. Reasoning that all teams start on even terms, Ashwin told a media conference that peaking at the right time is the key to success.

“This is going to be the most interesting season for CSK because we have a lot of pressure on us to defend the title. Moreover, we have some injury concerns,” the offie said, adding they would have to be wary of injuries that might haunt them towards the middle or end of the tournament.

“That is what we have to watch out for... There will be back-to back matches and we have to be wary of that,” he said.

CSK opener Abhinav Mukund was the first casualty as he was ruled out for ten days after twisting his ankle during a practice session last Saturday.

Sounding cautious on the team’s chances to win the title this time, he said that every team would have equal chances initially in the tournament. “It is more about the league phases and peaking at the right time. Last season we peaked at the right time... We will have to look to do the same this time too,” he said.

Disagreeing with suggestions that the Chepauk wicket was a turning one, Ashwin, who claimed 20 wickets in the last edition of the IPL, said it was the bounce that mattered most. Ashwin also said the wicket looked different to him than it was earlier with much more red soil in it.

“I don’t really understand how it is a turning track... If at all it is a turning track, it is going to be hard to bat for both the sides. Even during IPL-III there was enough bounce for the spinners to be interested in it. It is always the bounce at Chepauk that had been crucial and not the turn. If it is a turning track, you can’t make 140-160 runs.”

“It is the bounce that is going to matter the most. I heard that in the practice game yesterday there was a lot of bounce,” Ashwin said.

Admitting that his side had good variety in the spin department with the likes of Shadab Jakati and Ravindra Jadeja, Ashwin said it was good to have such a line-up.

But he put the onus of winning on the batsmen, saying: “In the longer format of the game a bowler can win the match. But in the shorter version, a bowler can only set up… It’s the batsmen who have to win the game.”

Going back to the spinners in his side, Ashwin said that Jakati had done well for the team in the last two years and cannot be overlooked. “We will have to really look to hunt as a pack this time… With Jadeja batting down the order and being a pretty decent bowler, the side is going to be that much more powerful.”

The Super Kings’ first match is against the Mumbai Indians, on Wednesday.